BTS Sukhumvit Line Guide 2025: Complete Station Map, Shopping & Food Stops

Last updated: October 2025

If you didn’t know, you’re about to — The BTS Sukhumvit Line is Bangkok's most important transit route for tourists, connecting major shopping districts, nightlife areas, and cultural attractions across 47 stations. This light-green line stretches from Khu Khot in the north to Kheha in the southeast, passing through every major hub you'll want to visit as a novice tourist.

Whether you're hunting for designer bags at luxury malls in Siam, exploring hipster cafés in Ari, or diving into street food near Victory Monument, the Sukhumvit Line gets you there fast. This complete BTS station guide will show you exactly where to hop off, what to see, and how to ride the Bangkok Skytrain like a local in 2025 & 2026.

BTS Skytrain cruises above Bangkok’s rush hour traffic.

Quick Facts & Line Overview

Key Stats

• Number of operational stations: 47 (including the shared Siam interchange)

• Route length: Approximately 51.17 km

• Operating hours: 6:00 AM to midnight (times may vary by station)

• Line color: Light green

• Station code system:

• N = North (e.g., N8 Mo Chit)

• CEN = Central (Siam station)

• E = East (e.g., E4 Asok)

Major Interchanges

• Siam (CEN): Transfer to BTS Silom Line

• Asok (E4): Connect to MRT Sukhumvit (Blue Line)

• Phaya Thai (N2): Airport Rail Link to Suvarnabhumi Airport

• Mo Chit (N8): Connect to MRT Chatuchak Park (Blue LIne)

For the official BTS information and real-time updates, visit the BTS SkyTrain official website.

Map of BTS Sukhumvit Line in Bangkok. IMAGE: https://www.bts.co.th

BTS Ticket Machines in Bangkok. PHOTO: Thailand With Monchai

How Much Does the BTS Cost?

Single Journey Tickets (2025)

• Minimum fare: ฿17 (1-2 stations)

• Maximum fare: ฿65 (full line journey)

• Average tourist trip: ฿25-45

Money-Saving Options

1. Rabbit Card (recommended): Reloadable smart card with small per-trip discount

2. One-Day Pass: ฿150 for unlimited rides (worth it if you take 4+ trips)

3. Promotional Packages: Great offers if you’re staying in Bangkok 30 - 60 days (Ask Ticket Office)

Tourist tip: The Rabbit Card saves time (skip ticket lines) and money. More details below.

For complete Rabbit Card guide, click HERE.

Rabbit Card: What It Is & How to Use It

The Rabbit Card is your best friend for riding the BTS Sukhumvit Line and Silom Line efficiently. This contactless smart card works like a debit card for Bangkok BTS transit lines.

Quick Facts

• Card cost: ฿200 (฿100 issuance fee + ฿100 initial credit)

• Maximum stored value: ฿4,000

• Where to buy: Any BTS ticket counter

• Top-up locations: BTS stations, MRT Yellow & Pink Line ticket offices, BRT ticket office, and authorized partner locations (For full guide, go HERE)

• Bonus perks: Accepted at many Bangkok cafés, shops, and restaurants such as the Siam Paragon Food Hall (List of partners occasionally change, so look for the Rabbit logo)

How It Works

1. Buy your card at any BTS station ticket counter (bring ID/passport for registration)

2. Tap the card at the entrance gate

3. Tap again when you exit

4. Top up when balance runs low (minimum ฿100 top-up and up to ฿4,000 maximum stored value)

Why Use It?

• Skip long ticket machine queues during rush hour

• Slight fare discount vs. single tickets

• Use for purchases at McDonald’s, Burger King, and other partner merchants

For full details on buying, reloading, and maximizing Rabbit Card benefits, see my complete Rabbit Card guide.

Best BTS Stations for Tourists

Not all 47 stations matter for most tourists. Here are the ones you'll actually use, organized by location along the Sukhumvit Line.

North Line Stations (N2-N8)

Mo Chit (N8)

Best for: Weekend market shopping, local souvenirs

The gateway to Chatuchak Weekend Market, one of the world's largest open-air markets with over 15,000 stalls. Best visited on Saturday or Sunday mornings (arrive by 9 AM to beat the heat).

• Also nearby: Chatuchak Park (green space break), JJ Mall (air-conditioned alternative)

• MRT connection: Walk to MRT Chatuchak Park station

• Food: Look for coconut ice cream vendors, fresh fruit smoothies, and noodle stalls inside the market

Ari (N5)

Best for: Hipster cafés, brunch, local neighborhood feel

This quieter station is where Bangkok locals hang out. Think independent coffee shops, vintage boutiques, and Instagram-worthy brunch spots.

• Vibe: Less touristy, more residential

• Budget: ฿฿-฿฿฿ (mid-range to upscale casual)

Victory Monument (N3)

Best for: Street food, local transport hub

The giant military monument marks a roundabout packed with street food vendors, especially in the evening.

• Food highlights: Boat noodles, grilled meats, fried chicken

• Transport: Van hub for trips to Ayutthaya, Don Mueang Airport (plus city buses)

• Tip: Walk the small alleys around the monument for hidden food gems

Phaya Thai (N2)

Best for: Airport transfer

Main purpose: connecting to the Airport Rail Link for Suvarnabhumi Airport.

• Journey time to airport: ~30 minutes

• Ticket: ฿45

BTS Skytrain traveling above cars, trucks and buses near Siam Square in Bangkok.

Central & East Line Stations (CEN, E4-E13)

Siam (CEN)

Best for: Shopping, art, major transfers

The absolute center of Bangkok's BTS network. Five major malls surround this station, plus cultural attractions.

• Shopping: Siam Paragon (luxury), Siam Center (trendy Thai brands), Siam Discovery (design/lifestyle), MBK (budget electronics/clothes), Siam Square One (open-air shopping complex)

• Transfer: Switch to BTS Silom Line here

• Culture: Bangkok Art & Culture Centre (BACC) — 8-minute walk or transfer via BTS Silom Line to National Stadium station.

• Food courts: Every mall has excellent food courts (฿50-200 meals)

Asok (E4)

Best for: MRT connection, themed mall

Critical interchange between BTS and MRT (Sukhumvit station underground). Also home to Terminal 21, where each floor is themed after a different world city.

• Terminal 21 highlights: Tokyo floor (ramen, Japanese snacks), San Francisco floor (Pier 21 Food Hall), Hollywood floor (SF Cinema, Spa, mobile phone services)

• Nearby: Sukhumvit Soi 11 (bars and clubs), plenty of restaurants on Sukhumvit Road

• Family-friendly: Terminal 21's food court is excellent for kids

• Bangkok's Best Hidden Barber: ฿200 Haircut at Easy Cut Barber Shop in Asok Underground Mall

• Budget: ฿-฿฿

BTS Skytrain cruising above Benchasiri Park near Phrom Phong station, Bangkok, Thailand.

Phrom Phong (E5)

Best for: Luxury shopping, upscale dining

Connected via skywalks to three premium malls: Emporium, EmQuartier, and EmSphere.

• EmQuartier: Rooftop garden, gourmet food hall, high-end fashion

• Emporium: Luxury brands, Emporium Suites Hotel connection

• EmSphere: More luxury brands, IKEA store, 6,000-capacity UOB Live performance venue

• Benchasiri Park: Right next door — perfect for a green break between shopping

• Budget: ฿฿ - ฿฿฿฿

Thong Lo (E6)

Best for: Nightlife, trendy restaurants, cocktail bars

Where Bangkok's young professionals and expats go for evening entertainment. Not much to see during the day, but it transforms after 6 PM.

• Bars: Cul de Sac (rooftop, live music), Echelon Bangkok (chic vibes & beats)

• Restaurants: Krua Jiang Mai (Northern Thai cuisine), Terra Thonglor (Japanese food & craft beer), LAVA Fire Grill (meat and seafood)

• Tip: Come here for dinner and drinks (expect higher pricing)

• Budget: ฿฿฿ - ฿฿฿฿

Ekkamai (E7)

Best for: Japanese food, bus terminal

Home to Gateway Ekamai Mall and Bangkok's densest cluster of Japanese restaurants.

• Japanese food: Ramen, yakitori, okonomiyaki, izakayas along Sukhumvit Soi 63

• Gateway Mall: Japanese supermarket (Don Don Donki), cinema, casual dining

• Ekkamai Bus Terminal: Day trips to Pattaya, Rayong beaches (2-3 hours)

• Budget: ฿฿

On Nut (E9)

Best for: Local Bangkok experience, budget street food

This is "real Bangkok" — less polished, fewer tourists, more authentic daily life.

• Street food: Night market near the station (opens 5 PM), endless noodle stalls

• Shopping: Big C Extra market (Thai snacks, cheap clothes), small local shops

• Vibe: Working-class neighborhood, very safe, great for adventurous eaters

• Budget: ฿ (very affordable)

Bang Na (E13)

Best for: Trade shows, large-scale shopping

Useful mainly for business travelers or if you're attending events.

• BITEC: Bangkok International Trade & Exhibition Centre (conventions)

• Mega Bangna: Massive mall (one of Thailand's largest), IKEA, outlet stores

• Note: Far from central Bangkok (~45 min from Siam), only worth visiting with specific purpose

Typical street food cart in Bangkok, Thailand.

Food & Dining Highlights by Area

Street Food Champions

• Victory Monument: Boat noodle alley, crispy pork, fried chicken

• On Nut: Night market with grilled seafood, som tam (papaya salad), mango sticky rice

• Ari: Hipster food options, artisan ice cream, fusion Thai, western-style brunch

Mall Food Courts (Best Value)

• Terminal 21 (Asok): Pier 21 food court — large variety & very affordable, ฿50-100

• Siam Paragon (Siam): Gourmet Market food hall — Thai favorites, ฿80-200

• EmQuartier (Phrom Phong): Foodie's Market — trendy stalls, ฿100-250

Japanese Food District

• Ekkamai/Thong Lo: 50+ Japanese restaurants

• Ramen: Sho Ryu Ramen (฿฿), IRODORI Japanese Ramen Cafe (฿฿฿)

• Izakaya: Izakaya Mori House (฿฿฿), Yurijin Izakaya & Japanese Dining Ekkamai (฿฿)

• Sushi: Kohaku 琥珀 こはく Omakase (฿฿฿), Sushi Yorokobu (฿฿฿)

Upscale Dining

• Phrom Phong: North Restaurant (Thai ฿฿฿฿), Enoteca Bangkok (Italian ฿฿฿฿)

• Thong Lo: R-HAAN (Thai ฿฿฿฿), La Bottega Bangkok (Italian ฿฿฿฿)

• Siam: Nobu inside Siam Paragon (Japanese ฿฿฿฿), Sra Bua by Kiin Kiin (Thai ฿฿฿฿)

Budget Guide:

• ฿ = Under ฿100 per person

• ฿฿ = ฿100-300

• ฿฿฿ = ฿300-800

• ฿฿฿฿ = ฿800+

Riding Smart in 2025

Beat the Crowds

Peak hours to avoid:

• Morning: 7:00-9:00 AM (office commuters)

• Evening: 5:00-7:00 PM (rush hour chaos)

Best times to ride: 10 AM-4 PM, or after 8 PM

Pro Tips

1. Stand right, walk left on escalators (Bangkok convention)

2. Priority seats: Designated few seats in each car (pregnant, elderly, disabled, monk)

3. Air conditioning: Trains are COLD — bring a light jacket if needed

4. Luggage: Allowed, but avoid peak hours if you have large bags

Station Amenities

All major stations have:

• ✅ Escalators and elevators (wheelchair accessible)

• ✅ Clean restrooms (sometimes in connected malls)

• ✅ Convenience stores (Turtle, only at some major stations)

• ✅ Security guards and in-person ticket officials to assist

Transfer Tips

BTS to MRT transfers:

• Asok ↔ MRT Sukhumvit: 3-minute walk via underground passage

• Mo Chit ↔ MRT Chatuchak Park: 5-minute walk outdoors

• Siam ↔ MRT Silom: Requires exiting BTS system (not connected)

Important: You'll need separate tickets for BTS and MRT (they're different systems). However, the Rabbit Card works on both BTS and MRT Yellow & Pink Lines

Last Train Warnings

• Trains stop running around midnight

• Final departure times vary by station

• If you miss the last train, use:

• Grab/Bolt (ride-hailing apps)

• Metered taxis (insist on meter)

• MRT (runs slightly later on some lines)

Sample Itineraries Using the Sukhumvit Line

Full-Day Shopping & Nightlife

9:00 AM — Mo Chit (Chatuchak Market)
12:00 PM — Siam (lunch at Siam Paragon food court, shopping)
2:00 PM — Asok (Terminal 21 for more shopping)
4:00 PM — Phrom Phong (EmQuartier, coffee break, walk-about at Benchasiri Park)
7:00 PM — Thong Lo (dinner and cocktails)

Total BTS travel time: ~45 minutes across all stops

Local & Café Culture Day

10:00 AM — Ari (brunch at Brooks Brunch & Bar)
12:00 PM — Walk Ari neighborhood, boutique shopping
2:00 PM — Siam → Transfer to Silom Line to National Stadium station (Bangkok Art & Culture Centre - Free Admission)
5:00 PM — On Nut (street food dinner, night market browsing)

Vibe: Lowkey no-rush day in Bangkok

Airport Arrival Day

Land at Suvarnabhumi → Airport Rail Link (฿45)
Exit Phaya Thai → Transfer to BTS Sukhumvit Line
Continue to your hotel station (e.g., Asok, Phrom Phong, Thong Lo)
Evening: Drop bags, then quick dinner at nearest choice restaurant or night market

Total time from airport to Asok: ~50 minutes

Family-Friendly Day

10:00 AM — Siam (MBK Mall shopping, lunch)
2:00 PM — Siam Paragon (SEA LIFE Bangkok Ocean World)
4:00 PM — Phrom Phong (Benchasiri Park for playground break)
6:00 PM — Emporium/EmQuartier (dinner, explore pop-up markets)

Why this works: All stations have elevators for accessibility, clean restrooms, and air-conditioned malls

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does the BTS cost?

Single journey tickets range from ฿17 (short trips) to ฿65 (full line). Average tourist trips cost ฿25-45. A Rabbit Card offers small discounts and saves time, worth it if you’re in Bangkok for more than a couple of days.

What time does the BTS Sukhumvit Line open?

Approximately 6:00 AM, with last trains around midnight. Exact times vary by station — check the official BTS website for your specific route.

Can I use my Rabbit Card on the MRT?

Yes, but limited. The Rabbit Card works on both BTS and MRT Yellow & Pink Lines in Bangkok metro. However, the Rabbit Card is not accepted on MRT Blue, Purple, Orange lines.

Which BTS station is best for shopping?

Siam (CEN) for variety (Siam Paragon, MBK, Siam Center, Siam Square One), Phrom Phong (E5) for luxury (EmQuartier/Emporium/EmSphere), or Asok (E4) for quirky themed shopping and cheapest food court in Bangkok (Terminal 21).

Is the BTS safe for tourists?

Extremely safe. Bangkok's BTS is clean, efficient, and monitored. Pickpocketing is rare but possible during peak crowding — keep valuables secured.

How do I get from Suvarnabhumi Airport to BTS?

Take the Airport Rail Link from the airport to Phaya Thai station (30 min, ฿45), then transfer to the BTS Sukhumvit Line. From there, ride to your hotel's nearest station.

Do BTS stations have elevators?

Yes, all major stations are wheelchair accessible with elevators. Some smaller/older stations may only have escalators — check with ticket office attendant if accessibility is critical.

Can I bring luggage on the BTS?

Yes, luggage is allowed. Avoid peak hours (7-9 AM, 5-7 PM) if you have large bags, as trains get extremely crowded.

Summary & Your Next Steps

The BTS Sukhumvit Line is your essential tool for exploring Bangkok efficiently in 2025 and 2026. From Chatuchak Market to luxury malls, street food to rooftop bars, this single train line connects nearly everything tourists want to see.

Quick Action Checklist:

✅ Buy a Rabbit Card on arrival if your Bangkok stay is more than 2 days (saves time and money)
✅ Download the BTS map to your phone (posted above)
✅ Bookmark your top 5 stations from this guide
✅ Avoid riding during rush hours (7-9 AM, 5-7 PM)
✅ Keep small bills for food courts and street vendors

Pin this guide for your Bangkok trip — you'll reference it constantly while hopping between stations. And don't forget to check out my complete Rabbit Card guide for advanced tips on saving money and using your card beyond the BTS.

Share this guide: Help other travelers navigate Bangkok's BTS system — share on Pinterest, IG, Facebook, TikTok, or Twitter/X.

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