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Bangkok to Pattaya: Bus, Taxi, Train & Transfer

Last updated 2026-07-06

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Pattaya is the closest proper beach city to Bangkok, which is exactly why the question “how do I get from Bangkok to Pattaya?” comes up so often. The distance is only about 140-160km, but the answer isn’t one-size-fits-all: it depends on your budget, whether you’re coming from the city or straight off a plane, how much luggage you have, and how much Bangkok traffic decides to punish you that day. This guide covers every realistic option, the public bus from Ekkamai and the airports, minivans, the private taxi and Grab route, and the train, with current 2026 fares and journey times so you can pick without guessing.

Prices below are in Thai baht (THB) with US dollars in parentheses, converted at ฿33 = US$1 (July 2026). Bus and taxi fares move a little with the operator and season; train fares are fixed by the State Railway of Thailand and barely change. Every figure is sourced and linked in the Sources section. If Pattaya is part of a wider Bangkok trip, see outthailand.com’s things to do in Bangkok guide for the city itself.

Quick comparison: every Bangkok to Pattaya option

OptionRough cost (one-way)TimeDeparts fromBest for
Ekkamai (Eastern) bus฿180-192 (US$5-6)2-2.5 hrsEkkamai Bus Terminal (BTS Ekkamai)Best all-round value
Suvarnabhumi (BKK) airport bus฿197 (US$6)~2 hrsBKK Level 1, near Exit 8Arriving by air at BKK
Don Mueang (DMK) airport bus฿167 (US$5)~2.5 hrsDMK bus counterArriving by air at DMK
Minivan฿200 (US$6)~3 hrsMo Chit / Chatuchak van terminalNorthern Bangkok, budget
Private taxi / transfer฿1,200-1,600 (US$36-48)1.5-2.5 hrsYour door / hotelLuggage, groups, comfort
GrabCar฿1,000-1,700 (US$30-52)1.5-2.5 hrsYour locationOn-demand, no counter
Ordinary train (No. 283, daily)฿30-31 (~US$1)3.5-3.7 hrsHua Lamphong stationCheapest fare, the experience
Special express train (No. 997, weekends)~฿170 (US$5)~2.5 hrsHua Lamphong stationWeekend AC train ride

Ranges compiled from operator, transfer, and rail sources; see Sources. Times are scheduled and stretch in traffic. Prices at ฿33 = US$1 (July 2026).

The Ekkamai bus: the standard, best-value option

For most people coming from the city, the public bus from Ekkamai (the Eastern Bus Terminal) is the answer. It’s run by Roong Reuang Coach, costs roughly ฿180-192 (about US$5-6) one-way, and takes about 2 to 2.5 hours in normal traffic. Buses leave frequently, roughly every hour or so from around 6am to 10pm, on air-conditioned coaches, so you rarely wait long and don’t strictly need to book ahead outside peak holiday weekends.

The big advantage of Ekkamai over Bangkok’s other terminals is location: it sits right by BTS Ekkamai station on the Sukhumvit line, about a 5-minute walk, so getting there from anywhere central or along Sukhumvit is easy and cheap on the Skytrain. Buses arrive at Pattaya Bus Station (the North Pattaya terminal), about 3km from the central beach, where songthaews, Grab, and taxis wait to take you the rest of the way (more on that below). There are first-class direct coaches and slightly cheaper second-class services that stop more along the way, so if you want the fastest run, ask for the direct first-class bus at the counter.

From the airports: Suvarnabhumi (BKK) and Don Mueang (DMK)

If you’re flying into Bangkok and heading straight to the beach, you don’t need to go into the city first, both airports have direct services.

From Suvarnabhumi (BKK), the direct Roong Reuang Coach bus to Pattaya costs from about ฿197 (US$6) and takes around 2 hours, with roughly 17 departures a day from about 6am to 10pm. You check in on the ground floor (Level 1) of the terminal near Exit 8, at the desk signposted “Pattaya/Hua Hin.” It’s the cheapest, simplest way out of BKK to Pattaya.

From Don Mueang (DMK), Bangkok’s budget-carrier airport on the north side, the direct Transport Co. bus to Pattaya is about ฿167 (US$5) and takes around 2.5 hours, with a handful of daily departures (roughly six, spread across the day). DMK is further from Pattaya than Suvarnabhumi, so the ride is a bit longer.

From either airport, a private transfer is the door-to-door alternative: from Suvarnabhumi it starts around ฿1,199 (US$36) and from Don Mueang around ฿1,499 (US$45), usually with tolls included. A Grab from either airport lands in a similar ฿1,000-1,700 range. For the full breakdown of getting between Bangkok’s airports and the city itself, see outthailand.com’s getting from Bangkok’s airports into the city guide.

Minivans from Mo Chit: cheap but cramped

Minivans (13-seat vans) run to Pattaya from the Chatuchak / Mo Chit van terminal in northern Bangkok, starting around ฿200 (US$6), with several departures through the day and a journey time of about 3 hours. They’re a reasonable pick if you’re already on the north side of the city near Mo Chit, but there are trade-offs: the vans are tight on legroom and luggage space (an oversized suitcase can cost you an extra seat), and Thai van drivers have a well-earned reputation for driving fast. For most travelers the roomier Ekkamai coach at a similar price is the better choice, and it’s easier to reach by Skytrain.

Private taxi, transfer, and Grab: the door-to-door option

If you value comfort, are traveling with luggage or a group, or just want to be picked up at your hotel and dropped at your destination in Pattaya, a private taxi or fixed-price transfer is the way to go. From central Bangkok these run roughly ฿1,200-1,600 (US$36-48), usually with tolls, fuel, and parking included, and cover the trip in about 1.5 to 2.5 hours depending on traffic and where in Pattaya you’re going. You book them in advance through a transfer operator, and the price is fixed, so there’s no meter and no negotiation at the other end.

A GrabCar is the on-demand equivalent. You can request a Grab for inter-provincial trips like this straight in the app, and the fare (calculated on distance) typically lands around ฿1,000-1,700 (US$30-52) depending on car size and surge pricing, occasionally more for a larger SUV. The advantage over a booked transfer is that you can summon one on the spot; the downside is that not every driver will accept a long one-way run out of the city, and the price can jump at busy times. For a group of three or four, splitting a private car often works out cheaper per person than the equivalent in bus tickets plus onward songthaews, and it saves the terminal-to-terminal hassle.

The train: cheapest fare, slowest ride

There is a train, and it’s the cheapest fare of all, but it’s slow. The daily ordinary train (No. 283) leaves Bangkok’s Hua Lamphong station around 6:55am and reaches Pattaya station about 3.5 to 3.7 hours later, in basic 3rd-class fan-cooled seating, for just ฿30-31 (about US$1). It stops at every station along the way, which is the point, it’s an experience and a bargain, not a fast connection.

On weekends only (Saturday and Sunday), an air-conditioned special express (No. 997) runs the same route faster, in about 2.5 hours, for around ฿170 (US$5) in 2nd-class AC. If your dates line up, it’s the most comfortable train option.

One thing to note for the future: the long-planned high-speed rail line linking Don Mueang, Suvarnabhumi, and U-Tapao (via Pattaya) has been heavily delayed and is not expected to open until the early 2030s, so despite the headlines, there’s no fast bullet train on this route in 2026. Don’t plan around it. Heading the other direction across the country later? See outthailand.com’s Chiang Mai to Bangkok guide for that long-haul route’s train, bus, and flight options.

Getting around once you arrive, and the return trip

Wherever your bus drops you, you’re likely at Pattaya Bus Station on North Pattaya Road, about 3km from the beach and Walking Street. The local workhorse is the songthaew (the shared “baht bus”), a converted pickup with bench seating that runs fixed loops around Pattaya and down to Jomtien. As of 2026 the minimum shared fare is about ฿15, with longer rides up to about ฿20; you flag one down with your arm out, press the buzzer to get off, and pay at the front window when you hop out. Don’t let a driver quote you a “charter” price (฿100+) for a shared ride, agree it’s a shared trip before getting in, or just wave the next one down. For onward to Jomtien specifically, the songthaews run south along Thappraya Road; it’s a short, cheap hop.

For the return to Bangkok, everything runs in reverse: Roong Reuang coaches leave Pattaya Bus Station back to Ekkamai and both airports on a similar frequent schedule, the train departs Pattaya station in the afternoon, and Grab and private transfers can pick you up from your hotel. If you’re heading back to catch a flight, give yourself a generous buffer, Sunday-afternoon returns into Bangkok are the worst for traffic and can run well over the scheduled time.

Is Pattaya worth it? A quick teaser

Pattaya’s reputation precedes it, but there’s more to the city than the nightlife it’s famous for. It’s a full beach resort city with Jomtien’s longer, quieter beach just south, Koh Larn (Coral Island) a short ferry offshore for clearer water, big air-conditioned malls, floating markets, viewpoints, and family attractions, all reachable in a couple of hours from Bangkok, which is the whole appeal. See outthailand.com’s things to do in Pattaya guide for the full rundown of sights, and the Pattaya beach guide for how Jomtien compares to the main beach. As a day trip it’s rushed once you count the travel each way, so it works far better as an overnight or a 2-3 day stop where you can see both the town and Jomtien without spending the day on a bus.

Honest downsides to know about

  • Traffic is the wildcard. Every road option (bus, van, taxi, Grab) is at the mercy of Bangkok and Pattaya traffic. Friday and Sunday afternoons and public holidays, when the whole city heads to and from the coast, can add an hour or more, so treat scheduled times as a best case.
  • Minivan driving. Thai van drivers are known for speed. If that makes you uneasy, the coach from Ekkamai is calmer and roomier for a similar price.
  • Songthaew “charter” pricing. Some baht-bus drivers in Pattaya try to quote tourists a private charter fare (฿100+) for what should be a ฿15-20 shared ride. Confirm it’s a shared trip before you get in, or just take the next one.
  • Taxi and transfer scams. Stick to a booked fixed-price transfer or an in-app Grab where the price is set upfront. Unbooked drivers hanging around terminals and airports may quote inflated one-way fares or add “extras” for tolls that a proper transfer already includes.
  • The day-trip trap. With 2-3 hours each way in realistic traffic, a same-day round trip leaves you only a few hours in Pattaya. If you can, stay a night.

Which should you pick?

If you’re in the city and want the best balance of price, comfort, and ease, take the Ekkamai bus: it’s cheap, frequent, air-conditioned, and easy to reach on the BTS. If you’re arriving by air, use the direct airport bus from your terminal (BKK or DMK) rather than backtracking into the city. If you have luggage, a group, or just want door-to-door, book a private taxi/transfer or take a Grab, the extra cost buys you the fastest, most comfortable trip. Take the train only if you specifically want the cheap, scenic, slow ride (or the weekend AC express). And whichever way you go, if it’s a Friday or Sunday, pad your timing for traffic.

Planning the Bangkok end of the trip too? See outthailand.com’s things to do in Bangkok guide for the city’s temples, markets, and river, the Bangkok 3-day itinerary if you’re fitting Pattaya around a short city stay, and where to stay in Bangkok for neighbourhoods and a base before or after the beach.

Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cheapest way to get from Bangkok to Pattaya?

On raw fare, the daily ordinary train (No. 283) from Hua Lamphong is the cheapest at about ฿30-31 (US$1) in 3rd class, but it's slow at roughly 3.5-3.7 hours and has basic fan-cooled seating. For a faster, more comfortable cheap option, the public bus from Ekkamai (Eastern) Bus Terminal at roughly ฿180-192 (US$5-6) is the better all-round value, with air-conditioned coaches and departures every hour or so. Minivans from Mo Chit run about ฿200 (US$6) but are more cramped.

How long does it take to get from Bangkok to Pattaya?

It's about 140-160km, so in light traffic the drive is 1.5-2 hours, but real times run longer. The Ekkamai bus is scheduled at about 2-2.5 hours, minivans about 3 hours, and the daily train about 3.5-3.7 hours. A private taxi is the fastest door-to-door at roughly 1.5-2.5 hours. The big variable is traffic: Friday and Sunday afternoons and public holidays, when Bangkok heads to and from the coast, can add an hour or more to any road option.

How do I get from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Pattaya?

The easiest budget option is the direct Roong Reuang Coach bus, which costs from about ฿197 (US$6) and takes around 2 hours, with roughly 17 departures a day from about 6am to 10pm. You check in on the ground floor (Level 1) of the terminal near Exit 8, at the desk signposted 'Pattaya/Hua Hin.' If you'd rather go door-to-door, a private transfer from Suvarnabhumi starts around ฿1,199 (US$36) and a Grab runs a similar ฿1,000-1,700.

Is there a train from Bangkok to Pattaya?

Yes, but it's more of an experience than a fast option. The daily ordinary train (No. 283) leaves Bangkok's Hua Lamphong station around 6:55am and reaches Pattaya about 3.5-3.7 hours later, in 3rd-class fan-cooled seating, for just ฿30-31 (US$1). On weekends only, an air-conditioned special express (No. 997) runs the route in about 2.5 hours for around ฿170 (US$5). The high-speed rail line linking Bangkok, the airports, and Pattaya is still years from opening, so don't plan around it in 2026.

How much is a taxi or Grab from Bangkok to Pattaya?

A private taxi or fixed-price transfer from central Bangkok runs roughly ฿1,200-1,600 (US$36-48), usually including tolls, and takes about 1.5-2.5 hours door-to-door. A GrabCar costs a similar ฿1,000-1,700 (US$30-52) depending on car size and surge pricing, and can be booked for the inter-provincial trip in the app. Both are the most comfortable options and make sense if you have luggage, are traveling as a group splitting the fare, or just want to be dropped at your hotel.

Should I take the bus from Ekkamai or Mo Chit?

Ekkamai (the Eastern Bus Terminal) is the natural choice for most travelers heading to Pattaya, since it's on the east side of the city on the BTS Skytrain (Ekkamai station, about a 5-minute walk) and runs frequent air-conditioned coaches for around ฿180-192. Mo Chit is Bangkok's northern terminal and its adjacent van terminal runs minivans to Pattaya from about ฿200, but it's more useful if you're already on the north side of the city. If you're near central or Sukhumvit, use Ekkamai.

Where does the bus drop you off in Pattaya?

Most Ekkamai and airport coaches terminate at Pattaya Bus Station (the North Pattaya terminal on North Pattaya Road), about 3km from the central beach area. From there you hop on a songthaew (the shared 'baht bus') into town or down to Jomtien; the standard shared fare is about ฿15-20 as of 2026, or you can charter one privately for more. Grab and metered taxis also wait at the station.

Is Pattaya worth visiting as a trip from Bangkok?

It depends on what you want. Pattaya has a reputation built on its nightlife, but it's also a full-blown beach resort city with family attractions, islands offshore (Koh Larn), Jomtien's quieter beach, big shopping malls, floating markets, and viewpoints. It's the easiest beach city to reach from Bangkok, which is its main draw. As a day trip it's rushed given the travel time each way, so it works better as an overnight or a 2-3 day stop, especially if you want to see both the town and Jomtien.

Out Thailand Team

Based in Chiang Mai

The Out Thailand team lives in and around Chiang Mai and writes practical, on-the-ground guides to events, cost of living, and daily life in Thailand.