In Corona times, it was much easier to move around Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok. There were simply far fewer people around. That has changed, because the entry requirements are as simple as in pre-corona times. Now Bangkok Airport is just as busy as it was at the height of 2019.
All the stores are open again and new ones have even been added. There are now more places where you can get something to eat. The AIS and TrueMove stores with SIM cards for Thailand can also be found throughout the airport. You won’t go hungry anyway.
You also don’t have to miss out on a massage or cheap currency exchange. So, read on to get my tips and advice. (Updates are marked with POST-COVID).
Topics: Massage — Food — Luggage — Time from check-in to the plane — Sleeping
Almost all travelers in Thailand come to Suvarnabhumi Airport at some point. The large airport in Bangkok is an international hub in Southeast Asia and a gateway for vacation, travel, wintering and working stays in Thailand.
Information on smoking, cabs, WLAN and changing money can be found at More 7 tips for Suvarnabhumi Airport
- Tip No. 1: What do I do if I have to wait for a longer period of time?
- Tip No. 2: Hungry! Where can I get something to eat at Bangkok Airport?
- Tip No. 3: How long does it take to get from the check-in to your plane?
- Tip No. 4: Where can I leave my luggage if I don't want to take care of it all the time at the airport?
- Tip No. 5: How long do I need to get to the city centre?
- Bonus Tip: If you need to stay overnight
Did you also find a cheap flight to Bangkok with Qatar or Skyscanner? I always compare several of these so-called metasearch engines to get an overview and then book the best (sometimes cheapest) connection. I have described this here: How can I find a cheap flight to Thailand in 2024?
International flights usually arrive at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok. Domestic flights can also land at Don Muang Airport in the northwest of the city, which is the older of the two. Almost all so-called low-cost airlines now have to land at Don Muang.
My guess is that Thai Airways, the state-owned airline, wants to gain a few advantages this way. After all, who wants to drive across the city to another airport for a connecting flight within Thailand? Even if it is comparatively cheap for 150 baht on the airport shuttle bus. Bangkok Airways also flies to Suvarnabhumi. You pay for this with slightly more expensive tickets and get a better service and a bit more legroom. Thai VietjetAir also starts here and offers surprisingly low prices.
Tip No. 1: What do I do if I have to wait for a longer period of time?
My answer to this is: shopping, eating, relaxing. My tip for relaxing at Bangkok Airport is a massage (see below for information) or one of the spacious Miracle Lounges at Bangkok Airport, where you can not only eat well and relax, but also take a shower.
You can find massages in several places. In addition to the duty free area, there are also two in the main building.
The small massage store at the bottom of the airport right next to the airport link is open. For 700 baht you can get an hour’s traditional Thai massage here. If you don’t have that much time, you should treat yourself to a 30-minute massage. For 350 baht you’re in for a treat. Not much money to do something good for yourself.
A little further around the corner towards Airport Link, a new massage store has opened.
POST-COVID Open again. On the 3rd floor, quite in the middle and a good distance in front of the VIP Lounge Bangkok Airport, there is a Thai massage. Among other things, they offer wonderfully relaxing foot massages. Just the thing after a long day of shopping before your flight home.
For 30 minutes foot massage plus 15 minutes head and shoulder you currently pay 950 baht. Thai massages are of course also available.
You can also relax in one of the lounges. Unfortunately, you can only get there on departure. But there are also some in the area for domestic flights (for example in wing A).
Shopping is best done in the duty free area. In addition to the typical alcoholic beverages and perfumes, there are also branded goods and typical Thai products.
Tip No. 2: Hungry! Where can I get something to eat at Bangkok Airport?
No one will starve in Thailand! And certainly not at the country’s largest airport. Even in Corona times with significantly fewer travelers, there were enough restaurants etc. In addition to the good restaurants with a wide range of food on the 3rd floor, there are a few cafés in the basement near the airport link. In addition, instead of the former FamilyMart and 7/11 stores, there is now a Lawson (the same from Japan) on the 2nd floor.
And then there’s the food court on the first floor on the far right (west) for low-budget travelers: Magic Food with two dozen food stalls,
Typical Thai dishes such as Pad Thai, Khao Pad, noodle soup etc. are comparatively inexpensive here. Payment is made with a prepaid card, which is topped up at the entrance on the left and can also be returned there.
At these prices, however, you can’t expect much in the way of atmosphere, peace and comfort. When the dining room is filled with Chinese tour groups, it can get noisy. In my opinion, the food is mediocre. But there are delicious smoothies.
After the security checks (for international flights) on the way to the gates, there are plenty of opportunities to satisfy your hunger. Burger King is also there and seems to have a magnetic attraction for many travelers. You know what you’ve got. The Japanese restaurant next door could be exotic.
Tip No. 3: How long does it take to get from the check-in to your plane?
Allow one hour plus the waiting time at the check-in counter. Yes, the lines at Bangkok Airport are long. This gives you plenty of opportunity to admire the steel construction of the roof at Suvarnabhumi, which was manufactured by a German company.
First there is immigration, which checks that you have not overstayed your visa. Here you should have already filled out the exit form in your passport, otherwise the time can be even longer. And then there is the security check, where you may be held up if you haven’t packed everything properly or if there is a long queue in front of you. Now you have earned the reward of duty-free stores before the long distances to the gates can be shortened in part with treadmills.
The waiting time can be shortened with online check-in. This can be done on the airline’s website from 24 hours (or 48 hours for some airlines) before departure. Or you can check in yourself at one of the terminals in front of the airline counters. There you can print out your boarding pass and enjoy the short queue of people waiting at a special “baggage drop” counter.
Tip No. 4: Where can I leave my luggage if I don’t want to take care of it all the time at the airport?
POST-COVID: It is open again from 8 AM to 11 PM.
You can find the luggage storage of the company Bellugg in two locations: on the 2nd floor, approximately in the middle, and on the 4th floor behind the check-in counters. You can also store your bike here. In times of big cycling events, I have also seen several bike cases here.
The price depends on the size of the luggage and the number of days and is between 100 and 150 baht per piece of luggage per day (see photo). Incidentally, this is a great option if you want to make a short trip to the city center during a longer stopover. Which brings us to the next topic.
A lightweight suitcase in size M from Eminent also fits in size M. This size is recommended for one-week trips. However, as you need significantly less clothing etc. in Thailand, I prefer to travel with this easier-to-handle size.
There are also two counters with baggage storage for up to one month at the bottom of the airport link.
Tip No. 5: How long do I need to get to the city centre?
There is traffic chaos in the city center of Bangkok at certain times. Therefore, it can sometimes take longer than an hour to get to places like the Grand Palace, the royal palace, by taxi. If you want to use a longer layover at Suvarnabhumi Airport for speed-shopping in the famous malls of Sukhumvit, the Airport Link is faster. Trains run from the basement of the airport to the city center every 15 minutes from 5.30 am to midnight for 90 baht.
I recommend taking the train to Makasan or the terminus. From there you can continue by MRT (subway), Skytrain (elevated train), cab or motorcycle cab (only for the hardy).
Allow at least one hour for the one-way trip. And please don’t forget to make your way to the airport early enough. You need to be there in time for check-in and allow for the long walk to the gate and plane.
The cheapest way is to take the S1 bus, which goes to Silom Road and Khao San. Cost: 60 baht. Departure: from 6 am to 8 pm behind the cab rank.
If you want to continue your journey straight from the airport, you can hire a car. A comparison portal provides a good overview of good prices and what is available.
Bonus Tip: If you need to stay overnight
More and more often I find tips if an overnight stay at the airport is necessary. In some airports it is very difficult to find a place to lie down or rest horizontally for a few hours. Fortunately, in Bangkok there are the following comfortable and inexpensive alternatives.
If you want or need to sleep at Bangkok Airport, you can choose between high-quality and correspondingly high-priced hotels (such as the Novotel Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport) or one of the many accommodation options in a nearby district. This is because the long journey into the city center is usually not worthwhile for those who have to stay overnight because of a connecting flight.
The Great Residence Hotel in Lat Krabang is the perfect choice. Inexpensive, only 10 minutes by cab from the airport and with a large enough selection of restaurants, cookshops and beer bars around the corner. Of course, there is also the obligatory 7/11. Snacks, drinks and everything else you need to survive are available there around the clock.
The hotel also offers an inclusive shuttle service to the airport. The start of the Skylane, the fantastic cycling track around the airport, is easily accessible over the bridge.
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The closest hotel is the Novotel, which can be reached via an entrance in the basement without having to leave the airport building.
A friend recently had to spend a few hours at the airport at night because of a booking error. The Boxotel is ideal for such cases. If you can only sleep lying down and urgently need a few hours’ sleep, you can get a comfortable bed in a tiny room for as little as 650 baht (for 2 hours). Located in the basement in the passage to the Novotel at the Airport Link station.
The cheaper alternative “Avagard” has been available right next door since September 2023. 2 hours cost 500 THB in the Japanese capsule hotel-style boxes.
I really like Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport. The roof construction and the glass facade are fascinating. The paintings and the garden are beautiful to look at. I particularly like the orchid arrangements and the two guards at the check-in counters. There is a lot to discover. Have fun with it!
You can find more airport tips here:
- Where are the cabs?
- Where can I change money cheaply at Bangkok Airport?
- Where can I smoke at the airport?
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