Wat Mangkon MRT Station
Skip the taxi. Road traffic around Chinatown clogs up badly from about 4pm and parking is close to hopeless, so the MRT Blue Line is the sensible way in and out of Yaowarat. This is the station you want, and it's less than five minutes on foot to the heart of Chinatown once you're back at street level.
The station design does the announcing for you: red colour scheme, Chinese characters, a flying dragon above the ticket vending machines. It's clean, escalators and lifts throughout, signage in English that foreign visitors say is easy to follow. There are several exits onto different bits of the street network, so glance at the exit map on the platform before you ride up, or you'll surface facing the wrong way and lose ten minutes to a one-way lane of shophouses. One small warning from reviewers: the escalators run fast.
What's Near Wat Mangkon MRT Station
Top-rated places within walking distance — tap any card for photos, reviews, and directions.
San Chao Kwantong Chao Mae Guan Yin Phra Yulai (Samakom Kong Siew Phratet Thai)
A compact Chinese shrine in Bangkok's Chinatown honouring Guan Yin, with golden statues and a peaceful atmosphere.
San Chao Leng Buay Eia
A centuries-old Chinese shrine tucked inside Bangkok's Chinatown, offering calm and ornate beauty amid the bustle.
Wat Mangkon Kamalawat (Wat Leng Noei Yi)
Bangkok's biggest Chinese temple, free to enter, and best on a weekday morning before the incense haze thickens.
Herethep Seafood
A well-regarded seafood restaurant on Bangkok's famous Yaowarat Road, open daily until 11pm.
Chinatown Bangkok (Yaowarat)
Gold shops and medicine stalls by day, a street-food crush under neon by night.
San Chao Mae Guan Yin
A small Chinatown shrine with a 900-year-old Guan Yin statue and painted walls worth slowing down for.
Experience hints
Pair your visit. After Wat Mangkon MRT Station, round out your day in Bangkok with contrasting stops nearby.
Reviews from Google
When you get out from the train in this Station, there will be signs that you are in the vicinity of Chinatown. It's one of the best transportation mode to use going to this busy area. Heavy traffic is to be expected especially @4pm onwards in this area and it's hard to find a parking slot, so the best way is to use this MRT blue line station to go to Chinatown. The station is clean and there are escalators and elevators in the station. One of the things I admire about the staffs of MRT & BTS lines here in Thailand is how they always give a hand to the PWD and elderly and they are very polite when approached by anyone, though please have patience when they cannot understand your language.
You know you are about to enter Chinatown once getting off the train and alight here. The station itself is beautiful with the red color and Chinese character decoration, and even a flying dragon above the ticket vending machines. It takes less than 5 minutes on foot to Chinatown from this station.
Like most Metro stations in Bangkok this one was very easy to get in and out of and will take you directly to the edge of Chinatown. This wat in particular was very different from the other ones around the city and it was nice to experience as well. Definitely feel the very strong and important Chinese influence here.
A sample of visitor reviews from Google. Read all 507 reviews on Google.
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Visitor Information
Best time to visit
November – February
Avoid: April – May (peak heat)
Rainy season
May – October
Avg. temperature
25°C – 34°C(77°F – 93°F)
Crowds
Peak: December & January
Getting there
Suvarnabhumi (BKK) and Don Mueang (DMK) airports serve Bangkok with direct flights from most major cities.
Getting around
- •BTS Skytrain (most central areas)
- •MRT Metro (underground)
- •Airport Rail Link (ARL)
- •Chao Phraya Express Boat
- •Grab (ride-hailing app)
- •Metered taxis — always use the meter
Tips for Visiting Transportation
Take the Sleeper Train at Least Once
The Bangkok-to-Chiang Mai overnight train in a second-class sleeper berth is a bucket-list experience. Book at least a week ahead via 12Go.asia or at Hua Lamphong station. Upper berths are cheaper and have more headroom; lower berths have a window.
Use Grab Everywhere
Grab is the Uber of Southeast Asia and works across Thailand for cars, motorbike taxis, and even tuk-tuks in some cities. It eliminates haggling and provides fare estimates upfront. Load a Thai SIM or use eSIM to stay connected.
Rent Scooters Carefully
Always photograph the scooter's existing damage before riding off, and keep your passport — give a photocopy instead (some shops insist on the original; avoid these). Wear a helmet; police fine 500 THB for no helmet and accidents without one void insurance.
Similar Transportation Across Thailand
Bali Hai Pier
Take the 30-baht ferry, not the speedboat, unless you fancy paying for a tuk-tuk at the other end.
Samui Airport
An open-air terminal with thatched roofs and trams to the gates, more resort than airport.
Ao Ton Sai Pier
Every trip to Phi Phi starts and ends here, so plan around the boats rather than hoping for the best.
Krabi International Airport
Small, clean and calm, but the check-in queues can eat an hour you didn't budget for.
Location Info
Visitor Information
Best time to visit
November – February
Avoid: April – May (peak heat)
Rainy season
May – October
Avg. temperature
25°C – 34°C(77°F – 93°F)
Crowds
Peak: December & January
Getting there
Suvarnabhumi (BKK) and Don Mueang (DMK) airports serve Bangkok with direct flights from most major cities.
Getting around
- •BTS Skytrain (most central areas)
- •MRT Metro (underground)
- •Airport Rail Link (ARL)
- •Chao Phraya Express Boat
- •Grab (ride-hailing app)
- •Metered taxis — always use the meter