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Best Ways to Get From Bangkok to Pattaya 2025

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Last Updated on October 12, 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 and 1,200 baht for Nam’s.

Taxi (from BKK Airport)

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.

Nam's and Kim Taxi pickup point at BKK Airport (Gate 3, 2nd Floor)
Nam’s and Kim Taxi pickup point at BKK Airport (Gate 3, 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 a complete comparison of private taxi services, check out our article: Best Private Taxi Services from Bangkok Airport to Pattaya

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.

Grab Rideshare from BKK Airport to Pattaya

Using Grab from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Pattaya is possible but comes with several considerations that make it less attractive than pre-booked taxi services.

Cost: Expect to pay 1500 to 2000 baht for the journey plus tolls: significantly more than Nam’s or Kim’s fixed rates (up to twice the amount). The price varies based on demand, time of day, and vehicle type selected.

Tolls: Unlike Nam’s and Kim’s Taxi which include tolls in their quoted price, Grab and Bolt fares do NOT include highway tolls. You’ll need to pay these separately in cash to the driver at 2 to 3 toll booths along the route. Total toll costs are typically 75 to 125 baht depending on the exact route taken. Keep small bills (20s and 50s) ready for these payments.

Finding the Grab Pickup Point: After clearing customs and collecting your luggage on Level 2 (Arrivals), take the escalator or elevator down to Level 1 (Ground Floor). Head to Gate 4 and exit through the revolving doors. The official Grab pickup area is located outside, approximately 25 meters straight ahead from Gate 4. Look for the large green Grab-branded waiting area with covered seating. This outdoor pickup zone is where drivers pull up to collect passengers. Book your ride only after you’ve reached this location and have working mobile data (airport WiFi can be unreliable outside).

Advantages: The main benefit is flexibility. You can book on-demand without advance reservation and you have the security of GPS tracking and in-app payment options.

Learn our top troubleshooting tips for Grab and Bolt in Thailand, learn the best Grab and Bolt hacks, and discover which is cheaper in Thailand: Grab or Bolt. Be prepared and download the top 10 essential apps for Pattaya.

Bus (from BKK Airport to 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. Since buses do depart on the hour, if you miss your scheduled departure or the bus is full, you’ll need to wait up to an hour for the next one

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.

Ticket Counter Location: Find the Roong Reuang Coach ticket counter on Level 1 at Gate 8 of the airport terminal. You can purchase tickets directly at the counter without advance booking.

Bus Plus Door-to-Door Hotel Shuttle (Bell Travel Service) 

For travelers craving a seamless journey for less than half the cost of a private taxi, Bell Travel Service offers a door-to-door shuttle. Starting with a comfortable, air-conditioned VIP bus ride (about 2 hours), the service switches to vans in Pattaya for direct hotel drop-offs. Operating since 1995, it’s a favorite for solo travelers.

Buses depart BKK roughly every 2 hours from 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM (e.g., 08:30, 10:30, 12:30, 14:30, 16:30, 18:00).
Pricing ranges from 300 to 400 baht per person depending on booking method. Advanced tickets can be purchase via ticket.belltravelservice.com or 12Go.asia. Walk-up tickets at the airport counter (Level 1, Gate 8 at BKK) may hit 400 baht without promos. Book up to 3 months in advance online for guaranteed spots, with free cancellations up to 24 hours prior. Check schedules on Bell’s site during peak season (Nov-Feb) for any tweaks, and enjoy a seamless ride to your Pattaya adventure. Some sources report a last BKK departure time of 8 pm but this may be seasonal.

Train to Pattaya

Extremely cheap but only recommended for long-term travelers or those with a strong sense of adventure and love for trains. Requires getting from the airport to Hua Lamphong Train Station in Bangkok and takes the longest out of all the options. For the full details, read our article on how to take a train to Pattaya.

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

Ekkamai Bus Terminal in Bangkok
Ekkamai Bus Terminal in Bangkok

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.


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