Don Mueang (DMK) and Suvarnabhumi (BKK) are about 50 km apart. Transit passengers with a connecting boarding pass ride a free AOT shuttle; everyone else takes the S2 public bus (about 35 baht), the train (two transfers), or a taxi (roughly 400-500 baht on the meter plus tolls). Allow at least 4 hours between separately booked flights.
That is the short version. The longer version – and the part most transfer guides skip – is that this is really two decisions, not one: how you cross Bangkok, and how your luggage does. Travelling with two big suitcases quietly deletes the cheap options: the S2 bus stops roadside at Don Mueang, and the train route involves two transfers and a walkway. Below is every option, honestly priced as of July 2026, plus the one alternative only we can offer: our 24-hour counters inside both airports, which let you and your bags travel separately.
What are my options for getting between DMK and BKK?
Five realistic ways, as of July 2026:
| Option | Cost | Time to allow | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free AOT shuttle bus | Free | 1-2 hours, plus up to an hour’s wait | Transit passengers with an onward boarding pass only |
| S2 public bus (former 554) | About 35 baht | 1.5-2 hours | Budget travellers with light bags |
| Train (Red Line + Airport Rail Link) | Under 150 baht combined | About 2 hours, two transfers | Rush hour – it is immune to traffic |
| Metered taxi or ride-hailing | Roughly 400-500 baht + tolls and airport surcharge | 45 minutes to 2 hours | Groups, heavy luggage, awkward hours |
| AIRPORTELs luggage transfer (bags travel separately) | Within-Bangkok delivery from 299 baht/bag; route price confirmed at booking | Same-day for daytime drop-offs | Long gaps, overnight connections, a hands-free day in Bangkok |
Who can use the free airport shuttle bus?
Airports of Thailand runs a free shuttle between the two airports – but it is strictly for transit and transfer passengers. Staff check a boarding pass for your connecting flight plus your passport or ID before you board. If your two flights are on separate bookings and you cannot show an onward boarding pass, this bus is not for you.
As of July 2026 the shuttle runs from 5:00 a.m. to midnight, roughly one departure per hour. At Don Mueang it leaves from Terminal 1, 1st Floor, Gate 6; at Suvarnabhumi, from the 2nd floor (arrivals level), outside Gate 3. Official guidance puts the ride itself at 1-2 hours depending on traffic – and with hourly departures, a badly timed arrival can mean nearly an hour at the stop. Free is free, but it is the least predictable option on this list for a tight connection.
What is the cheapest way if I am not a transit passenger?
The S2 bus (the renumbered route 554, and many buses still display the old number) is the cheapest public option open to everyone. The airport-to-airport fare works out at about 35 baht, the fleet is electric and air-conditioned, and buses run roughly every 30 minutes from about 5:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Budget 1.5-2 hours in traffic.
The honest caveats: at Suvarnabhumi the S2 uses the public transport centre rather than the terminal itself, so you connect by the airport’s internal shuttle; at Don Mueang it stops on the road passing the airport, which means crossing to the terminal with everything you are carrying. With a backpack, fine. With a luggage trolley’s worth of bags, this option stops being cheap and starts being hard work.
Can I take the train between Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi?
Yes, with two transfers – and it is the only route Bangkok traffic cannot touch. From Don Mueang, a footbridge links the terminal directly to Don Mueang station on the SRT Dark Red Line (fares 12-42 baht). Ride to Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal, switch to the MRT Blue Line, and get off at Phetchaburi, where a walkway connects to Makkasan station on the Airport Rail Link – 35 baht from there to Suvarnabhumi. Reverse the sequence in the other direction.
Combined fares come in under 150 baht, but budget about two hours door to door once transfers and waiting are counted. It is a good route with one bag you can lift; with several, two transfers and station walkways will test your patience.
How much does a taxi between the two airports cost?
From the official public taxi ranks, expect roughly 400-500 baht on the meter, plus expressway tolls and the airport pickup surcharge, as of July 2026. Ride-hailing apps quote a fixed price upfront if you prefer certainty over the meter. Door to door it is the fastest and simplest option – anywhere from 45 minutes with clear roads to 2 hours in Bangkok’s rush hour, so never plan around the best case.
Our honest verdict: if your gap between flights is tight and your bags are heavy, a taxi with everything in the boot is the right call. No storage counter, no delivery service, no bus beats it for a short, direct, all-in-one transfer.
How much time should I leave between flights at different airports?
If your flights are on separate tickets, your bags are not checked through and no airline is responsible for the connection. You will need to land, collect luggage, clear any immigration formalities, cross the city, and check in all over again – typically 2-3 hours before an international departure. Treat 4 hours as the floor, 5-6 hours as comfortable, and remember the road transfer alone can swing from 45 minutes to 2 hours.
If the maths leaves you with 6+ hours in the middle of the day, you have quietly gained a Bangkok afternoon – which is exactly where the next option comes in.
Do I actually have to carry my luggage across Bangkok?
No – and this is the part of the airport-to-airport problem we know best, because we operate on both ends of it. AIRPORTELs runs staffed counters inside both airports, open 24 hours: at Suvarnabhumi on the B Floor, in the Airport Rail Link zone, and at Don Mueang in Terminal 2, 1st Floor, Gate 9. Because both counters never close, a late-night landing or a dawn departure is not a problem on either end.
That geography enables a different kind of transfer. Drop your bags at one airport’s counter and have them delivered to the other – or to your hotel – while you cross town by train or bus with nothing but a daypack. Within-Bangkok delivery starts at 299 baht per bag up to 25 kg, same-day for daytime drop-offs; the exact airport-to-airport route price is confirmed at booking. Every bag is x-ray screened, tagged, photo-logged, and insured up to 50,000 baht per booking. If your gap spans a night in the city, storage at either counter is a flat 100 baht per bag per day, any size.
To be clear about when this is not worth it: with a sub-5-hour gap, keep your bags and take a taxi – same-day delivery needs a daytime drop-off and lead time. Where it changes the day is the long gap: morning arrival at DMK, evening flight out of BKK, and eight hours in between that can become hands-free hours in Bangkok instead of a day chained to a trolley.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free shuttle bus between Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang?
Yes. Airports of Thailand runs a free shuttle between the two airports from 5:00 a.m. to midnight, roughly one departure per hour. It is only for transit and transfer passengers – you must show a boarding pass for a connecting flight, plus your passport or ID, to board (as of July 2026).
How long does it take to travel between Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi?
The airports are about 50 km apart. A taxi takes anywhere from 45 minutes to 2 hours depending on Bangkok traffic. The free shuttle and the S2 public bus typically need 1 to 2 hours, and the train route with two transfers takes around 2 hours door to door.
How much time should I allow between flights at DMK and BKK?
If your flights are on separate tickets, treat 4 hours as the minimum and 5 to 6 hours as comfortable. You need to collect your bags, clear any immigration formalities, cross the city, and check in again – and Bangkok traffic can absorb 2 hours on a bad day.
Can I send my luggage from one Bangkok airport to the other instead of carrying it?
Yes. AIRPORTELs has 24-hour counters inside both airports – B Floor at Suvarnabhumi and Terminal 2, Gate 9 at Don Mueang. Drop your bags at one counter and collect them at the other, or have them sent to your hotel. Within-Bangkok delivery starts at 299 baht per bag up to 25 kg; the exact airport-to-airport price is confirmed at booking. Every bag is insured up to 50,000 baht.
