How to get to Phuket from Pattaya

There are several ways to get from Pattaya to Phuket. The most expensive and fastest – by plane, the most economical – by regular or tourist buses. Well, if you are a fan of traveling by train, then you can get to Phuket from Pattaya and on this transport, though you will have to make several transfers, and part of the way by bus. Whichever transport you choose, you will almost certainly have to drive through Bangkok. Read more about all the methods below.

Also read articles on the topic:

• All ways to get to Phuket
• How to get to Phuket from Koh Samui
• How to get to Phuket from Bangkok
• How to get to Phuket from Krabi

From Pattaya to Phuket by plane

From Pattaya, you can fly to Phuket International Airport from Pattaya U-Tapao Airport (U-Tapao), as well as from two airports in Bangkok Suvarnabhumi and old Don Mueang.

The easiest way is to fly from Pattaya U-Tapao airport, but it is more expensive. This airport is closest to Pattaya in Rayong city, although it will be even more difficult to get to it by public transport than to Bangkok airports. You will have to take a bus from Pattaya bus station, catch any bus or minibus (songthaew) on Sukhumvit highway, or take a taxi from 750 baht (see the currency of Thailand and its exchange rate). At the time of writing, only one flight per day to Phuket was operated from U-Tapao by Bangkok Airways, moreover, the cost by Thai standards is simply stunningly high – from 5,500 baht for a round trip flight.

It is much cheaper to fly from one of the two Bangkok airports. From the old Don Mueang airport, low-cost airlines operate flights from 1000 baht, and from Suvarnabhumi from 2000 baht. Read more "How to get from Bangkok to Phuket by plane".

At the same time, it is much more difficult to get to Don Mueang Airport by public transport, because there are no direct buses from Pattaya, and you will have to go either by taxi from 1600 baht (two hours on the way), or take buses with a transfer to Bangkok bus stations Ekamai or Mor Chit, or go to the Suvarnabhumi airport and there take a shuttle bus between the two airports (runs every hour from 05:00 to 22:00, the cost is 100 baht). Any of these options will cost 200-400 baht in total, but it will take at least 5 hours in time, and it is even better to put 6-7 hours on it.

Getting to the Suvarnabhumi airport is much easier and faster (from 130 baht and two hours of time), more details here – How to get from Bangkok Airport to Pattaya.

You can find and book flights to Phuket on the dates you need through the search form. The search is very flexible and allows you to find flights on different dates, with or without transfers, in both directions or one, etc.:

From Pattaya to Phuket by bus

This is a very economical and convenient way to get from Pattaya to Phuket. Such a trip will cost you from 900 baht one way, and 15 hours in time. And you can not even make any transfers, because there are direct buses from Pattaya to Phuket.

It is best to use regular company buses departing from the bus station in Pattaya, rather than tourist buses. It is better to purchase tickets in advance, which can be done via the search form below.

Even if a direct flight from Pattaya does not suit you in time, you can get there with a transfer in Bangkok at the northern station Mor Chit or the southern Sai Tai Mai. Buses depart from these stations much more often, tickets are a little cheaper than a direct bus from Pattaya, and it is not necessary to purchase them in advance, you can just come to the station and buy for the next flight. However, on weekends and periods Thailand holidays it is better to take care of the ticket in advance, which can also be done through the suggested search form below. It is better to go through Mor Chit, because buses depart to it from Pattaya bus station almost every half hour (from 110 baht, 3 hours on the way).

Tourist transfer (tourist buses) from Pattaya to Phuket can be bought on the streets at travel agencies, sometimes even cheaper than a regular bus ticket, but as a result, the trip may take much longer, you may not reach the end point and encounter other troubles, you can read more here "Traveling by bus in Thailand".

From Pattaya to Phuket by train

For lovers of long trips and many transfers, it is possible to get to Phuket with transfers by train. In general, the route will look like this: from Pattaya, you need to get to the Bangkok Hualamphong railway station by bus or commuter train; take the train there to Suratthani (Suratthani, also called Phun Pin Railway Station); from the railway station in Surat Thani, you will need to take a bus to the bus station in the city center, and then take a bus to Phuket (3-5 hours on the way), or a tourist transfer to Phuket is offered directly at the railway station, which is much easier and faster.

There are 11 trains daily from Bangkok's Hualamphong Railway Station to Surat Thani. Travel time by train is from 8 to 12 hours, depending on the type of train. The fare is from 600 (seats) to 1500 (beds) baht. Read more about trains of Thailand and the schedule here.

Bus schedule to Phuket