ThailandQuick overview of the Bangkok → Pattaya route (~150 km)
- Where to buy tickets – at the ticket counters before departure or online on 12go.asia (foreign cards only) or Trip.com (accepts Russian cards, SBP).
- Scheduled bus – 2–2.5 h, from 148 baht – from Ekkamai, Mo Chit stations
- Minivan – 2.5–3 h, from 350–400 baht – from the Khao San area, Mo Chit minivan station
- Train – 3.5–6 h, 32 baht – Hua Lamphong railway station
- Taxi – 1.5–2 h, from 1,200 baht – from anywhere
- Transfer – 1.5–2 h, from 1,500 baht) – book online, door-to-door from your hotel
- From Suvarnabhumi Airport – ~2 h, bus from 130 baht, taxi from 1,000 baht
- From Don Mueang Airport – ~2–2.5 h, taxi/transfer from 1,500 baht
💡 Details, schedules, and nuances of each option – below in the article. All prices are tested from personal experience but may be higher over time.
By Bus and Minivan
The bus is the most popular and balanced option. The ride takes about 2–2.5 hours, a ticket costs from 148 baht. The main thing is to choose the right departure station so you don't drag your suitcases across the whole city. Bangkok has several bus terminals, two of which have direct flights to Pattaya. There's almost no difference in price or schedule between them, so choose the one that's more convenient for you to reach; each is covered in more detail below.
Booking tickets in advance isn't necessary; you can come to the station and buy one at the counter for the next departure. But if you want to be safe and catch exactly the departure you need, you can buy a ticket online on 12go.asia (foreign cards only) or Trip.com (accepts Russian cards, SBP).
And now more detail on the departure terminals in Bangkok:
Eastern Ekkamai Terminal (Ekkamai Eastern Bus Terminal)
This is the most convenient option if you're staying in the Sukhumvit, Pratunam, or another central area, or near metro stations. In fact, it's the main bus station for Pattaya. It's located next to the BTS Ekkamai metro station (Ekkamai station on the map), and the metro is the fastest and most convenient way to get here. Read how to use the metro in Bangkok.
Departures to Pattaya start every hour from 05:00 to 23:00. A ticket costs 148 baht (4.39 USD) per person plus 20 baht for very large luggage. The ticket counters are inside the waiting hall, the staff speaks a little English, but it's easy to figure out. Besides large buses, minivans also depart from here; they call for passengers right at the entrance to the bus station. This is also a decent option, but only if you're traveling without luggage.
Northern Mo Chit Terminal (Mo Chit Bus Terminal)
The capital's main bus station serves both northern and some southern destinations. It's convenient to use if your hotel is closer to northern Bangkok or you arrived at Don Mueang Airport (buses and the commuter train run from there to Mo Chit). The bus station is located next to the BTS Mo Chit and MRT Chatuchak Park metro stations (Mo Chit station on the map). You can walk from the metro in 15 minutes, or a moto-taxi will take you for 30 baht.
Buses to Pattaya depart every hour, but only from 05:00 to 18:00. The ticket price is 158 baht (4.69 USD).
In addition, right across the road via a pedestrian bridge is the Mo Chit minivan station (minivan station on the map). Minibuses to Pattaya leave from here as they fill up, the price is about 350–400 baht.
Where Do Buses Arrive in Pattaya?
When buying a ticket, be sure to check the final stop – different companies may drop off at different stations. Most often, flights from Bangkok end here:
- North Pattaya Station (also Roong Reaung Coach Station) (North Station on the map). The main hub for intercity buses. Get off here if your hotel is in central Pattaya, Naklua, or Wong Amat.
- Southern Jomtien Station (Roong Reuang Coach Jomtien, also Bus 389 Office) (Jomtien station on the map). Ideal for those staying in Jomtien or Pratamnak. Some buses heading to Jomtien pass through the North Station – you can ask the driver to drop you off there if needed.
Some buses arrive at the T-Tour station (T-Tour station on the map) near the pier to Koh Larn and Walking Street – that's convenient if your hotel is in the southern part of the center or you need to catch a boat to the island. Smaller carriers may have their own drop-off points, so always check the exact address when buying a ticket. From any station to a hotel in Pattaya, it's easy to get there by songthaew (15 baht) or taxi (from 100 baht). To figure out the city transport routes and avoid overpaying, read our overview: Pattaya transport and how to use it.
Minivans from Tourist Areas
If you don't want to go to the bus station, you can buy a seat in a tourist minivan at street agencies. The main departure point is the Khao San Road area, and from Pratunam, Sukhumvit, and other areas it's harder to find such minivans. At local agencies, a ticket to Pattaya costs from 400 baht (11.86 USD), which is more expensive than a scheduled bus, but the minivan often picks you up at your hotel or sets a meeting point within walking distance, and takes you to your hotel door in Pattaya.
But in our experience, minivans from Khao San are still a lottery. You might ride in a half-empty comfortable minibus, or you might rattle along squeezed in with a bunch of backpacks. Travel time is about 2.5–3 hours, but sometimes drivers are catastrophically unhurried. If your hotel is in central Bangkok, it might still be better to get to Ekkamai or Mo Chit by metro or bus and take a scheduled bus there – it'll be cheaper and often faster.
By Train
This is the cheapest and most meditative way to get to Pattaya. Commuter train No. 283 (on weekdays) runs for almost 4 hours on schedule, but in reality it can crawl for all 6 – we once spent more than five hours on it, staring at the rice fields. A ticket costs from 32 baht (0.95 USD). Another train, No. 997, is more comfortable and more expensive, costing from 170 baht (5.04 USD), but it only runs on weekends.
On weekdays only these (32 baht):
- Bangkok (Hua Lamphong)–Pattaya, train No. 283: departure 06:55, arrival 10:34
- Pattaya–Bangkok (Hua Lamphong), train No. 284: departure 14:20, arrival 18:15
On weekends only the fast tourist train (170 baht):
- Bangkok (Hua Lamphong)–Pattaya, train No. 997: departure 06:45, arrival 09:13
- Pattaya–Bangkok (Hua Lamphong), train No. 998: departure 16:26, arrival 18:55
Where It Departs from in Bangkok
The train departs from the old Hua Lamphong station in the Chinatown area (Hua Lamphong station on the map). Conveniently, it makes stops along the way, so you can board in central Bangkok – in the Sukhumvit or Pratunam area at Makkasan, Phaya Thai, and other stations further on. You can view all stations on the official website https://ttsview.railway.co.th/v3/: select Train No / Timetable / the train number from the list.
Where It Arrives in Pattaya
In Pattaya, the train arrives at two stops: Pattaya Train Station (railway station on the map) and Pattaya Tai Train Station (Pattaya Tai station on the map). If your hotel is in the center or north of Pattaya (Naklua, Wong Amat), it's better to get off at the first station. If you're staying in Jomtien or Pratamnak, Pattaya Tai will be more convenient.
From the stations to your hotel, you can get there by taxi or the local Baht Bus (songthaew) public transport, which waits for passengers at the stations – the fare is from 30 baht. Read more about getting around the resort in the Pattaya transport article.
Train schedules may change; check them before your trip on the website railway.co.th. Tickets are sold right before departure, no need to book in advance. Stock up on water and a snack – the carriages have no air conditioning but do have opening windows.
Taxi and Transfer
If you're with a group, with children, or just tired of public transport, a taxi is your option. From central Bangkok to Pattaya, a metered taxi will cost from 1,200 baht (35.59 USD) per car. Private drivers often ask more – 1,500 baht, but you can haggle. Don't forget about toll segments: the driver may ask you to pay an extra 50–100 baht. Travel time is 1.5–2 hours, depending on traffic jams.
The most reliable way is to order a car through the Grab, Bolt, or InDriver apps. You see the price immediately, no surprises. You can also flag down a taxi on the street, but then be sure to demand the meter be turned on or agree on a final fixed trip price before it starts. At street travel agencies, especially on Khao San Road, you can also buy a trip in a private car, but that's essentially closer to a tourist transfer – the price may be higher, but the car comes right to your hotel.
A tourist transfer is another option for those who value predictability. You pay for the car online in advance, and the driver picks you up at your hotel door in Bangkok and takes you right to your hotel in Pattaya. More expensive than a metered taxi, but you can choose a minibus for a large group. You can check prices and book a transfer on: