Door to door
Airport transfer
Driver, fuel and expressway fees
- From$24
- Time2 to 5.5 hours
- VehicleSedan or van
Spot your stop
How to get to Pattaya, by road, rail and air
Quick summary
To get to Pattaya from Bangkok, take a bus from Ekkamai, the Eastern Line train or a private transfer, and note that no cruise links Phuket and Pattaya.
Road essentials
Open 24 stops
Pattaya and its islands on the map
Pick a route, then tap a marker or a stop for notes and a Google Maps link.
Bangkok's second airport, to the north of the city, with its own bus and transfer links to Pattaya.
Google MapsBangkok's eastern bus terminal, where buses toward Pattaya and the eastern coast start.
Google MapsBangkok's main international airport, from where buses and transfers run to Pattaya.
Google MapsA bus terminal in the north of Pattaya where long-distance buses from Bangkok arrive.
Google MapsThe Pattaya stop on the State Railway of Thailand Eastern Line, a little inland from the beach road.
Google MapsThe airport south of Pattaya, in Rayong province, that serves the coast as an alternative to Bangkok.
Google Maps
A bus terminal in the north of Pattaya where long-distance buses from Bangkok arrive.
Google MapsThe Pattaya stop on the State Railway of Thailand Eastern Line, a little inland from the beach road.
Google MapsThe pier at the Pattaya end of the short crossing to Koh Larn, and the usual start for tours to the near islands.
Google MapsThe long beach south of central Pattaya, handy as a reference point for the marina and the south of town.
Google MapsThe marina in Jomtien where the catamaran tours of this guide start their sailing.
Google Maps
The pier at the Pattaya end of the short crossing to Koh Larn, and the usual start for tours to the near islands.
Google MapsThe nearest popular island to Pattaya, with its own sibling guide for ferries, beaches and getting around.
Google MapsA small island next to Koh Larn that speedboat trips from Pattaya often stop at.
Google MapsA small island close to the coast that appears on some jet ski routes.
Google MapsThe first stop of the three-island catamaran day in this guide, with a beach and time for lunch.
Google MapsThe second stop of the three-island catamaran day, a swim and snorkel stop further south.
Google MapsThe marina in Jomtien where the catamaran tours of this guide start their sailing.
Google Maps
The pier at the Pattaya end of the short crossing to Koh Larn, and the usual start for tours to the near islands.
Google MapsThe pier at Sri Racha where boats to Koh Si Chang leave.
Google MapsA quiet island north of Pattaya, off Sri Racha, that works as a day trip from the Chonburi coast.
Google MapsThe mainland pier in Rayong province where boats to Koh Samet leave.
Google MapsThe nearest large Gulf island to the east, reached by boat from Ban Phe.
Google MapsThe mainland pier in Trat province where boats to Koh Chang leave.
Google Maps
Map © OpenStreetMap contributors
Every practical way into Pattaya from Bangkok and its airports, what transfers start from, why no boat links Phuket and Pattaya, and how to reach the island piers.
Editorial team, pattaya3islands.click · Updated November 12, 2026 · Takes 6 min
In brief
- By busEkkamai is the Bangkok terminal for buses to the east of the country.1
- By trainThe State Railway of Thailand Eastern Line timetable lists a Pattaya station.2
- By transferA private transfer from Bangkok airports starts from $24 for a ride of 2 to 5.5 hours.
- By airU-Tapao airport serves Pattaya from the south of the bay.3
- From PhuketPhuket lies on the Andaman side, so there is no Gulf cruise to Pattaya.4,5
Bangkok to Pattaya by bus from Ekkamai
For most travellers the question of how to get to Pattaya starts in Bangkok, and the cheapest answer is the bus. The Ministry of Tourism and Sports says Bangkok has 3 major bus terminals and that Ekkamai serves the east of the country, which is the direction Pattaya lies.1 Ekkamai sits beside the Sukhumvit line of the city, so it is easy to reach by Skytrain from most central hotels.
Buses from the capital arrive at a bus terminal in the north of Pattaya, from where a shared songthaew or a taxi takes you to the beach road. Check the departure time and fare at the Ekkamai counter or at the operator's own site on the day, because published fares change and we do not give a figure here. Bring a sturdy bag and check the luggage rules of the operator you choose before the day.
If you are on a tight budget this is the route to pick, and if your hotel is in Jomtien rather than central Pattaya, ask the driver to stop at the southern end of the beach road. A private taxi from the bus terminal to a hotel in the south of town adds time at busy hours, and the island tours in this guide include pickup from your hotel, which spares you the last leg to the marina altogether.
Side by side
Transfers into Pattaya by starting price
| Option | From | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bangkok airports transfer | $24 | 2 to 5.5 hours | Sedan or van |
| Bangkok and Pattaya private | $49 | 1 day | 3, 4 or 10 seats |
| Suvarnabhumi to Pattaya | $57 | 2 hours | Sedan, SUV or van |
| Koh Larn trip from Bangkok | $53 | 12 hours | Day trip, not a transfer |
Starting fares as listed; private-group fares cover your party, and the day trip is shown only as a comparison.
By train on the Eastern Line
The State Railway of Thailand runs the Eastern Line, and its timetable lists both a Pattaya station and a Pattaya Tai station.2 Pattaya station sits inland from the beach, a short ride by songthaew or taxi from the shore, so allow for that final stretch before you count the rail journey as door to door.
Check which Bangkok station your train leaves from. The Ministry of Tourism and Sports reports that long-distance trains moved away from Bangkok Hua Lamphong in January 2023 and now use Krung Thep Aphiwat station, while Hua Lamphong stays open for other train services.6 The railway's own timetable page is the place to confirm the departure point, the time and the class of seat before you travel.
The train suits people who like to watch the countryside and do not mind a slower trip, and it is a calm way to arrive if you are travelling light. It does not suit a late night arrival from the airport, where a private transfer or a bus is easier. Whichever you choose, keep a buffer of time on the day you take your island tour, as the boats and the hotel pickups run to a schedule.
Time on the road
Hours on the road, as listed
- Suvarnabhumi transfer2
- Koh Larn day, car leg2.5
- Airport transfers, max5.5
Hours as each listing states them: the transfer from Suvarnabhumi, the car leg of the Koh Larn day and the longest Bangkok airport transfer.
Private transfers and what they start at
A private transfer is the easy choice with luggage or children. The airport transfer listing for Bangkok starts from $24, covers journeys of 2 to 5.5 hours depending on the destination, and includes a driver, fuel, expressway fees and insurance, with a sedan or a van to choose from. Ferry tickets for other islands are not included, and baby seats are available on request.
A listing for Suvarnabhumi Airport and Pattaya starts from $57 for a ride of 2 hours, where the vehicle follows party size: a sedan for pairs, an SUV for 3 to 4 and a van for 5 to 7. On arrival the driver waits up to 2 hours after the indicated pickup time, while a departure transfer waits 15 minutes, which makes punctuality at the pickup point important on the way out.
A third private option between Bangkok and Pattaya starts from $49 and offers 3, 4 or 10 seater vehicles, which suits a family or a group travelling together. These are private-group listings, and the cost per guest falls as the party grows; always check the vehicle and luggage limits when you book.
Pick your route
Which way into Pattaya suits you
Describe how you like to travel and a route into Pattaya is suggested.
If I want the cheapest way in
The bus from Ekkamai
Ekkamai serves the buses to the east of the country.1
If I want to watch the countryside
The Eastern Line train
The timetable lists Pattaya and Pattaya Tai stations.2
If I arrive with luggage or children
A private airport transfer
From $24, with a driver, fuel and expressway fees.
If We are a group of 5 to 7
A van transfer
The Suvarnabhumi transfer lists a van for 5 to 7 passengers.
If I want to fly almost to the coast
U-Tapao airport
It lies south of the bay and takes international flights.3,7
By how you travel
Ways into Pattaya
Meet and greet
Suvarnabhumi to Pattaya
Waits 2 hours on arrival
- From$57
- Time2 hours
- Seats1 to 7 passengers
Groups
Private Bangkok transfer
Larger vehicles for groups
- From$49
- Seats3, 4 or 10
- Valid1 day
Flying in: Bangkok airports and U-Tapao
Suvarnabhumi is Bangkok's main airport, and the Ministry of Tourism and Sports lists it, Don Mueang, Phuket, Samui and Utapao-Rayong-Pattaya among Thailand's international airports.3 From either Bangkok airport, the road to Pattaya is the transfer or bus route described above, so pick the airport that suits your flights and your budget rather than the one that looks closest on a map.
U-Tapao lies south of Pattaya in Rayong province, close to the coast, and it is the airport to look at if your flights allow it. The Tourism Authority of Thailand reported new flight connections there in June 2024, SCAT Airlines from Almaty and AirAsia from Kuala Lumpur, and the airport takes international traffic, though routes change from season to season.7 Check the airline sites for the current schedule.
Flying in to U-Tapao can save the long drive from Bangkok, but it only helps if a flight suits you, and the transfer to your hotel is still a road ride. Travellers linking Pattaya, Bangkok and Phuket in a single holiday should fly last, not first. For an island day, plan to arrive the evening before, since a morning pickup after an overnight flight leaves you tired for a long day on the water.
The arrival
From the capital to the first boat
Bangkok
Pick your way in
Bus from Ekkamai, the Eastern Line train or a private transfer from $24.1,2
On the road
Allow the transfer time
The Suvarnabhumi transfer is listed at 2 hours.
Pattaya
Check in, rest
Arrive the evening before a morning boat.
Pickup
Hotel lobby
Wait early; the catamaran lists 2 pickup location options.
To the marina
Car to Jomtien
A ride of 60 minutes to Ocean Marina Jomtien.
Phuket, Krabi and why there is no cruise to Pattaya
Travellers who search for the Phuket to Pattaya cruise are usually imagining a coastal sail, and there is none. The Andaman Sea is what the Tourism Authority of Thailand calls the country's west coast, and the agency treats it as a different side from the Gulf, where Pattaya sits.4,5 Pattaya's own boats work in the Gulf of Thailand, among them the island day trips in this guide.
The GetYourGuide records at hand contain no boat between Phuket and Pattaya, which leaves road and air as the realistic way to link these places in a single trip. The tourism authority also describes Phuket and Samui as a flight of about an hour from Bangkok, the practical link between the coasts, with the road section on either end of the flight handled by a transfer.8
A sensible order is Pattaya first, because it is a short ride from the capital, then a flight from Bangkok to the island you want. For a comparison of Phuket with Pattaya for island hopping, see our guide to whether Pattaya is worth visiting; it, and the guide to trips beyond the bay lists the Gulf islands that you can reach without leaving the coast.
Video
Every way to go from Bangkok to Pattaya
Tim Travel Taste on YouTube · Until you tap play, no video is loaded.
Sai Tai Mai offers buses to the South and Ekkamai to the East of the country.
Before you travel
Checks for the road to Pattaya
Bangkok side3
On arrival3
- On arrival a Suvarnabhumi driver waits up to 2 hours
- Match the vehicle to the size of your party
- Keep cash for a songthaew or a taxi to the beach road
For the island day3
- Tell the operator your full hotel name
- Be in the lobby early, with your phone on
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
From your Pattaya hotel to the boat
The easiest last leg is no leg at all, as the island days include hotel pickup. On our catamaran day the pickup is arranged from 2 locations in Pattaya City, then a car ride of 60 minutes reaches Ocean Marina Jomtien, the boat's base. Another operator on the same coast notes that the free transfer applies only to central, north and south Pattaya, with a surcharge of THB 100 to THB 200 elsewhere.
If you go to the boats yourself, the pier for the near islands is Bali Hai pier in the south of the town centre, and the provincial office rates the hop to Koh Larn at 15 minutes by speedboat against 45 by ordinary boat.9 Our map above shows the piers, the marina, the station and the bus terminal so you can see how they relate.
Whatever route you took to arrive, give the first morning on the water some slack. Be downstairs a few minutes ahead of the stated pickup time, give the operator the full hotel name, and keep your phone switched on, since a listing says the team confirms the pickup time a day before by WhatsApp or email.
FAQ
Brief questions, brief answers.
What is the cheapest way from Bangkok to Pattaya?
By bus from Ekkamai.
Ekkamai is the Bangkok terminal for buses to the east, which includes Pattaya.1
Is there a train from Bangkok to Pattaya?
Yes, on the Eastern Line.
The State Railway of Thailand timetable lists Pattaya and Pattaya Tai stations on the Eastern Line.2
How much is a private transfer to Pattaya?
From $24.
The Bangkok airport transfer starts from $24, and a Suvarnabhumi to Pattaya car starts from $57.
How long is the transfer from Suvarnabhumi?
About 2 hours.
The Suvarnabhumi Airport and Pattaya transfer lists a duration of 2 hours.
Is there a cruise from Phuket to Pattaya?
Which airport is nearest to Pattaya?
U-Tapao.
The Ministry of Tourism and Sports lists Utapao-Rayong-Pattaya International Airport, south of the bay.3
Does the catamaran day include hotel pickup?
Yes, in Pattaya.
The catamaran day offers 2 pickup locations in Pattaya City and then a car ride of 60 minutes.
Sources
- Tourism Division, Ministry of Tourism and Sports (tfo.dot.go.th) · Transportations ↩
- State Railway of Thailand · Time Table - Eastern Line ↩
- Tourism Division, Ministry of Tourism and Sports (tfo.dot.go.th) · Transportations ↩
- Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom) · The Andaman Opens Its Doors Again ↩
- Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom) · The Andaman Opens Its Doors Again ↩
- Tourism Division, Ministry of Tourism and Sports (tfo.dot.go.th) · Transportations ↩
- Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom) · TAT welcomes new flights at U-Tapao-Rayong-Pattaya Airport ↩
- Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom) · Ko Si Chang: the island of yesteryear ↩
- Chonburi Provincial Tourism and Sports Office (Ministry of Tourism and Sports) · Koh Lan ↩