Getting Around Bangkok: Grab, Bolt, Taxis, Tuk-tuks and Local Transport

by Mário Ferreira  |  2026  |  Daily Life

Bangkok is a city where getting around can be a real headache — or a smooth, affordable experience, depending on the tools you use. For an expat or traveller who knows the right practices, the Thai capital is actually quite easy to navigate.

This guide covers the main modes of transport — from the Grab and Bolt apps to traditional taxis, tuk-tuks, songthaews and motorcycle taxis. With my personal preferences and the pitfalls to avoid.

✍️  My main choice for several years: Grab. Cheaper than conventional taxis, reliable, and the fixed price system set in advance avoids all the tedious haggling. It works excellently in Bangkok, Chonburi and Surin. In Surin city, Grab is very effective. The outskirts are more complicated — fewer drivers and longer wait times.

1. Grab — The Recommended Choice

Grab is the Southeast Asian equivalent of Uber. The app lets you order a car, motorcycle or even a tuk-tuk, with a price fixed before the journey.

Why Grab?

• Price shown before the journey — no unpleasant surprises
• Generally cheaper than traditional taxis
• Payment in cash or by card
• Rated driver — more reliable quality of service
• Journey history and customer service in case of problems
• Available 24/7

Limitations

• On the outskirts of Surin or in rural areas, fewer drivers available
• At peak hours or in bad weather, fares may increase (surge pricing)
• Requires an internet connection

💡  Tip: compare the Grab price before getting into a taxi. If a driver offers you a price without a meter, use Grab as a reference and negotiate at that level.

2. Bolt — The Rising Competition

Bolt arrived in Thailand more recently and is gaining popularity, particularly in Bangkok. It works identically to Grab — fixed price before the journey, rated drivers.

• Strengths: simple interface, good availability in Bangkok
• Weaknesses: slightly more expensive than Grab in my experience, fewer drivers outside major cities

✍️  I use Bolt as an alternative when Grab has no driver immediately available. Both apps complement each other well. I recommend having both installed.

3. Traditional Taxis — The Colour Code

Bangkok has over 100,000 registered taxis. What confuses visitors at first is the variety of colours. This is not decorative — each colour has a specific meaning.

The fundamental rule: two-tone vs single colour

This is the most important distinction to remember:

Colour	Type	What it means
Green+Yellow	Private independent	Owner-driver. Generally more pleasant and better maintained.
Pink / Rosa	Sahamit Coop.	Company taxi rented to the driver.
Blue / Azul	Thai Taxi Coop.	Company taxi rented to the driver.
Orange	Bowon Coop.	Company taxi rented to the driver.
Yellow	Samakkhitham	Company taxi rented to the driver.
Red+Blue	Rental taxi	Vehicle rented from a rental company.

💡  Practical rule: green/yellow two-tone taxis are private taxis owned by the driver. They generally take better care of their vehicle and are often more pleasant — it is their personal work tool.

✍️  My experience confirms this observation: private taxis (green/yellow two-tone) are generally friendlier, cleaner and more inclined to use the meter without discussion. It is a tendency, not an absolute rule.

The meter — non-negotiable

All taxis in Bangkok have been equipped with a meter since 1992. Its use is mandatory. The fare starts at 35 THB.

⛔  If the driver refuses to turn on the meter and offers a fixed price — refuse and take another taxi. Their price will be significantly higher than the meter fare. In Bangkok, taxis are so numerous that you do not need to accept this kind of offer.

💡  Tip: if you need to negotiate a fixed price, use Grab as a reference and offer an equivalent or slightly higher price.

4. The Tuk-tuk — An Experience to Have Once

The tuk-tuk is the colourful motorised tricycle that is part of Bangkok’s scenery. Noisy, open on the sides, and inseparable from the Thai imagination.

• Strengths: fun tourist experience, quick for short journeys in congested areas
• Weaknesses: prices are always negotiated — drivers charge tourists high rates, exposure to pollution

⚠️  The tuk-tuk is almost systematically more expensive than a metered taxi for the same journey. It is an experience to have at least once — but not the economical option that some imagine. Always negotiate the price before getting in.

5. The Songthaew — Local Transport Par Excellence

The songthaew (‘two rows’ in Thai) is a pickup converted into shared transport, with two benches in the back. It is the basic transport in provincial cities like Surin and in rural Isaan.

• Price: 10 to 20 THB, generally for urban journeys
• How it works: get on, indicate your destination, pay when getting off
• No fixed timetable — departs when the vehicle is sufficiently full

🚌  In Surin, songthaews run on fixed routes. A little patience and basic knowledge of local routes are enough to use them easily.

6. Motorcycle Taxis — Fast and Efficient

Motorcycle taxi drivers wear a numbered coloured vest. They park at fixed points called ‘win’.

• Ideal for: short journeys, congested areas, access to alleys (‘soi’) inaccessible to cars
• Price: negotiated or fixed by distance — generally 20 to 60 THB
• Helmet provided in principle — insist on it if not offered

⚠️  Motorcycle taxis are efficient but riskier. In Bangkok, motorcycle accidents are frequent. Reserve them for short journeys and urgent situations.

7. Comparison Table

Transport	Indicative price	Surin availability	Best for
Grab	Variable — fixed price	✅ City / ⚠️ Outskirts	All journeys
Bolt	Variable — fixed price	✅ City / ⚠️ Outskirts	Grab alternative
Taxi (meter)	From 35 THB	✅ Bangkok ✅ Surin / Isaan	Urban journeys
Tuk-tuk	Negotiated	✅ Bangkok ✅ Surin / Isaan	Tourist experience
Songthaew	10-20 THB	✅ Bangkok ✅ Surin / Isaan	Short local journeys
Motorcycle taxi	20-60 THB	✅ Everywhere	Urgent / dense areas

— Mário Ferreira  |  Surin, Isaan, Thailand

💬 Grab or traditional taxi — what is your preferred option in Bangkok? Share in the comments!

📌  Also read: our complete guide to the cost of living in Isaan and how to open a bank account in Thailand.