For travelers who’ve made a list of all the places they want to visit in the city and are only in town for a limited time, the prospect of having to spend time sitting in traffic can be infuriating.
The Sathorn area is part of the financial and commercial hub of the city. It’s where major banks and most multinational corporations are located. Many of the city’s residents work in the Sathorn and neighboring Silom areas of Bangkok. And so, the city’s fastest public transit systems are also located within this area.
That’s why many experienced travelers prefer to book a hotel in the Sathorn area of Bangkok when they visit this vast metropolis.
Experienced travelers have found that the Sathorn area has three of the most used public transit systems in the city. And while they make commuting easier for the residents of the city, they also provide visitors with quick and inexpensive access to all the must-see areas of this vibrant and colorful, cosmopolitan city.
Avoid the Bangkok Traffic
By taking advantage of these transit systems, you can avoid the city’s traffic completely when you visit Bangkok. And by using the Airport Express link as well, you may never have to spend any time at all on the congested streets or highways around Bangkok.
The first rapid rail transit system in Bangkok was the BTS Skytrain. The MRT is a newer and still expanding system that’s interconnected with the BTS Skytrain. And the water taxis you’ll see going up and down the Chao Phraya River offer a unique way for visitors to sightsee.
When you add the Airport Express link from Suvarnabhumi Airport, you’ll find that you’re able to travel from the airport to the front door of your hotel in Sathorn without spending one minute of your precious time in the notoriously congested Bangkok traffic.
Travel Along the River in Bangkok
Traveling by water taxi on the river is by far the quickest way to reach all the historical and cultural sights along the river. You can take the BTS Skytrain from your hotel in Sathorn to a pier that offers access to the water taxis.
Simply head south and get off at Saphan Taksin BTS Station. Then walk down the stairs under the station, and you’ll find yourself at Sathorn Pier. It’s a busy pier with water taxis flying colored flags all loading and unloading their passengers. The colored flag-bearing ticket booths sell tickets for their corresponding water taxis.
Visitors should buy a ticket for the water taxis flying the blue flags. This is a special line specifically for tourism. It has English speaking staff on board that can answer visitor’s questions. A ticket allows you to ride the blue-flagged water taxis from morning until night for a low set price. You can get on and off the taxis at the many piers along the river. This is the quickest and least expensive way to see some of Bangkok’s most iconic attractions. The Grand Palace, the Temple of the Dawn, and Wat Po can all be reached easily by water taxi.
But the river is also the oldest area in the city and offers some of the most exotic and colorful neighborhoods. Discover Bangkok’s Chinatown and hunt down some bargains in the many markets and open-air stalls, or rent a longtail boat and explore the canals on the south side of the river and catch a glimpse of what life used to be like in the ‘Venice of the East’.
Explore Bangkok’s Many Neighborhoods
When you ride the BTS Skytrain and MRT around the city, you’ll discover that Bangkok is a city of many neighborhoods that each have their own unique character. The stations along these two lines provide easy access to these neighborhoods, and save you from hours spent in traffic.
For all the best shopping, restaurant and nightlife areas, the BTS Skytrain or the MRT are the transit systems to use. Traveling on these lines, you can experience the bohemian, funky village atmosphere of Ari, or enjoy a gourmet meal and a night of partying in trendy Thonglor. Take your kids to see the wonders at the Bangkok Children’s Discovery Museum and the nearby Butterfly Garden and Insectarium in Queen Sirikit Park. Watch the sunset over the river while sampling some of Bangkok’s exotic street food or shop till you drop at Siam Paragon.
There are so many attractions that can be easily and inexpensively reached by public transit that smart and experienced visitors always book a hotel in the Sathorn area of Bangkok. These knowledgeable travelers know they can travel to more areas in one day and make the most of the time they have to spend in Bangkok by using these public transit systems exclusively while they’re in town.
