Getting Around Thailand: Grab, Bolt, Taxi, Tuk-Tuk, BTS & Ferries Explained
By TourKro Travel Desk · Thailand DMC & local tour operator · Updated 13 Nov 2026
Updated on
How to get around in Thailand like a local, and what each option costs roughly. For airport and city-to-city trips we suggest a pre-booked transfer: fixed price and a driver waiting for you.
Grab and Bolt apps
- Download Grab (and Bolt, often cheaper) before you fly and sign up with your Indian number while you still have Indian network.
- You can pay cash to the driver, so you do not need a Thai card.
- The price is fixed before you book: no bargaining, no meter tricks.
- At airports, follow the signs to the ride-hailing pick-up point.
Taxis and tuk-tuks
- Bangkok taxis must use the meter: say “meter, please”. If the driver refuses, take the next one.
- Tuk-tuks are fun for a short ride; agree the price before you sit.
- In Pattaya the blue “baht bus” (songthaew) runs along Beach Road and Second Road for a small fixed fare.
Bangkok trains
The BTS Skytrain and MRT metro are the fastest way around Bangkok, with no traffic. The Airport Rail Link connects Suvarnabhumi airport to the city.
Between cities and islands
- Bangkok–Pattaya: about 2 hours by road.
- Phuket–Krabi: about 3 hours by road, or by ferry.
- Islands (Phi Phi, Koh Samui, Koh Samet): ferries and speedboats; book a tour with the boat included.
- Bangkok–Phuket, Krabi, Chiang Mai, Koh Samui: domestic flights of about 1 hour.
Pre-booked transfers on TourKro
- Phuket (HKT) Airport to Patong Hotel (One Way): ₹3,900 per car
- Patong Phuket Hotel to Phuket (HKT) Airport (One Way): ₹3,900 per car
- Bangkok Airport (BKK) Transfer to Bangkok Hotel (One Way): ₹3,600 per car
- Bangkok Hotel to Bangkok Airport (BKK) (One Way): ₹3,600 per car
- Pattaya Hotel to Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) Transfer: ₹6,600 per car
- Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) to Pattaya Hotel Transfer: ₹6,600 per car
Checked by the TourKro team on 13 November 2026. Rules and fees in Thailand change; always check the official website before you travel.
Thailand trip prices right now
3-night plans with hotel, airport transfers and tours, live from the TourKro booking system:
| City | Per person (4-star, 2 sharing) |
|---|---|
| Phuket tours | ₹17,970 |
| Pattaya tours | ₹21,930 |
| Krabi tours | ₹24,315 |
| Bangkok tours | ₹33,120 |
More guides: Thailand Visa for Indians 2026: Rules, TDAC Arrival Card & Documents (Step by Step) · What Not to Do in Thailand: 18 Rules, Fines & Tourist Scams to Avoid · Thailand Packing List for Indians: What to Carry (Season by Season) · Thai Baht for Indians: Currency, Forex Card, ATM & Daily Budget in Thailand · Thailand SIM Card & eSIM for Indian Travellers: Prices, Data Plans & Where to Buy
Local transport city by city
- Phuket: Phuket has no metro and taxis are the most expensive in Thailand: a ride between beaches costs about 300 to 600 baht. Grab is often cheaper. Booking transfers and tours with pickup saves a lot.
- Bangkok: BTS and MRT trains cost about 17 to 65 baht a trip and beat the traffic. Chao Phraya Express boats are the cheapest way to reach the riverside temples. Grab and metered taxis are easy; agree tuk-tuk fares before you sit down.
- Pattaya: Baht buses (blue songthaews) loop Beach Road and Second Road for about 10 to 30 baht a person; hail one and press the buzzer to stop. Grab works well, and most tours include hotel pickup.
- Krabi: Longtail boats from Ao Nang beach go to Railay for about 100 to 150 baht a person each way. Songthaews link Ao Nang and Krabi Town, and private cars are best for the airport and Tiger Cave Temple.
- Koh Samui: Distances are short but taxis are pricey (often 300 to 600 baht between beaches). Songthaews run along the ring road by day. Most visitors use tour pickups and one or two taxis.
- Chiang Mai: Red songthaews go anywhere in town for about 30 to 60 baht a person. Grab is cheap here. For Doi Suthep, Doi Inthanon and elephant sanctuaries, a tour with pickup or a private car is best.
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Questions people ask
Thailand me Grab chalta hai?
Haan, Grab aur Bolt dono chalte hain. Cash me bhi pay kar sakte hain.
Is Grab cheaper than a taxi in Bangkok?
A metered taxi is often a little cheaper, but Grab has a fixed price and no arguments, so most visitors prefer it.
See also: Thailand tours · Thailand holiday packages · Today’s deals
Prices on this page are TourKro’s live website prices for travel about a month from now, checked on 13 November 2026. They change with dates and hotel availability: the price you see when you book is the one that counts.
Bangkok: cost from India (today's rates)
| 3★ hotel, per room per night | from ₹5,100 |
| 4★ hotel, per room per night | from ₹10,800 |
| Airport / city transfer | from ₹840 |
| Island tour, per person | from ₹3,300 |
| City tour | from ₹600 |
| Show ticket | from ₹1,080 |
| Return flight from Delhi / Mumbai, per person | ₹16,000 – ₹30,000 |
Full Bangkok price list · Trip cost calculator · Ask on WhatsApp
