Southern Terminal Bangkok

Southern Bus Terminal Bangkok

The Southern Bus Terminal Bangkok is located north-west of the city centre on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River. It is also named Sai Tai Mai Taling Chan or more simply Sai Tai Mai, which means "New South Line", because this is a new bus station, the previous one was only a few kilometres away on the same street. The terminal is the main departure point for buses and minibuses that run from Bangkok to Southern and Western regions of Thailand. Several private companies and Government Transport Company operate routes to Kanchanaburi, Phetchaburi, Cha-am, Hua Hin, Chumphon, departure point of the ferries to Koh Tao, Ranong, Surat Thani - Koh Samui, Phang-Nga, Phuket, Krabi, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Trang, Hat Yai, Songkhla, Satun, Yala, Narathiwat, Sungai Kolok, at border with Malaysia. Among the three bus terminal in the capital the one in Taling Chan district it is the less easy to reach by tourists with public transportation. Sai Tai Mai terminal is quite far from the city centre. There are not subway stations, MRT, nearby. The nearest station of Skytrain, BTS, is Bang Wa, 14 km away. The Taling Chan railway station is in the same district but it is 10 km away, and only five trains a day stop there, on the outward and return. One option to reach the terminal is to use public buses, but the bus lines in Bangkok are difficult to understand by tourists, and impractical for those who stay already in the capital and have many luggage, only those who are in transit from capital's airports have access to direct bus lines. In conclusion, for the majority of foreigners in Bangkok, boarding a metered taxi is probably the best choice to get to and from Southern Bus Station. Taxis in Bangkok are a convenient and economical method of moving. A taxi ride from Khao San Road or Dusit area, 18 km away, costs about 100-150 THB, a twenty-minute journey, however if you are coming from the most distant areas of Bangkok, like Sukhumvit, Phaya Thai or Sathon, the ride risks being a bit more expensive. An alternative, to save money, is to use the Skytrain until the Bang Wa Station, and use a taxi only for the last 14 km that serve to reach the Southern Terminal. Edifice of Sai Tai Mai Terminal spreads over four floors, and it hosts also a shopping centre, the S.C. Plaza. Inside the building, as well as the bus ticket counters, you will be able to find many different kinds of shops, such as restaurants, coffee shops, ATMs or bank agencies. Outside right in front of the main entrance is the City Bus stop and the drop off area for cars and Taxis. Inside the ground floor there are different kinds of shops, a car parking and the entrance gate to the Departure platforms, from n° 1 to n° 24, in the back of building. Just before the platforms, where access is allowed only to ticket holders, there is a Left Luggage desk, which is open from 05.00 to 22.00. At intermediate floor, M floor, there are more shops and other parking area. The 1st floor is dedicated to Ticket Counters, 94 in total; the Government Company occupies the counters from n° 1 until n° 14. On this floor you can find shops, coffee shops, as Black Canyon Coffee and some restaurants, as KFC, Chester's Grill. A covered walking bridge connects this floor to the Departure platforms in the back, from n° 25 to n° 98. On this floor there is another Left Luggage desk. The 2nd floor is dedicated to other shops and a small Food Court. The Minibus Centre is outside the building, on the left side. In the building there are many ticket counters and the Departure platform for minibus. The destination available are many, to east and west of Bangkok, such as Pattaya, Sattahip, Kanchanaburi, Nakhon Pathom, Petchaburi, Ratchaburi, Cha-Am, Hua Hin, and even to the best tourist attractions near the capital, like Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, Amphawa Floating Market, Mae Klong Train Market.Read More