It is enormous, but very modern and well organized.

If you arrive from abroad and have domestic flight to Phuket, Chiang Mai, or other Thai destinations by all means queue for Immagration and passport control at the "Transfer" desks, not at the main immigration desks (the transfer desks are much less crowded).

The old airport Don Muang is now mainly used as a domestic airport. International has two terminals and is very modern and well organized.

Getting into Town

Suvarnabhumi airport is located unfortunately much farther away from Bangkok than Don Muang (about 1 to 11/2 hours car ride). You can use buses or a taxi.

Tip: The Novotel aiport hotel at Suvernabhumi is very overpriced, so that an overnight stay or dayroomis not really recommendable. Howeve,r if you just have stop over of several hours: they have a very nice pool area where you can sit, if you order at least something to drink or eat. 

The Don MUang airport is located about 30 miles outside of the city and the taxi or bus ride into town can take anything between 40 minutes (at night or during weekends) and 3 hours (during rush hour). Buses leave at regular intervals from the terminals and drop passengers off at all the major hotels - this can take very long and is not recommended. An alternative are taxies (about 300 to 400 Baht plus 70 to 80 Baht Highway toll). The Thai Airways Limousine Service also offers chauffeured cars at affordable rates (500 Baht with a "regular car" or 650 Baht with a "limousine") Although this is slightly more expensive than a taxi, we recommend this service, because a) the drivers speak at least a little English, b) they adopt a more cautious and less reckless driving style than the average Bangkok taxi driver, and c) they won`t in the middle of the high re-start discussing the fare. Trains that leave at regular intervals form the airport to Bangkok`s Hualompong Station are very cheap, but extremely uncomfortable (the trains have no aircondition and are very crowded)

Getting to Pattaya or Hua Hin

Thai Airways Limousine service also offers transport to Pattaya (individual cars or minibuses) and Hua Hin and Cha-Am (only individual cars, about 2000 Baht per car.)

Getting to Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phuket, Surat Thani, or Koh Samui (or any other place within Thailand)

Flights to these places leave from the Domestic Terminal of Don Muang Airport. If you have several hours to wait for your connecting flight, consider a detour to the Amari Airport hotel (at Terminal 1). The Amari has a nice lobby lounge with plants and fountains and good restaurants.

The Domestic Terminal is connected to the International Terminal by an airconditioned walkway. Walking takes only about 8 to 10 minutes (take the elevator to the 2nd floor and follow the signs "Domestic Terminal"). There is also a shuttle bus that takes visitors from Terminals 1 and 2 to the Domestic Terminal, but usually walking is less complicated.

Flights to Phuket, Chiang Mai, Surat Thani, or Chiang Rai are operated by Thai Airways, flights to Koh Samui only by Bangkok Airways.