Bangkok to Pattaya
The Gulf's closest coast — 150 km south-east, and Bangkok's default beach weekend.
9 min readUpdated 2026-07
150 km
2 hours by minivan
Thailand
Bangkok to Pattaya — the complete guide
Pattaya sits about 150 kilometres south-east of Bangkok on the Chonburi coast, and by every measure it is the capital's default beach weekend. You can be swimming inside two hours from central Bangkok, which is close enough that half the city treats it as a Saturday day-trip and the other half as their standing overnight escape. That accessibility has shaped Pattaya in ways good and bad: it has the country's most developed beach infrastructure outside Phuket — sky bars, mega-shopping, three theme parks, a decent hospital, English-speaking hotels at every price tier — but it also carries a reputation, earned in the 1970s and 80s, for the specific nightlife on Walking Street. That reputation is still accurate for one square kilometre of the old city; step outside it and you find quiet family beaches at Jomtien, a genuinely impressive temple attraction at Sanctuary of Truth, and one of the best tropical gardens in South-East Asia at Nong Nooch. This guide covers the five ways to get there, then a two-day itinerary designed for someone who wants a proper Pattaya weekend without spending it all on Beach Road.
The workhorse mode is the minivan. Public minivans depart Ekkamai (BTS Ekkamai) and Mo Chit 2 for Pattaya's North, Central and South bus terminals roughly every twenty to thirty minutes from 05:00 to 21:00, cost 130 to 170 THB one-way, and take two hours in normal traffic. On a Friday evening or Sunday afternoon that stretches to three or four hours as the Motorway 7 backs up. Bell Travel Service runs a marketed 'coach-style' service with hotel drop-off in Pattaya proper — 2.5 to 3 hours end-to-end for 300 to 400 THB, and worth it for first-timers or families with luggage. Suvarnabhumi Airport has a direct AirportBus and shared vans to Pattaya at 130 to 250 THB, arriving in about an hour and a half. Taxis are the most expensive at 1,500 to 2,000 THB but door-to-door and worthwhile for groups of three or four. Trains do run to Pattaya station via Chachoengsao, but the service is slow, infrequent and generally not competitive; treat it as a novelty rather than a transport option.
Because Pattaya is so close, mode choice is really a question of timing and party size. Solo travellers and couples save money and time on Ekkamai minivans; families with two kids and a stroller should book a Bell Travel coach or a taxi and skip the friction. Landing at BKK Suvarnabhumi and heading straight to Pattaya is genuinely one of Thailand's most efficient jet-lag recovery plays — swap check-in for a pool by lunch. Once on the ground, Beach Road runs the length of the old city from North Pattaya down to Bali Hai pier, then continues over the hill to Jomtien for six more kilometres of family-friendlier beach. You'll want a Bolt or Grab, or the local baht-bus songthaew (10 THB for hops along the fixed route). Weather-wise, November to February is dry and cool; March to May is hot and humid; June to October is the wet Gulf shoulder-season, still swimmable but with afternoon storms. Weekend crowds spike hard — arriving Friday afternoon means traffic pain, arriving Thursday night avoids it.
Transport options
Public minivan (Ekkamai / Mo Chit → Pattaya)
Typically 130–170 THB one-way
2 hours (3–4 in Friday/Sunday traffic)
Departs every 20–30 minutes 05:00–21:00 from Ekkamai (BTS Ekkamai) and Mo Chit 2. Cheapest and most frequent option. Buy tickets at the counter, no advance booking needed for weekdays.
Best for: Solo travellers, couples, budget
Bell Travel coach with hotel drop-off
Typically 300–400 THB one-way
2.5–3 hours end-to-end
Marketed comfort service that picks up at Khao San / Sukhumvit hotels and drops at your Pattaya hotel. Great for first-timers, seniors, and families with luggage.
Best for: First-timers, families with kids
Taxi (metered or fixed-fare)
Typically 1,500–2,000 THB
~2 hours
Confirm the price and route before departure (via Motorway 7). Split three ways it beats a minivan on comfort. Bolt/Grab quotes are often lower than curbside offers.
Best for: Groups of 3–4, arriving late
Suvarnabhumi Airport → Pattaya direct
Typically 130–250 THB (bus) or 1,300–1,800 THB (taxi)
~1h 30m
AirportBus and shared vans depart Level 1 of BKK terminal. Fastest way to be in a pool after a long-haul flight — skip the Bangkok overnight.
Best for: Jet-lag recovery, direct-to-beach travellers
SRT train via Chachoengsao (novelty)
Typically 50–150 THB
3.5–4 hours
One weekday commuter service. Slow, infrequent, and Pattaya station is inconveniently placed. Only interesting for train hobbyists.
Best for: Train enthusiasts, ultra-budget
Suggested 2-day weekend
Day 1 · Morning
Depart Bangkok on an early minivan or coach. Aim to arrive by 10:00 to enjoy a full first day.
Day 1 · Late morning
Drop bags at your hotel (most check-ins from 14:00, but they'll hold luggage). Grab a foot massage and coffee on Beach Road.
Day 1 · Afternoon
Beach time at Jomtien (calmer than Pattaya Beach itself). Rent a jetski cautiously — only pay via credit card that supports chargebacks; scams are documented.
Day 1 · Evening
Sunset at Pattaya Viewpoint (Pattaya Hill). Dinner at a Sukhumvit-style Isaan or seafood spot. Optional Walking Street stroll after 21:00 to see it in full.
Day 2 · Morning
Sanctuary of Truth (500 THB) — an entirely wooden hand-carved temple by the sea. Allow 90 minutes plus a guided walk.
Day 2 · Midday
Nong Nooch Tropical Garden (500 THB) — orchid pavilions, elephant show, French garden. Half-day minimum; skip if you also want the waterpark.
Day 2 · Alternate
Alternate: Cartoon Network Amazone waterpark (1,290 THB adult) — one of Asia's better waterparks and easily a full day.
Day 2 · Late afternoon
Return trip. Aim to board a Bangkok-bound van by 17:00 to beat Sunday-evening traffic on Motorway 7.
Best time to go
November to February is the cool, dry sweet spot — comfortable evenings and calm sea. March to May is hot and humid but perfectly swimmable. June to October is the Gulf shoulder-season with afternoon storms; hotels drop 20–40% and the beach is still usable most mornings.
Where to stay
Central Pattaya (Beach Road) for walking access to Walking Street, restaurants, and shopping — noisy and dense. North Pattaya for a calmer central base near Terminal 21. Jomtien for family-friendly beach hotels and quieter nights. Wong Amat and Naklua north of the city for genuinely upscale beach resorts. Hostels 400–700 THB/night, mid-range city hotels 1,200–2,500 THB, top-end beach resorts 6,000 THB+.
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Sources & official references
- Bell Travel Service — Main door-to-door coach operator between Bangkok hotels and Pattaya.
- Tourism Authority of Thailand — Pattaya — Official destination info, event calendar, and safety advisories.
- Transport Co (BKS) — State-owned bus operator running Ekkamai and Mo Chit 2 to Pattaya routes.
- Airports of Thailand — Suvarnabhumi (BKK) — Official airport info for planning direct Suvarnabhumi-to-Pattaya transfers.
Bangkok Knowledge Editorial
Verified teamA team of long-term Bangkok residents and travel writers — expats, journalists, and local Thai contributors — who fact-check every guide against on-the-ground experience and official sources.
Last updated: 2026-07