Pattaya is one of Thailand’s easiest cities to reach. In fact, it’s less than two hours from Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport by bus, taxi or private car. Below, we’ve listed the three most efficient ways to get to Pattaya from Bangkok, along with pricing and travel time information for each.
Note: Our travel options assume you are departing from Bangkok. Pattaya is located close to Bangkok and since the vast majority of Thai and Southeast Asian cities offer flights to Bangkok, it’s by far the most effective “jump off” point for reaching Pattaya.
Getting to Pattaya by Bus
The cheapest way to get to Pattaya from Bangkok is by bus. Buses leave from Bangkok’s Ekkamai Bus Station (located a short distance from BTS station Ekkamai) and take approximately two hours to get to Pattaya. Bus tickets cost approximately 120 baht, although the price can vary based on the bus operator. The journey is a simple one down the highway, without any major turns or windy roads.
Once you arrive in Pattaya, you can take a baht bus or taxi from the bus station to your hotel. Most baht buses are willing to take several people at once, letting you save money compared to hiring a private taxi to take you to your hotel in Pattaya or Jomtien.
Getting to Pattaya by Taxi
It’s also possible to travel from Bangkok to Pattaya by taxi. There are several ways to do this. The easiest, if you’re staying close to a major street in Bangkok, is to flag down a passing taxi and ask them to take you to Pattaya. Be aware that some taxis may refuse due to the distance, especially if the driver is near the end of their shift.
If you can find an agreeable taxi driver, expect to pay between 1,200 and 1,800 baht for the private taxi trip to Pattaya, depending on where you’re leaving from in Bangkok and which part of Pattaya you’re traveling to. As a general rule, you might need to pay slightly more to get to Jomtien than a closer part of Pattaya such as Naklua.
The second option is to book a Bangkok to Pattaya taxi online. This will generally cost slightly more (expect an extra 100-200 baht, compared to hailing a taxi off the street) but gives you the convenience of knowing when and where to expect your driver. Many of the Bangkok to Pattaya taxi companies also use higher quality cars than standard Bangkok street taxis.
Getting to Pattaya by Car
Finally, if you have a car, you can drive directly from Bangkok to Pattaya. This is a good option if you want to explore the Pattaya area by yourself, as it means you won’t need to rely on baht buses, tuk-tuks and taxis in Pattaya. From Bangkok, it’s an easy drive down the highway to Pattaya that takes approximately two hours.
Happy travels and enjoy your visit to Pattaya. All of the methods listed above will get you from Bangkok to Pattaya with ease, the only major difference being the amount of time required for each one and the total amount you’ll spend for transportation between the two cities.