The Bangkok BTS network is complex and consists of several skytrain systems with different tickets that can be used for the journey. To get an idea about the best way to pay for traveling on elevated trains, explore the Bangkok BTS ticket options with single journey tickets, various cards, ticket prices, and the process of purchasing Bangkok skytrain tickets.
Bangkok BTS Ticket Types
The Bangkok skytrain system is reliable and relatively easy to use. There are several types of Bangkok BTS tickets that can be used for traveling on different lines:
- Single Journey Ticket.
- Rabbit Card.
- BTS One-Day Pass.
- EMV Contactless Card.
1. Single Journey Ticket
The most popular way to pay for a ride in Bangkok is purchasing a single journey ticket. These tickets can be purchased at ticket-vending machines or at the ticket counter of the skytrain station. Single journey tickets come as a thin plastic card on the following Bangkok SkyTrain lines:
Green Line (the same card for Sukhumvit Line and Silom Line)
After the latest update, it is now possible to buy one ticket when transferring between the BTS Green Line, the Yellow Line, and the Pink Line. However, the fare is calculated for each line separately and the ticket costs the same as separate tickets.
You still need to buy a separate single journey ticket for the BTS Gold Line.
The price of a single journey ticket varies by the line and the distance traveled. Detailed information about ticket prices can be found here: Bangkok BTS Fare.
Pay attention that single journey tickets are valid for travel on the date of purchase only!
2. Rabbit Card
To make traveling easier, it is also possible to get a prepaid card that can be topped up and used for tapping in and out at the station. The Rabbit Card is the most popular Bangkok BTS card, as it can be used as a ticket on the most popular SkyTrain lines and also for getting special deals at a wide range of shops and restaurants around Bangkok.
Bangkok skytrain lines that accept Rabbit Card as a ticket are the following:
The Rabbit Card can be used not only for both BTS Green lines, the Yellow Line, the Pink Line, and the Gold Line, but also for the Chao Phraya Express Boat.
The price of the Rabbit Card is 200 THB, including 100 THB card issuance fee and 100 THB initial value that can be used for the rides.
Rabbit cards can be bought at the ticket office of any BTS station. You can book a Rabbit Card online and conveniently pick it up at the airport on arrival.
3. BTS One-Day Pass
On the days when you are planning to travel by BTS SkyTrain a lot, you can get the BTS SkyTrain One-Day Pass that will allow you to use the BTS Green Line all day long for a fixed price.
The day pass is valid on the Sukhumvit Line and the Silom Line only.
The standard price of the BTS One-Day Pass is 150 THB per day. Discounts are often offered for online bookings.
4. EMV Contactless Card
Another option that can be used as a Bangkok skytrain ticket card is the EMV contactless card of VISA or Mastercard. EMV stands for "Europay Mastercard and Visa", which has a contactless payment logo on the front or the back of the card.
EMV contactless cards (credit cards or debit cards that have the contactless payment symbol) can be used to pay for Bangkok BTS fare if they are the following:
- Credit cards from all banks, both Thai and foreign, issued under VISA or Mastercard
- Debit cards from all foreign banks issued under VISA or Mastercard
- Debit/prepaid cards of specific Thai banks, issued under VISA or Mastercard
While most of such cards should work on the system, some cards might not be accepted. We've been successfully using our Wise Card to pay Bangkok BTS fare as it is much cheaper than using the card issued by the bank in Europe due to the mid-market THB exchange rate used on transactions.
The EMV contactless card is accepted as a ticket on the following Bangkok skytrain lines:
The EMV contactless card can't be used on the BTS Green Line (Sukhumvit Line and Silom Line) and the BTS Gold Line.
The EMV contactless card can also be used as a ticket on the following Bangkok metro lines:
Where to buy Bangkok BTS ticket?
There are few ways to buy a Bangkok BTS ticket, but the most common way is using ticket-issuing machines. The exact machines used for issuing tickets vary by the line but are quite similar (see below).
You will need cash to make a payment, as credit/debit cards are not accepted.
Most of the ticketing machines accept 1, 2, 5, or 10 Baht coins (satangs are not accepted) and 20, 50, or 100 Baht banknotes (larger banknotes are not accepted).
On some of the machines, making a payment by QR code is also an option for travelers who have a Thai bank account and mobile banking application. However, such an option is quite rare and mainly available at the BTS.
While most of the machines now are capable of taking payments by banknotes, you might still find older ones that accept coins only. To get a ticket from these coin-only machines, you need 1, 2, 5, or 10 Baht coins (satangs are not accepted). Some of them might also not accept 2 Baht coins.
In case you don’t have enough coins or find using the ticket vending machine too complicate, you can also buy tickets at the BTS Station Ticket Office. Just tell the name of your destination and hand the money to the cashier. Just like the machines, ticket offices accept cash only!
How to use Bangkok BTS ticket?
When you get your Bangkok BTS ticket (card), proceed to the metallic gates. Green arrow signs indicate entry points - you need to choose one of them.
Touch your ticket at the marked spot on top of the metallic part of the gates and wait for the gate to open. Take your ticket and quickly walk through as the gates stay open for just a couple of seconds.
Keep your ticket with you, as at the exit you will have to insert it into the slot of the metallic gate.
If you are using one of the smart cards with topped-up value, at the exit you just need to tap the card at the dedicated place on top of the gate.
In case you are using the EMV contactless card as your ticket, there is normally a separate swing gate next to the ticket office dedicated to EMV card users. When using EMV contactless card, make sure at the exit to tap out with the same card you tapped in.
Tips
To save time that you normally would waste at ticket vending machines, consider getting a BTS SkyTrain Rabbit Card that can be topped up instead of buying single journey tickets each time. It can be used on the BTS Green Line, the Yellow Line, the Pink Line, the Gold Line, and even on the Chao Phraya Express Boat, which is a fun and cheap way to explore Bangkok Riverside.
To save money on the days when you are planning to travel by BTS a lot, get the BTS SkyTrain One-Day Pass that will allow you to use the BTS Green Line all day long for a fixed price.
To make the most of your visit, get familiar with all metro lines in Bangkok.