Bangkok to Pattaya: bus, minivan, train or taxi?

Pattaya lies on the Gulf of Thailand about 150 km south-east of Bangkok, and Motorway 7 makes it one of the easiest beach trips from the capital. Most travellers take an air-conditioned coach from Ekkamai (Eastern Bus Terminal), Mo Chit or directly from Suvarnabhumi Airport, a ride of roughly two hours in normal traffic and closer to three at busy times. Minivans are slightly quicker but tight on luggage, a taxi or pre-booked car is the door-to-door choice, and the State Railway of Thailand runs a cheap daily local train plus a faster weekend railcar. This guide compares each option, where it leaves from, where it drops you in Pattaya and how to cover the last few kilometres.

Options at a glance

Coach from Ekkamai, Mo Chit or Bang Na

The coach is the workhorse of this route. The best-known operator is Roong Reuang Coach (RRC), branded "Pattaya Bus", which runs hourly air-conditioned coaches from three Bangkok points. Other companies also sell Pattaya tickets at the Ekkamai counters, and the terminals operate under the state-owned Transport Co. Ltd (Bor Kor Sor).

• Ekkamai (Eastern Bus Terminal) is on Sukhumvit Road directly beside BTS Ekkamai station (Exit 2), the easiest choice if you are staying anywhere on the Sukhumvit line. RRC lists hourly departures from about 05:00 to 22:00 for around 144 THB; tickets at counter 13 on the ground floor, boarding from platform 1.
• Mo Chit 2 (Bangkok Bus Terminal, Chatuchak) is the big northern terminal, a short taxi or motorbike-taxi ride from BTS Mo Chit and MRT Chatuchak Park. RRC runs hourly from about 05:00 to 18:00 via the motorway for roughly 155 THB, from counter 34 in Building 2 and platform 42.
• Bang Na pick-up point in eastern Bangkok has hourly departures from about 06:30 to 21:30 at around 144 THB, convenient if you are near Bang Na or Udom Suk.

Coaches have reclining seats and a luggage hold; RRC allows one bag of up to 20 kg below plus a small personal item on board, with surcharges for heavier or bulky items. Arrive 15–30 minutes early: buses leave on time and popular departures sell out an hour ahead, so book online for weekends and holidays.

On arrival, RRC coaches pull into the North Pattaya Bus Terminal on Pattaya Nuea (North Pattaya) Road near Sukhumvit Road, about 3–4 km from Central Pattaya beach. Songthaews waiting at the terminal usually ask a flat fee of around 50 THB per person into town; a Grab or Bolt car to most central hotels costs roughly 100–200 THB.

Direct bus from Suvarnabhumi Airport

If you land at Suvarnabhumi, you need not go into Bangkok first. Airports of Thailand lists a Roong Reuang Coach service (bus 389) from the Passenger Terminal, Level 1, near Gate 8, at around 130–135 THB to Pattaya; the operator also sells a separate service to Jomtien at roughly 158 THB. Departures are approximately hourly in the daytime, but first and last buses differ between sources (AOT shows 10:00–18:00, the operator and booking sites show earlier and later runs), so check the current timetable before relying on a specific bus.

Allow an hour after landing for immigration and baggage and reach the counter 30 minutes before departure. Tickets are non-refundable, but if your flight is delayed the counter can move you to the next bus with free seats for a small fee.

The Pattaya bus terminates at the North Pattaya Bus Terminal. The Jomtien service makes two drop-offs first, on Sukhumvit Road between North and Central Pattaya and opposite Big C South Pattaya, before ending at Jomtien Bus Station on Thappraya Road, ideal for Jomtien and Pratumnak Hill. There is no comparable direct coach from Don Mueang; connect via Suvarnabhumi or take a car. See our Suvarnabhumi Airport to Bangkok guide for airport transport generally.

Bell Travel Service and hotel-to-hotel transfers

Bell Travel Service has long run a shared "VIP" transfer from Suvarnabhumi to hotels in Pattaya and Jomtien and still appears as a separate operator on booking platforms, priced slightly above the public coach (around 180–220 THB on 12Go, October 2026). At the time of writing its web address redirects to the door-to-door page of the Roong Reuang Coach site, which lists six shared airport-to-hotel departures between 08:30 and 18:00, Bangkok-hotel-to-Pattaya-hotel runs at 10:00 and 14:00 and a private-car option; prices are not shown there, so book online or through a platform. Hotel transfers make several stops, so the last passengers off spend an extra 30–45 minutes on board.

Minivan

Minivans leave from Ekkamai and from the van terminal beside Mo Chit 2, with several small operators selling tickets at the counters and on 12Go. Fares are usually 170–250 THB and the drive takes a little under two hours on a clear motorway. The trade-off is space: seats are narrow and a large suitcase may need a paid second seat. Some vans drop passengers along Sukhumvit Road or near hotels in Pattaya, others end at their own office, so confirm the drop-off before paying.

Train from Hua Lamphong

The eastern line is the slow, scenic way to Pattaya and the only one that avoids the motorway. Two services matter:

• Ordinary train 283 runs daily from Bangkok's Hua Lamphong (Krung Thep station) at around 06:55, reaching Pattaya at about 10:34. It is third class, unreserved and fan-cooled, for about 31 THB; tickets are sold at the station shortly before departure and cannot be booked online. The return, train 284, leaves Pattaya in the early afternoon. The train continues towards Chuk Samet, so boards may show that as the destination.
• Weekend railcar 997/998 runs on Saturdays and Sundays only, leaving Hua Lamphong around 06:45 and arriving in Pattaya around 09:13 in an air-conditioned second-class railcar with reserved seats. The fare is around 170 THB, bookable in advance through SRT D-Ticket, and it does sell out on long weekends.

Bangkok's long-distance trains have moved to Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal, but eastern line locals and this weekend service were still using Hua Lamphong at the time of writing. SRT also re-routed some eastern line trains to Ban Thap Chang during flooding in September 2026, so confirm the departure station and times on the SRT site or via its 1690 hotline. Pattaya railway station is on the inland side of Sukhumvit Road, a few kilometres from the beach; budget 100–150 THB for a songthaew charter or ride-hailing car to Beach Road or Jomtien. For a comparable rail day trip, see Bangkok to Ayutthaya.

Taxi, ride-hailing and private transfer

A car is simplest for families, groups of three or four, late-night arrivals and anyone with plenty of bags. Realistic figures are 1,200–1,800 THB for a Bangkok taxi or ride-hailing car to a Pattaya hotel, plus around 100–150 THB in motorway tolls; quotes from the Suvarnabhumi taxi queue tend to be a little lower than from central Bangkok. Grab and Bolt show a fixed fare before you confirm, which avoids haggling, though not every driver accepts a 150 km trip. Metered taxis can do the run, but most drivers prefer a negotiated flat fare, with tolls on top.

Pre-booked private transfers through 12Go and similar platforms typically cost 1,300–2,500 THB depending on the vehicle and include a named pick-up and tolls; a van for six to nine people is usually better value than two taxis. Expect 90 minutes to two hours on a clear motorway, up to three on a holiday Friday.

Getting around once you arrive

Pattaya's local transport is the songthaew, or baht bus: blue pick-up trucks looping south along Beach Road and north along Second Road, with branches to Jomtien and Naklua. Since 10 April 2026 the shared fare is 15 THB for rides up to 10 km and 20 THB beyond, paid through the driver's window when you hop off (press the buzzer to stop). Asking "how much to…" before boarding may be taken as a private charter request at 100–300 THB, so simply climb aboard if the truck is heading your way. After about 19:00 routes loosen and fares are often negotiated. Grab and Bolt work well for fixed-price short hops (roughly 80–250 THB). For Bangkok-side tips see Getting around Bangkok.

Which option should you choose?

• First-timers and most solo travellers: the Roong Reuang coach from Ekkamai; cheap, frequent and a short walk from the BTS.
• Flying into Suvarnabhumi: the airport coach to North Pattaya or Jomtien if you travel light and arrive by day; a Grab, taxi or pre-booked transfer at night or with a family.
• Tight budget: the 31 THB ordinary train or the coach; the train suits early risers who tolerate heat and a 3.5-hour ride.
• Weekend trip with a scenic twist: the Saturday or Sunday railcar out, coach back.
• Lots of luggage, pushchairs or older travellers: private transfer or taxi; the coach is next best thanks to its hold.
• Staying in Jomtien or Pratumnak: the airport Jomtien bus or a car; from Ekkamai, coach to North Pattaya then a songthaew south.

If Pattaya is one stop on a longer trip, see how it fits with Bangkok in our Thailand in 7 days itinerary.

Where to check and book

FAQ

How long does it take from Bangkok to Pattaya?

About two hours by coach, minivan or car in normal traffic on Motorway 7, up to three at weekends and holidays. The ordinary train takes about three and a half hours, the weekend railcar about two and a half.

Is there a bus straight from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Pattaya?

Yes. Roong Reuang Coach runs from Level 1 near Gate 8 of the passenger terminal to North Pattaya Bus Terminal, with a separate service to Jomtien. Fares are roughly 130–160 THB and departures about hourly in daytime.

Where do the buses arrive in Pattaya?

Coaches from Ekkamai, Mo Chit and the airport use the North Pattaya Bus Terminal on North Pattaya Road, a few kilometres from the beach; the airport's Jomtien service ends at Jomtien Bus Station on Thappraya Road. Songthaews and ride-hailing cars cover the last stretch.