How to get from Pattaya to Chiang Mai: plane, bus, train — prices and schedules

There are almost 900 kilometers between Pattaya and Chiang Mai, and covering this distance isn't straightforward since there's no direct bus, air, or rail connection between the cities. There are only two ways to get there directly: rented transport or passing buses from Rayong to Chiang Mai that you can "hop on" in Pattaya. Nevertheless, you can get there cheaply and quickly — all these routes just go through Bangkok.

By plane

• 💰 Cost: from 1000 baht (30.64 USD) via Bangkok, from 3000 baht (91.91 USD) from Pattaya Airport (Utapao)
• 🕑 Travel time: 1 hour flight, but with travel to/from the airport and check-in, it'll take almost a full day
• 📅 Flight frequency: about 30 flights per day from Bangkok's airports

Near Pattaya is Utapao Airport (UTP), from where Thai Lion Air operates direct flights to Chiang Mai three times a week. But ticket prices are high — from 3000 baht without baggage, and the flights are irregular. So it's much more convenient to first get to one of Bangkok's airports — Suvarnabhumi (BKK) or Don Muang (DMK) — and fly to Chiang Mai from there. This isn't difficult: there's good transport between Pattaya and the airports, so you can easily get to either of them during the day and fly out the same day. For details on how to get from Pattaya to Bangkok's airports, check out our separate guides:

• How to get from Suvarnabhumi to Pattaya and back
• How to get from Don Muang to Pattaya and back

So, the best way to fly from Pattaya to Chiang Mai is via Bangkok's airports. Air service between Bangkok and Chiang Mai is very frequent — about 30 flights a day, with a flight time of about an hour. A one-way ticket without baggage costs from 1000 baht when purchased a few weeks before the flight, but if you buy it a few days before departure, the ticket might cost twice as much.

Flights to Chiang Mai leave from both of Bangkok's airports: from new Suvarnabhumi and old Don Muang. There's no major difference which one you choose — as long as the flight suits you in terms of price and schedule. But getting to Suvarnabhumi is a bit easier and cheaper.

ЦЕНА	ПЕРЕСАДКИ	АВИАКОМПАНИЯ	ДАТА ВЫЛЕТА	ДАТА ВОЗВРАЩЕНИЯ
Купить от 9487 ₽	Без пересадок		30.05.2026	02.06.2026
Купить от 5427 ₽	Без пересадок		18.06.2026	25.06.2026
Купить от 5159 ₽	Без пересадок		05.07.2026	01.09.2026
Купить от 5371 ₽	Без пересадок		28.08.2026	03.09.2026
Купить от 4353 ₽	Без пересадок		12.09.2026	15.09.2026
Купить от 5331 ₽	Без пересадок		28.10.2026	31.10.2026

Chiang Mai has one airport, located just 3 kilometers from the city center, practically within the city limits. So, once you exit the terminal and walk across the parking lot, you're on city streets (Chiang Mai airport on the map). With a light backpack, you can even walk to some hotels from the airport.

The airport has an official taxi counter — you'll find it in the arrivals hall. A fixed fare of 150 baht (4.6 USD) to any hotel in the city center.

Also, as you exit the terminal to the parking lot, you'll see many taxis from other companies, almost all of which work by meter. But a metered trip might end up costing a bit more — up to 200 baht (6.13 USD). It's cheaper to use the Grab, Maxim, or InDrive apps — they act as Uber's replacement in Thailand. With the apps, you can order a car, motorbike taxi, airport taxi, limousine, etc. You'll see the cost upfront, with an average trip to the center costing from 120 baht. To order a car, you can use mobile internet or airport Wi-Fi, and pay in cash.

You can also find songthaews (shared taxis) in the parking lot — a ride costs from 50 baht (1.53 USD) if you're going along the route (not hiring the whole thing). Many hotels offer airport transfers, sometimes even free, but more often paid and more expensive than a taxi.

Finally, you can rent a vehicle right at the airport and drive to your hotel or continue your journey through the province and northern Thailand. For renting, you'll need a national driver's license and an International Driving Permit (IDP). Read more about which licenses you need for renting transport in Thailand.

You can rent a car in advance online or at counters in the arrivals hall:

If you prefer two wheels, there are no scooter or motorbike rentals directly at the airport, but you can book one on 🏍 BikesBooking.com with delivery to the airport.

By bus

• 💰 Cost: from 650 baht (19.91 USD)
• 🕑 Travel time: 10–12 hours
• 📅 Frequency: 1 direct passing bus daily, at least 10 buses with a transfer in Bangkok

There are no direct buses from Pattaya to Chiang Mai, but there are passing buses operated by Nakhonchai Air. If for some reason you can't get tickets on the direct services, you'll have to travel with a transfer in Bangkok.

• Direct buses (passing through)

  Nakhonchai Air's passing buses on the Rayong — Chiang Mai route make a stop at the Nakhonchai bus station (station on the map) in Pattaya. It's located at the intersection of Sukhumvit Road and Central Street (Central Pattaya, also known as Pattaya Klang).

  Important detail: online ticket purchases specifically with boarding in Pattaya are not available — even on the company's official website. Tickets can only be bought at travel agencies in Pattaya (plenty on the streets) or directly at the Nakhonchai station. We recommend doing this a few days before your trip, especially in high season. Ticket cost — from 956 baht (29.29 USD).

  Departure schedule from Rayong (the bus's arrival time at the station in Pattaya is about 30–40 minutes after departure from Rayong, but it's best to check locally):

  • Departure from Rayong 14:00 — arrival in Chiang Mai 07:14
  • Departure from Rayong 16:00 — arrival in Chiang Mai 09:14
  • Departure from Rayong 17:30 — arrival in Chiang Mai 08:07
  • Departure from Rayong 18:40 — arrival in Chiang Mai 07:35
  • Departure from Rayong 19:00 — arrival in Chiang Mai 09:37
  • Departure from Rayong 19:37 — arrival in Chiang Mai 08:32

  You can check the current schedule on the company's website nakhonchaiair.com. Tickets also sometimes appear on 12go.asia, but when buying through the aggregator, you'll purchase a ticket from Rayong, and you'll need to arrange boarding in Pattaya with the driver or company yourself (for example, call Nakhonchai's call center and let them know). In practice, this isn't always easy, so the tried-and-true method is buying on the spot.

• With a transfer in Bangkok

  Another option is to go with a transfer in Bangkok. We've described how to get from Pattaya to Bangkok in a separate guide in detail. You don't need to stay overnight in the capital — the transfer happens within the same transport zone.

  For the transfer, you need to go strictly to Bangkok's Northern Bus Station Mo Chit, not to Ekkamai. Frequent buses and minivans run to it from Pattaya: cost from 160 baht, travel time 2–3 hours. The cheapest way is to leave from Pattaya's North Bus Station (you can get there by songthaew for 10–20 baht or taxi from 100 baht). You don't need to book tickets in advance — they're almost always available for the next trip. You can also buy tickets to Bangkok on minivans at street travel agencies, but be sure to specify that you need to get to Mo Chit, otherwise you might end up at a different station or in the Khao San area.

  Keep in mind that minivans arrive not at the main Mo Chit station, but at the minivan station with the same name (nearby, across the road). From there to the main station, you need to cross via a pedestrian overpass — it'll take no more than 5–10 minutes.

  Buses from Bangkok (Mo Chit) to Chiang Mai depart at least once an hour from 5:30 AM to 10:00 PM, travel time is about 10 hours, ticket cost — 650–1100 baht depending on class. Night buses are especially convenient: you save on accommodation and arrive in the morning. We've taken the night bus ourselves — it's quite comfortable, got some sleep.

  You can check the schedule and book tickets online at 12go.asia. You can also come to the station and buy a ticket for the next trip, but in high season, tickets might be sold out. Tickets for these buses (not to be confused with tourist ones) are also sold at travel agencies on Bangkok's streets, especially around Khao San Road — often with a transfer from your hotel to the station, which is very convenient.

  Buses arrive in Chiang Mai at the main Chiang Mai Arcade Bus Station (also known as Chiang Mai Bus Terminal 3) (Chiang Mai bus station on the map). From here to the city center, you can get by songthaew (red pickup trucks), tuk-tuk, or taxi via Grab/Maxim. A songthaew will cost about 50 baht per person (you need to haggle), a tuk-tuk — 150–200 baht, a taxi via the app — from 100 baht.

  

By train

• 💰 Cost: bus Pattaya — Bangkok from 160 baht (4.9 USD) + train Bangkok — Chiang Mai from 230 baht (7.05 USD)
• 🕑 Travel time: total — from 12 to 24 hours (depending on connection)
• 📅 Train frequency: 5 trains daily from Bangkok to Chiang Mai

Although Pattaya has a railway, you can't get a direct train to Chiang Mai: only one commuter train (like an electric train) runs from Pattaya to Bangkok, and it's at a very inconvenient station. Forget about it.

To catch a train, you first need to get from Pattaya to Bangkok's new main railway station Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal Station. It's located near the Northern Bus Station Mo Chit, where you can get for 160 baht (as described above).

Important! Despite the geographic proximity of Mo Chit bus station and Krung Thep Aphiwat railway station, walking between them is more than 3 kilometers due to complex junctions. You could try a short cut through the railway tracks and under bridges (about 30 minutes), but even navigation apps don't know this route. It's more reliable to take a taxi via Grab, Maxim, or InDrive (no more than 100 baht) or hire a taxi at the bus station parking lot.

From Krung Thep Aphiwat station, 5 trains depart daily to Chiang Mai. Night trains (with seats and sleepers) are very popular — they let you save on a hotel and arrive in the morning.

How and where to buy train tickets

You can buy tickets up to 30 days before your trip. On holidays (New Year, Thai Songkran in April), we recommend buying in advance — seats sell out quickly.

Buying options:

• At ticket offices at any Thai railway station (cash only).
• On the official website railway.co.th (Russian cards not accepted, needs a foreign bank card).
• On the aggregator 12go.asia — UnionPay cards from Russian banks don't work on this service, but you can make a reservation and pay for it in cash at supermarket counters (e.g., 7-Eleven) in Thailand. This is convenient if you're already in the country. Online sales close 2 days before departure.

Read more about trains and classes in our guide: Trains in Thailand.

Chiang Mai train station

Chiang Mai Railway Station is 3 kilometers from the city center (Chiang Mai train station on the map). To get to your hotel in the center, you can take a songthaew (red taxi pickups) for 40 baht, a taxi or tuk-tuk from 120 baht. Some hotels are within walking distance.

Is it worth going from Pattaya to Chiang Mai for one day?

Sometimes travelers consider Chiang Mai as a day trip from Pattaya. Honestly, that's a terrible idea. The distance is almost 900 km, even by plane, including travel to the airport, check-in, and the flight, you'll lose at least 6–7 hours each way. By bus or train — all 12–14 hours. That means you'll have at most 2–4 hours left to see the city (and that's at night).

Chiang Mai deserves at least 2–3 full days: the old city with its temples, the night bazaar, national parks, viewpoints on Doi Suthep mountain, cooking schools, and much more. If you're short on time, it's better to save Chiang Mai for a separate trip when you have at least 3–4 days. Making a one-day trip from Pattaya — you'll just waste your money and nerves.

Transport schedule from Pattaya to Chiang Mai