Suvarnabhumi Airport

Quick historical background

Suvarnabhumi Airport officially opened on September 28, 2006. Located about 30 kilometers east of downtown Bangkok, in the Samut Prakan province, it was designed to replace Don Muang Airport as the main international hub. Because yes, if Don Muang Airport is often called Bangkok's 2nd airport, chronologically speaking it was the first. It is even the oldest in Southeast Asia.

In terms of passenger numbers, Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport is the twentieth largest airport in the world and the sixth largest in Asia. In 2014, a new passenger terminal opened.

Practical information about Suvarnabhumi Airport

Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport handles both international and domestic flights. If you're flying from France, this is where you'll land in Bangkok. For domestic flights, only Thai Airways, Bangkok Airways, and low-cost carrier VietJetAir operate from this airport, as well as Thai AirAsia for some flights to Chiang Mai and Phuket.

The airport, called "Suvanaboom" by the Thais, offers a wide range of services, including restaurants, cafes, 7-Elevens, currency exchange offices (see below for where to find the best deals), duty-free shops, lounges, and even a capsule hotel. Charging stations and free Wi-Fi are available throughout the airport. There are also international car rental companies and even a massage parlor at the metro.

Buy your SIM card at the airport?

To have internet other than via the Wi-Fi of your hotels and places you frequent (check anyway if your operator does not offer you a data volume in Thailand, as is the case with Free), the simplest and least expensive solution is to buy a local SIM card. You can do it at the airport, as soon as you leave the baggage claim, you will come face to face with kiosks of the 3 local operators (AIS, Dtac and True). Here, they sell tourist packages, a little more expensive than a classic package taken elsewhere, but if you do not want to bother and have immediate access to your applications to possibly order a taxi via Grab, it is a good option. Especially since they speak English and install it for you. You will also find many exchange offices on this same floor, but they have a rather unfavorable rate, it is better to go elsewhere, always in the airport.

The best exchange offices in Suvarnabhumi

While there are exchange offices scattered throughout the airport, the most advantageous ones are a little hidden. They are located in the basement, at the metro level, in the alley that runs along the entrance gates on the left. There, you will find Superrich and Happy Rich in particular. The difference in rates with the other exchange offices in the airport is often around 3 THB more advantageous per euro, so for a large sum, it is worth going down, even if you do not take the Airport Rail Link metro. You will not find significantly better rates in the city and often even less advantageous rates. You will find more advice on the page dedicated to manage your money while traveling in Thailand.

Luggage lockers at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport

Luggage lockers are located on level 2 (arrivals floor) and level 4 (departures floor) to store your luggage. They are useful for a limited time, but if you plan to leave things there for your entire stay, it will represent a significant budget.

Restaurants and Food Center at Suvarnabhumi Airport

The airport offers a large choice of restaurants, including chains like McDonald's or Burger King, as well as more local brands. A relatively unknown but interesting Food Center is the Magic Food Center, located on the first floor, just after the kiosks that sell direct bus tickets to Hua Hin and Pattaya, at gate 8.

Buses from Suvarnabhumi Airport

Few people know this, but there are direct buses from Suvarnabhumi Airport to some destinations in Thailand, mainly in the east of the country (bookable only 30 days before departure, click to book):

• Suvarnabhumi - Pattaya Bus
• Bus Suvarnabhumi - Hua Hin
• Bus Suvarnabhumi - Koh Chang
• Bus Suvarnabhumi - Koh Kood
• Bus Suvarnabhumi - Udon Thani
• Bus Suvarnabhumi - Khon Kaen
• Bus Suvarnabhumi - Nong Khai

VAT Refund

The VAT Refund office is located after the security check, on level 4. It is important to keep your invoices and fill out the required form. Note that in theory, even if few people do it, you are supposed to declare any Buddha (not the very small statues) that leaves the country via the Custom office which is located on the 4th floor.

How long before take-off should you be at the airport?

It is recommended to arrive at least 3 hours before an international flight and 2 hours before a domestic flight. And during periods when many Thais also travel, such as New Year's Eve or Songkran in mid-April, it is better to plan even more.

How to get to Suvarnabhumi Airport?