Bangkok Don Mueang Airport - DMK - the old main airport
Bangkok Don Mueang Airport

Bangkok Don Mueang Airport

Formerly Bangkok's main international airport, DMK, or Don Mueang Airport is the second most important flight terminal in the Thai capital.

Before Suvarnabhumi Airport was opened in 2006, Don Mueang Airport was Bangkok's main flight hub. While it ceased commercial flights temporarily when the new airport opened, giving it the airport code BKK, today Don Mueang Airport (DMK) is open and used by both domestic and (mainly regional) international flights.

Getting to Bangkok from Don Mueang Airport

There are several options to reach the center of the Thai capital from DMK, suiting a wide range of budgets and time constraints:

Taxi

Simple and quick, as long as you're happy communicating with drivers, the price depends on where your hotel is located in the city center. You shouldn't pay more than 350 THB (US$ 9.50), but remember there will be an additional 50 THB (US$ 1.40) airport charge and that passengers pay for tolls. Taxis wait outside the arrivals halls - make sure your driver uses the meter!

Transfer service

The easiest and fastest way to get to your accommodation, pre-booking a car service to pick you up from the Don Mueang Airport, means you don't need to stress about finding a taxi and fumbling with your Thai Bahts to pay. Reserve your airport transfer here before you travel.

Train

Cheap and cheerful, there is a train that connects Don Mueang with Hualamphong Train Station which costs no more than 10 THB (US$ 0.30). Trains depart every 1-1.5 hours between 4 am and 11:30 am and then roughly once an hour from 2 pm to 9:30 pm.

Bus

There are lots of different buses that leave the airport for Bangkok's main sights. Outside arrivals, buses run daily between around 7:30 am and 11:30 pm to the different BTS Skytrain stops and other important spots: bus A1 stops at BTS Mo Chit; A2 stops at BTS Mo Chit and BTS Victory Monument; A3 stops at Pratunam and Lumphini Park; and A4 stops at Th Khao San and Sanam Luang. They depart every half an hour and cost 50 THB (US$ 1.40).

Popular public bus lines (which you catch from the highway in front of the airport) include number 29, which runs 24 hours and goes to Hualamphong Train Station via Victory Monument BTS station; 59, also 24 hours, which stops near Th Khao San; and 538, which you can get to Victory Monument BTS station (runs 4 am to 10 pm). These buses cost about 20 THB (US$ 0.50).