Understanding Udon Thani's Layout
Udon Thani is one of the "big four of Isan," the major cities of Northeast Thailand, and serves as a commercial hub and a gateway to Laos, northern Vietnam, and southern China. For a visitor, the good news is that the city centre is compact and fairly easy to navigate. Three large roundabouts on the central highway — the clock circle, the fountain circle, and Prince Prajak Circle — act as handy landmarks, and you can also orient yourself by Central Plaza shopping complex or Nong Prajak Park. A bypass road loops around the city for through traffic.
Most of the sights, hotels, and night markets cluster within a small central area, so short hops by shared transport or ride-hailing are usually all you need. For sights further out in the province, you will need to plan ahead, as public transport does not conveniently reach them.
Rail, Metro and Tram
Udon Thani has no metro or tram system. Rail service is provided by the national railway, with Udon Thani railway station conveniently located in the city centre, near the main tourist area and Central Plaza. The station sits on the northeastern line, the Bangkok–Nong Khai route.
- Trains connect the city to Bangkok, with daytime and overnight services; the overnight sleeper is a comfortable and pleasant way to travel, especially in a sleeping berth or compartment.
- Local trains also run to Nong Khai, across the Friendship Bridge toward Laos, and to Nakhon Ratchasima, where you can connect to other major centres of southern Isan such as Buriram, Surin, Si Saket, and Ubon Ratchathani.
- Book sleeper berths ahead through the State Railway booking system, choosing your class and upper or lower berth; berths sell out over long holidays. Trains can run late.
Buses and Other Public Transport
Udon Thani has several bus stations serving different directions, so it helps to know which one you need.
- City Centre Bus Station (Station 1, BKS): the main station, near Central Plaza. Buses from Bangkok arrive here, and it is also the departure point for air-conditioned buses and minivans to Khon Kaen, with departures at least twice an hour.
- Bus Station 2 (Northern Bus Station): on the western outskirts, serving buses from northern Thailand such as Loei, Chiang Mai, and Chiang Rai. Songthaew 7 will take you there, or a tuk-tuk into the city.
- Bus Station 3: just off the ring road on the north side, used by third-class buses from Nong Khai.
- Nakhonchai Air Bus Terminal: on Tahan Road opposite the Army Hospital, handling first-class and VIP day and overnight buses from Bangkok. Nakhonchai Air has a good reputation for quality and for managing its drivers to drive safely.
Long-distance services fan out to Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Khon Kaen, Nong Khai, Pattaya, points east such as Sakon Nakhon, and even across the border to Vientiane. For shorter regional trips and airport transfers, shared vans and taxis offer door-to-door convenience at a higher cost than buses. Organized tours to nearby attractions use minivans or private buses; there are no hop-on-hop-off services.
Within the city, the workhorse of local transport is the songthaew — a shared pickup truck with bench seats. Songthaews run on fixed routes radiating from hubs such as Central Plaza, Nong Prajak Public Park, and the bus terminals, with routes marked in Thai on the front or side. Flag one down along the route, state your destination before boarding, and pay cash on exit. Fares are fixed and cheap, paid directly to the driver. You can also charter one privately like a taxi, in which case negotiate the price beforehand. Service generally runs from early morning into the evening and is scarce after dark, and songthaews do not reach every side street.
Local city buses run limited routes, mainly connecting Central Plaza, the bus terminals, and the airport, but schedules are infrequent and information for visitors is sparse. Fares are fixed and paid to the conductor. Note that public transport, especially songthaews, is not wheelchair accessible, and boarding or alighting can be difficult for those with mobility challenges. There is no boat taxi or general water transport in the city, and no cable cars or funiculars.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Ride-hailing is the simplest way to get around Udon Thani. Grab works here, as in most large Thai cities, and shows you the fare upfront before you book; InDrive is another option that lets you propose a fare. GrabCar is comfortable and air-conditioned with no haggling, while GrabBike motorbike taxis are the cheapest option and can be convenient for a solo traveller. There tend to be fewer cars in the app than in Thailand's biggest cities, so expect longer waits at peak times. Grab is generally safe thanks to tracking and ratings, but do confirm the license plate and driver photo before getting in; motorbike taxis carry higher risk.
Licensed taxis, often yellow-green or pink, are available near the airport and bus terminals. Insist on the meter, as the starting fare is low and cross-city trips are reasonably priced. Cash is predominant. Taxis are harder to find on the street than in major tourist cities.
Tuk-tuks, three-wheeled motorcycles, are readily available in most commercial areas and wait outside malls and markets. They are suited to short hops not covered by songthaews and are cheaper than taxis. Always negotiate the price before you get in; you can use the Grab fare as a benchmark. In Udon Thani, the locally made tuk-tuks (called Skylabs) differ from those elsewhere in Thailand outside Isan in that their fronts are adapted motorcycles. The city also has many samlors, three-wheeled bicycle taxis, though as elsewhere they are slowly succumbing to the pressures of the internal combustion engine.
Motorbike taxis are stationed at entrances such as UD Town and Central Plaza and are useful when songthaews stop running; fares are negotiable. If you prefer to drive yourself, car rental is available at the airport and in town, and some guesthouses offer bicycle rentals. Driving is on the left, helmets are mandatory for motorcyclists and passengers, and seatbelts are required for drivers and front passengers. Riding without the proper license or International Driving Permit is illegal and voids travel insurance coverage, and scooter accidents involving tourists are common.
Walkability
The city centre is compact, and Nong Prajak Public Park is good for walking and cycling, with dedicated cycling paths; UD Town is also pedestrian-friendly. That said, sidewalks in the city centre can be uneven, dedicated bike lanes are limited, and busy main roads and highways are generally unsafe for pedestrians and cyclists because of high traffic speeds and the lack of dedicated paths. For most trips around the centre, a songthaew or a short Grab ride is preferable to walking along the main roads or renting a motorbike.
Getting from the Airport into the City
Udon Thani International Airport sits close to the city centre, within the ring road, and serves as the aviation hub for upper Isan. It handles domestic flights from Bangkok (both Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi) as well as Chiang Mai, U-Tapao (Pattaya), Phuket, and Loei. Bangkok flights take about an hour, with multiple daily departures; fares rise and seats sell out around long holidays and the Red Lotus blooming season.
Once you land, you have several options for reaching the city:
- Limousine service (actually a minibus): a shared minibus that will drop you and other passengers at the location of your choice. Tickets are available at the booth just to the right as you leave the terminal building.
- Grab: works at the airport and gives you a fixed fare to central Udon; a car is more expensive than a motorbike taxi, which can only take one person.
- Taxi: the official taxi rank is to the right on exiting the terminal. Agree the meter before loading your bags. Note that taxis are not permitted to wait for passengers at the airport, though some do anyway and ask inflated prices for the short journey. Unmarked cars soliciting inside the arrivals hall are a known tourist trap.
- Hotel pickups: some hotels offer pickup services and may take an extra passenger or two if space permits.
- Rental cars: available at the airport if you plan to explore the province independently.
No local songthaews have been seen near the airport, so don't count on one. If you are travelling onward to Nong Khai, there is a bureau straight ahead of you in the arrivals hall that sells minivan tickets to Nong Khai; its minibus meets most flights, takes about an hour, and the driver will drop you at your hotel or at the Thai side of the Friendship Bridge so you can proceed into Laos.
Onward Travel and Out-of-Town Sights
Udon Thani is a common starting point for onward travel to Vientiane, Laos, via the Nong Khai border crossing and the Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge. Check border-crossing document requirements and cross-border bus schedules in advance, and be aware that some cross-border buses will not wait long enough at the border for a visa on arrival to be issued at busy times.
For provincial sights, public transport is limited. The Red Lotus Sea, Ban Chiang, and Kham Chanod all lie well outside the city, and songthaews and tuk-tuks do not conveniently reach them. Renting a car or hiring a private driver is advised for these out-of-town trips. Rural roads can be less well maintained after heavy rains, with potholes and mud.