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 wallet-friendly resorts, and you can easily get here from almost anywhere in the country or the world. Unlike island destinations, there are air, land, and sea routes: by plane via Bangkok's airports or the local Utapao airport, by bus, by train, or even by ferry from nearby islands. We've personally tested all the main routes, so below is solid, no-fluff information.

First, here are some quick tips for the most popular routes:

• From Russia and other CIS countries. Only by plane, usually to Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi (BKK) or Don Muang (DMK) airports. There are direct flights from several cities, but the cheapest way is with a stopover in the Middle East or China. Total travel time starts at 12 hours. How to find tickets and what to consider during layovers — read the "By plane" section.
• From Bangkok's airports. From Suvarnabhumi, the dedicated bus #389 runs every hour or so (from 139 baht, ~1.5–2 hours). From Don Muang, there's no direct bus; it's easier to take a shuttle to Suvarnabhumi and transfer there, or take a taxi. All the step-by-step details are in the subsections for each airport.
• From central Bangkok. Buses run from the Eastern Terminal (Ekamai) and Northern Terminal (Mo Chit), as well as private minivans from tourist areas. Travel time is about 2–2.5 hours, tickets from 148 baht. An exotic option is the commuter train for 32 baht, but it takes 4 to 6 hours. Details in the "By bus" and "By train" sections.
• From Phuket. The fastest option is to fly to Bangkok (1.5 hours) and then take ground transport. The budget option is a direct bus or one with a transfer in Bangkok, but that takes almost a full day. More details in the "From Phuket to Pattaya" section.
• From Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, and Koh Tao. The easiest is to take a ready-made combined transfer (ferry + bus) with Lomprayah or Boonsiri — they'll take you right to Pattaya. From Samui, you can also fly to Bangkok and continue by bus. A DIY route with transfers through Surat Thani or Chumphon is possible but more of a hassle. Look for details in the "By ferry" section.
• From Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. There are passing buses by Nakhonchai that stop in Pattaya on their way to Rayong. Another option is to transfer through Bangkok (by bus or train). All covered in the "From Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai" section.
• From Koh Chang, Koh Mak and Koh Kood. There are ready-made combined transfers (ferry + bus) straight to Pattaya with hotel pickup. Sold at local agencies and online at 12go.asia. Price from 650 baht, stated travel time 4–6 hours. More details in the "From Koh Chang, Mak and Kood to Pattaya" section.
• From other Thai cities and islands. Almost all routes go through Bangkok, and if you plan well, you can make the trip without an extra overnight stay in Bangkok.
• From neighboring countries (Cambodia, Malaysia). Flying is best, but you can also do a combined route: for example, from Siem Reap or Poipet, a transfer to the border, then a bus or minivan to Pattaya. Some of these routes are covered in separate guides — you'll find links further down.

Below, we break down each way to get to Pattaya in detail: from trip planning to the final leg to your hotel.

By plane

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

How to get to Pattavia via Suvarnabhumi Airport: flights, tickets, transfer

Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport is the country's main air gateway and the most convenient airport for getting to both Pattaya and Bangkok. It has the most flights from Russia and other faraway countries, the lowest airfares, and it's the easiest to reach the resort from. The IATA code for booking flights here is BKK.

Suvarnabhumi has direct flights from Russia and other countries, plus many options with stopovers in the Middle East and China. In most cases, flights with stopovers are the cheapest, so you can save a good chunk of change if you don't mind a bit of inconvenience.

You can find and book flights to Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, including connecting flights, using the search form below. You can check out and book the cheapest flights to Suvarnabhumi on random dates here: cheapest flights to Bangkok.

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 cheap — even a tourist without much travel experience can handle it. The trip takes about 2 hours, and costs range from a budget-friendly 139 baht/person to 1500 baht for a taxi or transfer for the whole car. But you'll have to choose not only based on price but also on operating hours, since only taxis run at night. Here are all the ways:

• By taxi. An official taxi costs from 1200 baht. Private drivers ask for more — 1500 baht, you'll need to haggle. At night, taxis are cheaper. The driver might also ask you to pay for two toll road sections, from 30 baht each. Travel time is 1.5 to 2 hours.

  To get an official taxi, go to the counter as you exit the arrivals hall, follow the signs for Public Taxi. You can also order a taxi through the Grab, Maxim, Bolt, or InDrive apps — the price will be more or less 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 arrivals hall with a sign and take you right to your hotel door. You can book a transfer at:

  • Kiwitaxi.ru
  • Intui.travel

• By bus or minivan. The Roong Reuang Coach bus #389 runs from the airport to Pattaya. Look for it on the first floor at Gate 8 (Gate 8, Level 1). The fare is from 139 baht. Buses depart 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 to buy on the spot for the next trip. 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). Get off here if your hotel is in Jomtien or Pratumnak.
  • It 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, along the beach, or in the Naklua / Wong Amat area.

  Another option is passing buses from Bangkok to Pattaya. Quite a few run, but they don't come to the terminal — they stop at the airport bus station, Suvarnabhumi Bus Terminal (Public Transportation Center). Free shuttle buses run from the terminal to there — read all about it at the link. Tickets to Pattaya and Jomtien are sold at the ticket offices there.

  Once you're in Pattaya, you can get from the bus station to your hotel by taxi (from 100 baht) or by local songthaews (15 baht), and some hotels are even within walking distance. Read more in our separate guide: Pattaya transport — taxis, tuk-tuks, routes on the map, and how to use them.

Utapao Airport (Pattaya): flights, prices, and how to get to the city

30 kilometers from Pattaya is Utapao International Airport (Utapao Airport on the map). It's a mixed military and civilian airport, often called Pattaya's airport. The IATA code for booking flights here is UTP.

Very few flights go there, and prices are higher than to Bangkok Airport. Honestly, it's almost impossible to find regular flights at reasonable prices — at least we've never managed to. That said, charter flights from Russia and other countries do operate here as part of tour packages, and sometimes you can buy tickets for them on the open market.

If you do end up on a flight to Utapao, getting from there to Pattaya is quite difficult and won't be cheap. There's no regular transport, only taxis. A taxi to central Pattaya via apps starts at 500 baht. But in reality, you might never get a driver to accept a request at that price, and you'll have to choose a more expensive fare that's 2-3 times higher.

The airport also has (or at least used to have) a company called U-Tapao Airport Limousine — they take you in minivans for 500 baht once they have enough passengers, so you might have to wait for departure.

Don Muang Airport: how to get to Pattaya with a transfer, tickets

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

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

• Transfer via Suvarnabhumi is faster because you avoid terrible Bangkok traffic. A free shuttle bus runs from Don Mueang to Suvarnabhumi Airport every 30 minutes. But it's free only if you have a departure boarding pass (not an arrival one), so you'll have to pay 100 baht for it, or take a taxi from 250 baht. Another option is to take city buses #554 or #555 for just 36 baht, but the ride takes almost 1.5 hours. Then at Suvarnabhumi, transfer to a bus to Pattaya as described above.

• Transfer via Bangkok — this is doable in theory, but it's very complicated and will take almost half a day. First, you need to get to the Mo Chit North Bus Station by city bus or commuter train (red line), which will take almost 1.5 hours and cost from 30 baht (more about Mo Chit and how to get there).

  From Mo Chit, a large bus runs to Pattaya from 5:00 AM to 6:00 PM every hour, cost from 150 baht. There's also a minivan station, Mor Chit, located across the road from the terminal — cross via the bridge. Many minivans leave from here for Pattaya on their own schedule, quite frequently.

By bus

Thailand has a well-developed bus network with regular buses and tourist transfers by bus and minivan, connecting all the country's resorts. In particular, it's very easy to get to Pattaya from Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport (covered above), from Bangkok itself, Phuket, Koh Samui, Koh Chang, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao, Hua Hin, and other popular Thai resorts. Plus, it's the cheapest way to travel around the country in terms of value for money. We recommend reading our separate guide about buses in Thailand and how to use them.

Pattaya has at least four bus stations:

• North Pattaya Station or Roong Reaung Coach Station (station on the map). This is the main station — most government and branded long-distance buses arrive here.
• Jomtien South Station or Roong Reuang Coach Jomtien (also called Bus 389 Office) (station on the map). Buses to/from Bangkok and 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. Buses to/from Bangkok and Suvarnabhumi Airport.
• Nakhonchai Bus Station (station on the map). This station serves a carrier that runs routes to neighboring provinces, as well as north to Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. These are passing buses from Rayong that make a stop here. Check the schedule and info on the website https://www.nakhonchaiair.com/

But these are only the stations we know and have used ourselves. Smaller carriers have their own departure and arrival points, so when buying tickets, double-check the arrival point — it's important! Once, we arrived from Aranyaprathet (Cambodian border) on a "branded" minivan at some random lot in a field, kilometers from the city. Ideally, choose tourist transfers that drop you off at your hotel or at least near your hotel's area.

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

Where to buy bus tickets and schedules

Unfortunately, there's no single online booking system (at least, we don't know of one) that covers ALL ROUTES. However, quite a few popular trips are now aggregated and available for search and booking on these platforms:

• 12go.asia — a reliable search engine, you can pay with a foreign card or make a reservation and pay at the counter in Thai stores.
• Trip.com — accepts Russian cards, but doesn't really have bus schedules, just transfers, including group ones like buses.
• busonlineticket — another reliable local aggregator, but you can only pay online with a non-Russian card.

In practice, though, it's much simpler to buy tickets locally at travel agencies — that's what we almost always do. Yes, you might pay a little extra, but the price usually includes a minivan pickup from your hotel. Of course, it all depends on the destination — some towns simply don't have travel agencies where you can buy them, so you have to go to the station or buy online.

Here are guides for popular routes:

• How to get from Bangkok to Pattaya by bus and minivan

  Regular buses and minivans depart from two stations:

  • Bangkok's Eastern Terminal Ekkamai Eastern Bus Terminal. Located almost in the center on Sukhumvit Road, near Ekkamai BTS station.

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

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

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

    Across the road from Mo Chit, via a pedestrian bridge over the road, is the Mochit minivan station, from which minivans leave on their own schedule or as they fill up.

  You don't need to buy tickets in advance — just 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 leave from tourist areas of the city, most often from Khao San Road. But it doesn't work like you just show up and buy a ticket on the spot — it's different: you need to buy a ticket at a travel agency, and they'll either pick you up from your hotel or tell you where to go to depart.

• How to get from Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai to Pattaya

  There are no direct buses to Pattaya. However, there are passing buses from https://www.nakhonchaiair.com/ heading to Rayong, which go through Pattaya.

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

• How to get from Hua Hin to Pattaya

  There used to be direct Bell Travel buses, but they're not available right now. They might start again — you can check the schedule on the carrier's website https://www.belltravelservice.com/.

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

  If there are no direct options, go with a transfer through Bangkok. You can easily do this route in one day without stopping in Bangkok. But the trip will take all day, so start early in the morning.

From Koh Chang, Koh Mak and Koh Kood to Pattaya

From the islands of 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, just in reverse. They're sold at travel agencies on the islands themselves, as well as online at 12go.asia. Prices start at 650 baht (19.91 USD), and travel time, in our experience, is 6–10 hours including all transfers and the ferry.

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

• How to get from Phuket to Pattaya

  The only direct bus from Phuket to Pattaya is run by Sawadee Tour, with a travel time of 17 hours, tickets from 966 baht. It's an overnight bus, departing from Phuket Town bus station at 15:00, arriving in Pattaya the next day after 08:00 at the company's bus 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 involve a transfer, best done through Bangkok. Buses to Bangkok start at 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 Sai Tai Mai southern station, while others arrive at the Khao San tourist area (these are more convenient).

By train

Thailand has a decent rail system connecting its major cities. But Pattaya was mostly left out of the rail network. Only a commuter train from Bangkok runs here, and it's very slow with a really inconvenient schedule. On the flip side, it's the cheapest way to get from Bangkok to Pattaya or back — just 32 baht!

Overall, if you're trying to get to Pattaya by train from Chiang Mai, Lopburi, Ayutthaya, Surat Thani, Kuala Lumpur, or Singapore, your best bet is to aim for a trip to Bangkok, then switch to faster buses or taxis rather than spending many hours on this commuter train.

Everything you need to know about Thai trains and how to use them is in our separate guide. Here's what you need to know specifically about the train to Pattaya:

A slow commuter train #283/284 (like our electric trains, see photo above) runs between Bangkok and Pattaya, and on weekends, a faster train #997/#998 runs. Here's the schedule and price:

On weekdays, only these (32 baht):

• Bangkok (Hua Lamphong)-Pattaya, train #283: departure 06:55, arrival 10:34
• Pattaya-Bangkok (Hua Lamphong), train #284: departure 14:20, arrival 18:15

On weekends only the fast tourist train (170 baht):

• Bangkok (Hua Lamphong)-Pattaya, train #997: departure 06:45, arrival 09:13
• Pattaya-Bangkok (Hua Lamphong), train #998: departure 16:26, arrival 18:55

Schedules can change, so double-check before each trip. You can do so 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 the slow train is listed as taking 4 hours, when we took it, it ended up being almost 6 hours. The nice thing is that it makes stops along the way, so you can get on or off in central Bangkok around Sukhumvit or Pratunam. It starts its journey from the old Hua Lamphong station in Chinatown. All of these are popular and convenient tourist areas in Bangkok.

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

The Bangkok-Pattaya ticket costs 32 baht. 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 your ticket, and go (sales open 30 minutes before the train leaves). If you're departing from the Pattaya Tai Train Station stop (which has no ticket office), you can just board the train and pay for your ticket while it's moving.

By ferry

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

The Pattaya-Koh Lan ferry runs on a schedule:

• Departure from Pattaya: 07:00, 10:00, 12:00, 14:00, 15:30, 17:00, 18:30
• Departure from Koh Lan: 06:30, 07:30, 09:30, 12:00, 14:00, 15:30, 17:00, 18:00

Fare is 30 baht (0.92 USD), travel time 40 minutes. Besides the slow ferry, speedboats also run from the same pier and from the beaches, costing 150-300 baht/person, taking you to the island in 15-20 minutes, but they operate without a fixed schedule, departing once enough passengers have gathered.

If you need to get to Pattaya from more distant islands in the Gulf of Thailand — Koh Tao, Koh Phangan, Koh Samui — your best bet is to use a ready-made transfer offered by local transport companies, which includes all connections from point to point. Here are a few options:

• Lomprayah Company. Speed catamarans with a transfer to the Khao San Road area in Bangkok, then by taxi or bus to Pattaya. Schedules and tickets at https://www.lomprayah.com/.
• Boonsiri Company. They offer transfers from all the islands straight to Pattaya. Schedules and tickets at https://boonsiriferry.com/
• Do it yourself: take a ferry to the mainland (Surat Thani or Chumphon), and from there take a bus or train with a transfer through Bangkok to Pattaya. But this is more of an adventure than a straightforward way to get from point "A" to point "B".

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

Bus and train schedules to Pattaya