Don Mueang International Airport (Airport Code: DMK) — Bangkok’s second airport, which is well linked by low-cost airlines to all of Thailand’s regions and other Southeast Asian countries.
Don Mueang Airport is around 20 kilometers from central Bangkok and is quite accessible for traveling by flight inside Thailand at a low cost.
History
Don Mueang International Airport (DMK) opened its doors to commercial travel in 1924 and is Asia’s oldest airport. When Bangkok‘s modern Suvarnabhumi Airport opened as the capital’s principal airport for long-haul international flights, Don Mueang was closed. Don Mueang reopened in 2007 to act as a domestic and regional travel hub as low-cost carriers increased in Thailand and new travel routes were introduced. Foreigners often have difficulty pronouncing both airport names (our top recommendation is to consider the I at the end of Suvarnabhumi to be silent) and frequently fail to verify which airport they are arriving or departing from.
Aside from the confusion, Don Mueang is a two-story airport in the city’s northern suburbs that is a wonderful alternative for people looking for a shorter journey from downtown Bangkok and a cheap flight elsewhere in Thailand or to another country in the region. Many aspects of Don Mueang Airport indicate that it is over a century old and requires a facelift, while others have gotten a much-needed makeover. Don’t be shocked if you come across any construction while attempting to make your way around.
International Flights from/to Bangkok Don Mueang International Airport
Thailand offers international air connections to a large number of destinations around the world. Don Mueang is Bangkok’s second-largest international airport, and it is heavily utilized by regional low-cost airlines.
Don Mueang International Airport is serviced by international flights from/to:
- China
- Malaysia
- Indonesia
- Cambodia
- Japan
- Singapore
- Myanmar
- Laos
- Vietnam
- Hong Kong
- Taiwan
- India
- Maldives
Domestic Flights from/to Bangkok Don Mueang International Airport
Domestic flights from/to Bangkok’s Don Mueang Airport (DMK) may take you to the following cities in Thailand:
- Buriram
- Chiang Mai
- Chiang Rai
- Chumphon
- Hat Yai
- Khon Kaen
- Krabi
- Lampang
- Loei
- Mae Sot
- Nakhon Phanom
- Nakhon Si Thammarat
- Nan
- Narathiwat
- Phitsanulok
- Phrae
- Phuket
- Ranong
- Roi Et
- Sakon Nakhon
- Surat Thani
- Trang
- Ubon Ratchathani
- Udon Thani
Airlines Operating in Don Mueang Airport
Bangkok’s Don Mueang Airport serves as the primary hub for these Thai airlines: low-cost carriers Thai AirAsia, Thai Lion Air, and Nok Air.
Tickets
Flight offers from DMK Airport to the most popular international destinations may be found here:
- Flights Bangkok – Kuala Lumpur
- Flights Bangkok – Singapore
- Flights Bangkok – Ho Chi Minh City
- Flights Bangkok – Hanoi
- Flights Bangkok – Vientiane
- Flights Bangkok – Yangon
- Flights Bangkok – Phnom Penh
- Flights Bangkok – Siem Reap
- Flights Bangkok – Penang
Flight offers from DMK Airport to the most popular domestic destinations may be found here:
- Flights Bangkok – Phuket
- Flights Bangkok – Chiang Mai
- Flights Bangkok – Krabi
- Flights Bangkok – Koh Samui
- Flights Bangkok – Surat Thani
- Flights Bangkok – Hat Yai
Using this search box, you may find and book flights to different places.
Keypoint
Don Muang, Bangkok’s smaller and older airport, mostly serves low-cost regional airlines, with Terminal 2 handling domestic flights and Terminal 1 handling international flights. Terminal 2 has been refurbished, and travelers are said to enjoy seamless check-in and security.
Terminal 1 has also been refurbished, however lengthy immigration lines sometimes occur during peak hours (5:00 AM – 7:00 AM and 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM) due to too many passengers coming at the same time. Food and services are accessible both on and off the plane, with a few cafés operating 24 hours a day. WiFi is provided, although it has been noted that access is problematic. Two lounges offer passes to economy class passengers if you want to relax while you wait for your journey. Locations and pricing may be found in the Airport Lounges section of the guide below.
Sleeping in Don Muang Airport
While the airports might become packed, travelers say that there are plenty of places to sleep.
The main concerns are noise and low weather, but travelers feel secure and are not disturbed by airport workers. The Terminal 2 departures floor features ample pleasant seats and floor space, with a darker area available on the observation deck above the departures floor.
Burger King’s sofas have also been noted as a preferred sleeping spot.
For additional information, check our guide to sleeping at Bangkok Don Muang Airport.
In Terminal 2, there is an airport hostel with 25 sleep boxes for privacy and comfort, but at a cost. There is a bigger deluxe category hotel linked to the airport via walkway, as well as several adjacent airport hotels within a short drive away, with greater sleeping rooms
Airport Lounges
Pay-per-use, Single Visit Passes & Lounge Memberships
There are lounges that you may access regardless of the class of service you are traveling in by buying a lounge pass or via a lounge membership program. Visit the individual lounge website for additional information about the lounge itself, as well as how to acquire lounge access with just an economy class ticket!
International Terminal
Coral Executive Lounge (Terminal 1) – Location: Terminal 1, International Departures, Airside, 2nd Floor. Lounge Access: Lounge membership programs.
Miracle Lounge (Terminal 1) – Location: Multiple locations in Terminal 1, International Departures, 3rd Floor. Lounge Access: Lounge membership programs.
Domestic Terminal
Coral Executive Lounge (Terminal 2) – Location: Terminal 2, Domestic Departures, Airside, 3rd Floor. Lounge Access: Prepaid lounge pass • Lounge membership programs.
Miracle Co-Working Space – Location: Terminal 2, Landside, 4th Floor. Lounge Access: Lounge membership programs.
Miracle Lounge (Terminal 2) – Location: Terminal 2, Airside, Domestic Departures, 3rd Floor. Showers are available. Lounge Access: Lounge membership programs.
Airport WiFi/Internet
Bangkok Don Muang Airport offers free WiFi for up to two hours. Connect to the network “@ AirportTrueFreeWiFi“.
Tips: According to one reviewer, the 2-hour free WiFi may be extended every 2 hours by providing fresh information during registration for each session.
More Services, Facilities & Things To Do On A Layover At The Airport
Post Office – Postage, money orders, a public phone for international calls, and a variety of other services are available. Location: North of Terminal 1, in the 3rd-floor Departures lounge. Hours: Daily from 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM (open until 3:00 PM on holidays) • Terminal 2, Landside, 3rd Floor. Hours: Daily from 8:30 AM – 7:00 PM.
WiFi – see “Airport WiFi/Internet” above.
Family Service
Children’s Play Areas – Take your children to the children’s play area if you want to make sure they burn off all their energy before your flight. Airside, Domestic Departures (FL3), and International Departures (FL3).
Food & Drink: Food outlets operate at a variety of times across the airport. These alternatives are available 24 hours a day:
Terminal 1, Airside: Au We White Coffee (3rd Floor, Pier 2 • 1st Floor) • Burger King (1st Floor, Gate 15) • Cafe Ritazza (2nd Floor, Pier 2) • Dairy Queen (2nd Floor, Pier 2 • Gate 1-6) • Freshly Bar (Pier 2, 3rd Floor) • Gloria Jeans Coffee (Pier 2, 3rd Floor) • Juice Exclusive (4th Floor) • Kin Donburi (1st Floor) • Krispy Kreme • McDonald’s (4th Floor • Pier 2) • Noodle Express (Gates 1-6) • S&P (3rd Floor • 1st Floor) • Starbucks (Gate 21 • Before walk to Pier 2) • Thai Street Food (1st Floor • 3rd Floor)
Terminal 2, Landside: BonChon (4th Floor) • Burger King (4th Floor) • Cafe Ritazza (4th Floor) • Dairy Queen (4th Floor)
Terminal 2, Airside: Burger King (4th Floor) • Subway (3rd Floor, Gate 8-9)
There are also 7 locations of 7/Eleven available (both terminals) which are open 24 hours.
Information Desk
There are several information desks accessible to help you if you have any inquiries. Terminal 1 Arrivals and Departures • Terminal 2 Arrivals and Departures
Luggage Storage & Lockers
Luggage may be kept at the airport’s luggage storage facility for up to four months. At the time of this update, the costs are 75 Baht per bag if held for less than 24 hours, and 38 Baht after that for up to 12 hours or every 12 hours. Payment is payable at the time of baggage retrieval. Terminal 2, landside, 1st Floor.
Luggage Wrapping – Wrap your luggage for safe travels. Location: Terminal 1, Landside, 3rd floor • Terminal 2, Landside, 3rd Floor. Rates: 150 baht.
Medical Services
Medical Services – The fully-staffed Medical Clinics offer urgent and emergency medical care. Locations: Terminal 1, 1st Floor, North • Terminal 2, Landside, Arrivals Hall, 1st Floor. Hours: Both locations are open 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM. There is also a Medical Center by Samitivej Hospital located on Terminal 1, 3rd Floor and Terminal 2, opposite the Public Relations Counter. The hours are unknown for this medical center.
Pharmacy – There are 4 drugstores/pharmacies available at the airport. Locations: Terminal 1, Airside (Hours: 24 hours) • Terminal 2, 2nd Floor, Gates 15, Terminal 2, Airside (Hours: 4:30 AM – 9:30 PM) • Terminal 2, 2nd Floor (Hours: 4:30 AM – 9:30 PM
Mobile Charging
If you’re searching for a charging station in the terminal’s public area, a nice reader informs us there’s one behind check-in desk # 9 (at the start of the walkway between domestic and international) and another behind check-in desk # 8. (at the other side of the walkway). According to the reader, “each charging station contains 6 regular Thai plug outlets and 12 USB charging ports; unfortunately, there are no locks or safes, so you must stand and charge.”
There might be more of them, but these were the only ones I observed since they were near my check-in counter.” We don’t have any specifics about airside mobile charging, but if it’s accessible in the public zone, we’d expect there are a few options
Money
ATMs / Cash Machines: Do you need money? There are ATMs accessible. If you are traveling overseas, be sure to verify your bank’s charge schedule as well as your daily withdrawal limit. You should also advise your bank of your trip intentions. Terminals 1 and 2 provide both landside and airside access.
Banking Services – Bangkok Bank • Kasikorn Bank (Kbank) • Krungthai Bank • Siam Bank offer full-service banking at the airport. Locations: branches of these banks are available in both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, except Siam Bank which only has a location in Terminal 2. Hours: hours vary for each bank and each location, but most of the banks are open from at least 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM (Mon-Fri).
Currency Exchange – At the time of this update, nine companies offer currency exchange in Terminal 1. You can find currency exchange kiosks in these locations: 3rd Floor hallway outbound (north and south side) • Tier 3 International Arrivals (airside) • Tier 1 Arrivals Halls (landside and airside).
Prayer Rooms
A Muslim prayer room is located in Terminal 2, 3rd Floor, near the connecting walkway to Terminal 1. Hours: unknown. The Sanghas and Samaneras Lounges (Terminal 2, 3rd Floor) are made available specifically for monks
Rest & Relaxation
Massage Chairs – Visit Express Spa Body and Massage for a relaxing pre-flight massage. Location: International Terminal 1, 3rd Floor, Pier 2. Hours: 24 hours. The airport also offers 5 Massage Shops offering services from 7:00 AM – 12:00 AM. Locations: Both terminals, Airside.
Rest Zones– There are no designated sleeping, quiet, or rest places. If any of this information has changed, please let us know.
Shopping
There is duty-free shopping accessible. Departures, 1st Floor, International Terminal 1.
Hours of operation: most are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In addition, both terminals, landside and airside, include a large variety of retail outlets.
Shower & Spa
Showers – Showers are available at Sleep Box Hotel (Rate: 300 Baht) and inside the Miracle Lounge (Location: Terminal 2, Domestic Departures). [ see Airport Hotels and Airport Lounges above ]
Spa Services – Orchid Spa provides foot massages for tired travelers, hair salon services are also available. Location: Landside, FL4. Hours 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM daily.
Smoking Zones
Six smoking areas are available: Arrivals zone 3, Pier 2, Domestic Arrivals, Gate15. Departure zone 3 = Pier 2 ( A ), North Gate14, Bus Departures Gate
Things To Do
Observation Deck – From the airport’s observation deck, you can sit back and watch jets take off and land. Location: Terminal 1, take the escalator to the 4th Floor, then follow the signs to the Silom Village Restaurant and the Observation Deck.
Thailand Visa at Don Mueang Airport
If you arrive at Don Mueang Airport on an international flight from another country in the region, you must go through immigration, even if you have a connecting domestic flight from here.
If your nationality allows you to enter Thailand on a Free visa-exempt or if you have a Single Entry Tourist Visa / Multiple Entry Tourist Visa in advance from a Thai embassy or consulate, simply proceed to immigration, present your travel documents to the officer, have your passport stamped, and you will be permitted to enter the country. Thailand’s immigration check process at the airport is described briefly here: Foreigners’ Immigration Control Process in Thailand
However, if you are a citizen of one of the countries that are qualified to receive a Thailand Visa on Arrival (VoA) and have elected to utilize this form of Thailand Visa. You may get your Visa on Arrival at Don Mueang Airport, which is one of Thailand’s Immigration Checkpoints that offers Visa on Arrival services.
Currency Exchange at Don Mueang Airport
If Don Mueang Airport is your point of entry into Thailand, you’ll need to grab some local money since only Thai baht is typically accepted for all transactions inside the country, and cash is still preferred in many places. The best options to obtain Thai baht at the airport are to withdraw cash from ATMs or exchange money at currency exchange booths. However, none of these solutions are economically viable at Don Mueang International Airport (DMK).
DMK’s (Bangkok Don Mueang International Airport) foreign exchange rates are appalling.
What are the current currency exchange rates at Don Mueang Airport and what can you do to get them reduced?, read here: Currency Exchange at Bangkok Don Mueang International Airport (DMK).
Thailand SIM Card at Don Mueang Airport
Don Mueang Airport has counters for all of Thailand’s main mobile service providers.
Just order a reduced Thailand 4G SIM Card and pick it up at the airport if you’re looking to save some money. Here’s where you can find out more about the deal: [SALE] 4G SIM Card for Thailand (DMK Airport Pick Up).
Bus from Don Mueang Airport to Central Bangkok
Because the BTS SkyTrain line to Don Mueang Airport is still under construction, commuting from Don Mueang Airport to Bangkok City by bus is now one of the best options because it is both easy and inexpensive.
Depending on traffic, the trip normally takes between 30 minutes and an hour.
Four bus lines depart from Don Mueang Airport: A1, A2, A3, and A4.
More information about Bangkok Don Mueang Airport bus routes can be found here: Airport Bus Service to and from Bangkok Don Mueang Airport.
Taxi from Don Mueang Airport to Central Bangkok
If using public transit looks too complicated, arrange a private transfer online, and the driver will meet you at the airport with a sign with your name. It’s undoubtedly the most convenient method to go to the city and avoid getting lost in Bangkok on the first day of your trip.
Taxi from Don Mueang Airport to Central BangkPrivate transfer from Don Mueang Airport to Central Bangkok can be booked here: Private Don Mueang Airport Transfers (DMK) for Bangkok
Read more: Scams in Thailand
Bus to/from Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK)
Bangkok has two airports, one of which is known as Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK). There are various methods to get from Don Mueang Airport to Suvarnabhumi Airport, but the cheapest option is to take a free shuttle bus.
Check where to find and how to use the free shuttle bus between Suvarnabhumi (BKK) and Don Mueang (DMK) airports.
Here are are other transportation choices for going from Don Mueang Airport to Suvarnabhumi Airport: DMK to BKK – Don Muang Airport to Suvarnabhumi Airport.
Luggage Delivery & Storage at Don Mueang Airport
Luggage storage at DMK Airport is priced differently depending on the size of the luggage: normal luggage (25kg or less) costs 100 THB per unit per day, while special items (non-luggage items) cost 200 THB per day. Longer storage is paid at a discounted rate, with storage for 5-7 days costing 500 THB and storage for 30 days costing 2000 THB.
Airports also provide luggage transportation from Don Mueang Airport to your Bangkok hotel or other accommodation, and vice versa. Normal Luggage (25 kg or less) shipping is 199 THB for each piece, whereas Special Item (Non-Luggage Item) delivery costs 399 THB. On-demand luggage transfer from the airport to the hotel or vice versa costs an additional 200 THB.
Luggage storage at Don Mueang Airport, as well as delivery from/to Bangkok, can be booked online here: Airport Luggage Services by airports.
Places to Stay around Don Mueang Airport
If you plan to arrive at Don Mueang Airport late at night or depart extremely early in the morning, you might consider staying overnight at a hotel near the airport.
More local places to stay may be found here: Hotels near Don Mueang Airport.
Otherwise, you might stay in the Bangkok area, which is well linked to the airport by direct bus routes.
Our suggestions about where to stay in Bangkok may be found here: Where to Stay in Bangkok – Guide to Bangkok Best Areas(
