The ultimate Bangkok airport guide

Bangkok has two international airports:

• Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK), which handles plenty of long-haul flights from major international airlines
• Don Mueang Airport (DMK), which typically operates short-haul (and often budget) flights

There are plenty of reasons that adventurous travellers might find themselves flying into or taking off from one of Bangkok’s airports. After all, the Thai capital is one of the most exciting cities in the world, from its glitzy sky bars and designer malls to its ethereal temples, mouth watering street food and buzzing nightlife.

As well as being a starting point for adventures in the Land of Smiles–think jungle treks in Chiang Mai and island breaks on Koh Samui–Bangkok is also a gateway to Southeast Asia. From here, you can explore popular destinations such as Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. And this will most likely involve flights to and from the Thai capital.

So if you’re heading to Southeast Asia, you may be wondering which Bangkok airport is better. Here’s everything you need to know about Bangkok’s airports.

Bangkok airports

Bangkok is home to two international airports: Suvarnabhumi airport (BKK) and Don Mueang airport (DMK).

Here’s a quick overview of what you can expect from each one:

Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK)

As Bangkok’s main airport, Suvarnabhumi handles flights from major international airlines. If you’re on a long-haul flight, the odds are you’ll land here. It’s the busiest airport in Thailand, and the second busiest in Southeast Asia after Singapore’s award-winning Changi Airport. Indeed, around 60 million passengers pass through Suvarnabhumi each year.

Suvarnabhumi Airport is a large, modern airport, and as such boasts plenty of amenities, from premium lounges and duty free shopping to restaurants and bars.

Don Mueang Airport (DMK)

Don Mueang is a smaller alternative to Suvarnabhumi. But make no mistake, this historic airport is still pretty busy. In fact, it’s one of the world’s busiest low-cost carrier airports, with major budget airlines, including AirAsia, Nok Air and Lion Air flying from here. It may not have as wide a variety of amenities as Suvarnabhumi, but it still has everything you need to relax before your flight.

Fun fact: Don Mueang is one of the oldest airports in the world! It was opened as a Royal Thai Air Force base in 1914 – just 11 years after the Wright Brothers achieved their first powered flight. It started operating commercial flights in 1924, making it one of the world’s oldest commercial airports as well.

Suvarnabhumi (BKK) vs Don Mueang (DMK): how to choose which one’s best for you

Booking a trip to Thailand, but not sure which airport in Bangkok is better for you? Here’s how to work out whether you should opt for Suvarnabhumi or set a course for Don Mueang.

1. Domestic flights

You can catch domestic flights to and from both BKK and DMK, although Don Mueang is better known for its local flights, while Suvarnabhumi is typically used for longer trips. However, if both airports offer flights to your domestic destination, you can simply choose the route with the lowest price or the schedule that suits you best. It’s also worth checking out which airport is nearest to your accommodation.

However, Don Mueang tends to be a lot quicker to pass through thanks to its smaller size and the fact that terminal 2 is reserved solely for domestic flights. When you’re flying domestic, you don’t need to arrive at the airport as early as you would for a long-haul international flight, so in many cases choosing Don Mueang can significantly cut down your transit time.

2. International flights

Don Mueang is primarily known for its regional and low-cost carrier routes, so it’s a great option if you’re travelling internationally, but short haul – for example, to nearby countries such as Laos, Cambodia or Vietnam.

If you’re flying long-haul, however, such as back to the UK or Europe, you’re more likely to find a flight from Suvarnabhumi, which is home to plenty of large international airlines, from Emirates and Cathay Pacific to Air Canada and Lufthansa.

3. Location

The location of the airport in relation to your accommodation could well be a deciding factor when it comes to which transport hub you fly to or from. After all, travelling across Bangkok is no easy task, so opting for the airport that is nearer your hotel can save hours.

So, where in Bangkok are Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang?

Suvarnabhumi Airport lies around 30 kilometres (18.6 miles) east of downtown Bangkok. You can reach the city centre by taxi, train or bus. If you’re travelling by road, you can speed up your journey into the centre by paying an extra fee to take the expressway.

Don Mueang Airport is around 22 kilometres (13.6 miles) north of Bangkok city centre, and you can make the journey by train, bus or taxi.

4. Amenities

As the bigger of the two airports, Suvarnabhumi boasts significantly more amenities than Don Mueang. Indeed, once you’ve cleared check-in and security at Suvarnabhumi, you’ll find a wide range of duty free stores, fashion outlets and premium brand boutiques, including Rolex, Gucci, Hermes and Cartier. There are plenty of souvenir stores too.

Suvarnabhumi is home to around 50 dining venues, from fast food outlets like McDonald’s and Subway to restaurants like Thai Street Food, The Villa Halal and Bonchon.

At Don Mueang, you’ll find duty free stores at both international arrivals and departures. Here you can pick up liquor, tobacco, perfumes, cosmetics and local products. It’s also home to a number of convenience stores, including 7-eleven and Boots, where you can pick up last-minute essentials for your trip. DMK has a decent selection of bars and restaurants too, including Bread Talk, Starbucks, Doi Chaang Coffee and Magic Cafe.

5. Airlines

As outlined above, Suvarnabhumi generally serves large, long-haul, and often premium airlines, while Don Mueang handles low-cost international carriers, as well as plenty of domestic flights.

This means that often your departure or arrival airport will decide which airport you fly to. If you’re coming in from London, you’re most likely to land at Suvarnabhumi. Flying back from Phuket? It’s probably going to be Don Mueng.

A huge range of airlines fly to and from Suvarnabhumi, with some of the most popular being:

• Thai Airways
• Emirates
• Etihad Airways
• Qatar Airways
• Gulf Air
• China Eastern Airlines
• Air China
• Eva Air
• Hainan Airlines
• Saudi
• Lufthansa
• Air India
• Turkish Airlines
• Cathay Pacific
• Swiss
• Austrian Airlines

Some of the most popular carriers that operate out of Don Mueang include:

• Air Asia
• Thai AirAsia
• Nok Air
• R Airlines
• Orient Thai
• Thai Lion Air
• THAI Smile
• Batik air malaysia

6. Connections

Making connections at both airports is relatively simple. However, the process will vary depending on your airline, the nature of your ticket and the length of your layover. If you’ve purchased two separate fares, rather than one journey, bear in mind you may have to pick up your luggage, head to departures and go through check-in and security again.

If you booked all your flights as one journey, upon landing at Suvarnabhumi, simply follow the signs for Connections/Transfers. If you have a short layover, an airline representative may meet you off your first plane and escort you to your next gate.

If you have a longer layover at Suvarnabhumi, there are plenty of airport hotels to choose from, and there are two capsule hotels within the airport itself – Avagard Capsule Hotel and Boxtel @ Suvarnabhumi Airport.

How about Don Mueang? Again, you’ll want to follow the signs for connections/transfers upon disembarking your original flight. Bear in mind that if you’ve landed from an international flight, and are connecting to a domestic flight, you’ll need to make your way from terminal 1 to terminal 2 via the elevated walkway. The walk takes between five and 15 minutes. You’re unlikely to have a super long layover at Don Mueang, but there are a number of nearby hotels if you need them.

If you’re unsure whether you’re travelling on one ticket or two, ask at the check-in desk ahead of your first flight, or call your airline’s customer service number.

You may also need to travel between Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang in order to make your connection. For example, you might have flown in from the UK, and want to travel onwards to a Thai island such as Ko Samui or Ko Lanta, without stopping in the capital.

There are a few ways to get from one airport to another. If you have a valid ticket or boarding pass for a flight departing from either DMK or BKK airport on the same day, you can catch the Airports of Thailand (AOT) shuttle bus for free, between 05:00 and midnight. Buses run every 15–30 minutes, but bear in mind that queues can be significant, and the journey itself can take between one and two hours, depending on traffic.

Alternatively, hop in a taxi and ask the driver to take the expressway in order to complete the journey in around an hour. There are rideshare services–Grab and Bolt–which operate from the airport too. Or book a private transfer in advance.

Best Bangkok airport to fly into: considerations

Here are the main factors to consider when deciding which of Bangkok’s airports to fly to or from:

• Long-haul or short-haul: Suvarnabhumi is set up to handle international long-haul flights, while Don Mueang typically deals with short-haul flights, whether international or domestic.
• Premium or budget: If you’re on a budget, you’ll probably want to fly into Don Mueang, where the low-cost carriers operate. Suvarnabhumi is home to more premium airlines.
• Accommodation location: If you’re staying in the north or west of Bangkok, Don Mueang will likely be closer to your accommodation. In the south or east, Suvarnabhumi is likely to be nearer. Check your map to be sure.
• Amenities vs speed: Want a premium airport experience with plenty of high-end stores and lounges? Suvarnabhumi is the transport hub for you. If you’re more bothered about speeding through the airport, try Don Mueang.

FAQ

1. Are there two airports in Bangkok?

Yes! Bangkok is home to two international airports: Suvarnabhumi airport (BKK) and Don Mueang airport (DMK). Suvarnabhumi typically deals with long-haul and full service flights, while Don Mueang is a short-haul, low-cost transport hub.

2. Is Bangkok airport DMK or BKK?

There are two international airports in Bangkok: Suvarnabhumi airport (BKK) and Don Mueang airport (DMK). However, ‘Bangkok airport’ is more likely to refer to Suvarnabhumi, which typically deals with longer-haul, full-service flights from large airlines. Don Mueang is a low-cost transport hub that specialises in short-haul domestic and international flights.

3. Are BKK and DMK the same airport?

No, Suvarnabhumi airport (BKK) and Don Mueang airport (DMK) are two different airports. Suvarnabhumi lies around 30 kilometres (18.6 miles) to the east of the Thai capital, and Don Mueang is about 22 kilometres (13.6 miles) north of the city centre. Both airports offer international and domestic flights, but Suvarnabhumi handles more long-haul and full-service airlines, whereas Don Mueang is a budget transport hub, and mainly flies to short-haul destinations.

4. Which Bangkok airport is closer to the city?

There’s not a huge difference in Bangkok’s two airports when it comes to distance from the city centre. However, technically Don Mueang is closer, at 22 kilometres (13.6 miles) north of Bangkok city centre. Meanwhile Suvarnabhumi Airport lies around 30 kilometres (18.6 miles) east of downtown Bangkok.

5. What is the main airport in Bangkok?

Suvarnabhumi Airport best fits the description of ‘main airport in Thailand’. This is because it’s a larger, busier airport than Don Mueang, Bangkok’s other international airport.