Flights from Melbourne to Bangkok

Compare Cheap Flights from Melbourne to Bangkok

Rich in history and culture, Bangkok will leave you breathless. Bangkok is the capital and largest city in Thailand and has something to offer all types of travellers. The city is full of history, amazing food, and some of the best nightlife you’ll ever experience. The landscape of Bangkok is beautiful with a series of rivers and canals throughout the city. Being a city built on canals has led to Bangkok being called the “Venice of the East.” In addition to being exciting and beautiful, Bangkok is a very affordable city for Australian travellers, meaning you’ll be able to take advantage of all the activities available to you. You can never go wrong booking cheap flights from Melbourne to Bangkok.

With around 700 cheap flights from Melbourne to Bangkok available each week, you have plenty of opportunity to get to the cosmopolitan hub of Thailand. Many top airlines offer cheap airfares from Melbourne to Bangkok Airport. Qantas, Virgin Australia, Jetstar, Thai Airways, AirAsia, and Emirates all offer daily routes from MEL to BKK. Several direct flights are available each day, getting you to Bangkok Airport in just over 9 hours.

Are you ready to experience the magical culture of Thailand? Book your return flights from Melbourne to Bangkok with Webjet. We compare cheap airfares from Melbourne to Bangkok from across the web to get you the best travel deals. Pack your bags, brush up on your Thai, and start planning the trip of a lifetime from MEL to BKK using Webjet’s Bangkok guide.

Things to do in Bangkok

The Grand Palace

No trip from MEL to BKK is complete without visiting the spectacular Grand Palace. The palace served as a residence to the king and his court between 1782 and 1925. Though the Royal Family now lives elsewhere, the Grand Palace continues to host royal ceremonies and government events. The Grand Palace is Bangkok’s most famous attraction, and once you step onto the palace grounds, you’ll understand why. It’s made up of various extravagant styles, as its residing kings have made extensive renovations and additions over the centuries. While visiting, be sure to check out the Wat Phra Kaew, which houses the Emerald Buddha—a historic spiritual image dating back to the 15th century. Make sure you follow the palace’s dress code, which prohibits sandals and thongs, shorts or tank tops on men, and bare shoulders on women.

Bangkok National Museum

If you’re interested in learning about Thailand’s rich history, the Bangkok National Museum is a must-see. The museum’s relics include puppets, textiles, gold and precious stones, Khon masks, and royal funeral chariots. Take in the vast range of Thai art and artifacts on a self-guided visit, or go on a Wednesday or Thursday for a tour led by an English-speaking guide.

Wat Arun

While staying in Thailand, it’s crucial that you visit at least one of the country’s beautiful temples. Wat Arun is located about 3 km outside of the city centre, just across the Chao Phraya River. The temple is just as beautiful up close as it is from across the river. Named after Aruna, the god of dawn, the temple is covered in porcelain and ceramic tiles, making it especially stunning around sunrise and sunset, when the sunlight is muted.

Chatuchak Market

Fairweather shoppers and shopaholics alike will marvel at Bangkok’s famous Chatuchak Market. Made up of over 8,000 booths, Chatuchak Market is one of the largest markets in the world. Merchants offer souvenirs, art, and local crafts at reasonable local prices rather than marked-up tourist prices. This market is only open on Saturdays and Sundays, so you’ll need to plan your visit accordingly.

Bang Krachao Gardens

Just outside of the city centre, you can visit these beautiful gardens that will make you feel like you’re a world away from fast-paced Bangkok. The Bang Krachao Gardens are made up of walking trails, lakes, and tropical jungle. The gardens stretch out along the Chao Phraya River, where you can see stilt houses that are unique to Thailand and very common in the area.

Eat Thai Street Food

Thailand’s street food is one of the most unique, distinct cuisines in the world. Because of the reasonable prices of Bangkok street food, many locals opt to eat their meals out rather than cooking at home. You won’t have trouble finding street vendors along any busy road selling Thai specialties, such as Pad Thai, roast duck, mango sticky rice, and Thai curry. More adventurous travellers might try squid, durian fruit, and even fried insects.

When should you book cheap airfares from Melbourne to Bangkok?

Thailand’s climate keeps the country warm at all times of the year, but the heat is typically lowest between November and March. Since most travellers prefer to visit Bangkok during this time of year, make sure you book your return flights from Melbourne to Bangkok and your hotel several months in advance.

For the best deals on airfare and hotels, you might consider booking cheap airfares from Melbourne to Bangkok between April and October. Although these months are known for high levels of humidity and rain, you’ll save money and avoid the crowds that typically arrive during Bangkok’s peak season.

Departing from Melbourne

Melbourne Airport (also known to locals as Melbourne Tullamarine) is located north of the city and is the departure point for most international flights leaving Melbourne. There are about 100 cheap flights from Melbourne to Bangkok every day on many of the top airlines, including Qantas, Virgin Australia, Thai Airways, Jetstar, and AirAsia. Avalon Airport is Melbourne’s second airport. It’s a small airport with flights within Australia, but some international flights depart from Avalon if they are connecting through Sydney. Qantas and British Airways have some MEL to BKK flights that depart from Avalon Airport.

Getting to Melbourne Airport (MEL)

The SkyBus is the most stress-free way to get to Melbourne Airport with five different express routes. Each bus route runs every day of the week and is equipped with Wifi onboard.

The Melbourne City Express gets you from Southern Cross Station to Melbourne Airport in less than 45 minutes. Buses run every 10 minutes between 4:30AM-midnight, so you’ll be to the airport and on your way from MEL to BKK in no time. The City Express runs 24 hours, so even in the early hours of the morning, you can catch a ride to the airport every 15-30 minutes. Tickets for the City Express are $18 online or $19.50 at Southern Cross Station.

The Southbank Docklands Express has six different pick-up points around the Southbank and Docklands. This SkyBus runs between 7AM-7PM and departs regularly for the airport. Buses leave every half hour during the week and every hour during the weekend. Tickets for the Southbank Docklands Express can be purchased online for $18.

If you’re travelling from St Kilda, you can catch the St Kilda Express from four different locations. The bus runs every half hour during the week between 6:15AM-8PM and every hour during the weekend between 6AM-7PM. The St Kilda Express to the airport is $19 and will get you to Melbourne Airport in about an hour.

Coming from a bit further south of the city? The Peninsula Express has 16 pick-up points along the Mornington Peninsula and southeastern beaches, including Brighton and Frankston. Fares vary between $22-$55 based on your departure point, and there are buses scheduled throughout the day. Check the SkyBus website for your stop’s timetable.

If you’re coming from the western suburbs, you can catch the Western Express with pick-up points in Werribee and Tarneit. Tickets are $21, and buses depart each hour between 6:15AM-6:30PM.

Prefer to take a taxi or an Uber? Leaving from the CBD, a taxi will have you at Melbourne Airport in less than a half hour. From the CBD, taxi fare to the airport costs about $55-$75.

Parking at Melbourne Airport

If you plan on driving to the airport, Melbourne Airport has a couple of parking options to choose from. The best option for budget-conscious travellers parking for more than a couple days is the Long Term car park. You can park for less than $10 a day, and the sooner you reserve your spot, the lower your rate will be. A free shuttle bus is available to take you from the car park to the airport terminals in less than 5 minutes, so you can be on your way to Bangkok Airport in no time!

Getting to Avalon Airport (AVV)

Avalon Airport is located about 50 km southwest of Melbourne’s CBD, just outside of Geelong. The Skybus has an Avalon City Express route, which picks up passengers from Southern Cross Station and on Synnot Street in Werribee. Tickets from the CBD cost $22, and tickets from Werribee are $19. The Skybus Avalon timetable changes a little bit each day, but has buses scheduled to meet all departing and arriving flights. The Skybus will get you to Avalon Airport in 50 minutes from the CBD and 30 minutes from Werribee.

Parking at Avalon Airport

Avalon Airport has a “tap and go” system for its car park. When you arrive, you can either take a ticket or tap your credit card. If you choose to get a ticket, you can pay via a pay machine at the end of your trip when you’re leaving the airport. With the tap and go system, you simply tap off with the same credit card you used when you arrived, and you will be charged the corresponding amount. The cost of parking varies and the price per day goes down for each day you are parked. A short 4-day trip from MEL to BKK would cost $77 to park. However, a longer trip of two weeks from MEL to BKK would only cost $132 to park. The car park is under 24-hour surveillance and is located just outside the airport, so you can be inside the terminal within a few minutes.

Arriving in Bangkok

Bangkok has two major airports that receive flights from Melbourne. Both the Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) and the Don Mueang Airport (DMK) are about 25 km outside of central Bangkok. Both airports offer several options to get to your hotel in the city centre, no matter your travel preferences and budget.

Getting to central Bangkok from Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK)

The quickest way to get into the city from Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) is on the Airport Rail Link, which completes a full run in about a half hour. This quick service brings you right to the Phayathai Station in the city centre, where you can check into your hotel and start exploring. This train is a convenient way to avoid the city’s aggressive peak hour traffic. The Rail Link operates between 6AM-midnight every day, departing every 10 minutes during peak travel time and every 15 minutes on weekends and off-peak hours. Depending on your destination, standard fare to ride the Rail Link is between 15-45 Thai baht (about 63 cents-$1.89 AUD).

A private bus runs from Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) to popular tourist area Khao San Road every 30 minutes from 6AM to 8PM. The bus makes multiple stops throughout the old quarter and takes about an hour to reach its final destination. The fare for this route is 60 baht (about $2.50).

You can reach the city centre by taking a taxi for a reasonable price. If you’re travelling light, you may be able to take a standard taxi, which fits two adults with hand luggage. If you are travelling in a group or have a lot of luggage, you may need to opt for a big taxi. Be wary that taxi drivers only accept cash and often cannot make change for large notes. Driving to the city may take between 45 minutes and an hour, depending on traffic. Taxi fare into central Bangkok ranges between 250-400 baht depending on your destination.

Getting to central Bangkok from Don Mueang Airport (DMK)

If you book return flights from Melbourne to Bangkok Don Mueang Airport (DMK), Bus 29 is the most affordable way to get to central Bangkok, at only 20 baht. Depending on traffic, the bus takes between a half hour and an hour to reach the city centre. The bus makes many stops throughout the city centre and terminates at Hua Lamphong bus terminal. Though it’s a cost-effective solution, the bus may not be the best option for travellers with a lot of luggage as there is not much space to store suitcases.

Many travellers decide to take a taxi from Don Mueang Airport (DMK) to the city centre. Even though a taxi costs more than the public bus, you will be dropped off right at your hotel, without the stress of navigating the busy streets of Bangkok. A taxi from Don Mueang Airport (DMK) into Bangkok takes between 30 minutes to an hour depending on traffic, and fare costs about 350 baht.