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

Bus from Bangkok Airport to Pattaya

• 💰 Price: minimum price 122 baht (3.74 USD)
• 🕑 Travel time: 1.5–2 hours
• 📅 Schedule:
  • bus to 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 located on the first floor of the airport near Exit 8 (Gate 8), and the buses themselves depart from here or from the airport bus terminal (a bit away from the terminal). Tickets are sold for cash. Where to properly exchange money at the airport to buy a ticket and a SIM card is explained at the end of the article. And here are more details about each route:

Regular Bus #389 (Roong Reuang)

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 via the expressway. There are two destinations:

• To Pattaya North Bus Station

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

• To Jomtien Bus Station

  Choose this if your hotel is in Jomtien, Pratamnak, or South Pattaya (Jomtien Station on the map). Price — from 162 baht. Departures every hour from 06:00 to 22:00 (every hour).

Where to check the schedule and buy tickets:

• Official carrier website: rrcticket.com (Roong Reuang Coach)
• Specialized website for bus 389: airportpattayabus.com
• Aggregator 12go.asia (you can see 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 the hotel is 100-200 baht ((3.07-6.13 USD) depending on the distance, and to the nearest hotels you can even get for 60 baht. If you don't 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 travel on a budget, you can use local songthaews (shared minibuses), which are also sometimes called tuk-tuks. The fare is 15 baht (0.46 USD), but only if you use them as a shared taxi. However, if you start asking the driver about a trip to a specific hotel, they will happily take you door-to-door, but at taxi prices or even higher. So be careful with that; it's better to first understand the local tuk-tuk routes and how to use them, which we've detailed in the guide: Pattaya Transport: what types exist, prices, and how to use them.

Bell Service — bus 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 themselves. Their buses are smaller, but the ticket price includes drop-off directly at your hotel door in Pattaya.

• Price: from 216 baht (6.62 USD) — check the exact price on their website.
• 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 8, counter marked «Pattaya – Huahin».
• Good to know: if your flight is delayed, you can transfer to the next bus for an extra 50 baht (subject to availability). Luggage: 1 piece up to 20 kg free, plus carry-on; excess weight incurs a surcharge (20–150 baht depending on weight).
• Official Bell Service 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 near the airport (station on the map). To get there, take a 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 #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 at: North Pattaya intersection (North Bus Station), Central Pattaya, South Pattaya, and Thepprasit. Convenient if your hotel is near Sukhumvit Road. Important: the bus continues further to Koh Chang piers; in Pattaya, passengers simply get off at intermediate stops. Tickets can be bought at the counter near Exit 8 in the terminal building (pink counter), but boarding is at the bus station.
• Bus #389 (Roong Reuang) — also starts from this bus terminal. If there are no seats on the 999 or the time doesn't suit, you can take the 389.
• Passing minivans from Bangkok — drivers pick up passengers, price from 140 baht, but there's no clear schedule — it's all "by chance." May not have air conditioning.

Thus, even if you miss the 999 bus, there's always a backup option — bus #389.

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

Taxi and Transfer

• 💰 Price: from 1200 baht (36.8 USD) per car
• 🕑 Travel time: 1.5–2 hours
• 📅 Operating hours: 24/7

• Official Public Taxi — first floor, Exit 4. Metered price: 1200–1500 baht (36.8–46 USD) plus toll roads (2 sections, 30–50 baht each). Make sure the driver turns on the meter
• Taxi via apps (Grab, Bolt, InDrive) — fixed price, 1100–1400 baht (33.74–42.94 USD). Need internet (free Wi-Fi is available at the airport). Pick-up zone is also at Exit 4.
• Transfer with personal meet-and-greet — book in advance on Kiwitaxi or Intui.travel. The driver will meet you with a sign. Price from 1500 baht (46 USD) for an economy-class car.

Night Arrival: What to Do?

Buses run until 22:00 (to Jomtien) and until 18:30 (to North Station). 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 uncomfortable. The first bus is around 6 AM.
• Hotel near the airport — from 1000 baht. But here's the math: overnight stay + morning bus ≈ taxi cost, but you lose time. In our opinion, it's better to take a taxi and go directly.

Useful Info about Suvarnabhumi: Money, Connection, Internet, and How to Find Gate 8

How to Navigate the Airport to Buses to Pattaya

After getting off the plane, you proceed to passport control (2nd floor). After collecting your baggage and going through 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 8 (Gate 8). That's where the counters for buses to Pattaya (Roong Reuang #389, Bell Service), minivans to central Bangkok, to Hua Hin, and to Koh Chang island are located.

The first floor is very long, and the exits are numbered. If you exit the elevator or escalator around Exits 5-6, simply walk left along the building towards number 8. The entire journey from the plane to the bus takes from 30 minutes to an hour depending on queues at control points. Detailed information and how everything is arranged can be found in our guide to Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Currency Exchange: Where's the Best Rate

Don't exchange a large amount at the first exchange counter you see — the rate in the arrival 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, near the entrance to the Airport Rail Link (city train). 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), go to the ticket counters for the metro — these exchange offices will be to the left of the turnstiles. They are open from 6:30 AM to 10:00 PM. If you arrive at night, you'll have to use the regular exchange counters on the 1st floor, where the dollar rate will be about 1–1.5 baht lower. More about exchanging money in Bangkok can be found in our article: Where best to exchange money in Bangkok.

Thai SIM Card

Right after customs, before exiting into the main hall, and on the 1st floor itself, you'll see counters for 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 (15.3 USD) for 8 unlimited days — more expensive than a Prepaid package in the city, but the card will be installed and activated in front of you. Current rates (updated) and everything about tourist SIM cards in Thailand here.

If you're going for a long time, it's cheaper to buy a regular prepaid SIM card at a 7-Eleven once you're at the resort — instructions are in our article about Prepaid connectivity in Thailand.

Free Wi-Fi

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

Comparison of Ways