PATTAYA TRANSPORT HUBS
How To Get To Pattaya: Main Transport and Transit Hubs Information
Pattaya is Thailand's famous beach resort city that is 150 kilometers from Bangkok and takes about 2 hours to reach by road.
The highway between Bangkok and Pattaya is several lanes accross with a blistering fast 120km/hour speed limit that is often exceeded by drivers. My wife and I usually bribe the taxi driver with a bonus to take the slower left lane and at a safer speed. Always pay and the end of the journey. Thailand drives on the left side of the road.
To get to or from Bangkok, most people use the bus which has very regular services and is relatively fast and cheap.
Hiring a taxi for the journey is another option.
Ensure you set a fixed price with the driver before you get in as most will not use the taxi meter and will charge a premium price. They should charge between 1,500 and 2,000 baht. This is definately the quickest and most convenient stress free way to get to Pattaya.
The airport service is impractical because it is far from Pattaya city.
Train services are slow and the station is on the outskirts of Pattaya city.
U-Tapao-Rayong-Pattaya International Airport
Not a reccommended option as the airport is far away from Pattaya city and you will need to hire road transport to get to Pattaya city.
It is about 45 km south of Pattaya city via highway 3 by taxi or minibus.
It has domestic flights and limited international carriers. There are no direct flights from Bangkok. This airport is distant from Pattaya city and is a joint civil–military public airport serving the cities of Rayong and Pattaya.
Pattaya North Bus Terminal
Pattaya North Bus Terminal is located on North Pattaya Road and serves as the main hub for intercity travel. This busy terminal connects Pattaya with Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Hua Hin, and other destinations throughout Thailand. The station features multiple bus company counters, a nearby 7-Eleven and food market, food stalls, and basic seating areas. Buses to Bangkok's Eastern Bus Terminal in Ekkamai, and Mo Chit Northern Terminal depart regularly throughout the day.
Pattaya Railway Station
Pattaya Railway Station is small and located in the eastern district of the city, about 3 km from the city centre, on the other side of the main Sukhumvit Highway. It uses the eastern Line from Bangkok where services are limited to 3rd class trains with no airconditioning during week days, and 1st class trains on the weekend.
You will need to hire a taxi or tuk-tuk to reach Pattaya city.
Services run between Hua Lamphong in the center of Bangkok city and Pattaya station.
To get to and from Pattaya station and Suvarnabhumi Airport using the train, you will need to transfer at Lat Krabang where the train station and Airport link line (station) are next to each other. Suvarnabhumi Airport is only one stop away from Lat Krabang. The trip takes much longer and carrying luggage would be a challenge.
Jomtien Bus Terminal
Jomtien Bus Station is located next to the Thapraya and Thep Prasit Road intersection, inland from Jomtien beach. This secondary station primarily serves routes to Bangkok's Eastern Bus Terminal at Ekkamai and some regional destinations. It's particularly convenient for travelers staying in South Pattaya or Jomtien Beach areas, saving them the journey to the Pattaya North Bus Terminal. The station is smaller and less busy than its northern counterpart, but it does have ticket counters, seating and toilets. Departures are less frequent than from the North Terminal, so check schedules in advance. From here, you can catch minivans and buses to Bangkok and eastern provinces like Rayong and Chanthaburi.
