Bangkok airports: transport, transfers between Suvarnabhumi (BKK) and Don Mueang (DMK) and terminals

Before you land in the Thai capital and plan your trip or stopover as best as possible, you should keep one thing in mind: Bangkok doesn't just have one, but two international airports!

Suvarnabhumi (BKK), the major hub, and Don Mueang (DMK), the primary airport for low-cost airlines.

In this comprehensive travel guide, Trip.com explains everything you need to know: which airport is best for your flight, how to get to the city centre, the latest entry requirements, and tips to help you save time. ✈️

The 2 airports in Bangkok: which one to choose?

Before you plan your trip, you should first check exactly which airport you are arriving at or departing from. The two airports are about 40-50 kilometres apart and are located on different sides of Bangkok. How do you find out the right airport? It's simple: just check the airport code on your ticket (BKK or DMK)!

Here’s what you should know about both airports:

• Suvarnabhumi (BKK): Bangkok's main international airport is located in the east of the city. BKK primarily handles long-haul flights and is served by most traditional airlines such as Thai Airways, Emirates, Qatar Airways, or Air France. Most direct flights from Europe land here.
• Don Mueang (DMK): The older airport in the north of Bangkok is now primarily the hub for many low-cost airlines. Carriers such as AirAsia, Nok Air, Thai Lion Air and Scoot mainly use DMK for domestic flights and regional connections with budget-friendly fares.

Check Bangkok airports terminal maps

Suvarnabhumi (BKK): the major international hub

Opened in 2006, Suvarnabhumi Airport is Thailand's most important aviation hub. With 62.2 million passengers in 2024, it is the country's busiest airport, the ninth-largest in Asia, and is served by one of the highest numbers of airlines worldwide (over 110). In short: be prepared for a lot of hustle and bustle!

The most important info:

• Main Terminal (MTB): The airport features four main levels: Level 4 is for departures and check-in, Level 3 for restaurants, Level 2 for arrivals, and Level 1 for taxis and buses. The Airport Rail Link station is located in the basement.
• SAT-1: Opened in 2023, this state-of-the-art building houses gates S101 to S128. It isn't a separate terminal in the traditional sense: check-in and immigration still take place in the main terminal, and you can reach SAT-1 in just two minutes via the underground automated people mover (APM).

🚨 Essential check: Some flights, particularly those with Qatar Airways, now depart from SAT-1, even if they previously used the main terminal. So, keep a close eye on your boarding pass and the airport information screens, as you'll need to factor in a few minutes for the transfer to the "S" gates.

Don Mueang (DMK): the hub for low-cost airlines

If you are flying with AirAsia, Nok Air, Thai Lion Air or Scoot, this is where you will land. Opened in 1914, Don Mueang Airport is one of the oldest airports in the world still in operation and remains very busy, with around 35 million passengers per year. This makes it Thailand's second-largest airport.

• Terminal 1: for international flights
• Terminal 2: for domestic flights

The two terminals are connected by a covered walkway. Allow about 7 to 8 minutes to walk between them.

DMK is more compact and older than Suvarnabhumi. The distances there are short, but immigration control has a reputation for being slow, especially during the night-time wave of low-cost flights between 22:00 and 02:00. During this time, the waiting time can rise to over an hour. If you have your TDAC QR code ready, you can save valuable time.

💡 Good to know: A new international Terminal 3 with a capacity of 18 million passengers is planned to increase the total capacity of DMK to 48 million travellers per year. The work is part of the expansion plan by Airports of Thailand.

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Transport to and from Bangkok airports

Suvarnabhumi is located about thirty kilometres east of the city centre, while Don Mueang is about 24 km to the north. In both cases, traffic in Bangkok is unpredictable: a 40-minute journey can easily stretch to 90 minutes during rush hour.

Here are the options from Suvarnabhumi, where most European travellers arrive.

🚨 Time-saving tips:

• The Airport Rail Link is unbeatable if you want to avoid traffic jams. It connects Suvarnabhumi to Phaya Thai (for connections to the BTS Skytrain) and Makkasan (for connections to the MRT underground) in about 30 minutes and costs a maximum of 45 THB. The station is located in the basement of the terminal.
• If you'd like to take a taxi, always choose an official one from the taxi ranks on Level 1 (ground floor), located right by exits 4 to 7. You'll need to grab a ticket first before joining the queue.
• Grab and Bolt work really well and show the price upfront, which is handy for avoiding any awkward haggling.
• While there isn't an Airport Rail Link from Don Mueang, the SRT Red Line and the A1 to A4 bus routes will get you into the city centre affordably.

Bangkok airports arrival and departure

Upon arrival

• Entry requirements: Passport + TDAC QR code. At Suvarnabhumi Airport, you should allow for 20 to 60 minutes depending on how busy it is. At Don Mueang Airport, it can sometimes take longer during the night-time rush hours.
• Automatic gates: Since the end of 2023, all travellers with a valid electronic passport can use the e-gates when departing from Suvarnabhumi (facial recognition, no exit stamp).
• Baggage reclaim: 15 to 30 minutes, depending on the flight.
• Customs: Use the green channel if you have nothing to declare. Personal items are duty-free up to a value of 20,000 THB (~£425), excluding prohibited or restricted goods. Foreign currency equivalent to more than 20,000 USD must be declared.

Before departure

• Check-in: Check-in opens 3 hours before the flight and closes 45 minutes prior (60 minutes for certain international flights).
• Security and departure: Allow plenty of time during peak season. At peak times, Suvarnabhumi can handle up to 200,000 passengers a day.
• Check your gate: At BKK, the “S” gates (SAT-1) require a ride on the automated shuttle.

Arrival requirements in Bangkok: visa and regulations

Thailand's entry requirements have changed twice in less than two years. Here, you'll find out which regulations actually apply today.

Visa-free entry: back to 30 days

Important update: On 19 May 2026, the Thai Cabinet approved the end of the 60-day visa-free entry introduced in July 2024. Thailand is thus returning to a 30-day visa exemption for 54 nationalities, including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and most EU countries. The regulation will come into effect 15 days after its publication in the Royal Gazette.

• Duration of stay: 30 days, without prior application
• Extension: another 30 days for a fee of 1,900 THB (~£42) at an immigration office
• Passport: must be valid for at least 6 months upon entry

TDAC, mandatory since May 2025

As of 1 May 2025, the TDAC (Thailand Digital Arrival Card) replaces the former TM6 paper form and is mandatory for all foreign travellers.

• Where: exclusively via tdac.immigration.go.th (free of charge)
• When: within the 3 days before arrival in Thailand
• What details: Passport details, flight number and the address of your hotel in Bangkok
• Result: a QR code that must be shown at border control (on your smartphone or printed out)

What gets through customs (and what doesn't)

• ✅ Allowed: 1 litre of alcohol, 200 cigarettes, foreign currency equivalent to 20,000 USD (amounts above this must be declared)
• ❌ Prohibited: Narcotics (very strict penalties), e-cigarettes and vapes (completely banned since 2014, confiscation + fine), certain fresh fruits and meat products, ivory and coral

Services & facilities at Bangkok airports

Suvarnabhumi offers everything you’d expect from a major international hub, while Don Mueang is a little more basic but still provides all the essential services.

• Free Wi-Fi: Network “AOT Free Wi-Fi”, unlimited time
• Currency exchange: SuperRich (Level B at BKK, often with the best rates), Bangkok Bank and Krungthai
• SIM/eSIM cards: AIS, TrueMove and dtac kiosks in the arrivals halls or in advance via Trip.com
• Luggage storage: available at both airports (at DMK approx. 75 THB per item for 24 hours)
• Free shuttle BKK ↔ DMK: for transit passengers from 5:00 am to midnight

Where can you grab a bite to eat?

Lounges and premium areas at Bangkok airports

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