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

Bus from Bangkok airport to Pattaya

• 💰 Cost: minimum price 139 baht (4.14 USD)
• 🕑 Travel time: 1.5–2 hours
• 📅 Schedule:
  • bus to the Northern 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 of all carriers are located on the first floor of the airport at exit No. 8 (Gate 8), and the buses depart from there or from the airport bus station (it is a bit off to the side of the terminal). Tickets are sold for cash. Where to correctly exchange money at the airport to buy a ticket and a SIM card, read at the end of the article.

And here is more detail about each route:

Scheduled bus No. 389 Roong Reuang (the most budget-friendly)

This is the main and cheapest 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 the Northern Bus Station of Pattaya (North Pattaya Bus Station)

  Choose it if your hotel is in Naklua (Wongamat), in northern Pattaya, or near Terminal 21 (Northern Station on the map). The price is 139 baht. Departure times: 06:30 – 18:30 (every hour)

• To Jomtien Bus Station

  Choose it if your hotel is in Jomtien, Pratumnak, or the southern part of Pattaya (Jomtien Station on the map). The price is 162 baht. Departure every hour from 06:00 to 22:00.

Where to check the schedule and buy tickets:

• Aggregator Trip.com (accepts Russian cards)
• Aggregator 12go.asia (payment with Russian cards is not possible)
• Carrier's official website: rrcticket.com (Roong Reuang Coach)
• Specialized website for bus 389: airportpattayabus.com

How to get from the bus station to the hotel upon arrival in Pattaya

When you arrive in Pattaya at the Northern Station or Jomtien, the real price of a taxi to the hotel is 100-200 baht ((2.98-5.95 USD) depending on the distance, and to the nearest hotels you can even get there for 60 baht. If you do not want to overpay local taxi drivers who meet tourists at the bus station, insist on a metered ride or use the Grab, Maxim, Bolt apps.

If you need to get there on a budget, you can use local songthaew minibuses, also called tuk-tuks. A ride on them costs 15 baht (0.45 USD), but only if you ride them specifically as a minibus. If you start asking the driver about a trip to a specific hotel, he will happily take you to the door, but at a taxi price and even more. So be careful with this; it is better to first understand the routes of local tuk-tuks and how to use them, which we described in detail in the guide: Pattaya transport: what types exist, prices, and how to use them.

Bell Service bus (convenient, with hotel delivery)

Bell Service is a convenient alternative for those who do not want to figure out how to get from the station to the hotel themselves. Their buses have smaller capacity, but the ticket price includes delivery directly to your hotel door in Pattaya.

• Price: from 216 baht (6.43 USD) + 120 baht delivery to the hotel.
• Schedule: departures from the airport 08:30, 10:30, 12:30, 14:30, 16:30, 18:00 (may change, check the website).
• Where to find: the same area – first floor, exit No. 8, counter with the sign "Pattaya – Huahin".
• Useful to know: if your flight is delayed, you can transfer to the next bus for an extra 50 baht (if seats are available). Baggage: 1 piece up to 20 kg free, plus carry-on; for excess – extra charge (20–150 baht depending on weight).
• Bell Service official website: belltravelservice.com
• Booking via 12go.asia: 12go.asia (Bell Service)

Via the Suvarnabhumi Bus Terminal

Suvarnabhumi Bus Terminal (Public Transportation Center) is a separate bus station near 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 around the clock. More about Suvarnabhumi Bus Terminal.

From here 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 the links below). It goes along Sukhumvit Road with stops: North Pattaya intersection (northern 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 people just 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 there are no seats on the 999 or the trip does not suit you, you can take the 389.
• Passing minivans from Bangkok – drivers pick up passengers, price from 140 baht, but there is no clear schedule, it is all "by luck". They may be without air conditioning.

Thus, even if you missed the 999 trip, there is always a backup option – bus No. 389.

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

Taxi and transfer

• 💰 Cost: from 1,200 baht (35.7 USD) per car
• 🕑 Travel time: 1.5–2 hours
• 📅 Operating hours: around the clock

• Official taxi (Public Taxi) – first floor, exit No. 4. Price by meter: 1,200–1,500 baht (35.7–44.63 USD) plus toll roads (2 sections at 30–50 baht each). Make sure the driver turns on the meter
• Taxi through apps (Grab, Bolt, InDrive) – the price is fixed, 1,100–1,400 baht (32.73–41.65 USD). Internet required (free Wi-Fi is available at the airport). The pickup area is also at exit No. 4.
• Transfer with a personal meeting – book in advance on Kiwitaxi or Intui.travel. The driver will meet you with a sign. Price from 1,500 baht (44.63 USD) per economy-class car.

Night arrival: what to do?

Buses run until 22:00 (to Jomtien) and until 18:30 (to the Northern Station). At night the options are:

• Taxi or transfer – 1,200–1,500 baht, you will get there in 1.5 hours.
• Spend the night at the airport – on the first floor there are benches and round-the-clock cafes. Free, but inconvenient. The first bus is around 6 am.
• Hotel near the airport – from 1,000 baht. But here is the math: an overnight stay + morning bus = almost like a taxi, only you lose time. In our opinion, it is better to take a taxi and go right away.

Useful information about Suvarnabhumi: money, communications, internet, and how to find exit No. 8

How to get through the airport to the buses to Pattaya

After getting off the plane, you proceed to passport control (2nd floor). After collecting your baggage and passing customs, you find yourself in the arrivals 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 "Ground Transportation" or immediately look for exit No. 8 (Gate 8). That is where the counters for buses to Pattaya are located (Roong Reuang No. 389, Bell Service), minivans to central Bangkok, to Hua Hin, and to Koh Chang island.

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

Currency exchange: where it is most profitable

You should not exchange a large amount at the first exchange office you come across – the rate in the arrivals area, and especially before customs, is low (1-2 baht worse than in the city). The best option is the Superrich, Happyrich, and Kasikorn exchange offices on the ground floor, next to the entrance to the Airport Rail Link (metro to the city). There the rate is practically city-level.

How to find: from the first floor go down the escalator or elevator one level below (ground floor) and head to the metro ticket counters – these exchange offices will be to the left of the turnstiles. They work from 6:30 to 22:00. If you arrived at night, you will have to use the regular exchange offices on the 1st floor, where you will exchange a dollar for about 1–1.5 baht less. Read more about exchanging in Bangkok in our article: Where is it better to exchange money in Bangkok.

Thai SIM card

Right after customs, before exiting into the common hall, and on the 1st floor itself, you will see the counters of the operators AIS, dtac, and TrueMove. Here they sell tourist SIM cards (cash only, passport required) with unlimited internet for 8, 15, or 30 days. Prices start from 499 baht (14.85 USD) for 8 unlimited days – more expensive than a Prepaid package in the city, but the card will be installed and activated for you right away. Current tariffs (we update them) and everything about the tourist SIM card in Thailand here.

If you are going for a long time, it is more profitable to buy a regular prepaid SIM card at a 7-Eleven already at the resort – the guide is in our article about Prepaid communications in Thailand.

Free Wi-Fi

The terminal has the network "@ AOT Airport Free Wi-Fi by NT" (previously ".@ AirportTrueFree WiFi" was also found). Connection is free for 2 hours; you need to register: enter your name, e-mail, passport number, and country. This time is enough to call a taxi via Grab or write to your family. The connection is stable on almost all floors and at the exits. If you do not want to buy a SIM card right away, Wi-Fi is a good temporary solution.

Comparison of methods