How to get to Chiang Mai from Bangkok (with schedule and cost)

Bangkok and Chiang Mai are separated by about 750 kilometers, which is about an hour by plane, 10 hours by bus and the same amount by train. Transport between cities is very well developed and allows you to get there in just 230 baht by train in a third-class carriage or from 2000 baht by plane. We tell you in detail about all the options with a schedule and cost:

By plane

• Cost: from 1000 baht (30.67 USD, see Thailand's currency and exchange rate)
• Time spent: 1 hour (excluding check-in time and travel to/from the airport)
• Frequency of cruising: about 30 flights per day

Air traffic between Bangkok and Chiang Mai is very frequent, there are about 30 flights a day, it takes about an hour to fly. A one-way ticket without luggage will cost from 1000 baht when purchased a few weeks before the flight, and if you buy a few days before departure, the ticket may cost twice as much.

Planes to Chiang Mai fly from two airports in Bangkok: from the new Suvarnabhumi and the old Don Muanga. There is no big difference which one to choose, as long as the flight suits you according to cost and schedule. But if you want to fly to Chiang Mai immediately after arriving in Thailand, then keep in mind that almost all international flights from long-distance destinations, including from the Russian Federation, including those with transfers, arrive in Suvarnabhumi. Accordingly, if you have a flight from Don Muang, you need to leave time for control, baggage collection, search for transport, as well as time for check-in for the next flight. All this together may take 3-5 hours, but we recommend planning at least 5 hours for such a docking so that there is a reserve in case of an emergency. And about how to get from Suvarnabhumi to Don Muang we have detailed instructions.

ЦЕНА	ПЕРЕСАДКИ	АВИАКОМПАНИЯ	ДАТА ВЫЛЕТА	ДАТА ВОЗВРАЩЕНИЯ
Купить от 9487 ₽	Без пересадок		30.05.2026	02.06.2026
Купить от 5427 ₽	Без пересадок		18.06.2026	25.06.2026
Купить от 5159 ₽	Без пересадок		05.07.2026	01.09.2026
Купить от 5371 ₽	Без пересадок		28.08.2026	03.09.2026
Купить от 4353 ₽	Без пересадок		12.09.2026	15.09.2026
Купить от 5331 ₽	Без пересадок		28.10.2026	31.10.2026

There is one airport in Chiang Mai, it is located just 3 kilometers from the city center almost within its borders, i.e. leaving the terminal and passing through the parking lot you will immediately get to the city streets (Changmai airport on the map). With a light backpack from the airport, you can even walk to some hotels in Chiang Mai.

There is an official taxi at the airport, its counters will be found in the arrivals hall. The cost of the trip is fixed - 150 baht (4.6 USD) to any hotel in the city center.

Also, when you exit the terminal in the parking lot, you will see a lot of taxis from other companies, almost all of which work on the meter (Taxi meter). But a trip to the counter in the end may even cost a little more – up to 200 baht (6.13 USD). It is cheaper to go if you use the Grab or Maxim application, which replace Uber in Thailand. In the applications you can order a car, motorcycle taxi, airport taxi, limousine, etc., there are many categories. You will pay the cost immediately, on average a trip to the center will cost from 120 baht. To order a car, you can use mobile Internet or airport WiFi, and you can pay for the trip in cash.

Also in the parking lot you can find a Sonthaew minibus, the fare on which costs from 50 baht (1.53 USD), unless you hire it as a taxi. Hotels also offer airport transfers, sometimes even free, but more often paid and more expensive than a taxi.

And finally, you can rent a transport right at the airport and take it to the hotel or on a further trip through the province and the north of Thailand. To rent, you need national rights and IDP, read more here about what rights are needed to rent transport in Thailand.

The car can be rented in advance online or at the counters in the arrivals hall:

If you prefer two-wheeled transport, then there is no rental of motorbikes and motorcycles directly at the airport, but you can book on the website 🏍 BikesBooking.com with delivery to the airport.

By bus

• Cost: from 650 baht (19.93 USD)
• Time spent: 10 hours
• Frequency of cruising: 1 direct flight daily, at least 10 buses with transfers

Traveling by bus in Thailand is the cheapest way to travel. It is cheaper to travel only by train in a sitting third crass, but for long-distance trips buses are still preferable. Intercity buses come in various classes and differ in comfort level, service and speed of travel (VIP, 1st, 2nd). The faster and more comfortable, the more expensive, of course. All VIP and first class are air-conditioned, with a toilet on board and make very few stops, which is why they travel faster than low classes. Air-conditioned buses are designated as Air Conditioned or A/C, and non-conditioned buses can be designated in timetables as Ordinary.

From Bangkok, buses to Chiang Mai depart from the northern station Northern Bus Terminal, also known as Mo Chit. The cost is 650-1100 baht. They depart at least every hour and even more often from 5:30 to 22:00, about 10 hours on the way. It is especially convenient to take night buses, this will also allow you to save a night on staying at the hotel. We took the Bangkok-Chiang Mai night bus, it seemed quite comfortable to us and even managed to sleep on the way.

You can check the schedule and book tickets online here - https://12go.asia. You can also come to the station and buy a ticket for the next flight before departure, but there is a chance that there will be no tickets. Tickets for these buses (not to be confused with tourist buses) are also sold at travel agencies on the streets of Bangkok, especially in the Khao San Road area. Moreover, they will include a transfer from the hotel to the bus station, which is very convenient.

In Chiang Mai, buses from Bangkok arrive at the main large bus station Chiang Mai Arcade Bus Station, also known as Chiang Mai Bus Terminal 3 (Chiang Mai bus station on the map). From here, you can get to the city center by minibus and tuk-tuks, which are on duty here around the clock, or by car taxi through the Grab and Taxi-Maxim applications. A trip by minibus will cost on average about 50 baht per person (but you need to bargain), by tuk-tuk - 150-200 baht, taxi through applications from 100 baht.

By train

• Cost: from 230 baht (7.05 USD)
• Time spent: 12-14 hours
• Frequency of cruising: 5 trains daily

There are 5 trains running daily between Bangkok and Chiang Mai. But be careful when buying tickets: we strongly advise you not to choose the third sitting class. These are cars without specifying a place with hard seats like electric trains, it is extremely uncomfortable to ride in them. If you can still drive them for 2-3 hours, then 14 hours is already a real test. But on the other hand, you can use this route to make short trips with stops for a day or two to visit other interesting places and resorts in Thailand on the way to Chiang Mai: Chumphon, Hua Hin, chaam, Bangkok, Ayutthaya, Lopburi, Pitsanulok and Sukhothai.

How and where to buy tickets?

Tickets can be purchased in advance 30 days before the trip. During the holidays (New Year period or Thai New Year Songkran in April) it is highly recommended to purchase in advance. You can buy them at any station at the ticket office, but, fortunately, it is possible to purchase tickets in advance via the Internet.

Tickets can be purchased on the official website railway.co.th (Russian cards are not accepted), as well as on 12go.asia (you can try to pay with Russian UnionPay). The sale on the websites closes two days before departure. Learn more about Thai trains and how to use them here.

Chiang Mai Railway Station

Chiang Mai Railway Station is located 3 kilometers from the city center (Chiang Mai Railway Station on the map). You can get from here to the hotel in the center by minibus Songthaew (here they are called Red Cars) for 40 baht, by taxi or tuk-tuk from 120 baht. Some hotels can even be reached on foot from the railway station.

Transport schedule from Bangkok to Chiang Mai