best bus app for Bangkok?

[HermesHermes]

Looking for the most up to date and accurate public transit app for Bangkok. Ideally it includes BTS, MRT, buses, ferries, canal boats, trains and more

 

Google maps is not reliable, neither is Via. I spend a lot of time (especially late at night) waiting for buses that no longer exist or maybe never existed. The ticket sellers on buses are frequently giving me advice on how to get from point A to point B that contradict what my apps say. Examples...

 

"Bus X doesn't operate after Y o'clock"

"Bus C used to go via D road, but now goes via E road"

" Number of bus F is now G"

 

There must be six different colours of buses, companies and types. Plus all those smoky window air-con vans I see operating that are popular with wealthier Thais. Plus the songthaews (baht buses) for working Thais. I know they exist because I see them operating, sometimes to full capacity. Oh, and I forgot the orange-vested motorcycle taxis. I am not aware of any app that monitors where they congregate and standard fares.

 

I am trying to get the comprehensive picture of every way to get around Bangkok other than by taxi. Is there even an integrated system? Sure beats Manila and Jakarta (even Chiang Mai), I can say this much in praise. But Taipei and Istanbul appear to be better organized and efficient than Bangkok. A matter of tax funding perhaps.

 

I don't mind 'no information available' but I get a lot of incorrect information: much worse.

 

How does one keep track? Taxis are no longer cheap and the metro area is really spread out. Nancy Chandler's bus map - us Cheap Charlies need something more current and user-friendly.

 

I appreciate many things about Bangkok, but when I have to go anywhere beyond my own neighbourhood, it's daunting. Worse than Tokyo.

 

Perhaps someone has integrated everything into an integrated app. Just buses would be a good start. They are cheap. In fact, I quite enjoy riding the cheap open-air red buses with wooden floors. The driver and ticket collectors can be quite the characters. I do not miss the maniac drivers of the small green buses.

 

[Lorry]

Via is the best (unfortunately).

If you combine it with Google you often get a good idea of reality. 

BMTA has a call center for buses,  very useful. 

There is no integrated system. 

Motorcycle gangs are usually at the entrance of every soi, except the smallest.  But they are free not to work whenever business is slow.

[bicwang]

Not sure about Skytrains and so on, but Thai Smile Bus (TSB Go) app is quite useful. Has all the routes and bus stops.

You can also get a bus card from them and add credit through the app, fares cut off at a maximum of 25 baht a day if you have a card.

 

If you need to check out the different public transit routes in Bangkok, https://www.bangkoktransitmap.com/ is quite a good resource, although it doesn't show the timings.

[thrilled]

I just go to the bus station

[GypsyT]

9 hours ago, bicwang said:

 https://www.bangkoktransitmap.com/ is quite a good resource,

Thank you!

That's the best map for ALL transports.

[mrwebb8825]

On 12/18/2024 at 3:10 AM, HermesHermes said:

Looking for the most up to date and accurate public transit app for Bangkok. Ideally it includes BTS, MRT, buses, ferries, canal boats, trains and more

 

Google maps is not reliable, neither is Via. I spend a lot of time (especially late at night) waiting for buses that no longer exist or maybe never existed. The ticket sellers on buses are frequently giving me advice on how to get from point A to point B that contradict what my apps say. Examples...

 

"Bus X doesn't operate after Y o'clock"

"Bus C used to go via D road, but now goes via E road"

" Number of bus F is now G"

 

There must be six different colours of buses, companies and types. Plus all those smoky window air-con vans I see operating that are popular with wealthier Thais. Plus the songthaews (baht buses) for working Thais. I know they exist because I see them operating, sometimes to full capacity. Oh, and I forgot the orange-vested motorcycle taxis. I am not aware of any app that monitors where they congregate and standard fares.

 

I am trying to get the comprehensive picture of every way to get around Bangkok other than by taxi. Is there even an integrated system? Sure beats Manila and Jakarta (even Chiang Mai), I can say this much in praise. But Taipei and Istanbul appear to be better organized and efficient than Bangkok. A matter of tax funding perhaps.

 

I don't mind 'no information available' but I get a lot of incorrect information: much worse.

 

How does one keep track? Taxis are no longer cheap and the metro area is really spread out. Nancy Chandler's bus map - us Cheap Charlies need something more current and user-friendly.

 

I appreciate many things about Bangkok, but when I have to go anywhere beyond my own neighbourhood, it's daunting. Worse than Tokyo.

 

Perhaps someone has integrated everything into an integrated app. Just buses would be a good start. They are cheap. In fact, I quite enjoy riding the cheap open-air red buses with wooden floors. The driver and ticket collectors can be quite the characters. I do not miss the maniac drivers of the small green buses.

 

The most reliable "Bus App" in BKK is  every Thai person that lives in BKK and rides the buses daily. Other than that it's all hit and miss except for "routine" routes/buses.

[romulsdefroz]

Your frustration is completely valid—Bangkok’s public transit can feel like a labyrinth, especially with inconsistent information and a lack of a truly integrated system. It’s daunting trying to navigate a network with so many moving parts and changing schedules, especially when apps aren’t up to date or reliable.