Bangkok MRT Blue Line: the stations worth getting off at

The Bangkok MRT Blue Line is the underground that became a loop. It started as a single arc from Hua Lamphong to Bang Sue, then in 2019 and 2020 it was extended under Chinatown and the old town, across the river into Thonburi and back round to meet itself at Tha Phra. The result is that the Blue Line now reaches almost everything the BTS misses: the Grand Palace, Yaowarat, the night markets of Ratchada and the temples of the west bank. Here are the stops to use, going clockwise from Chatuchak.

Bangkok MRT Blue Line, northern arc: Chatuchak to Ratchada

• Chatuchak Park and Kamphaeng Phet: two stations for the same market. Kamphaeng Phet exits straight into the Chatuchak weekend market and the Or Tor Kor fresh market, the best produce market in the city. See Chatuchak guide.
• Phahon Yothin: Union Mall and Central Ladprao, with a BTS interchange at Ha Yeak Lat Phrao.
• Lat Phrao: a residential stop, useful for the Lat Phrao road buses.
• Huai Khwang: the Ganesha shrine at the intersection and the late-night Huai Khwang market of street food. See Ratchada and Huai Khwang guide.
• Thailand Cultural Centre: the Esplanade mall, the national theatre complex and the Ratchada nightlife strip. The original Train Night Market Ratchada closed; the successors move around, so check the map.
• Phra Ram 9: Central Rama 9, Fortune Town's electronics floors and the Jodd Fairs night market behind them. See Bangkok night markets.

The eastern arc: Phetchaburi to Lumphini

• Phetchaburi: interchange with the Airport Rail Link at Makkasan and a Khlong Saen Saep pier (Asok pier) a few minutes away.
• Sukhumvit: interchange with BTS Asok, Terminal 21 and the start of the Sukhumvit sois. See Asok and Nana guide.
• Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre: the convention centre itself, host to book fairs, art fairs and large expos, and Benjakitti Park's forest walkway next door.
• Khlong Toei: the city's largest wet market and the taxi to the Bang Krachao ferry. See Bang Krachao guide.
• Lumphini: the park's southern gate, Suan Lum night market's old site now a mall and offices, and the start of Sathorn. See Sathorn guide.
• Silom: interchange with BTS Sala Daeng for Silom Road and Patpong. See Silom guide.

The old city: Sam Yan to Sanam Chai

• Sam Yan: Samyan Mitrtown, Chula and Banthat Thong food street. See Sam Yan guide.
• Hua Lamphong: the 1916 railway station and the edge of Chinatown.
• Wat Mangkon: the Chinatown station, with a Chinese-dragon design and exits onto Charoen Krung and Yaowarat roads. See Chinatown and Yaowarat guide.
• Sam Yot: Little India at Phahurat, the old Siam Plaza and the Giant Swing, Wat Suthat and Sao Chingcha. See Little India guide.
• Sanam Chai: the station for the Grand Palace, Wat Pho, Museum Siam and the flower market, with a platform modelled on a royal hall. See Rattanakosin old town guide.

Thonburi: Itsaraphap to Lak Song

• Itsaraphap: a walk to Wat Arun and Kudi Chin. See Thonburi riverside guide.
• Tha Phra: the loop closes here; change for the western extension.
• Bang Phai: Wat Pak Nam Phasi Charoen, the enormous seated Buddha and glass chedi.
• Lak Song: the western terminus, with The Mall Bangkae and a bus and van hub for Nakhon Pathom.

Getting there

• Tokens for single journeys come from machines; the MRT uses its own stored-value card, separate from the BTS Rabbit card. Trains run from early morning to around midnight.
• Interchanges: BTS at Chatuchak Park, Phahon Yothin, Sukhumvit, Silom and Bang Wa; Airport Rail Link at Phetchaburi; the Purple Line at Tao Poon; and the Red Line at Bang Sue, which serves the Krung Thep Aphiwat long-distance terminal.
• The stations under Chinatown and the old town, Wat Mangkon and Sanam Chai, are the ones most visitors need; both have lifts and clear exit signage.
• For the elevated network, see Bangkok BTS stations worth getting off at.