Best Ways to Get From Bangkok to Pattaya

Last Updated on September 25, 2025 by admin

“Best” is relative, but cost and convenience are most peoples’ chief considerations. If you’re coming from Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) and traveling to Pattaya, most opt for taxis. Two reliable and affordable taxi services you can book in advance are Nam’s Taxi and Kim’s Pattaya Taxi. Both should be cheaper than booking a rideshare (Bolt or Grab) with prices starting at 1,000 baht (around USD $31) for the smallest vehicles. It’s best to book your trip 1 to 3 days in advance. Nam’s tends to prefer communication via email, while Kim’s allows using Line and WhatsApp. The advantage of taking a taxi from BKK to Pattaya is 24 hour availability and being dropped off directly at your hotel after what might be a harrowing, exhausting journey.

Representatives from Nam’s Taxi or Kim Taxi will meet you at Arrivals with your name on a placard at Gate 3 on the 2nd floor.

If your flight is late, they’ll know and wait for you; because you provide your flight information to them when you book. Also note that it can take 30 to 60 minutes to get from your plane, through Immigration, and to the waiting area in Arrivals. The taxi companies will tell  you where to meet them.

While it’s possible to get a rideshare using either the Grab or Bolt app, the price will be higher (probably starting at 1500 baht) and they’ll likely charge you for the tolls. Tolls are included with Nam’s and Kim’s. Don’t even think of trying to hail a “normal” Bangkok taxi to Pattaya or you may be scammed.

For local rides around Pattaya and Thailand, use the Grab and Bolt rideshare apps; these are the Uber and Lyft of Thailand. To learn about all the apps you’ll want to have in Thailand, read 10 Essentials Apps Travel Apps for Pattaya. To learn about using cash in Thailand, read our guide to navigating Thai currency. To get started practicing Thai, check out our guide to essential Thai phrases for travelers in Pattaya.

The more budget conscious among us may prefer to take a bus. We recommend the Roong Reuang Coach Company. Contrary to what some believe, there’s no government or national bus service. But this one seems to be the most reliable and affordable of the bunch. The price is a mere 143 baht (USD $4.50). The downsides to taking a bus are the longer transit times (around 2.5 hours vs. 1.5), limited availability (buses leave hourly from 6 am to 10 pm), and having to book additional transport to your hotel. Drop off in Pattaya is at the Pattaya North Bus Terminal. The cost of a Bolt or Grab rideshare from the bus terminal to Central Pattaya is around 120 baht (USD $3.75) and approximately 10 minutes away; longer if going onward to places like Jomtien. Total cost? Roughly USD $8.

Bus (from Bangkok to Pattaya)

If you’re in the city of Bangkok itself and need to get to Pattaya, either book a taxi from Nam’s or Kim’s, or take the BTS (Bangkok Skytrain) to Ekkamai and look for the Roong Reuang ticket counter, which is the first you approach from the street and directly beneath the digital information board. The cost is slightly cheaper: 131 baht. Avoid the other ticket counters with agents shouting: “Pattaya, now!”

Here’s the Google Maps location of the Ekkamai Bus Terminal

Here’s the correct ticket counter to use at Ekkamai Station; note again that it’s immediately beneath the ride board and the one closest to the entrance of the terminal building, where the couple are standing in this photo:



The bus stop from Ekkamai to Pattaya is #15. Arrive early during popular times as tickets may sell out for a given bus. Boarding time is approximately 15 minutes before departure. There’s a bathroom all the way toward the rear of the bus stop area. No toilet on the bus.