Planning a trip to Thailand and wondering, which airport to land in Bangkok? As there are 2 international airports in Bangkok, Thailand, to help you decide which Bangkok airport is better for your trip plan, let's compare Bangkok airports DMK vs BKK (Don Mueang vs Suvarnabhumi) in different aspects that might be important for making a decision.
How many airports in Bangkok?
There are 2 international airports in Bangkok – Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) and Don Mueang Airport (DMK).
What is the main airport in Bangkok?
Bangkok main airport is Suvarnabhumi, which is also the main travel hub in the country. If you will be taking a long distance flight to Thailand from Europe (with or without a connection in the Middle East) or America, there's a high chance that you will land at Suvarnabhumi Airport as all most important international airlines offer flights to the main airport in Bangkok.
However, if you are traveling to Thailand from Asia or flying to Bangkok domestically, sticking to Bangkok main airport is not necessary and taking a flight to Don Mueang Airport is definitely worth considering as you can get really good deals for flights to DMK.
Bangkok Airports DMK vs BKK
How to know which Bangkok airport is better for your travel plan and which airport you should choose to land in Bangkok on your next trip to Thailand’s capital? Let's compare Bangkok Airports DMK vs BKK in different aspects that are worth considering when choosing your flight.
Flights to Don Mueang vs Suvarnabhumi
Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) is the main airport in Bangkok and the most important travel hub of Thailand that is mostly used for long-haul and full-service flights to Bangkok. If you’re looking for a flight to Thailand from Europe, USA or any other distant destination, in most cases your only reasonable choice will be Suvarnabhumi Airport. Southeast Asian national carriers such as Thai Airways, Malaysia Airlines, Singapore Airlines and other national airlines in the region also almost exclusively fly to the main airport in Bangkok.
However, if you will be looking for the best flight deals to Bangkok from Asia, quite often you will be directed to Don Mueang Airport (DMK) - Bangkok’s second airport which is well connected with all Thailand regions and other Southeast Asian countries by low-cost carriers.
Comparison of flights to Don Mueang Airport and Suvarnabhumi Airport from the most popular departure countries is detailed below.
Flights from Singapore to BKK vs DMK
You can find direct flights from Singapore to both Bangkok airports.
Currently there are about 20 daily flights from Singapore to Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) that are offered by Thai Airways, Singapore Airlines, Gulf Air, Bangkok Airways (all flights operated by other carriers) and low-cost airlines Scoot, Jetstar and Thai VietJet Air. The number of cheap flights from Singapore to BKK Airport is quite limited as Thai VietJet Air has only 1 flight and Jetstar has 2 flights a day.
Flights from Singapore to Don Mueang Airport (DMK) are operated by low-cost carriers Thai AirAsia and Thai LionAir with 7 daily departures scheduled currently.
In most cases, flights from Singapore to DMK Airport are at least 10% cheaper than flights to BKK. To compare flight offers on specific date, check flights from Singapore to Bangkok.
Flights from Malaysia to BKK vs DMK
Direct flights from Malaysia to both Bangkok airports are also available.
Flights from Malaysia to Suvarnabhumi Airport are mainly offered from Kuala Lumpur. This route is served by Malaysia Airlines, Thai Airways, Bangkok Airways (all flights operated by other carriers) and low-cost airline Thai AirAsia, which is offering 2 flights a day to BKK Airport. Thai Airways is also offering one daily flight from Penang to Suvarnabhumi Airport.
The selection of flights from Malaysia to Don Mueang Airport is better as you can not only choose to fly from Kuala Lumpur with Thai AirAsia (currently 8 departures a day) or BatikAir but also take a direct flight to Bangkok from Penang or Johor Bahru. Therefore, taking a flight from Malaysia to DMK Airport might often be a more convenient option.
Compare flight offers from Malaysia to Bangkok here:
Flights from Kuala Lumpur to Bangkok
Flights from Penang to Bangkok
Flights from Johor Bahru to Bangkok
Which Bangkok airport is closer to the city center?
If you can find good deals for flights to both Bangkok airports, you might consider choosing the airport which is closer to the city center.
Online maps normally consider the area around Democracy Monument to be the center of Bangkok City. The distance between Suvarnabhumi Airport and this spot in the city center is about 31 kilometers. Don Mueang Airport is located about 23 kilometers north of Democracy Monument, making DMK Airport closer to the city center.
As the central area of Bangkok is large with the most popular areas being quite far from each other, choosing the best area for your stay in Bangkok before booking a flight might also help you decide which Bangkok airport is better for your trip. Some of the best places to stay in Bangkok can be easier reached from BKK Airport and others from DMK Airport.
Which Bangkok airport is better connected with the city?
Suvarnabhumi Airport is not as close to Bangkok City center as Don Mueang Airport but the main airport of Bangkok is better connected with the city by public transportation. City train system called Airport Rail Link connects Suvarnabhumi Airport with Bangkok City and lets you conveniently reach the city center in as little as 30 minutes. When using Airport Rail Link, you can also easily connect to other city train systems of Bangkok – BTS SkyTrain and MRT (Metro).
Don Mueang Airport has recently been connected with Bangkok City by SRT Red Line commuter train, so now you can take city train from the airport to the city. However, the SRT red line connecting DMK airport with the city terminates in the northern part of the city and for getting into the city center you need to transfer to MRT that is quite time consuming. It is also possible to get to the central part of the city by an ordinary train departing from the train station located not that far from DMK Airport. However, taking this train is only recommended if you are on a very tight budget and have a plan to stay near Hua Lamphong Railway Station. Taking one of Don Mueang Airport shuttle buses would be a better option if you are willing to use public transportation for getting into the city from DMK Airport.
Depending on where in Bangkok you will be staying, taxi fare for a trip from the airport to the city center might be different for BKK and DMK but in most cases the difference won’t be significant.
The price of a private transfer from Suvarnabhumi Airport or Don Mueang Airport to Bangkok Downtown is similar. Discounted airport transfer from any of Bangkok airports can be booked online here: Private Bangkok Airport & City Transfers.
However, if you are looking to travel from the airport in Bangkok directly to Pattaya, the journey from Suvarnabhumi Airport will be faster and cheaper. Prices of transfer to Pattaya from both airports can be compared here: Transfers between Bangkok and Pattaya.
Facilities at DMK vs BKK Airport
Suvarnabhumi Airport is larger than Don Mueang and therefore offers more shopping and dinning opportunities.
Even if lounges are available at both Bangkok airports, the selection of lounges at Suvarnabhumi Airport is much wider as you can choose to relax and refresh before your departure, in-between flights and departures in the comfort of Coral Lounges at BKK Suvarnabhumi Airport, where you can use the WiFi, enjoy delicious food and beverages, and complimentary neck and shoulder massage, Miracle Lounge, Oman Air First Class Lounge and few others.
Currency exchange rates offered by the banks operating at Bangkok Airports are better at DMK Airport. However, if you know where to go, it is possible to find much better currency exchange rates at Suvarnabhumi Airport.
Luggage storage at Suvarnabhumi Airport as well as luggage delivery services from BKK Airport are provided by several service providers while the only luggage agent operating at DMK Airport is AIRPORTELs.
If you'll be arriving late at night or departing early in the morning, you might consider staying overnight at the airport. At Suvarnabhumi Airport you can find a 4-star hotel Novotel Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport and several compact accommodations such as Avagard Capsule Hotel and Boxtel @ Suvarnabhumi Airport. There are not as many accommodation options at Don Mueang Airport and the best place for staying overnight there is Amari Don Muang Airport, which is connected with DMK Airport by a walkway.
Immigration queues at Suvarnabhumi Airport are usually longer than you can expect at Don Mueang Airport but you can escape the boredom of waiting and large crowds by booking BKK Immigration VIP Fast-Track Service.
Which airport to land in Bangkok?
As the distance from Bangkok airports to the city center is not much different and both airports are quite well connected with the city with similar private or public transportation costs for reaching Bangkok city center, you should focus on comparing flight deals when choosing which airport to land in Bangkok.
If you like to spend some extra time at the airport and use different facilities, then landing at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok might be a better choice.
Tips
Whichever Bangkok Airport you will choose to land at, consider booking a discounted Thailand SIM Card and picking it up at the airport as pre-booking online helps save a lot: [SALE] SIM Card for Thailand (Airport Pick Up).
If you have a connection in Bangkok with flights arriving and departing from different Bangkok Airport, you can use the free shuttle bus between Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang. However, you should allow plenty of time for such a connection as the airports are quite far away.
Other options that can be used to travel between Bangkok airports are briefly described in the article BKK to DMK while traveling the opposite direction is detailed here: DMK to BKK.
If you are planning to stay in Pratunam, choose the best way to get there from Suvarnabhumi Airport and from Don Mueang Airport.
