Is it easy to get into Bangkok from the airport for a few hours of sightseeing?

An update from the asker in case anyone tries anything similar. I actually had about a 9:50 layover. It took about an hour to clear customs, and an hour fifteen minutes travel each way on a Sunday. Roughly 4.5 hours to see the city. Totally worth it. At 6 hours, it would not have been worth it. A few notes:

1) Ask the flight attendant what to put in the address page of where you are visiting. The customs people crossed the address I put in and just wrote transit. Havingr you continuing boarding pass handy helps clarify your situation.

2) As a US citizen, I did not need a visa and paid no fees to enter the country. If you need a visa, it may take more time.

3) I used the rail link, SRT, and boat to get around. I think taking the rail link to Phraya Thai and a taxi to the grand palace might be faster, but beware taxi drivers trying to scam you. Taking the boats along the river is totally worth it, though. Great way to see the city.

4) I was given a ticket to the tourist boat, about 40 Baht (1.30 usd or so). Note the local boat is only 13 Baht, and is more frequent (but makes a few more stops).

Simple answer is no. It will take between 1.5 and 2 hours to get into the city after going through immigration, getting your bags and a taxi ride into the city. You then consider you need to leave the city 2 to 2.5 hours before your flight to be safe. Bangkok traffic is horrendous and depending on when and where you go it can easily take 30 minutes to get from one place to another. Catch it at the wrong time and it can take an hour. If you wanted to run into the city to do just one thing, spend no more than say an hour doing it then ok. However if you want to do sightseeing forget it.

You could do it, but....think an hour to get through immigration (unless you arrive at a busy time), 1 to 2 hours to get into the city by the train and subway (don't take a taxi, I tried that I we were stuck in traffic for over 3 hours). Then 2 hours back, and an hour to get through immigration and security, though you should give yourself 2 hours.

You can go to somewhere like Megabangna Shopping Center near the airport. But I think it will be rather stressful and it is better to just relax at the airport.

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Hello,

Will you be making a transfer in which your bagged is already checked to your next destination or will you be picking up baggage in Bangkok & then checking in for the next flight? This makes a difference as you will need more time to do the latter and may not want to bring your luggage on a tour of the city.

It will take at least an hour, probably more time, each way to get from the air port to the main site seeing areas.

Realistically, you will only have an hour or maybe two to see Bangkok before returning to the airport.

Assuming that you are flying into Suvarnabhumi (BKK) air port, here is a possible route:

Take the Airport Rail Link into the city and connecting to the BTS (sky train). Take the sky train to Saphan Taksin station where you will find Sathorn Pier. Take the Chao Phraya Express boat to stop number eight for the Grand Palace and Wat Pho.

Here is a link to BKK airport:

http://www.suvarnabhumiairport.com/

and my site:

http://www.traveltoasiaandback.com/travel-thailand...

Getting into Bangkok is easy, 15-20 minutes by Airport Link or 30 minutes by taxi to get to outskirts of downtown Bangkok, Getting around Bangkok can be tiresome. Traffic is heavy there and street signals are timed, sometimes up to 400 seconds, yes, I sat at one at 6 pm and it counted down from 400 and it was near the Makkasan station before it was built. The fastest way to get around Bangkok is to take the MRT Subway or the BTS Skytrain to close where you want to get to then take a taxi to your final destination.

Most cultural sights are in Old part of Bangkok, which is ONLY accessible by Taxi

Grand Palace 1-2 hours, which includes 2 wats or temples, if there is a place that exemplifies the culture of Thailand I think this is the place.

Anyway study the skytrain and subway system in relation to where you want to go.

www.thaiwebsites.com helps you locate more info.

Good luck

Yes

Taxi

6 hours is not enough time at all. Just stay in the airport. This is a crazy metropolis.

To do a 6hr drop-in, you will have to like......

-settling or knowing your entry visa problems or "issues."

-getting a taxi.

-riding for two hours, maybe three, in a taxi to downtown King's Palace, tour stop number one.

-riding for two hours, maybe three, in a taxi back to the airport.

-catching your plane as it rolls on take-off.

Otherwise, stay at the airport.

Nope. You would spend more time on traffic than you would sight seeing. Believe me, it's the worst traffic I've experienced ever.