Bangkok MRT (Blue & Purple Lines)

Name: Bangkok MRT (Blue & Purple Lines)
Brand: Bangkok MRT (Blue & Purple Lines)

Up to date as of October 13, 2026

Bangkok MRT is the metro operated by BEM on the underground Blue Line and the elevated Purple Line, paid by tapping a contactless bank card at the gates, useful for reaching the old town, Chinatown and Chatuchak.

What it helps with

Ride the metro without buying a tokenBlue and Purple Line gates accept contactless Visa, Mastercard and UnionPay cards: tap in, tap out, and the fare is charged to the card.
Getting to the Grand Palace and ChinatownBlue Line stations Sanam Chai and Wat Mangkon are a short walk from Wat Pho, the Grand Palace area and Yaowarat.
Reaching Chatuchak market and Bang Sue Grand stationThe Blue Line stops at Chatuchak Park and Kamphaeng Phet for the weekend market and at Bang Sue for long-distance trains.
Avoiding traffic across the cityThe underground Blue Line loop links Sukhumvit, Silom, Hua Lamphong and Tha Phra without the road traffic that slows taxis at rush hour.

About Bangkok MRT (Blue & Purple Lines)

The Blue and Purple Lines are operated by Bangkok Expressway and Metro (BEM). The Blue Line forms a loop through Sukhumvit, Silom, Hua Lamphong, Chinatown and Bang Sue, and the Purple Line runs north-west to Nonthaburi. In 2026 both lines completed the switch to the EMV contactless system, so Visa, Mastercard and UnionPay cards work directly at the gates. From 3 July 2026 Blue Line fares are 17–44 THB depending on distance.

Key Features

Card at the gate: Contactless Visa, Mastercard and UnionPay are accepted without a separate ticket.
Old town access: Sanam Chai and Wat Mangkon stations serve Wat Pho, the Grand Palace area and Yaowarat.
Rail connections: Bang Sue station links to long-distance and Red Line trains.
Fare calculator: The BEM website has a fare calculator and station maps.

How to Get Started

Check that your bank card has the contactless symbol.
Tap the card on the gate reader when entering a Blue or Purple Line station.
Tap the same card again when leaving to pay the fare for the distance travelled.
Check the charge in your banking app one or two days later.

Before you use it

Payment: Tap in and out with the same card. A 1 THB pending hold may appear; the final fare usually posts within 24–48 hours, and foreign cards may add an exchange fee.
Limits: Old MRT stored-value cards stopped passing the gates on 1 June 2026; the 50 THB deposit on them can be claimed until 31 December 2027.
Good to know: BTS Skytrain does not accept bank cards at its gates. When changing to BTS at an interchange, tap out and use a Rabbit card or a BTS single ticket.

Foreign card OK

English available

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Bangkok MRT (Blue & Purple Lines) work with a foreign bank card in Thailand?: Yes — Bangkok MRT (Blue & Purple Lines) accepts foreign-issued cards in Thailand.
Is Bangkok MRT (Blue & Purple Lines) available in English?: Yes, Bangkok MRT (Blue & Purple Lines) has an English-language interface.
Do I need a local phone number to use Bangkok MRT (Blue & Purple Lines)?: No, an international phone number generally works for Bangkok MRT (Blue & Purple Lines).
Do I need local ID or residency for Bangkok MRT (Blue & Purple Lines)?: No, Bangkok MRT (Blue & Purple Lines) doesn't require local ID or residency for visitors.
Where can I use Bangkok MRT (Blue & Purple Lines)?: Web
How much does Bangkok MRT (Blue & Purple Lines) cost?: Blue Line 17–44 THB per trip by distance (from 3 July 2026); pay by contactless card