How to Get from Bangkok to Pattaya?

Pattaya is around 147 kilometers (91 miles) to the southeast of Bangkok. It is the closest beach to Bangkok and offers rich experiences including floating markets and extravagant nightlife. It is popular to take a day trip from Bangkok to Pattaya, for both locals and visitors.

Getting to Pattaya from Bangkok is relatively straightforward, and you have several options available to you. In this guide, we will discuss various methods of transport you can use to get to Pattaya from Bangkok.

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Bangkok to Pattaya by Taxi — the Easiest and Quickest Way

• Journey time: 2 hours in off-peak times
• Cost: 1,500–2,000 baht ($50–65) + tolls, though taxi pre-booking is needed to avoid overcharging

Getting a taxi is the quickest and the most convenient way to get to Pattaya from anywhere in Bangkok. When you're taking a taxi from Bangkok to Pattaya you might be coming from a hotel in the city center or the airport.

From the city center, you will need to haggle the price down. Most taxis will take you to Pattaya for a set fee inclusive of the highway costs, but that is not always the case, so always plan to pay 1,500 baht plus tollway fees. The costs are similar to catching a taxi from Suvarnabhumi Airport. 

Bangkok to Pattaya By Bus — the Cheapest Way

• Journey time: 2–3 hours
• Cost: 117–130 baht ($4 or so)

The cheapest way to travel from Bangkok to Pattaya is by bus. There are three bus stations in Bangkok that run public bus services to and from Pattaya every day:

• the Eastern Bus Terminal (Ekkamai): Most buses depart from this terminal every 30 minutes starting at 5 am and ending at 11 pm.  
• the Northern Bus Terminal (Mo Chit): Similarly a/c buses leave this terminal between 05:30 and 20:00 each day. Expect this place to be chaos.
• the Southern Bus Terminal (Sai Tai Mai): Fewer buses depart from this terminal, every 2 - 2.5 hours. It is convenient if you stay around Khao San Road.

You can buy tickets on the spot or online, or through the agencies, you find, or even at your hotel.

If possible, you are recommended to travel on weekdays as the route to and from Pattaya can be busier on weekends when tickets are less available and traffic is worse.

Bangkok to Pattaya by Train (Best for Budget Travelers)

• 2½ hours or 3½ hours
• 31+ baht (from $1)

You will need to get to Hua Lamphong station as this is the most accessible place to catch a train to Pattaya. There are only 2 trains per day from Bangkok: one ordinary, and one rapid.

The rapid train is by far the best option as it takes an hour less than the ordinary train without much price difference, and the rapid train rarely gets fully booked.

4. Bangkok to Pattaya by Flight (Not Recommended)

• 4+ hours
• Over 3,000 baht ($100+)

The closest airport to Pattaya is U-Tapao Rayong-Pattaya International Airport, which is 40 kilometers (25 miles) away, and neither Don Muang nor Suvarnabhumi airports have domestic flights going to Pattaya's airport. If you insist on flying, you would need to take a flight to another domestic airport in Thailand, then change to another flight to get to U-Tapao airport.

In terms of time and money, the journey is just not worth it. You would spend 4 hours or more traveling and more than 3,000 baht.

Getting to Pattaya from Suvarnabhumi Airport

There are many minivans or limousines getting to Pattaya from the Suvarnabhumi Airport. You can book one in advance or upon arrival at the service counter on the 2nd floor of Suvarnabhumi Airport.

A more affordable option is by taking a bus at the airport's Transport Centre. Buses leave every 2 hours and take about 1.5 hours to reach Pattaya.

The efficient way is by taking a taxi. Avoid all offers by people at the arrivals or departures area offering you taxi services. Go directly to the ground floor of the airport where there are public taxi queues.  

Book a Private Transfer with Us (Most Convenient)

The most convenient option is to book a Pattaya tour with us. We include free Bangkok to Pattaya transport as part of our customized Pattaya tours. 

Everything, including transportation, will be included and well arranged to suit your schedule and pace. At Asia Highlights we know how hard it can be to arrange travel in a foreign country. That's why we have designed a unique service in which we tailor trips on your behalf, so you can save yourself time and effort, and still get what you want.