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Beaches, luxury hotels, and vivid nightlife are just a few things that attract travelers to the city of Pattaya, Thailand. Located on the eastern Gulf Coast, this amazing city welcomes about 8 million tourists every year, making it one of the most visited destinations in the country. If you are planning to pack your bags and travel there, we recommend you read our guide on how to get to Pattaya from Bangkok and other destinations in Thailand.
We know that planning a trip to Thailand can be overwhelming. Sometimes a bit complicated due to the language barrier. That’s why we listed different options of transportation, routes, timetables, and prices of the most common ways of going to Pattaya from Bangkok and other touristic cities. Follow our tips, and we’re sure you’ll have a hassle-free holiday.
Read our guide to Pattaya and discover the best beaches and places to visit.
How to get to Pattaya from Bangkok
The city of Pattaya is located southeast of Bangkok [read our guide here], and the distance from Bangkok to Pattaya is about 147km. If you are wondering how to travel by bus from Bangkok to Pattaya, we can tell you that you have many options, not only by bus, but also by mini-van, a rented car, or a private taxi.
Our first tip is about how to get to Pattaya from Bangkok Airport. Are you arriving at Suvarnabhumi Airport and want to go directly from BKK airport to Pattaya? Yes! Then you can join an air-conditioned bus for 106 baht, which will take you to North Pattaya Road Bus Station within 60 – 90 minutes. These buses depart from the airport every two hours. If the airport bus to Pattaya doesn’t work for you, another option is a metered taxi. The taxi from Bangkok to Pattaya will cost you around 1,110 baht, inclusive of expressway charges.
Renting a car is another option to get from Bangkok airport to Pattaya. You can check the rental rates here, and drive to the beach by yourself. This is an excellent option if you are traveling with family and friends as you can use the car to explore the beautiful beaches near Pattaya.
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Are you already in town and wondering how to get to Pattaya from Bangkok city center? In this case, buses are your best bet. Head down to the Eastern Bus Terminal on Sukhumvit Road, which is situated near Ekkamai BTS station. There, you can get an air-conditioned bus to Pattaya every thirty minutes from 5:20 AM – 11:20 AM for the price of 117 baht.
You will also find buses of similar pricing at the Northern Bus Terminal, which leave at 5:30 AM and 8:00 PM. At the Southern Bus Terminal, you can get on an air-conditioned bus to Pattaya at 5:30 AM, 8:30 AM, 10:00 AM, 12:00 PM, 2:00 PM, 4:00 PM, and 6:30 PM.
Check the timetables and buy your Bangkok to Pattaya bus ticket here!
Trips from Bangkok to Pattaya typically take 2 hours but may vary depending on the intensity of traffic. Some of the hotels and travel agencies in Bangkok also offer mini-vans to Pattaya. These options are usually priced from 400 baht and are very convenient due to the pick-up option.
Talking about convenience, you can take a private taxi to Pattaya from your hotel in Bangkok. The trip will cost between 1,500 to 2,000 baht, including expressway charges.
How to get from Hua Hin to Pattaya
Pattaya is one of the most popular mainland resorts in Thailand, followed closely by Hua Hin [check Hua Hin top attractions here]. The distance between Hua Hin and Pattaya is about 320km. There are many ways to travel from Hua Hin to Pattaya, including train, bus, ferry, and private taxi.
The cheapest option to get to Pattaya from Hua Hin is by train. A 3rd class carriage ticket costs a mere 50 baht with a journey of 7-8 hours.
Another option is to travel from Hua Hin to Pattaya by ferry. The high-speed ferry departs from Khao Takiab pier in Hua Hin to the Bali Hai pier in Pattaya. This trip typically takes about two hours and fifteen minutes and costs 1,250 baht.
If you don’t like the idea of traveling to Pattaya by ferry, you can join a direct bus from New Hua Hin Bus Station, which typically departs at 11:00 AM to arrive at Pattaya Bus Station at 5:00 PM. This bus to Pattaya cost about 500 baht.
Other than buses, there are minivans from Hua Hin to Pattaya. Rides on these vans cost 400 baht and the trip takes about five hours. For a comfortable journey from Hua Hin to Pattaya, you can take a taxi via reliable services like Hua Hin Cars or Glassflower. Their prices range between 3,000 baht and 4,600 baht, and the ride takes about 4 hours.
How to get from Chiang Mai to Pattaya
Chiang Mai is the largest city in Northern Thailand, and it hosts hundreds of elegant Buddhist temples such as Wat Phra Singh and Wat Chedi Luang, built in the 14th and 15th centuries, respectively. If you wish to go from Chiang Mai to Pattaya, your best option to cover the 811km distance is by flight. There are around eight daily flights from Chiang Mai to Pattaya, which leave between 6:00 AM – 5:35 PM.
Yes, you can take a bus from Chiang Mai to Pattaya, but be ready for a long long journey with a connection in Bangkok. You can buy a combination ticket of bus + bus or bus + van departing from Chiang Mai and arriving in Pattaya. The bus + bus trip from Chiang Mai to Pattaya will take between 13 to 15 hours and will cost around 1400 bath.
There isn’t a direct train connecting Chiang Mai to Pattaya, but you can travel through Bangkok, with a stop at Hua Lamphong station. This trip will take approximately 15 hours and it can cost up to 2700 baht depending on the type of train you choose.
You can book your train or bus from Chiang Mai to Pattaya here!
How to get from Phuket to Pattaya
The island of Phuket is an awesome travel destination with beautiful beaches and a lively old town. Phuket to Pattaya distance by road is about 784km, being so far from each other, the best ways to travel from Phuket to Pattaya are by flight or bus.
Flights from Phuket to Pattaya are the fastest way to go, even though they might be more expensive. Three flights depart from Phuket Airport to Pattaya every day at 08:45 AM, 12:50 PM, and 5:55 PM, and they’ll arrive at Utapao Pattaya Airport in 75 minutes.
You can save fare by taking a bus from Phuket to Pattaya. Your best bet might be the bus that departs from Phuket at 5:00 PM and arrives in Pattaya by 9:25 AM the following day. Tickets cost about 850 baht, and you even save one night worth in accommodation.
How to travel from Krabi to Pattaya
The southern province of Krabi is home to incredible mangroves, impressive limestone cliffs, and hundreds of islands with amazing beaches. When you are done exploring Krabi, you will have two options to travel to Pattaya. It can be a combination of a flight and bus or a longer overnight bus plus ferry.
There are no direct flights from Krabi to Pattaya, you will need to get a flight from Krabi Airport to Bangkok and then continue by bus to Pattaya. The flight takes 1 hour 25 minutes, then you can catch a 2-hour airport bus to Pattaya.
If flying is out of the table, overnight buses are leaving Krabi at 8 PM and 10 PM (VIP) to Hua Hin. Tickets cost around 700 baht for the 8 PM departure and about 1000 baht for the VIP bus at 10 PM. From Hua Hin, there is just one ferry crossing per day at 4 PM, it’s recommended to arrive at least 30 minutes in advance. The ferry crossing from Khao Takiab Pier in Hua Hin to Bali Hai pier in Pattaya takes approximately 2 hours, with a cost of 1,250 baht.
Book your joint ticket bus+ferry from Krabi to Pattaya here!
How to get to Pattaya from Koh Samui
If you are traveling from Koh Samui to Pattaya, your best option is to go by air. There are two flights from Koh Samui Airport to Pattaya every day at 11:10 AM and 2:15 PM. The trip takes 75 minutes.
Another option is to take a direct flight from Koh Samui to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport and then connect with the bus to Pattaya as previously outlined. There are multiple daily flights from Koh Samui to Bangkok, giving you more options of price and time of departure.
Another option is to combine ferry and bus. This journey from Koh Samui to Pattaya will take approximately 15 hours and cost around 950 baht. The trip starts in the morning, and you will spend the night on the bus, arriving in Pattaya on the following day. It might be the cheapest option to travel to Pattaya from Koh Samui.
Book your combination ticket from Koh Samui to Pattaya here!
If you are wondering about how to get to Pattaya from Koh Tao or Koh Phangan, let me tell you that you have two options and both are quite long. One is to travel from Koh Tao or Koh Phangan to Koh Samui by ferry and from there follow one of the steps above. Another is to book a combination ticket of boat + bus. The combination ticket is offered by different companies, and some of them are via Hua Hin, others via Bangkok.
Before buying your ticket, our recommendation is to read the trip details carefully and choose the one that suits you best. You can do this research on Bookaway and 12Go Asia, we recommend these websites for booking buses, trains, and ferries across Thailand. They’re easy to use, safe, and hassle-free.
Did you like our tips on how to go to Pattaya from Bangkok, Krabi, Phuket, Hua Hin, and Koh Samui? If you are traveling from a different destination or a small town or island like Koh Chang, you will probably need to stop at one of those destinations for a connection. If you need any help, drop us a message below.
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