Bangkok to Pattaya Bus, train or taxi.
The short answer: the easy way is the Roong Reuang Coach bus. It leaves from Ekkamai, Mo Chit or straight from Suvarnabhumi Airport, takes about two to two and a half hours, and costs well under 200 baht. A taxi is quicker door to door, and there is a cheap, slow train once a day. There are no flights.
Below: the options compared with fares checked on 6 November 2026, which Bangkok terminal to use, where the buses stop in Pattaya, and the times to avoid on the road.
Bangkok to Pattaya at a glance
Bus fares are the counter prices published by Roong Reuang Coach; on 12Go the same seats cost a little more (from about US$4–5 on 6 November 2026) because of the booking fee.
| Option | How long | Leaves from | Price (one way) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bus (Roong Reuang Coach) | About 2 – 2.5 hours | Ekkamai, Mo Chit 2 or Suvarnabhumi Airport | About 135–158 baht | Most people |
| Minivan | About 2 – 2.5 hours | Ekkamai, Mo Chit or Victory Monument | About 200–430 baht | A seat when the bus is full |
| Taxi or Grab / Bolt | About 1.5 – 2.5 hours | Your hotel or the airport | About 1,000–2,000 baht per car, plus tolls | Groups, luggage, door to door |
| Train | About 2.5 hours (weekends) to 3h40 | Hua Lamphong station | 31 baht (daily) or 170 baht (weekends) | The cheapest seat, if the time suits |
Compare live times and prices: Bangkok to Pattaya on 12Go · Suvarnabhumi Airport to Pattaya
Which one should you pick?
Take the bus in almost every case. It is cheap, it runs all day, and the airport service means you can go to Pattaya straight off the plane.
Take a taxi or Grab if there are three or four of you, or you have a lot of luggage. Split between a group, the cost per person drops a lot, and it takes you to your hotel door.
Take the train only if you like trains. It leaves Bangkok once a day, early in the morning, and arrives some way from the beach.
The bus: which terminal?
Ekkamai (the Eastern Bus Terminal) is the one most people use. It is a two-minute walk from BTS Ekkamai on the Sukhumvit line, and Roong Reuang buses leave from early morning until about 22:00.
Mo Chit 2 (the Northern Bus Terminal) is better if you are staying in the north of Bangkok; buses run about every hour from 05:00 to 18:00.
Suvarnabhumi Airport has its own Roong Reuang counter on Level 1, near Gate 8. Buses go to North Pattaya and to Jomtien, and on the timetable we checked there were departures from 06:00 until 22:00. From Don Mueang Airport there are only a few direct buses a day, so check the times before you rely on one.
Tickets and luggage
If you book online, you still have to swap the confirmation for a printed ticket at the bus company's counter, so arrive early. Buses can sell out at busy times, especially on weekends and holidays.
One bag in the hold is normally included. Some travellers on 12Go wrote that they were charged around 20 baht per bag at check-in anyway, so keep a little cash.
Bring a sweater. Several reviews say the air-conditioning on the bus is very cold.
Where you arrive in Pattaya
Buses from Ekkamai and Mo Chit end at Roong Reuang's own terminal on North Pattaya Road, about 2 km from Beach Road. From there a songthaew (the shared pickup trucks Pattaya calls baht buses) or a Grab or Bolt takes you the rest of the way.
The airport bus to Jomtien also stops on Sukhumvit Road in North and Central Pattaya before it ends at Jomtien, which is handy if you are staying at the south end.
By train
Trains to Pattaya leave from the old Hua Lamphong station, not from Krung Thep Aphiwat. The ordinary train No. 283 runs daily at 06:55, arrives at about 10:34, and costs 31 baht in 3rd class; you buy the ticket at the station on the day.
On Saturdays and Sundays there is also a faster air-conditioned train, No. 997, at 06:45, arriving at 09:13, for 170 baht with a reserved seat. Pattaya station is about 2 km inland, so you will need a ride to the beach.
By taxi, Grab or Bolt
A car from central Bangkok to Pattaya usually costs about 1,200 to 1,500 baht on Grab or Bolt, and pre-booked transfers from Suvarnabhumi start at around 1,000 baht. The motorway tolls, about 150 to 200 baht, may or may not be included, so ask before you set off.
Traffic is the thing to plan around. Heading to Pattaya on a Friday afternoon or evening, or back to Bangkok on a Sunday afternoon, can be slow.
Booking Bangkok to Pattaya on 12Go
12Go sells Roong Reuang Coach seats from Ekkamai, Mo Chit and Suvarnabhumi Airport, the minivans, private cars and the weekend train, so you can lock in a time before you go.
Booking ahead is worth it on Friday and holiday departures, when buses fill up. The price on 12Go includes a booking fee, so it is a little more than at the counter.
Bangkok to Pattaya FAQ
How long is the bus from Bangkok to Pattaya?
About two to two and a half hours, depending on traffic.
How much is the bus from Bangkok to Pattaya?
About 135 to 158 baht at the Roong Reuang Coach counter, depending on where you leave from. Online it costs a little more.
Can I go from Suvarnabhumi Airport straight to Pattaya?
Yes. Roong Reuang Coach has a counter on Level 1 near Gate 8, with buses to North Pattaya and Jomtien through the day.
Is there a train from Bangkok to Pattaya?
Yes, from Hua Lamphong: an ordinary train every day at 06:55 (31 baht) and a faster air-conditioned train on Saturdays and Sundays at 06:45 (170 baht).
Can you fly from Bangkok to Pattaya?
No. Pattaya's airport, U-Tapao, has no scheduled flights from Bangkok. The "flights" that booking sites show are connections that take far longer than the bus.
Last checked: 6 November 2026. Bus timetables, fares and terminals from Roong Reuang Coach as published by Visit Thailand Today (October 2026), cross-checked with 12Go and Rome2Rio; train times from the State Railway of Thailand timetable via Visit Thailand Today, SiamTickets and the Bangkok Post; taxi prices from Visit Thailand Today. Timetables change, so check before you travel.