Don Muang Airport - facts, how to get by cab, train, bus

Don Mueang Airport Bangkok is Thailand's second international capital airport (IATA code DMK). Its services are used by tourists for domestic flights, such as Phuket, Samui and Krabi.

Ticket prices here are much cheaper than on the same flights from Suvarnabhumi. AirAsia also operates all its international flights to neighboring Asian countries from this airport. From here you can fly to Indonesia, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Korea.

Location and features of the airport

The airport is located approximately 30 kilometers north of downtown Bangkok.

At the beginning of the twentieth century, the airfield was operated by military aircrafts of the Royal Thai Air Force. And from 1914 to 2006, Don Muang became the main air gateway of the country. It was only with the introduction of the ultramodern Suvarnabhumi International Airport that Don Muang took second place.

Airport on the map of Bangkok

In 2012, this air harbor was reconstructed, and today it receives all domestic flights, international charters, transport planes and international low-cost flights.

The main airlines using Don Muang Airport for flights are:

1. Nok Air;
2. Orient Thai;
3. One-Two-Go;
4. Air Asia.

It has three terminals: for international and domestic flights. The airport serves up to 60 airliners per hour. The terminal building itself is small and has a simple layout, it is impossible to get lost here.

On the first floor of Don Muang Air Terminal is the arrival hall. According to the signs, you can easily find the passport control counter, and next to it you get your luggage. There are not many passengers here, so there are not many queues.

There are numerous fast food outlets, internet cafes, medical center. In the exchange offices the exchange rate is traditionally not profitable. It is worth either to refrain from exchange, or to exchange the necessary minimum. Here you will also find a car rental.

You can get the necessary information at the information desk and pick up free maps and travel brochures here. The second floor of the Don Muang air terminal has the administration offices. The third floor of the terminal is equipped as a departure lounge.

Here you will find the traditional check-in desks, customs control area. If necessary, without delay you can get Visa-on-Arrival (Voa). There is a waiting room and a separate VIP lounge for passengers. There are branches of banks, souvenir shops, duty-free stores, Duty Free.

There are also racks of travel agencies, where you can get all the necessary information for the tourist and order the desired services.

The fourth floor of the building is more like a balcony. Here are airline offices, cafes and restaurants. The Noodle, Silom Village and Taurus are preferred by tourists looking for a tasty and inexpensive lunch.

If you need to stay overnight at the airport, try the Amari Don Muang Airport Hotel located here.

You can also use the luggage room, there are two of them. One is located at Domestic Terminal in the arrivals hall and is open from 8 am to 8 pm. The second one is in the departure hall and is open 24 hours a day.

Storage will cost only 75 baht per day per bag.

How to get from the airport to the center of the capital

Bus service

It is an inexpensive and convenient way to get to the desired area of the state capital. The only problem may be traffic jams during rush hour. Buses are usually equipped with air conditioning and separate seats for luggage. Bus stop is located near the airport. Orient yourself by the overpass, the parking lot is equipped under it.

You don't have to cross the street because the buses leaving for Bangkok are on the airport side. The same buses will take you from anywhere in the city to Don Muang Airport.

Many bus routes take you past famous landmarks and popular tourist spots. If you know exactly where you want to go and what you want to see in the capital, choose the appropriate route:

• The 513 bus will take you from Don Muang Airport to Bangkok's Eastern bus terminal (Ekamai). The Eastern bus terminal is often used by tourists as a starting point for independent travel in Thailand.

• Bus number 4 will take you to Siom Road.

• Bus 13 goes to Sukhumvit Road and then to its terminus - Ekkimai East Bus Station.

• Bus No. 29 runs to Hua Lumpong Station via Victory Monument, close to Bangkok's largest market Chatuchak and Siam Square. At the station Hua Lumpong, if necessary, you can transfer to the subway, here is a branch of the underground metro Bangkok MRT.

• The bus number 59 will take you to the main square of the kingdom - Sanam Luang (Sanam Luang). This is where the Great Royal Palace and the most famous temples of the capital are located. The route passes by the Democracy Monument and the world famous Kaosan Road. It is on this street you will find the most budget accommodation, do bargain shopping, meet backpackers from all over the world and make new acquaintances.

• The No. 10 bus and the No. 510 bus go to the Sai Tai Mai South bus station, passing the Victory Monument.

• Bus number 538 connects Don Mueang Airport and Victory Monument, the ticket costs only 20 baht. The final stop is Rama Hospital.

If your goal is Pattaya and you prefer to cover the distance of 50 kilometers by land, you need to take a special bus A1, which departs from gate number 6 of Don Muang Airport. The fare is 30 baht and the travel time is 20 minutes.

Take it to the North Bus Station in Bangkok, and from there you buy a ticket for 100 baht for the nearest bus to Pattaya. The trip usually takes about 2.5 hours.

The A1 and A2 buses also take you to BTS station Mor Chit and MRT station Chatuchak.

The best way to get back from Pattaya is to take a minivan from the North Street Bus Station to Victoria Monument or Mo Chit Bus Station, and from there take a cab or bus to Don Muang Airport.

• Bus 504 goes to Lumphini Park. If necessary, you can get off near the central Siam Square or go to Silom. Many people use this stop to transfer to the Bangkok BTS Sky Train.

• Bus #187 runs along the route: Don Mueang - Din Daeng - Ratwiti - Victory Monument - Charoenkrung - Thanam Sipraya.

Train

When you exit the airport terminal, you will see signs indicating the location of Don Muang Train Station. It is across the street, just a short walk through a covered passageway. It is a relatively small station, from here trains run from 3.10 to 22.15 to Hua Lampong train station, with a total of 32 trains per day.

The schedule on this branch is often not kept, so plan your departure in advance.

A ticket to Hualamphong Train Station in downtown Bangkok can be purchased at the train station box office for only five baht.

Cab

Cab is the most familiar and convenient way for us to get to any point in the kingdom. And if you need to go at night, then a cab is the only option. You can stop a cab right on the street, order it in advance on the airport website, or make an order by phone.

You can also walk up to the departure area, where there are cars that pick up passengers all the time. Be sure to ask for the meter to be turned on. In addition, you can order a cab - Public Taxi, whose desks you will see to the left of the exit of the terminal building.

To speed up the ordering process, show the written down name of the desired destination. A trip to central Bangkok will cost you from 300-400 baht (50 baht - airport fee) and will take about half an hour. The price will also depend on the time of day (rush hour traffic jams will increase the amount) and on whether you will use toll roads.

The cab stand at the airport is to the left of the terminal exit.

Transfer

Pre-booking a transfer via the Internet is a very convenient service. When making an order, you can specify the brand and capacity of the vehicle. You will be met in the arrivals hall, take all luggage, escorted to the car and delivered to any point.

Quite advantageous service, especially if you are traveling with children and you have a lot of luggage bags. If you know which hotel you want to stay in, you can pre-order a hotel transfer service.

How to get from Suvarnbahumi to Don Muang Airport

The airports are located 50 kilometers apart.

The easiest and most cost-effective way to get from one airport to another is to use the free air-conditioned shuttle buses.

The buses run from 5:00 am to 24:00 pm. From 5:00 to 10:00 buses leave every hour.

From 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., every 40 minutes. And from 8 p.m. to midnight - again every hour.

The duration of the trip will not exceed 40 minutes. Shuttles from Don Muang Airport depart from the arrivals area (second floor), while at Suvarnabhumi Airport the shuttlebus arrives at the departures area (fourth floor). From Suvrnabhumi Airport, shuttles depart from Gate 3 and Gate 2 on the first floor of the terminal. To use the service, you need to have your boarding pass for the flight you flew to Suvarnabhumi.

• Buses 554 and 555 take you in just 34 baht. The trip will take from 30 minutes to an hour, depending on traffic, the bus number 555 is slower.

• The shuttle buses, which leave as they are full, will cost 50 baht and you pay the fare when you enter the vehicle. Shuttles run between airports from 6.00 to 17.00, the journey takes just over one hour.

• Cabs start at 350 baht per car. The cost will be affected by traffic delays and tolls. Do not forget to negotiate payment before the trip. Ask for a meter, and if you agree to a fixed amount - bargain. If you are traveling in a small group, you can split the payment.

Another option is to go from Suvarnabhumi to the terminus of the Mo Chit surface subway station and from there take a cab for only 100-120 baht to Don Muang.