How to Get from Bangkok Airport (Suvarnabhumi) to Pattaya: All Options

Bus from Bangkok Airport to Pattaya

• 💰 Price: starting from 139 baht (4.14 USD)
• 🕑 Travel time: 1.5–2 hours
• 📅 Schedule:
  • bus to the North Station – 06:30–18:30 (every hour);
  • to Jomtien – 06:00–22:00 (every hour);
  • Bell Service minivans – 08:30, 10:30, 12:30, 14:30, 16:30, 18:00

The most budget-friendly way to get from Bangkok Airport to Pattaya is by bus. The ticket counters for all carriers are on the first floor of the airport at Exit No. 8 (Gate 8), and the buses themselves depart from here or from the airport bus station (which is a bit away from the terminal). Tickets are sold for cash. Read below about where to exchange money at the airport for buying tickets and SIM cards. And here's more detail about each route:

Regular Bus No. 389 Roong Reuang (Most Budget-Friendly)

This is the main and most affordable option. The buses are large, comfortable, with space for large luggage. Travel time is about 1.5–2 hours; the bus covers the distance from Bangkok Airport to Pattaya on the expressway. There are two routes:

• To Pattaya North Bus Station

  Choose this if your hotel is in Naklua (Wong Amat), in North Pattaya, or near Terminal 21 (North Station on the map). Price – 139 baht. Departure times: 06:30 – 18:30 (every hour)

• To Jomtien Bus Station

  Choose this if your hotel is in Jomtien, Pratumnak, or the southern part of Pattaya (Jomtien Station on the map). Price – 162 baht. Departures every hour from 06:00 to 22:00.

Where to Check the Schedule and Buy Tickets:

• Official carrier website: rrcticket.com (Roong Reuang Coach)
• Specialized site for bus 389: airportpattayabus.com
• Aggregator 12go.asia (you can view all options, but payment with Russian cards is not possible)

How to Get from the Bus Station to Your Hotel Upon Arrival in Pattaya

When you arrive in Pattaya at the North Station or Jomtien, the real taxi price to your hotel is 100-200 baht (2.98-5.96 USD) depending on the distance, and to the nearest hotels you can get there even for 60 baht. If you don't want to overpay local taxi drivers who meet tourists at the station, insist on going by meter or use the Grab, Maxim, Bolt apps.

If you need a budget option, you can use the local songthaew minibuses, which tourists also call tuk-tuks. The fare is 15 baht (0.45 USD), but only if you ride them as a minibus. If you start asking the driver about going to a specific hotel, he'll gladly take you door-to-door, but at taxi prices or even higher. So be careful with that; it's better to first learn about the local tuk-tuk routes and how to use them, which we detailed in this guide: Pattaya Transport: Types, Prices, and How to Use It.

Bell Service Bus (Convenient, with Hotel Drop-Off)

Bell Service is a convenient alternative for those who don't want to figure out how to get from the station to the hotel. They have smaller buses, but the ticket price includes drop-off right at your hotel door in Pattaya.

• Price: from 216 baht (6.44 USD) + 120 baht for hotel delivery.
• Schedule: departures from the airport at 08:30, 10:30, 12:30, 14:30, 16:30, 18:00 (may change, check the website).
• Where to find: same area – first floor, Exit No. 8, counter with a sign "Pattaya – Huahin".
• Good to know: if your flight is delayed, you can switch to the next bus for a 50 baht extra fee (subject to availability). Baggage: 1 piece up to 20 kg free, carry-on; excess baggage – extra fee (20–150 baht depending on weight).
• Bell Service official website: belltravelservice.com
• Booking via 12go.asia: 12go.asia (Bell Service)

Via Suvarnabhumi Bus Terminal

Suvarnabhumi Bus Terminal (Public Transportation Center) is a separate bus station next to the airport (station on the map). To get there, take the free shuttle bus from the terminal (stops on the 1st floor at exits 3 and 8, on the 2nd floor at exit 5, on the 4th at exit 5). Shuttles run 24/7. More about Suvarnabhumi Bus Terminal.

From here, the following depart:

• State Bus No. 999 (Transport Co.) – the cheapest option (122 baht). Schedule: 07:30, 11:30, 13:30, 17:30 (schedule may change, check via links below). Runs along Sukhumvit Road with stops: North Pattaya intersection (North bus station), Central Pattaya, South Pattaya, and Thepprasit. Convenient if your hotel is near Sukhumvit. Important: the bus continues further to the Koh Chang piers; in Pattaya, passengers simply get off at intermediate stops. Tickets can be bought at the counter at Exit No. 8 in the terminal building (pink counter), but boarding is at the bus station.
• Bus No. 389 (Roong Reuang) – also starts from this bus station. If No. 999 has no seats or the departure doesn't work, you can take 389.
• Passing minivans from Bangkok – drivers pick up passengers, price from 140 baht, but there's no set schedule, it's all "by chance." May be without air conditioning.

Thus, even if you miss the 999 departure, there's always a backup option – bus No. 389.

Check the current schedule on the carrier's official website: tcl99web.transport.co.th (site in Thai, but intuitive) or via the aggregator 12go.asia. Keep in mind that there are only 4 departures per day, and seats may be sold out, especially in high season.

Taxi and Transfer

• 💰 Price: from 1200 baht (35.78 USD) per car
• 🕑 Travel time: 1.5–2 hours
• 📅 Operating hours: 24/7

• Official Taxi (Public Taxi) – first floor, Exit No. 4. Meter price: 1200–1500 baht (35.78–44.72 USD) plus tolls (2 sections at 30–50 baht each). Make sure the driver turns on the meter.
• Taxi via Apps (Grab, Bolt, InDrive) – fixed price, 1100–1400 baht (32.8–41.74 USD). Need internet (free Wi-Fi is available at the airport). Pick-up zone is also at Exit No. 4.
• Transfer with Personal Meet-and-Greet – book in advance on Kiwitaxi or Intui.travel. The driver will meet you with a name sign. Price from 1500 baht (44.72 USD) for an economy-class car.

Night Arrival: What to Do?

Buses run until 22:00 (to Jomtien) and until 18:30 (to the North). At night, your options are:

• Taxi or transfer – 1200–1500 baht, you'll get there in 1.5 hours.
• Stay overnight at the airport – there are benches on the first floor, 24/7 cafes. Free, but not comfortable. The first bus is around 6 AM.
• Hotel near the airport – from 1000 baht. But here's the math: overnight stay + morning bus = almost the same as a taxi, only you lose time. In our opinion, it's better to take a taxi and go straight.

Useful Information About Suvarnabhumi: Money, Communications, Internet, and How to Find Exit No. 8

How to Navigate the Airport to the Buses to Pattaya

After getting off the plane, you proceed to passport control (2nd floor). After collecting your luggage and clearing customs, you find yourself in the arrival hall on the same 2nd floor. Now you need to go down to the 1st floor – this is the main transport level. Follow the signs for "Ground Transportation" or look directly for Exit No. 8 (Gate 8). That's where the bus counters to Pattaya are located (Roong Reuang No. 389, Bell Service), as well as minivans to central Bangkok, Hua Hin, and Koh Chang.

The first floor is very long, and exits are numbered. If you come out of an elevator or escalator somewhere around Exit No. 5-6, simply walk left along the building toward number 8. The entire journey from the plane to the bus takes from 30 minutes to an hour, depending on queues at control. Read detailed information and how everything is arranged here in our guide to Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Currency Exchange: Where the Best Rates Are

Don't exchange a large amount at the first exchange booth you see – the rate in the arrival area, especially before customs, is low (1-2 baht worse than in the city). The best option is the Superrich, Happyrich, and Kasikorn exchange booths on the ground floor, near the Airport Rail Link entrance. There, the rate is almost the same as in the city.

How to find them: from the first floor, take an escalator or elevator down one level (0 floor), walk toward the train ticket counters – these exchange booths will be to the left of the ticket gates. Open from 6:30 AM to 10:00 PM. If you arrive at night, you'll have to use the regular exchange booths on the 1st floor, where you'll get about 1–1.5 baht less per dollar. More about currency exchange in Bangkok in our article: Where's the Best Place to Exchange Money in Bangkok.

Thai SIM Card

Right after customs, before entering the main hall, and on the 1st floor, you'll see counters for AIS, dtac, and TrueMove. They sell tourist SIM cards (cash only, passport required) with unlimited internet for 8, 15, or 30 days. Prices start from 499 baht (14.88 USD) for 8 unlimited days – more expensive than a Prepaid package in the city, but the card will be set up and activated for you on the spot. Current rates (updated) and everything about tourist SIM cards in Thailand here.

If you're staying for a long time, it's more cost-effective to buy a regular prepaid SIM card at 7-Eleven once you're at the resort – instructions are in our article about Prepaid communications in Thailand.

Free Wi-Fi

The terminal has a network called "@ AOT Airport Free Wi-Fi by NT" (previously also seen ".@ AirportTrueFree WiFi"). Connection is free for 2 hours, you need to register: enter your name, email, passport number, and country. That's enough time to call a taxi via Grab or message your loved ones. The connection is stable on almost all floors and at the exits. If you don't want to buy a SIM card right away, Wi-Fi is a good temporary solution.

Comparison of Options