Don Mueang Airport / Taxi

Metered faresBangkok

Taxi Don Mueang Airport

Metered airport taxis and private transfers from Don Mueang Airport (DMK) to central Bangkok, Ayutthaya, Pattaya and beyond. Bangkok taxis use the meter plus a small airport surcharge, so fares are cheap, but the ฿33 Dark Red Line train is often faster into town.

Cheaper than a chain of taxis: if you plan day trips to Ayutthaya or Pattaya, taxi and transfer fares add up fast. A no-deposit rental car from about ฿600 a day often costs less than two long transfer runs, and goes wherever you want.
Compare no-deposit car rental
Two ways

Metered taxi or private transfer

Metered airport taxi

The public taxi rank at Don Mueang uses the meter, which starts at about ฿35, plus a fixed ฿50 airport surcharge and any expressway tolls, roughly ฿70 into the centre. A typical all-in fare to central Bangkok is ฿350 to ฿575 for the 30 to 60 minute trip. No booking is needed and you pay cash; insist on the meter being used.

Private transfer

A private transfer is booked online in advance at a fixed price, from about ฿585 to central Bangkok. The driver meets you at arrivals with a sign and takes you straight to your hotel, with tolls included. It is the most predictable choice for families, late arrivals and the longer runs to Pattaya, Hua Hin or Ayutthaya.

Public taxi rank outside Don Mueang Airport arrivals
Metered taxis wait at the public rank; pre-booked transfers meet you inside arrivals.
Fares

Taxi and transfer fares by destination

Indicative fares from Don Mueang in baht. The taxi column is the metered fare including the ฿50 airport surcharge and typical tolls; the transfer column is the pre-booked private price. Both are per car, not per person, and can rise at night and in traffic.

DestinationDistanceAirport taxiTransfer from
Mo Chit / Chatuchak15 km฿250-350฿450
Victory Monument20 km฿300-400฿500
Khao San / Sanam Luang24 km฿350-500฿550
Central Bangkok (Sukhumvit)25 km฿350-575฿585
Suvarnabhumi Airport35 km฿450-600free (transit)
Ayutthaya55 km฿600-800฿750
Pattaya145 km฿1,500-1,800฿1,300
Rangsit10 km฿150-250฿400

Taxi, train or a rental car?

For a single trip into town, a metered taxi or the ฿33 Dark Red Line train is simplest and cheap. But if you are chaining day trips to Ayutthaya, Pattaya or Kanchanaburi, transfer fares mount up, and Bangkok traffic makes each run slow. If you plan to move around, the maths quickly favours a car.

A no-deposit rental car from about ฿600 a day often costs less than two long transfers, and frees you from waiting for drivers or watching the meter climb in traffic. It is why many visitors who leave Bangkok for the provinces drive.

See no-deposit car rental

Questions about Don Mueang airport transfers

How much is a taxi from Don Mueang Airport to the city?

A metered taxi from Don Mueang to central Bangkok is about ฿200 to ฿350 on the meter, plus a ฿50 airport surcharge and roughly ฿70 in tolls, so a realistic all-in fare is ฿350 to ฿575 for the 30 to 60 minute run. A pre-booked transfer starts from about ฿585.

Is the train from Don Mueang cheaper than a taxi?

Yes. The SRT Dark Red Line links the terminal to Bang Sue (Krung Thep Aphiwat) in about 18 minutes for just ฿33, then connects to the MRT Blue Line. It is far cheaper than a taxi and skips road traffic, though you finish the last leg by MRT or taxi.

Are there airport buses from Don Mueang?

Yes. Limousine-style A1 to A4 buses run to Mo Chit and BTS Mo Chit (฿30), Victory Monument (฿30), Lumpini (฿50) and Khao San or Sanam Luang (฿50). They are cheap but subject to Bangkok traffic.

Can I book a transfer in advance?

Yes. A private transfer from Don Mueang is booked online at a fixed price, with the driver tracking your flight and waiting at arrivals with a sign even if you are delayed. It is the easiest choice for late arrivals and families with luggage.

How do I get to Suvarnabhumi from Don Mueang?

For a same-day connecting flight, a free shuttle bus runs between the two airports from Terminal 1, Gate 6, on showing your boarding pass and passport, taking about 50 minutes. Otherwise a taxi covers the 35 km for roughly ฿450 to ฿600 plus tolls.

Is it cheaper to rent a car?

If you plan trips out of Bangkok to Ayutthaya, Pattaya or Kanchanaburi, yes. A no-deposit rental car from about ฿600 a day often works out cheaper than a few long transfers, and it goes wherever you want on your own schedule.