How to Get to Pattaya on Your Own: By Plane, Bus, Train, and Ferry

Overview of Ways to Get to Pattaya

Pattaya is one of Thailand's most accessible resorts, and you can get here on your own from almost anywhere in the country and the world. Unlike island destinations, there are air, land, and sea routes here: by plane via Bangkok's airports or the local U-Tapao airport, by bus, train, or even ferry from nearby islands. We've personally tested all the main routes, so below is verified information without fluff.

Below we break down each way to get to Pattaya in detail: from planning tickets to the final stretch to your hotel.

By Plane

There are three airports near Pattaya, so you can fly into any of them to get to the resort. Let's cover all three options:

How to Get to Pattaya via Suvarnabhumi Airport: Flights, Tickets, Transfer

Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (Suwannaphum) is the country's main air gateway and the most convenient airport to get to both Pattaya and Bangkok. It has the most flights from Russia and other distant countries, the lowest ticket prices, and it's easiest to get to the resort from here. The IATA code for booking flights here is BKK.

Suvarnabhumi has direct flights from Russia and other countries, as well as many options with layovers through the Middle East and China. In most cases, flights with layovers are the cheapest, so you can save a good amount if you're willing to endure a bit of inconvenience.

You can find and book flights to Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, including connecting flights, using the search form below, or on reliable search engines Aviasales or Trip.com.

How to Get from Suvarnabhumi to Pattaya

Suvarnabhumi is 110 kilometers from Pattaya (Suvarnabhumi on the map). Getting from there to Pattaya is very easy and inexpensive, and even a tourist without much experience with independent travel can handle it. The journey will take about 2 hours, costing from a budget-friendly 139 baht/person to 1500 baht for a taxi or transfer per car. But you'll have to choose not only based on price but also on transport operating hours, since only taxis run at night. Here are all the ways:

• By taxi. Official taxi price – from 1200 baht. Private drivers ask for more – 1500 baht, you need to negotiate. At night, taxi prices are cheaper. The driver may also ask you to pay for two sections of toll roads, from 30 baht each. Travel time from 1.5 to 2 hours.

  You should order an official taxi at the counter upon exiting the arrival hall, follow the Public Taxi signs. You can also order a taxi through the Grab, Maxim, Bolt, InDrive apps, the price will be roughly the same.

  Another option is to book a tourist transfer. It's more expensive than a taxi, but the driver will meet you in the arrival hall with a sign and take you to your hotel door. You can book a transfer at:

  • Kiwitaxi.ru
  • Intui.travel

• By bus or minivan. The Roong Reuang Coach No. 389 bus departs from the airport to Pattaya. Look for it on the first floor at Exit No. 8 (Gate 8, Level 1). Fare – from 139 baht. Departures every hour from 06:00 to 22:00, travel time 1.5-2 hours. There's no need to book tickets in advance; they're always available for purchase on the spot for the next or following departure. You can check for possible schedule changes on the official website https://airportpattayabus.com/

  The bus arrives in Pattaya at:

  • The intercity Jomtien bus station (bus station on the map). Take it if your hotel is in Jomtien or Pratumnak.
  • Makes a stop along the way at the North Bus Station, also known as Roong Reaung Coach Station (bus station on the map). Get off here if your hotel is in central Pattaya or on the beach and in the Naklua area, also known as Wong Amat.

  When you arrive in Pattaya, you can get from the bus stations to your hotel by taxi (from 100 baht) or by local songthaew minibuses (15 baht), and to some hotels even on foot. Read more about getting around in our separate guide: Pattaya Transport – taxis, tuk-tuks, routes on the map, and how to use them.

  Another convenient option from Suvarnabhumi – Bell Service buses. They have smaller buses, but the ticket includes (for an extra fee) drop-off right at your hotel door in Pattaya.

  • Price: from 216 baht (6.48 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".
  • Bell Service official website: belltravelservice.com
  • Booking via 12go.asia: 12go.asia (Bell Service)

U-Tapao Airport (Pattaya): Flights, Prices, and How to Get to the City

30 kilometers from Pattaya is U-Tapao International Airport (U-Tapao Airport on the map). This is a mixed military and civilian airport, and it's commonly called Pattaya Airport. The IATA code for booking flights here is UTP.

Very few flights operate here, and prices are higher than to Bangkok Airport. Honestly, it's almost impossible to find regular flights here at reasonable prices, at least we've never managed. Nevertheless, charter flights for tours operate here from Russia and other countries, and sometimes you can buy tickets for them in open sale.

If you do end up on a flight to U-Tapao, getting to Pattaya from there is quite difficult and won't be cheap. There's no regular transport, only taxis. Price to central Pattaya via apps from 500 baht. But in practice, you might not get a request accepted at that price, and you'll have to choose a more expensive tariff 2-3 times higher.

The airport also has (or at least used to have) U-Tapao Airport Limousine, which runs minivans for 500 baht when enough passengers are gathered, so you might have to wait for departure.

Don Muang Airport: How to Get to Pattaya with a Transfer, Tickets

Don Muang Airport (Don Mueang, IATA code for booking tickets – DMK) specializes in budget airline flights and charter international flights. It's a good choice if you want to get to Pattaya cheaply from cities in Thailand or neighboring countries, but you'll have to figure out how to get from there to the resort.

Don Muang is located 30 kilometers north of Bangkok and 150 kilometers from Pattaya (Don Muang on the map). There are no direct bus routes, so you'll have to either take a taxi from 1600 baht, 2 hours travel time, or take buses with a transfer through Suvarnabhumi or Bangkok:

• Transfer via Suvarnabhumi is faster because you bypass terrible Bangkok traffic. A free shuttle bus departs from Don Mueang to Suvarnabhumi Airport every 30 minutes. But it's only free if you have a boarding pass for departure (not arrival), so you'll have to pay 100 baht for it, or take a taxi from 250 baht. Another option, take city buses No. 554 or No. 555 for only 36 baht, but the ride takes almost an hour and a half. Then at Suvarnabhumi, transfer to a bus to Pattaya as described above.

• Transfer via Bangkok – this option is possible in general, but very complicated and will take almost half a day. First, you need to get to the Northern Bus Terminal Mo Chit by city buses or suburban trains (red line), which will take almost an hour and a half and from 30 baht (more about Mo Chit and how to get there).

  From Mo Chit, a large bus goes to Pattaya from 5:00 AM to 6:00 PM every hour, price from 150 baht. There's also a Mor Chit minivan station, located across the road from the terminal, access via the bridge. Many minivans depart from here to Pattaya on their own schedule, frequently.

By Bus

Thailand has a well-developed bus network of regular buses and tourist transfers on buses and minivans with connections between all the country's resorts. And this is the most cost-effective way to travel around the country in terms of price/quality. We recommend reading our separate guide about buses in Thailand and how to use them.

However, regular bus service has largely bypassed Pattaya, and only buses from Bangkok and Suvarnabhumi Airport run here regularly. Fortunately, there are many tourist routes and transfers (with connections) that can take you to Pattaya from Phuket, Samui, Koh Chang, Phangan, Tao, Hua Hin, and other popular resorts in Thailand

Where Buses Arrive and Depart in Pattaya

• North Pattaya Station or Roong Reaung Coach Station (station on the map). This is the main station; most state and branded long-distance buses arrive here.
• South Station Jomtien or Roong Reuang Coach Jomtien also known as Bus 389 Office (station on the map). Buses only to/from Suvarnabhumi Airport.
• T-Tour Bus Station (station on the map). Located near the pier and Walking Street, very convenient if you're staying in central Pattaya or need to get to Koh Lan. Buses here only to/from Bangkok and Suvarnabhumi Airport.
• Nakhonchai Bus Station (station on the map). This is the station of the carrier that operates routes to neighboring provinces, as well as north to Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. These are passing routes from Rayong, and they make a stop here. Check the schedule and information on the website https://www.nakhonchaiair.com/

But these are only the stations we know and have personally used. Small carriers have their own departure and arrival points, so when buying tickets, be sure to check the arrival point, it's important! Once, we arrived from Aranyaprathet (border with Cambodia) on a "branded" minivan just to some field site several kilometers from the city. Ideally, choose tourist transfers with hotel delivery or at least to the hotel area.

If you arrive at the station rather than a hotel transfer, you can get to your accommodation by taxi (prices via apps from 100 baht) or by minibus (from 15 baht). We've covered how to use all of this and what routes are available in a separate guide about Pattaya transport.

Where to Buy Bus Tickets and Schedule

Unfortunately, there is no single online booking system (at least we don't know of one) for bus tickets that covers ALL ROUTES. But quite a few popular routes are now collected and available for search and booking on aggregators:

• 12go.asia - a reliable search engine, tickets can be paid with a foreign card or booked and paid for at checkout in Thai stores.
• Trip.com – accepts Russian cards, but doesn't have bus schedules as such, only transfers, including group transfers like buses.
• busonlineticket – another reliable local aggregator, but you can only pay online with a non-Russian card.

In practice, it's much easier to buy tickets on the spot at travel agencies or bus station counters; we almost always do that. Yes, you might have to pay a little more, but the price usually includes hotel pickup by minivan. But all this, of course, depends on the destination, because in some cities there are simply no travel agencies where you can buy them, and then you have to go to the station or buy online.

Here are instructions for popular routes:

How to Get from Bangkok to Pattaya by Bus and Minivan

Regular buses and minivans from Bangkok depart from two stations:

• Bangkok Eastern Terminal Ekkamai Eastern Bus Terminal. Located almost in the center on Sukhumvit Road, next to Ekkamai BTS station.

  Buses depart at least every hour from 05:00 to 23:00. Ticket from 148 baht + 20 for baggage.

• Northern Bus Terminal Mo Chit. Located near Mochit BTS station.

  Buses depart from 05:00 to 18:00 every hour. Price from 158 baht.

  Across the road from Mo Chit (access via pedestrian bridge) is the Mochit minivan station, with minivans running on their own schedule or as they fill up.

You don't need to buy tickets in advance; buy them before departure. You can check the schedule and price on the carrier's website http://www.pattayabus.com

There are also minivans from various private companies that depart from tourist areas of the city, most often from Khao San Road. But it doesn't work like you come and buy a ticket on the spot; it's different: you need to buy a ticket at a travel agency the day before, and they'll pick you up from your hotel or tell you where to go for departure.

How to Get from Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai to Pattaya

There are no direct buses to Pattaya. But there are passing buses of the company https://www.nakhonchaiair.com/ to Rayong, which pass through Pattaya.

Another option is to take a train or bus with a transfer in Bangkok. This route can be done without an overnight stay in Bangkok.

How to Get from Hua Hin to Pattaya

Previously, there were direct Bell Travel buses, but they are currently unavailable. They might resume; you can check the schedule on the carrier's website https://www.belltravelservice.com/.

Another carrier https://rrcticket.com/. Tickets are currently available, once a day, travel time 6 hours, price 535 baht.

If there are no direct buses, go with a transfer through Bangkok or the airport. You can easily do this route during the day without stopping in Bangkok, but the trip will take the whole day, so start early in the morning.

From Koh Chang, Koh Mak, and Koh Kood to Pattaya

From Koh Chang, Koh Mak, and Koh Kood, the easiest way to get to Pattaya is to buy a ready-made transfer – exactly the same as from Pattaya to Koh Chang, but in the opposite direction. They're sold at travel agencies on the islands themselves, as well as online at 12go.asia. Price starts from 650 baht (19.5 USD), travel time, from experience, is 6–10 hours including all transfers and the ferry.

The transfer is operated by Suvarnabhumi Burapha, 35 Group Pattaya, and Boonsiri Ferry. The price usually includes transfer from your hotel on the island and drop-off either directly at your hotel in Pattaya or at a central point (the company's office). Check the terms with the specific carrier. This is much easier than DIY transfers through Trat or Chanthaburi.

How to Get from Phuket to Pattaya

The only direct bus route Phuket-Pattaya is operated by Sawadee Tour, travel time from 17 hours, ticket from 1205 baht. The bus is overnight, departing at 15:00 from Phuket Town bus station, arriving in Pattaya the next day after 08:00 at the company's station on Pattaya 3rd Road in the northern part (station on the map). Buy tickets on aggregator websites or at the station ticket office; we haven't seen them at travel agencies.

Other options – travel with a transfer, best through Bangkok. Buses to Bangkok cost from 800 baht, then transfer to Pattaya as described above. But check the arrival point in Bangkok when buying tickets, as some buses arrive at the Southern Station Sai Tai Mai, and some at the tourist area of Khao San (these are more convenient).

By Train

Thailand has a decent railway system connecting major cities. But Pattaya has been largely bypassed by rail. Only a commuter train from Bangkok runs here, and it's very slow with an extremely inconvenient schedule. But it's the cheapest way to get from Bangkok to Pattaya or back – only 32 baht!

In general, if you want to get to Pattaya by train from Chiang Mai, Lopburi, Ayutthaya, Surat Thani, Kuala Lumpur, or Singapore, you need to aim for a trip to Bangkok, and then transfer to faster buses or taxis instead of spending many hours on this commuter train.

Everything you need to know about trains in Thailand and how to use them is in our separate guide via the link, and here's what you need to know specifically about the train to Pattaya:

Between Bangkok and Pattaya, there's a slow commuter train No. 283/284 (like our electric train, see photo above), and on weekends the express No. 997/No. 998. Here's the schedule and price:

Weekdays only (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

Weekends only express 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

The schedule may change, so check it before each trip. You can do this on the websites http://www.railway.co.th/Home/Index (by route) or https://ttsview.railway.co.th/v3/ (by train number or station).

Although it's stated that the slow train takes 4 hours, when we rode it, it actually took almost 6 hours. Conveniently, it makes stops along the way, and you can get off or board in central Bangkok in the Sukhumvit or Pratunam areas. It starts from the old Hua Lamphong station in Chinatown. All of these are popular and convenient tourist areas of Bangkok.

In Pattaya, the train makes two stops: at the railway station (see the station on the map) and at the Pattaya Tai Train Station stop (see Pattaya Tai Train Station on the map). They are quite far from the center (both stations are marked on the map). To get from them to the center, you'll need to take a taxi or motorbike taxi, or take a local Baht Bus from 30 baht, which wait for train passengers.

There's no point in buying or booking tickets in advance when departing from Pattaya: just come to the station thirty minutes before departure, buy a ticket, and go (sales open 30 minutes before departure). If departing from Pattaya Tai Train Station (where there's no ticket office), you can simply board the car and pay the conductor on the train during the journey.

By Ferry

A few years ago, you could get to Pattaya by speed ferry from Hua Hin, but it was canceled. Currently, the only regular service is to Koh Lan, which is effectively part of the Pattaya resort and is often visited by tourists on a day trip.

Fare 30 baht (0.9 USD), travel time 40 minutes. In addition to the slow ferry, speedboats depart from the same pier and from the beaches for 150-300 baht/person, reaching the island in 15-20 minutes, but they operate without a schedule, departing when they fill up with passengers.

If you need to get to Pattaya from more distant islands in the Gulf of Thailand – Koh Tao, Koh Phangan, Koh Samui – the best option is to use a ready-made transfer from local transport companies that includes all connections from point to point. There are several options:

• Lomprayah Company. Speed catamarans with transfer to the Khao San Road area in Bangkok, from there by taxi or buses to Pattaya. Schedule and tickets at https://www.lomprayah.com/.
• Boonsiri Company. They have transfers from all islands directly to Pattaya. Schedule and tickets https://boonsiriferry.com/
• On your own by ferry to the mainland (Surat Thani or Chumphon), and from there by bus or train with a transfer through Bangkok to Pattaya. But this is more of a journey for the sake of travel rather than getting from point "A" to point "B".

Tickets for all these transfers are sold at street agencies at the resorts, or you can buy them online on the websites via the links above, as well as on the aggregator 12go.asia. None of the sites accept Russian cards, but on 12go you can book and pay in cash at local store counters.

Bus and Train Schedules to Pattaya