How to get from Bangkok to Pattaya? with Prices for 2023

Pattaya is pretty close to Bangkok. It sits only 95 miles (150 km) south of Thailand’s capital… so it’s quick and easy to travel between the two of them.

And since you’re reading this, you’re probs considering taking that exact journey.

So, in this guide, we’ve brought you everything you need to know to get from Bangkok to Pattaya. We’ve covered options for buses, minivans, trains, taxis, driving a hire car, and even venturing directly to Pattaya from Bangkok’s airports.

Today, Travelness are taking a speedy lil trip from Bangkok to Pattaya. Better pack a pad thai kid, cos you’re coming with us!

How to Get from Bangkok to Pattaya?

The main ways to travel from Bangkok to Pattaya are:

By Bus: The best and cheapest way to travel from Bangkok to Pattaya is by bus. The bus journey time between Bangkok and Pattaya takes around 2 hours. The buses departs from Bangkok Ekkamai and arrives in Pattaya Bus Terminal. Typically 98 buses run weekly, although weekend and holiday schedules can vary so check in advance. The fare ranges from 120 THB to 220 THB.
By Train: You can take a train from Lat Krabang to Pattaya. The journey takes approximately 3 hours and 49 minutes and costs between 69 THB and 1044 THB.
By Car: If you prefer a more comfortable ride, you can take a taxi or private transfer, or rent your own car. A taxi ride from Bangkok to Pattaya takes around 1 hour and 30 minutes and costs between 1100 THB and 2000 THB.

The distance between Bangkok and Pattaya is approximately 98.32 km when measured in a straight line. If you are planning to travel by road, the distance is around 147 km. The driving time is approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes when the traffic is light, but if traffic is heavy, it could take up to 3 hours.

Bangkok to Pattaya Map – Itinerary for cars

We will get into the details of these main transportation options and some more too in the next sections of this article.

🎫 How to Get from Bangkok to Pattaya with an Online Ticket

Here’s a quick insider tip before we get started with the main part of this guide.

In the next sections of this article, I’ve given you all the different ways you can get from Bangkok to Pattaya, along with lots of resources you can use to tackle those trips.

But if you want to make things even easier (no matter your preferred type of travel), check out Bookaway. They offer a massive range of travel options throughout many parts of the world. And… I’m sure you can see where this is going… they offer lots of options for trips from Bangkok to Pattaya—along with information on prices, trip durations, departure points, and all that other stuff.

I used to work for these guys, so I can vouch for how useful and reliable they are.

Here is the direct link for all the available trips from Bangkok to Pattaya.

Anyway, no matter how you want to buy your tickets, next up is all the information you could ever want to know…!

🚌 How to Get from Bangkok to Pattaya by Bus

Bangkok is absolutely massive, and there are bus stations and bus departure points all over the city. So I’m not gonna list every place offering bus rides from Bangkok to Pattaya.

Instead, I’ll just give you the place offering the most popular and regular bus journeys from Bangkok to Pattaya. That place is the Eastern Bus Terminal, also known as ‘Ekkamai Bus Terminal, you’ll find it on Soi Ekkamai (‘Ekkamai Street’) close to the Ekkamai BTS Station.

If you’re reaching the bus depot from Ekkamai BTS Station, take exit 2 out of the station, then turn right to find all the buses.

From here, journeys to Pattaya take between 2 and 3 hours, depending on traffic. If you take one of the later buses, you might miss some of the traffic, and nab yourself a shorter journey. But probs not, cos Bangkok traffic is pretty much consistently horrendous.

Anyway, buses from here head to North Pattaya Bus Terminal, and they leave every 30-60 minutes, between 5am and 11pm. Because they’re so regular, the buses are never full, so you don’t need to book a ticket in advance. Instead, just wander to the ticket booth, hand over around 120 baht, and you’re on your way to Pattaya.

Pros of taking the bus from Bangkok to Pattaya: it’s the cheapest popular option, you don’t need to book a ticket in advance, the departures are super-regular, the buses are surprisingly comfortable and spacious, and it’s the most ‘local’ way of tackling the journey.
Cons of taking the bus from Bangkok to Pattaya: the scenery is nothing special, and you’ll need to make your own way to Bangkok bus station (and from Pattaya bus station).

🚐 How to Get from Bangkok to Pattaya by Minivan (Minibus)

Taking a minivan from Bangkok to Pattaya is pretty much the same as taking a bus from Bangkok to Pattaya. Except, obviously, minivans are smaller than buses (but that’s not a phenomenon exclusive to Bangkok, is it?).

Anyway, the public minivans from Bangkok to Pattaya depart from exactly the same place as the buses from Bangkok to Pattaya. To reiterate, that’s from the Eastern Bus Terminal, beside the Ekkamai BTS Station.

So if you narrowly miss a bus, and decide you can’t be bothered to wait 30-60 minutes for another one, you can hop into a minivan instead. These minivans cost around 130 baht, and the journey usually takes 2 to 2.5 hours. As far as I know, they don’t run on any fixed schedule—they just leave whenever they’re full. You buy your ticket directly from the driver.

Here’s an important note though: these minivans are pretty small. If you’re traveling light, that’s not a problem. But if you have lots of luggage, there might not be space for all your stuff. And even if there is space, the driver might make you pay for another seat to squeeze it onto.

These public minivans typically drive to somewhere around Pattaya beach. They won’t take you directly to your hotel, but the beach is very central.

That said, if you do want to take a minivan directly to wherever you’re staying in Pattaya, that’s also possible. You can book a private minivan directly at your accommodation in Bangkok. These private minivans will pick you up from your Bangkok hotel, and drop you off at your Pattaya hotel, at whatever time you choose. There’s always room for your luggage, and the ride usually costs between 400 and 450 baht per person.

Pros of taking a public minivan from Bangkok to Pattaya: they leave regularly, because they set off as soon as they’re full. They’re cheap and reliable, and they’re a little faster than buses.
Cons of taking a public minivan from Bangkok to Pattaya: there might not be space for your luggage, you might need to pay extra for your luggage, and they’re usually less comfortable than buses.
Pros of taking a private minivan from Bangkok to Pattaya: there’ll always be room for your luggage, you’ll get picked up from your hotel and dropped off at your hotel, and they’re usually pretty comfy. Drivers sometimes speak English.
Cons of taking a private minivan from Bangkok to Pattaya: it’s way more expensive than taking some form of public transport. And with a private minivan, you’re staying inside of a little tourist bubble, rather than meeting locals (but maybe you don’t care about all that stuff).

🚅 How to Get from Bangkok to Pattaya by Train

The cheapest option of all, not many people take the train from Bangkok to Pattaya… cos it’s notorious for (usually) being a stupidly-slow route.

But if you’re one of those people who loves taking trains, this might be for you. It’s also a good choice for people on a hyper-budget: if you take the 3rd-class train, you’ll pay less than $1USD for your ride (and, no, that’s not a typo).

There are two train options from Bangkok to Pattaya:

➡️ If you tackle the trip between Monday and Friday (inclusive of those dates), you’ll be on the 3rd-class train. It leaves once a day, 5 days a week, at 6:55am. The journey takes 3 hours and 40 minutes, and runs from Bangkok’s Hualamphong station to Pattaya train station, which is slightly north-east of Pattaya’s center. You buy your ticket at the station, before you depart.

➡️ If you travel on a Saturday or Sunday, things are a little different. You won’t ride on a third-class train. Instead, your train is a bit comfier (2nd-class, with AC), it costs 170 baht, it leaves at 6:45am, and the journey takes 2.5 hours. For these trains, it’s best to book your ticket in advance—you can do that here.

How to get from Bangkok to Pattaya by train

Pros of taking a train from Bangkok to Pattaya: if you take one of the third-class trains, it’s the cheapest possible option. Traveling by train is also the most fun choice (who doesn’t like riding on trains?). And the from-train views, though they’re admittedly nothing special, are the best Bangkok-to-Pattaya views you can get.
Cons of taking a train from Bangkok to Pattaya: the third-class trains are stupidly slow. And no matter which class of train you take, the schedule is super-thin, with only one departure per day.

🚕 How to Get from Bangkok to Pattaya by Taxi

Given you have so many other (reliable and affordable) options, taking a taxi from Bangkok to Pattaya is not the best choice, it’s rather a pretty stupid idea. But maybe you like stupid ideas, and I’m not here to judge you.

You have two ways of getting a taxi. The best is to book a Grab, which we’ve covered next. But if you don’t have data, or don’t like apps, or don’t want to use your phone, you can also just hop into a taxi off the street. The drive isn’t too long, so all drivers will be willing to take you to Pattaya (cos who doesn’t like earning more money?).

Because you’re in Bangkok, one of the busiest cities in the world, you can find taxis anywhere. So just flag one down wherever you are.

How to get from Bangkok to Pattaya by taxi

Tell the driver exactly where you want to go, and you can enjoy a private little trip right to the door of your destination.

Agree a fee in advance, so you don’t get massively ripped off. You’ll pay between 1,500 and 2,000 baht—and If it’s any more than that, you’re paying too much. The trip will take around 2 hours.

Pros of taking a taxi from Bangkok to Pattaya: you can go from anywhere in Bangkok to anywhere in Pattaya, you can leave anytime you want (cos taxis are EVERYWHERE in Bangkok), and you can travel privately.
Cons of taking a taxi from Bangkok to Pattaya: it’s outrageously expensive. Yeah, you get a bit more flexibility and privacy, but it’s really not worth the extra outlay.

🚘 How to Get from Bangkok to Pattaya with Grab

Quick note, just in case you don’t know what Grab is: it’s basically just Uber, but a Southeast Asian version of Uber. So the way Uber works, that’s the way Grab works. It’s super popular and well-known, so download the app, hop on it, and you’ll be in a car within 5 minutes.

Your ride will probably cost between 1,200 and 1,500 baht. When you enter your pickup point and your destination, you’ll be told your price before you book—so you’re not gonna get hit with any surprise fees. Which is nice isn’t it.

Like with any taxi-getting app, you can choose any arrival and departure points you like. Convenient!

Pros of taking a Grab from Bangkok to Pattaya: it’s one of the most convenient and fuss-free solutions, no language barriers are gonna get in your way, it’s the best taxi option (cos you don’t need to worry about being overcharged), it’s cheaper than a regular taxi, and you get your own private ride. And, most importantly for most people, it’s the ultimate in immediacy and flexibility.
Cons of taking a Grab from Bangkok to Pattaya: you need to download an app, and understand how to use that app (which some people find annoying—I hate using apps). It’s also unnecessarily pricey when you have loads of other convenient and much-more-affordable options.

🚙 How to Get from Bangkok to Pattaya with Your Own Rented Car

Right, I’m gonna be honest with you. Unless you’re an experienced driver, I don’t recommend doing this, cos Thai roads can be a bit mad, and I wouldn’t want to drive on them. But then, I am a contender for ‘#1 worst driver in the world,’ so I don’t really like driving anywhere.

If you really want to be all free and flexible, it’s of course possible to rent a car. And you’ll find LOADS of well-known rental places in both Bangkok and Pattaya. The two most reliable are Hertz and Budget, both of which have branches in both cities—so if you hire a car with these, you can pick up your car in Bangkok then drop it off in Pattaya with no issues.

But if you want something even more simple and stress-free, check out DiscoverCars. A price comparison site for finding car rentals all across the world, they’re the best and simplest way to rent cars.

No matter who you rent with, expect to pay around 1,000-1,500 baht per day for a very basic car (and more for a better car, obviously). It’s best to book online in advance, cos you’ll be able to snag the best deals.

Note: You need an international driving license (or a Thai driving license) to drive in Thailand.

Pros of driving your own rented car from Bangkok to Pattaya: it’s expensive, you’ll need to work out where to pick up (and drop off) your car, you have to navigate the horrendous hellscape of Bangkok’s sprawl, and you need to ride around on Thailand’s (often pretty dangerous) roads.
Cons of driving your own rented car from Bangkok to Pattaya: you have total freedom and independence, so you’re not tied to any timetable or schedule. But, best of all, you can stop off whenever and wherever you like en-route—want to see some specific things or specific places on the way? You can!

🚘 How to Get from Bangkok to Pattaya with a Private Transfer

Of all the possible options, this is the most simple and stress-free.

Taking a private transfer is a good idea if you can’t be bothered with any hassle, and if you’re a lazy little soul who doesn’t like doing any prep or planning. It’s also a good option if you’re traveling with kids, or if you’re in a big group.

Here’s how it works: you get a private car (or private minivan) with a private driver, this driver usually (though not necessarily) speaks some English. The vehicle is modern and comfortable, and normally pretty luxurious. You get picked up at your accommodation in Bangkok, and dropped off at your accommodation in Pattaya.

If you think that sounds like a sweet little deal (me too), you have three options:

This Viator private transfer which is the cheapest private-transfer option
this GetYourGuide transfer which is the most well-known option,
or a super-luxurious VIP trip with Blacklane who call themselves a ‘global chauffeur service,’ and will make you feel like some swanky celebrity.

A standard ticket usually costs around $30 per person… though the more luxurious the journey, the pricier it can be.

The journey time for a private transfer is usually advertised as around 2 hours (but in my experience, private drivers are always a little quicker than this).

Pros of taking a private transfer from Bangkok to Pattaya: it’s definitely the easiest option, you don’t need to plan anything, and you get driven from door to door with no hassle and no fuss. If you’re traveling with kids or in a big group, it’s very convenient. And as a nice bonus, you can book your ticket online, so you don’t need to visit any station or ticket booth… or even leave your accommodation at all.
Cons of taking a private transfer from Bangkok to Pattaya: it’s pricey, and you’re living in a little tourist bubble, instead of interacting with any locals.

✈️ How to Get from Bangkok’s Airports to Pattaya

Some people want to go directly from Bangkok’s airports to Pattaya, to hop right into the mucky fun without taking one single step into any actual part of Bangkok.

Well, if you’re one of them, here’s some good news: you can ride directly from Bangkok’s airport to Pattaya.

But before we get going with this section, here’s an important note: there are two airports in Bangkok, so which one you’re arriving at will (obviously) dictate how you travel. Those two airports are… Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) and Bangkok Don Muang Airport (DMK).

How to Get from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) to Pattaya

Bangkok Suvarnabhumi is the biggest of Bangkok’s two airports. If you land here, you can reach Pattaya directly by taxi, Grab, and bus.

The cheapest option (obviously!) is traveling by bus. On the first floor, after you’ve picked up your bags, you’ll find a little booth selling bus tickets— they cost just under 150 baht each. The buses leave hourly between 8am and 10pm, and the journey usually takes a little more than 2 hours. The bus stops twice on Sukhumvit Road, then the final stop is at Jomtien Beach.

If you prefer to take a taxi, it’s best to book a Grab, cos you’ll know the price in advance. When you book, make sure you specify exactly which part of the airport you’re leaving from, unless you want to hunt for your non-English-speaking driver for hours. It’ll cost around 1,200 baht.

If you don’t have data, or don’t like apps, you’ll be able to find loads of taxi drivers hanging around outside the airport. Agree a fee before you leave—and don’t pay anything more than 1,500 baht (yep, non-Grab taxis are usually more expensive than Grab taxis).

Whichever type of taxi you take, your journey from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport to Pattaya will be around 90 minutes.

How to Get from Bangkok Don Muang Airport (DMK) to Pattaya

Don Muang is the smaller of Bangkok’s two airports—but if you’re flying from inside of Thailand, or from another part of Southeast Asia, there’s a good chance you’ll land here.

Again, you can reach Pattaya from this airport with three options: bus, taxi, and Grab.

But here’s some bad news: there’s no direct bus from Don Muang Airport to Pattaya.

Instead, you have to change at Mo Chit Bus Terminal, on a journey that takes a combined total of around 4 hours (or maybe more, depending on how lucky you get with transfer times). I don’t think it’s worth the hassle—but if you think it is, you need to take the 40-minute A1 bus from the airport to Mo Chit, before then finding the soonest bus from Mo Chit to Pattaya. In total, this whole journey will cost around 400 baht per person.

A taxi, of course, is much easier and quicker. And time is money innit.

A Grab will cost around 1,700 baht. A non-Grab taxi will cost around 2,000 baht. Again, make sure you agree your fee in advance, otherwise you’ll probably get ripped off. Your taxi will take around 2 hours.

Before You Go

There you go—everything you need to know about how to get from Bangkok to Pattaya!

In short, if you want to save money without tackling a seemingly-infinite journey, take the bus. If you want the ultimate in luxury and convenience, book a private transfer with Viator.

For more information on the city, here’s our guide on whether or not Pattaya is safe (spoiler alert: it is. So you really don’t need to worry), the best hotels in Pattaya with private beaches, and all the best things to do in Pattaya with kids.

Thanks for reading, thanks for visiting Travelness, and enjoy Pattaya. See ya!

How to get from Bangkok to Pattaya? with Prices