So, you’re wondering: is there Uber in Thailand?
In short, nope. There is no Uber in Thailand.
But don’t worry about all the transportation and the logistics of getting around, cos you have many other options.
Coming up in this guide, we’ve covered all your alternatives, all your questions, and all the ways to travel around Thailand (on journeys both long and short).
So hop in our car and come join the party!
Is There Lyft in Thailand?
No, there is no Lyft in Thailand.
There is no Lyft in Thailand, and there is no Uber in Thailand.
But it’s not all bad news, cos you have plenty of alternatives to Lyft and Uber…
Alternatives to Uber in Thailand
Grab
By far the most popular taxi app in Thailand, and one I’ve used countless times.
Grab is excellent, and it gets a big fat enthusiastic thumbs-up from me.
The interface is easy to use (I reckon it’s easier than Uber, but maybe that’s just because I’m used to it), you’ll never wait more than a few minutes for a ride (assuming you’re not in some tiny village somewhere), and the prices are low.
And on top of all that, you don’t need a local debit/credit card to use it.
Just like with Uber, you can see the price before you ride. So you’re never going to get ripped off or scammed.
Bolt
Not quite as popular as Grab, but almost as good.
Again, the Bolt interface is easy to understand… and, again, you don’t need a local credit/debit card to use it.
I recommend using Grab over Bolt, because Grab usually has shorter wait times—but both are good options.
Just like with Grab, you see the price before you ride. And, again, both scooters and cars are available.
Line Man Taxi
The Line Man app is for deliveries, online shopping, and… that’s right… taxis.
Though Line Man Taxi is an option, I’ve literally never personally known anyone to use it. So I assume you’ll wait longer for a ride, and I assume the app isn’t as user-friendly as the more popular options (but I could easily be wrong on both fronts!).
Yet again, you can see your price before you ride. And yet again, you can choose to ride in both scooters and cars.
Taxi
Of course, you don’t absolutely need to use apps. You can just flag down a driver in the street like in the good old days.
In the bigger and more touristy destinations (like Bangkok and Chiang Mai and Phuket), you’ll find plenty of taxis (and plenty of them will find you).
That said, I wouldn’t bother—if you flag down a taxi, you need to think about negotiating, and working out what the price should be, and making sure you get to your chosen destination. But with an app, you don’t need to worry about any of that stuff (and you get to see what the price will be before you set off).
Private Airport Transfer
Maybe you’re only reading this guide because you want to get from some Thai airport to some Thai city.
If that’s the case, your best option is a private airport transfer.
With a private airport transfer, you’ll be met at the airport by your private driver (you tell them in advance what time you’ll be arriving), and you’re driven directly to your hotel.
It’s the best, most reliable, and most-stress free way of starting your vacation… and the cars are always clean and comfortable.
→ If you’re landing in Bangkok, this is the best private airport transfer. The prices are low, the ratings are high, and you get 90 minutes of waiting time.
→ If you’re landing in Chiang Mai, this is the best private airport transfer. Again, it’s affordable and reliable, and it’s the best-rated private airport transfer in the city.
→ and if you’re landing in Phuket, this is the best private airport transfer.
→ If you’re traveling from Bangkok to Pattaya, your best private transfer option is this one.
Other Types of Transport in Thailand
Here are the other types of transport in Thailand you might use…
Buses
Inner-city buses aren’t hugely popular in Southeast Asia. You won’t see many of them, and you’ll use probably none of them.
But you might use buses if you travel long distances between cities (such as from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, or from Bangkok to Phuket or whatever).
Tuk Tuks
These strange little three-wheeler taxis can be flagged down anywhere.
Stop one, tell them where you’re going, negotiate your price in advance (or else you’ll definitely be ripped off), and judder along on your journey.
They’re fun, they’re usually colorful, and tourists love them. You’ll find LOADS of them in Bangkok, and many of them in places like Chiang Mai and Phuket.
Trains
In some parts of Thailand, long-distance trains are quite popular.
Although the entire country isn’t covered (and although the network isn’t extensive), you can reach many major places by train.
Popular routes include trains from Bangkok to Ayutthaya, Pattaya, Hua Hin, Chiang Mai, and Udon Thani.
Many routes are scenic, and there’s always something fun about traveling on a train. But the rides are usually very slow. For example, trains from Bangkok to Chiang Mai can take between 10 and 14 hours, while a bus running the same route will usually take between 9 and 11 hours.
Songthaews
These funky colorful guys are sort of like a compromise between a bus and a tuk tuk.
Songthaews are adapted pickup trucks that function like city buses (ie, they’re shared public transport, and they run on predetermined routes).
In the back, they have space for around 20 or so people, with standing room for a few more.
You get on, you ring the bell just before you arrive at your chosen destination, then you pay when you get off. Prices start from as little as the equivalent of $0.25USD (the driver will tell you how much to pay when you leave, and they won’t—or at least shouldn’t—rip you off).
If you’re looking for cheap inner-city transport, these are your best option. But working out the routes can be tough.
Bangkok BTS Skytrain
Obviously, this is only an option if you’re in Bangkok.
But if you are, the BTS Skytrain is a great way to get around. A monorail-like public transport system, it has 3 lines, 64 stations, and allegedly a daily ridership of around three-quarters of a million people.
It doesn’t cover a huge portion of the city, but it does cover some of the most-visited areas.
Like any other major-city public-transport network, it’s easy to use and navigate. Journeys start from the equivalent of less than $0.50, and you can pay with cash or travel card (or you can use a local debit/credit card, but you probably don’t have one of them).
Bangkok MRT Subway
Another only-in-Bangkok option.
Bangkok’s MRT Subway is a completely different network to Bangkok’s BTS Skytrain (so you can’t ride both on the same ticket). That said, the networks do cross over, so it’s easy to hop from the BTS to the MRT, and vice-versa.
The MRT runs underground, and its prices and ticketing system are pretty similar to the BTS. Again, it’s very easy to use and navigate, and it covers some popular and good-to-visit parts of the city.
Uber in Thailand: Frequently Asked Questions
Why Did Uber Leave Thailand?
Uber left Thailand because it wasn’t successful in Thailand.
Although it ran in the region from 2013 to 2018, Uber didn’t start offering scooter rides until a year or two after its launch. And most people in Thailand would rather use a scooter taxi than a car taxi.
Although there might be other reasons for its failure (I’m not an Uber expert, soz), the early lack of scooter taxis was probably the main one. Another factor was likely the competition of Grab, and how excellent and user-friendly it is.
What is the Best Uber Alternative in Thailand?
The best Uber alternative in Thailand is Grab. It’s easy to use, it’s affordable, and you’ll never wait more than a few minutes for a ride. Massively recommended!
That said, both Bolt and Line Man Taxi are relatively popular too.
Which is Cheaper in Thailand, Grab or Taxi?
In theory, taxis should be cheaper, because non-Grab taxis of course don’t include Grab fees.
But in reality, Grab often works out cheaper… because many taxi drivers will try to rip you off.
Yep, if a non-Grab taxi driver uses a meter (and if they use that meter properly), they’ll charge you less than a Grab would.
But taking taxis can always be a bit of a lottery. So I would just take a Grab—you always know what you’re gonna pay in advance, so you can accept or reject a ride before you have to hand over any money.
Do Grab Drivers in Thailand Speak English?
Usually not.
You can expect your Grab driver to speak a little bit of English, or (more likely) no English at all.
But that’s alright—they have a map on their phone, you have a map on your phone, everything is gonna be okay.
Is Grab Safe in Thailand?
Yep, Grab in Thailand is very safe.
Of course, there’s absolutely no guarantee of your safety, but there’s never any complete guarantee of safety in anything you do ever. Please stop panicking.
Are Taxis Safe in Thailand?
Yes, taxis in Thailand are very safe.
Thai people are polite and respectful, and Thailand is generally considered to be a safe country.
Again, nothing in life is ever 100% safe, so I can’t give you a guarantee that everything will definitely be okay. But it probably will, so don’t worry about it.
If you’re a particularly wary person, just make sure you don’t ride in a taxi solo.
Should I Tip Grab Drivers?
That’s totally up to you.
There’s no tipping culture in Thailand, for any services. Drivers won’t ask you for a tip, or hold their hand out for a tip.
If you want to tip a driver, you could give them a little bit of cash… or you can use the app to leave an electronic tip after you get out of the car (and, yep, drivers—according to Grab, anyway—receive 100% of these tips).
I usually leave a small tip. If I’m in a place where people earn less than I do, I think it’s a good gesture. Spread the wealth, and all that stuff.
Should I Tip Taxi Drivers?
Again, that’s up to you. It’s not expected, and taxi drivers absolutely won’t try to force you into it. But if your driver has been especially friendly or helpful or whatever, you might want to leave a little tip.
Since you’ll probably be paying for metered taxis in cash, you can just let your driver keep your change (if you want to).
Should I Rent a Car in Thailand?
That depends upon where you’re going. If you’re making long journeys between different cities in Thailand, having your own car can be a good idea.
But if you’re just tackling short journeys inside of a city, I wouldn’t bother. The traffic is horrendous in most parts of Thailand, which is why locals prefer scooters for short trips.
Should I Rent a Scooter in Thailand?
This is a boring answer (sorry), but you should only rent a scooter in Thailand if you have the right skills, the right license, and the right travel insurance.
Yeah, most tourists do rent scooters without all of the above. But you probably shouldn’t.
Firstly, it’s illegal (though, to be honest, you probably won’t get into trouble—and even if you do, you’ll usually just pay a small fine).
But more importantly than that, you might get into an accident (maybe it’ll be your fault, maybe it won’t be—there are lots of bad drivers in Thailand). And if you do get into an accident, your travel insurance probably won’t cover it (and it definitely won’t cover it if you don’t have the right license). You don’t want to end up with a massive hospital bill.
Please be careful. I know endless people who’ve driven scooters in Southeast Asia. Most of them have been fine. Some of them have had accidents. A couple of them have died.
Before You Go
So, as you now know… no, there is no Uber in Thailand.
But Grab is a perfect like-for-like replacement—it’s cheap, quick, easy to use, and you can use it to ride in both cars and scooters.
Other options include Bolt, Line Man Taxi, and standard taxis and public transport. That said, public transport isn’t great in Thailand (apart from in Bangkok).
And for longer journeys, trains and buses (but usually buses) are your best option.
Thanks for reading, thanks for choosing Travelness, and make sure you come back again in the future. Enjoy Thailand!
For more on the nation, here are all the best areas and hotels in Thailand.
