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Getting to Pattaya: Every Route from Bangkok, BKK & U-Tapao

Last updated 2026-07-07

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TL;DR: Pattaya sits about 140-160km from Bangkok and 45 minutes from its own U-Tapao Airport, with several realistic ways in. From Bangkok city, the Ekkamai bus is the standard choice at roughly ฿180-192 (US$5-6), taking 2-2.5 hours, while a private taxi or Grab runs about ฿1,200-1,800 (US$36-55) door-to-door in 1.5-2.5 hours. From Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK), a direct Roong Reuang Coach bus costs from about ฿197 (US$6) in around 2 hours, or a taxi transfer runs roughly ฿1,199-1,700 (US$36-52) in about 1.5 hours. If you’re flying into U-Tapao (Pattaya’s own airport), it’s a short 45-minute hop into town: a fixed-price airport taxi is about ฿1,000 (US$30), a shared minibus about ฿250 (US$8). The daily ordinary train from Hua Lamphong costs just ฿30-31 (about US$1) but takes 3.5-3.7 hours. Once you’re in Pattaya, the ฿15-20 (about US$0.50) shared songthaew (“baht bus”) covers most local trips, with Grab and scooter rental (฿200-350/day) as the alternatives. All prices at ฿33 = US$1 (July 2026).

“Getting to Pattaya” isn’t a single answer, because there are three different starting points people search from: Bangkok city, Suvarnabhumi Airport straight off a long-haul flight, and U-Tapao, Pattaya’s own regional airport. Each has its own bus, taxi, and train options, and the right pick depends on where you’re coming from, how much luggage you’re carrying, and whether you value the lowest fare or the fastest door-to-door trip. This guide covers all three routes in, with current 2026 fares and times, then walks through how to actually get around once you’ve arrived, including the songthaew system that trips up almost every first-time visitor.

Every fare below is sourced from operator, transfer, and rail pages listed in the Sources section, converted at ฿33 = US$1 (July 2026). Once you’ve arrived, see outthailand.com’s things to do in Pattaya pillar guide for what to do first.

Every way to reach Pattaya, at a glance

FromModeTimePrice THB (USD)
Bangkok (Ekkamai)Public bus2-2.5 hrs฿180-192 (~$5-6)
Bangkok (Mo Chit)Minivan~3 hrs฿150-220 (~$5-7)
Bangkok (city)Private taxi / Grab1.5-2.5 hrs฿1,200-1,800 (~$36-55)
Bangkok (Hua Lamphong)Daily train (No. 283)3.5-3.7 hrs฿30-31 (~$1)
Bangkok (Hua Lamphong)Weekend express train (No. 997)~2.5 hrs฿170-220 ($5-7)
Suvarnabhumi (BKK)Direct airport bus~2 hrsfrom ฿197 (~$6)
Suvarnabhumi (BKK)Taxi / transfer~1.5 hrs฿1,199-1,700 (~$36-52)
U-Tapao (UTP)Official airport taxi~45 min฿1,000 ($30)
U-Tapao (UTP)Shared minibus~45-60 min฿250 ($8)

Ranges compiled from operator, transfer, and rail sources; see Sources. Road times stretch in heavy traffic, especially Friday and Sunday afternoons. Prices at ฿33 = US$1 (July 2026).

How do I get to Pattaya from Bangkok?

The standard route from Bangkok city is the public bus from Ekkamai (Eastern) Bus Terminal, run by Roong Reuang Coach, at roughly ฿180-192 (about US$5-6) one-way in about 2-2.5 hours. It’s on the BTS Skytrain (Ekkamai station, a 5-minute walk), runs frequently through the day, and is the best all-round balance of price and comfort.

If you’d rather go door-to-door, a private taxi or transfer costs about ฿1,200-1,600 (US$36-48), and a GrabCar runs a similar ฿1,000-1,700 (US$30-52), both in roughly 1.5-2.5 hours depending on traffic. Minivans from Mo Chit’s Chatuchak van terminal are the budget alternative at about ฿150-220 (US$5-7), though they’re tighter on legroom and luggage space and take closer to 3 hours. This guide covers the full picture across all starting points; for Bangkok-specific detail, including terminal maps, which bus class to ask for, and the return schedule, see outthailand.com’s dedicated guide on getting from Bangkok to Pattaya.

How do I get to Pattaya from Suvarnabhumi Airport?

If you’re flying into Bangkok and heading straight to the coast, you don’t need to detour into the city first. The direct Roong Reuang Coach airport bus from Suvarnabhumi (BKK) costs from about ฿197 (US$6) and takes around 2 hours, with roughly 17 departures a day between about 6am and 10pm. Check in on the ground floor (Level 1) of the terminal near Exit 8, at the counter signposted “Pattaya/Hua Hin.”

For a faster, door-to-door option, a pre-booked taxi transfer starts around ฿1,199 (US$36) and can run up to about ฿1,700 (US$52) depending on the operator and vehicle, taking around 1.5 hours. A Grab lands in a similar range plus tolls, though not every driver accepts a long inter-provincial fare, so a fixed-price transfer is often the more reliable pick straight off a flight.

How do I get to Pattaya from U-Tapao Airport?

U-Tapao (UTP), officially U-Tapao Rayong Pattaya International Airport, is Pattaya’s own airport, and it’s the fastest way in if your flight serves it, roughly 45 minutes from the terminal to central Pattaya versus 1.5-2 hours from Bangkok. It mostly handles regional and charter routes rather than Suvarnabhumi’s full long-haul network, so check whether your airline actually flies here before planning around it.

At the terminal, an official taxi counter sits just before the exit and charges a fixed price of around ฿1,000 (US$30), no meter and no haggling required. The same counters sell tickets for a shared minibus at about ฿250 (US$8) per person, a reasonable option if you’re not in a rush. Meter taxis waiting outside sometimes quote ฿600-800 for the same run, though drivers may refuse the meter and push for ฿1,000+ regardless, so the fixed counter price is the simpler bet. Pre-booked private transfers arranged before you land can come in a little cheaper, from around ฿800-900 (US$24-27).

Is there a train to Pattaya?

Yes, from Bangkok. The daily ordinary train (No. 283) leaves Hua Lamphong station around 6:55am and reaches Pattaya station roughly 3.5-3.7 hours later, in basic 3rd-class fan-cooled seating, for just ฿30-31 (about US$1). On weekends only, an air-conditioned special express (No. 997) covers the route faster, in about 2.5 hours, for around ฿170-220 (US$5-7) in 2nd class, continuing on to Ban Plutaluang station near Sattahip. There’s no train link from either Bangkok airport or from U-Tapao directly to Pattaya, and the long-planned high-speed rail line connecting the airports and Pattaya remains years from opening, so don’t factor it into 2026 plans.

How do you get around Pattaya once you arrive?

However you arrive, getting around the city itself comes down to three real options.

The songthaew (“baht bus”) is the local workhorse: a converted pickup truck running fixed shared loops along Beach Road, Sukhumvit Road, and down to Jomtien. As of the 2026 fare update, the standard shared ride costs ฿15-20 (about US$0.50), depending on distance. You flag one down heading your direction, ride to your stop, press the buzzer, and pay the driver through the front window as you hop out. It’s cheap and covers most of the city, but it only runs fixed routes, so anywhere off the main roads needs a different option.

Grab operates city-wide and is the metered, no-haggling alternative, useful for door-to-door trips, late nights, or anywhere the songthaew loop doesn’t reach, such as Jomtien side streets or hotels set back from the main roads.

Scooter rental is the option for those comfortable riding in Thai traffic, running roughly ฿200-350 (US$6-11) per day for a standard 125cc automatic, with weekly and monthly rates working out cheaper per day. It gives you the most freedom, including day trips out of town, but international driving permit rules apply and helmet law enforcement has tightened in recent years, so factor in gear and insurance.

Honest downsides to know about

  • Baht-bus overcharging. The official songthaew fare is ฿15-20, but tourists are routinely quoted ฿50-100 or more for the same short shared ride, and enforcement action against individual drivers (suspensions, fines) shows it’s a real, ongoing problem rather than a rare exception. Confirm it’s a shared ride before boarding, watch what other passengers pay, and have small notes ready so there’s no “no change” excuse.
  • Weekend traffic from Bangkok. Every road option out of Bangkok, bus, minivan, taxi, or Grab, is at the mercy of traffic, and Friday and Sunday afternoons (when the whole city heads to and from the coast) can add an hour or more to any scheduled time. Build in a buffer if you’re catching a flight or have a fixed check-in time.
  • U-Tapao’s limited routes. U-Tapao is faster once you’re on the ground, but far fewer airlines fly there than into Suvarnabhumi, so most international arrivals still route through Bangkok regardless of the extra travel time.
  • Meter refusals. Both at U-Tapao and around Pattaya generally, some taxi drivers will refuse the meter and push a flat, inflated fare. Use the official counters and fixed-price transfers where available, or Grab for a set price upfront.

Getting to Pattaya: the short version

If you’re coming from Bangkok city, take the Ekkamai bus for the best balance of price and comfort, or book a private taxi/Grab if you have luggage or want door-to-door speed. Flying into Suvarnabhumi, the direct airport bus is the simplest budget route, with a taxi transfer as the faster alternative. Landing at U-Tapao, the official fixed-price taxi gets you into town in under an hour with no haggling. Whichever way you arrive, budget a little extra time on weekends, and once you’re in the city, learn the songthaew fare before your first ride so you don’t overpay.

Planning the rest of the trip? See outthailand.com’s things to do in Pattaya pillar guide, where to stay in Pattaya to pick a base near the beach or Jomtien, and the Pattaya 3-day itinerary to plan your time once you land. Coming specifically from Bangkok? The dedicated Bangkok to Pattaya guide has the full route breakdown. And check outthailand.com’s live events listings for what’s on in Pattaya while you’re there.

Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cheapest way to get to Pattaya?

On pure fare, the daily ordinary train from Bangkok's Hua Lamphong station is cheapest at about ฿30-31 (US$1), though it takes a slow 3.5-3.7 hours in 3rd-class fan-cooled seating. For a faster cheap option, the Ekkamai bus from Bangkok or the direct bus from Suvarnabhumi Airport both run about ฿180-197 (US$5-6) in roughly 2-2.5 hours on air-conditioned coaches, which is the better all-round value for most travelers.

How do I get to Pattaya from Bangkok?

The standard route is the public bus from Ekkamai (Eastern) Bus Terminal, run by Roong Reuang Coach, at roughly ฿180-192 (US$5-6) one-way in about 2-2.5 hours. Minivans from Mo Chit's van terminal cost around ฿150-220 (US$5-7) but are cramped for luggage. A private taxi or Grab is the door-to-door option at about ฿1,200-1,800 (US$36-55), taking 1.5-2.5 hours. For the full breakdown of Bangkok-specific routes, terminals, and return schedules, see outthailand.com's dedicated guide on getting from Bangkok to Pattaya.

How do I get to Pattaya from Suvarnabhumi Airport?

The direct Roong Reuang Coach bus from Suvarnabhumi (BKK) is the simplest budget option, priced from about ฿197 (US$6) and taking around 2 hours, with roughly 17 departures a day. Check in on Level 1 of the terminal near Exit 8. A fixed-price taxi transfer runs about ฿1,199-1,700 (US$36-52) in around 1.5 hours, and a Grab lands in a similar range plus tolls. There's no need to detour into Bangkok city first if you're heading straight to the coast.

Is there a train from Bangkok to Pattaya?

Yes. The daily ordinary train (No. 283) leaves Hua Lamphong around 6:55am and reaches Pattaya in about 3.5-3.7 hours for just ฿30-31 (US$1) in 3rd class. On weekends only, an air-conditioned special express (No. 997) covers the same route in about 2.5 hours for around ฿170 (US$5), continuing on to Ban Plutaluang station near Sattahip. It's cheap and scenic but not fast, so treat it as an experience rather than a shortcut.

How do I get from U-Tapao Airport to Pattaya?

U-Tapao (UTP), Pattaya's own airport, sits about 45 minutes from the city center. The official airport taxi counter, just before the exit, charges a fixed price of around ฿1,000 (US$30) with no meter and no haggling. A shared minibus from the same counters costs about ฿250 (US$8) per person. Pre-booked private transfers can come in a little cheaper, from around ฿800-900 (US$24-27), if arranged ahead of arrival.

How do you get around Pattaya once you're there?

The workhorse is the songthaew, locally called the 'baht bus,' a shared pickup truck with bench seating running fixed loops along Beach Road, Sukhumvit Road, and down to Jomtien. The official 2026 shared fare is ฿15-20 (about US$0.50) per ride: flag one down, ride to your stop, press the buzzer, and pay as you get off. Grab operates city-wide as a metered, no-haggling alternative, and scooter rental (from about ฿200-350/day) suits those comfortable riding in Thai traffic.

Do baht buses overcharge tourists in Pattaya?

It happens often enough to plan for. The official shared fare is ฿15-20, but tourists are commonly quoted ฿50-100 or more for the same short ride, especially if they look unsure of the system or if a driver treats the stop as a private charter rather than a shared ride. Confirm it's a shared ride before boarding (or watch that other passengers are already on board), have small notes ready, and pay only the standard fare when you get off. If a driver insists on a 'special' price before you board, wave the next one down instead.

Should I fly into U-Tapao or Suvarnabhumi for Pattaya?

U-Tapao is far closer, about 45 minutes from central Pattaya, versus roughly 1.5 hours from Suvarnabhumi, so it's the better choice if your flight serves it directly. The catch is that U-Tapao has far fewer routes, mostly regional and charter flights, while Suvarnabhumi is Bangkok's main international hub with far more choice on long-haul and full-service airlines. Most international travelers end up flying into Suvarnabhumi and taking the direct airport bus or a taxi transfer rather than routing through U-Tapao.

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.