How To Reach Pattaya

One of the most visited places in Thailand, Pattaya is only 150 kilometers from Bangkok (the capital city). It takes approximately 1.5 hours to drive from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Pattaya City. Therefore, it is very convenient for tourists to visit this location as compared to other more remote destinations like Phuket.

Pattaya has its charm that acts as a magnet for most tourists in South East Asia. Pattaya beach mainly consists of 3 regions which are North (Neua) Pattaya, South (Tai) Pattaya and Middle (Klang) Pattaya. The Jomtien Beach in South Pattaya is also popular. Interestingly the merging point of these two beaches is where the Pattaya Hill (Phra Tamnak Hill) stands. This is the perfect spot for anyone looking for a peaceful, calm and less crowded atmosphere. 

For those of you who are planning a vacation here, read on to find out how best to reach Pattaya.

30 km south of Pattaya, U-Tapao is the nearest air base. This is small airport which serves as the hub for Thai AirAsia. It's an international airport though it's only the third most important one in Bangkok. From the airport take a mini bus to the city. It will cost you around THB 200-250 if you sign up for the pre-booked per head service. It won't take you more than 30 minutes to get to your destination. If you have slightly more budget then take the cab for THB 750 including the toll charges. 

Since Pattaya is only 150 kilometers from Bangkok, the Suvarnabhumi Airport is the more preferred airport to reach Pattaya, with it's excellent connectivity to the rest of the world.

Catch the local train from Hua Lumphong Station in Bangkok at 7.00 am on any day of the week to reach Pattaya. It's one of the cheapest and safest way to get from Bangkok to Pattaya, costing less than THB 40 for a three-hour ride. If you want to head to Jomtien then get off at the Pattaya Tai station. Else, deboard at Pattaya train Station.

The bus is a common mode of commutation for people traveling from Bangkok to Pattaya. Catch a direct bus from Suvarnabhumi Airport or the Ekkamai Eastern Bus Terminal in Bangkok. The bus departs from the airport Transfer Centre at an interval of every 1.5 hours. It won't cost you more than THB 100. You can also hire a taxi from Pattaya to reach Bangkok for THB 800. These prices are low as most of these are Bangkok taxis returning home.

The best way to get around Pattaya is to rent a car, a jeep or a motorbike depending upon one's convenience. There are several car rental companies around to offer their services readily. However, the cheapest would be to get on the Beach Bus for a meager 30 THB. The bus will take you around the Floating Market, the Dolphin Roundabout, the Jomtien Beach Road and the Pattaya Beach Road so you can choose where to deboard. Songthaews are another way of cheap traveling. These are small pick-up trucks with two benches for seating. The Songthaews cover almost all routes and visit all the tourist places with fares ranging from THB 5 to THB 30 depending on the route traveled.