Pattaya is one of the most popular tourist destinations outside Bangkok because of its proximity to the capital and beachside location, with plenty of resorts to choose from.
Pattaya is easily accessible by car, bus, or train if you’re feeling adventurous. Traveling from Bangkok will take approximately 2 hours by car and 2-4 hours by bus or train.
Let’s take a closer look at the various Pattaya transport options available from Bangkok city and Bangkok airport.
Getting to Pattaya
Bangkok Airport (BKK) to Pattaya
| Type | Fare | Journey time |
|---|---|---|
| Airport transfer (recommended) | 1,500+ THB | 2 hours |
| Taxi | 1,500+ THB | 2 hours |
| Bus | 143 THB | 2 hours 30 minutes |
Bangkok Downtown to Pattaya
| Type | Fare | Journey time |
|---|---|---|
| Car – Taxi – Grab – Bolt – Private charter (recommended) | 1,400+ THB | 2 hours |
| Bus | 131 THB | 2 hours 30 minutes |
| Train | 31-170 THB | 2-4 hours |
Getting to Pattaya from Bangkok Airport (BKK)
Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) has direct transport to Pattaya by taxi, airport transfer, or scheduled bus.
The cheapest option to get from Bangkok Airport to Pattaya is by bus, which costs 143 THB.
The most convenient way to travel from Bangkok Airport to Pattaya is by taxi or airport transfer which starts at 1,500 THB.
Airport transfer (recommended)
The most convenient way to travel to Pattaya is by airport transfer, which can be pre-booked before you arrive in Thailand.
Customize the journey by selecting your pickup date, time, specific vehicle type, and the number of passengers.
The transfer driver will wait for you at the arrivals exit and escort you to the vehicle. This is an excellent service because Suvarnabhumi airport is large, and finding your way around can be difficult if it’s your first time there.
Klook offers airport transfer services with prices starting from 1,500 THB. The journey to Pattaya takes around 2 hours.
Taxi
Public taxis can be found on the ground floor level one after exiting the arrivals hall. Book a public taxi using the automatic taxi ticket machines, which provide a ticket with a lane number where you’ll find your driver.
Public taxis from the airport should always be running a meter so double-check with the driver that the meter is on before accepting the ride.
A taxi from Bangkok Airport (BKK) to Pattaya will range from 1,500-2,000 THB, including a 50 THB airport surcharge, 105 THB toll fees, and any charges for additional luggage (more than two large pieces of luggage).
Taxi drivers at the airport mainly operate within the Bangkok area and might not be familiar with Pattaya streets, so have your hotel address ready for the driver to pin on their phone.
Bus
A direct bus (#389) to Pattaya is operated by Roong Reuang Coach, available at ground level 1 gate 8.
Operating from 7 am-10 pm out of Suvarnabhumi, the bus journey takes around 2 hours 30 minutes and arrives at Jomtien Bus Station (Pattaya).
There is air conditioning, seat belts, ample luggage storage, and a toilet onboard.
A ticket can be bought at the customer service counter at level 1 for 143 THB per person or pre-booked online at 12Go for 197 THB per person.
Getting to Pattaya from Bangkok by car
Getting a car from Bangkok to Pattaya is the most convenient way to travel and ideal if you have lots of large luggage or are traveling in a larger group (9 seater vans available).
Car transport options
- Public taxi
- Grab
- Bolt
- Private charter
Public Taxi
One of the most popular transport options to Pattaya from Bangkok is by public taxi, which takes approximately 2 hours and costs around 1,500 THB (additional toll fees required).
Getting a metered Bangkok city taxi to accept a ride to Pattaya won’t be easy. Still, you could negotiate a fixed fee with the driver or book a public taxi through a secondary application like Bolt or Grab.
Grab
Grab is Thailand’s most popular transport booking application, offering public taxi and private ride-hailing booking services.
The best way to book long-distance travel with Grab is by using their book-in-advance feature to secure a driver a few hours or a day before your trip.
Grab offers various vehicle types (budget to luxury) and passenger occupancy (up to 9 people).
The trip to Pattaya from Bangkok will cost 1,500 to 5,000, depending on the vehicle type. Grab supports both cash and credit cards as payment.
Bolt
The cheaper alternative to Grab is Bolt, a ride-hailing service operating in cities around Bangkok. Although cheaper, Bolt has limited options compared to Grab, and only cash payments are supported
Bolt has various vehicle types catering to passenger occupancy, including standard, comfort (premium car), or 6-seaters. Unlike Grab, there is no 9-seater van option.
Bolt fares from Bangkok to Pattaya range from 1,400-2,000 THB, depending on vehicle type.
Private Charter
Numerous companies offer private charters to and from Pattaya, which can be pre-booked days in advance or even before you arrive in Bangkok.
Select various vehicle types, including standard, premium, luxury, and 9-seater vans, without needing a specific transport app like Grab.
I use Klook to book private charters in and around Thailand because they have an inventory of operators for easy price/vehicle comparison.
Getting to Pattaya from Bangkok by bus
Direct bus service from Bangkok to Pattaya departs from central Bangkok stations, Eastern Bus Terminal (Ekamai), and Northern Bus Terminal (Morchit).
The journey takes approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes with onboard air conditioning, seat belts, ample luggage storage, and toilet facilities.
The bus arrives at Roong Reaung Coach station on North Pattaya Road, centrally located with the popular Pattaya beach, a 15-minute taxi ride away.
The bus fare is 131 THB, paid directly to the driver, or 163 THB if you pre-book online through 12go.
Getting to Pattaya from Bangkok by train
Feeling adventurous? There are two trains to Pattaya, which run from Hua Lamphong Bangkok station in Bangkok.
Train #997 is a rapid train operating on Saturday and Sunday only, which takes around 2 hours and 30 minutes to reach Pattaya Railway Station.
Tickets cost 170 THB for train #997 and can be pre-purchased online or at Hua Lamphong Bangkok station.
Train #283 is an ordinary slower train running on weekdays (Monday-Friday) only and takes around 4 hours to reach Pattaya Railway Station.
Tickets cost 31 THB for train #283 and can be purchased at Hua Lamphong Bangkok station.
Train timetable
| Train | Departs Bangkok | Arrives Pattaya | Operation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 997 | 6:45 | 9:13 | Saturday & Sunday |
| 283 | 6:55 | 10:34 | Weekdays |
FAQ
Can I fly from Bangkok to Pattaya?
Pattaya has a local airport but no direct flights from Bangkok. There are, however, direct flights to Pattaya from Phuket.
Summary
There are numerous ways of getting to Pattaya from Bangkok, including car, bus, and train.
The most convenient way to travel to Pattaya is by pre-booking a private charter for pick up and drop you at your hotel.
Feeling adventurous? try the local train service out of Hua Lamphong Bangkok station costing just 31 THB for a 3-4 hour journey.
