Bangkok Don Mueang: Terminals, Lounges and Getting Out

Bangkok Don Mueang (IATA code DMK, ICAO code VTBD) is the capital’s older airport, about 23 km north of the Grand Palace in a straight line, and it is a base for low-cost carriers. Terminal 1 handles international flights and Terminal 2 handles domestic flights, and the two are joined by a walkway. Don Mueang has a train station opposite the airport, so you can reach central Bangkok without a car. This guide covers the layout, how departures and arrivals work, the paid lounges, and every way out, with prices checked on 2026-10-09.

What is Don Mueang airport and how does it differ from BKK?

Don Mueang opened on 27 March 1914 as a Royal Thai Air Force base. Its IATA code was BKK until 2006. Today BKK means Suvarnabhumi and DMK means Don Mueang.

Here is what changes when your flight uses Don Mueang instead:

• Airlines. Nok Air, Thai AirAsia, Thai AirAsia X and Thai Lion Air all use Don Mueang as an operating base. Check your booking, because the airport you land at decides your route into town.
• Rail. Don Mueang Station on the SRT Dark Red Line sits opposite the airport.
• Size. Airport figures for 2025 show about 19.4 million domestic and 12.2 million international passengers, so the airport is busier on domestic routes than international ones.
• Runways. Two runways, 3,700 m and 3,500 m long.

For a full comparison of how to reach town from both airports, see airport to city options.

Which terminal is which: Terminal 1 or Terminal 2?

The split is simple on paper and slightly messy in practice.

Some budget airlines (Nok Air, Thai AirAsia and Thai Lion Air) fly from both buildings depending on whether the flight is international or domestic. Terminal assignments change over time, so read the terminal on your e-ticket or boarding pass, not a guide, and confirm on the departure boards.

Terminal 3 is a third building still on paper. It is currently disused. A 36.8 billion baht project would add 20 million passengers a year when built, lifting total capacity from 30 million to 50 million, with a target date of 2029. Do not plan any trip around it.

How do I get from Terminal 1 to Terminal 2?

On foot. A glass-enclosed, elevated walkway connects both terminals and also runs on to the Amari Don Muang Airport hotel, about 450 m from the terminal. Guides put the walk between the terminals at roughly 10 minutes (estimates range from 5 to 15, depending on where in each building you start).

The sources do not confirm a shuttle bus between the terminals, so plan to walk.

Bangkok Don Mueang airport departures: how to leave on time

Arrive early. One airport guide suggests arriving at least 2 hours before a domestic flight and 3 hours before an international one.

Find your check-in row. Terminal 2 check-in desks for domestic flights are grouped by airline. Rows listed on the airport’s own site: Thai AirAsia in rows 9 and 10, R Airlines, Orient Thai and Thai Lion Air in row 11, Thai Lion Air and THAI Smile in row 12, and Nok Air in rows 14 and 15. These rows change, so treat them as a starting point and look at the departure board.

Use the facilities before security. ATMs are available, and currency exchange is available in public areas and in secure zones. Terminal 2 has left-luggage storage near Exit 9 on Level 1. Free Wi-Fi is limited to 60 minutes. There are medical clinics on Level 1 of each terminal.

Know where to wait. Terminal 1 has an observation deck on Level 4. Terminal 2 has a Thai street food court on Level 4. If you have a long layover, the Sleep Box by Miracle on Level 4 of Terminal 2 and the Amari hotel (429 rooms and suites, 450 m away by covered walkway) are the two places to sleep without leaving the airport grounds.

Is there a map of Don Mueang airport?

The airport is compact enough that a map is mostly a list of levels. Think of it as two connected buildings:

• Terminal 1 (international). Arrivals on Level 1 with duty free and Exit 6 for the free Suvarnabhumi shuttle. Ride-hailing pickup at Exits 2 and 5. Departures with duty free on Level 3. Observation deck on Level 4. BMTA bus gate is Gate 6 on Level 1.
• Terminal 2 (domestic). Left luggage near Exit 9 on Level 1, ride-hailing pickup at Exit 12, food court and Sleep Box on Level 4.
• The link. The elevated walkway joins both terminals and the Amari hotel. Don Mueang rail station is opposite the airport, reached by a skywalk.

For the official floor plan, use the airport’s own site. Printed maps change when shops and counters move, so keep any downloaded map to orientation only.

Where are the lounges at Don Mueang?

Don Mueang has two paid lounge brands open to anyone who buys access: Coral Executive Lounge and Miracle Lounge. Some airlines may have lounge deals, so check before paying.

Prices differ a lot between sellers. Aggregators list higher prices than the figures above, which come from a lounge-review site. Check the current price with the pass seller on the day.

What are the ways out of Don Mueang airport?

The best option depends on your luggage, your budget and where you are heading. For full fare logic, see the taxi fare guide.

The SRT Red Line train

Don Mueang Station is opposite the airport and linked by a skywalk. Walk time from Terminal 1 is about 10 minutes on one source.

The Red Line runs from Don Mueang to Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal (formerly Bang Sue Grand Station). Fares depend on distance: one guide puts Don Mueang to Krung Thep Aphiwat at 33 baht, taking 17 to 20 minutes, within a line range of 12 to 42 baht. Buy tokens from machines. Fares checked 2026-10-09 from a single source, so confirm on the ticket machine.

At Krung Thep Aphiwat the SRT platforms are on the second floor and the MRT Blue Line is underground. That is your connection into the wider network, which how the rail network fits together explains in more detail.

Public taxi

Taxis wait outside the terminal building. The official public taxi stand is in the arrivals area: take a numbered ticket. One guide describes a fixed-fee voucher bought before boarding. Keep your ticket in case of a complaint.

The metered fare is topped up with a 50 baht surcharge, and tolls are extra. A Bangkok Post report said the surcharge could rise to 60 baht for ordinary taxis, but that was not confirmed, so check the current figure on the ticket. For Sukhumvit, one 2026 guide estimates 300 to 450 baht including tolls. Driving from the city centre takes about 35 minutes depending on traffic, via the Don Mueang Tollway.

Ride-hailing

Pickup points are Exits 2 and 5 for international arrivals and Exit 12 for domestic arrivals. One guide cites Grab rides of 200 to 450 baht, though sources vary, so the in-app price at booking is the number to trust.

BMTA airport buses

Four BMTA lines run from the airport, boarding at Terminal 1, Level 1, Gate 6, with a flat fare paid in cash on board (the amount was not confirmed):

• A1 to Mo Chit BTS
• A2 to Victory Monument
• A3 to Pratunam, CentralWorld and Lumpini Park
• A4 to Democracy Monument, Khaosan Road and Sanam Luang

Free shuttle to Suvarnabhumi

An AOT shuttle bus runs directly between the two airports, free of charge. Pickup is at Exit 6 in Terminal 1 arrivals. Show your passport and e-ticket to board. By rail or bus the trip takes about 1 to 1.5 hours.

Bangkok airport arrivals at Don Mueang: what happens after landing?

Walk to immigration (international flights land at Terminal 1), collect bags, and exit through the arrivals hall, where SIM card booths, ATMs and currency exchange sit. For ground transport, see the options above. The practical sequence for most visitors is:

1. Clear immigration and customs at Terminal 1.
2. Pick up a SIM card or withdraw baht in the arrivals hall.
3. Decide between the taxi stand, a ride-hailing pickup exit or the walk to the Red Line.

For a first-time arrival with large bags, taxi or ride-hailing is the simplest. Rail suits light packers heading to Bang Sue Grand Station. For both airports side by side, see airport to city options.

Can I rent a car at Don Mueang?

Yes, a few companies operate at the airport. National, Enterprise and Alamo list Don Mueang desks. Their pages place the counters in the domestic arrivals hall on the first floor next to door 10. From the international terminal, walk to the connecting walkway near exit 8 to reach that hall. One company lists desk hours of 07:00 to 21:00 daily, so check hours if your flight lands late. The airport has short-term car parks opposite both terminals.

Before you book:

• Bring an International Driving Permit (IDP) with your home licence. Get it before you fly. An insurer may deny a claim if you drove without one.
• Book ahead and compare prices. A world travel guide advises both.
• Plan the exit route. The main roads out are the Don Mueang Tollway and Vibhavadi Rangsit Road.

How do I choose the right route out?

See also: Don Mueang to the city, Don Mueang vs Suvarnabhumi, luggage storage at airports and stations and things to do at Bangkok airports.

Quick answers

What is the Don Mueang airport code? DMK (ICAO: VTBD).

Is Don Mueang international? Yes. Terminal 1 handles all international flights, and Terminal 2 handles domestic ones.

Can I walk between terminals? Yes, on an elevated walkway, in about 10 minutes.

Is there a train to the city? Yes. The SRT Red Line runs from Don Mueang Station to Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal, where you transfer to the MRT Blue Line.

Which airport should I fly into? If you are on a low-cost fare, the airline has already decided for you. If you have a choice, the decision turns on your hotel location and which airport has the cheaper onward trip.

All prices and rules here were checked on 2026-10-09 and can change. For the latest terminal assignments, lounge prices and bus fares, check with your airline, the airport and the operator on the day of travel.