HOME > Featured City > Bangkok-City Information

Located in the central part of Thailand, Bangkok is a metropolitan city that became the nation's capital in 1782 and has continued to develop and grow ever since. While looking up you'll see a modern city with an elevated railway and skyscrapers standing close together, at your feet you'll find people coming and going on crowded streets and wave after wave of street stalls. Bangkok is truly a dynamic and constantly changing chaotic metropolis full of amazing sights. Flights from Japan may arrive late at night, but staying awake the entire night at the airport should be avoided, so it's best to check-in to a hotel for the night for the time being. Thai railway routes are roughly divided into the four main Northern, Northeastern, Eastern and Southern Lines, with several branch lines off each of the main lines. Links Bangkok with Chiang Mai. Required travel time: approx. 11-13 hours Branches off to the Northeastern Line mid-route at the Ban Phachi Junction. Branches off to Nong Khai and Ubon Rachathani at Nakhon Rachasima. Required travel times to: Nohn Khai, approx. 11 hours Ubon Rachathani, approx. 10-13 hours Connects Bangkok to Aranyaprathet at the Cambodian border. Required travel time: approx. 5 hours Branch line to Pataya mid-route Heads south from Bangkok to Hat Yai near the Malaysian border. At the Hat Yai Junction, the line branches into two spurs, with one to Malaysia and Singapore via Padang Besar, and the other to Sungai Kolok on the east coast. Required travel times to: Padang Besar, approx. 17 hours Sungai Kolok, approx. 20 hours Additionally, a branch line off of the Southern Line leads to Kanchanaburi and the River Kwai. The Thai bus network covers almost every major city throughout the kingdom and with a large number of routes and departures is an effective way of getting around the country. Bus types can vary widely, with everything from normal to air-conditioned and VIP buses available to suit the budget of most any traveler. Bangkok's bus terminals are split into three locations according to destination. Arrivals and departures to and from northern destinations such as Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Sukhothai, northeastern destinations such as Nong Khai and Udon Thani and central destinations such as Ayutthaya and Lopburi, as well as service to Aranyaprathet and Pattaya. The three story terminal is fairly large, so it's best to allow yourself enough time to get wherever you need to go. Tickets for northeastern destinations are sold on the 3rd floor, while tickets for northern and central destinations, as well as eastern destinations such as Pattaya and Aranyaprathet can be purchased on the 1st floor. Lettering of destinations on ticket office signboards will either be orange or blue-orange for normal or 2nd class air-conditioned buses and blue for 1st class air-conditioned or VIP buses. Arrivals and departures to and from east coast destinations such as Pattaya, Ko Samet and Trat. The building facing Sukhumvit Road includes ticket offices, but platforms are located on the other side. Conveniently located only a short walk away from BTS Ekamai Station. Arrivals and departures to and from southern destinations such as Hua Hin, Ko Samui, Phuket, Surat Thani, Hat Yai and Yala, and western destinations such as Nakhon Pathom and Kanchanaburi. Inside the terminal, the area for normal and 2nd class air-conditioned buses is separated from the area for 1st class and VIP buses.