Your Travel Guide to Thailand
All information & tips to prepare your trip in Thailand
To go to Pattaya, the most convenient is the bus. From Bangkok, there are very regular ones that leave from the Ekkamai Terminal or the Mo Chit Terminal but less frequently or from Suvarnabhumi International Airport and even since March 2025 from Don Muang Airport!
From Bangkok, the bus journey takes a little over 2 hours. You can book your tickets online HERE or buy them directly at the dedicated ticket offices in the bus terminals or at the airports in Bangkok, knowing that if you buy them at the last minute, you may have to let one or two buses leave before you get a seat.
Alternatively, Pattaya has an airport, in Utapao, with direct flights from Koh Samui, Phuket or Udon Thani and even Chiang Mai, which land there as well as a few international flights. Otherwise, there are two trains per day from Bangkok.
IMPORTANT: from 19th January 2023, 52 trains leave or arrive in Bangkok at brand new Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal Station, the other ones will still depart and arrive in Hua Lamphong Station (until next step to move all trains to the new Bangkok railway station). For more information about the new Railway Station download this guide.
WARNING: many buses can only be booked 30 days before depature tops. They won't be displayed in the results on our transportation booking partner's website if not bookable yet.
To leave Pattaya, there too, you will have the choice between the bus, they are very frequent for Bangkok whether for the Ekkamai terminal or the Mo Chit terminal or one of the two airports. Even if there are more often for Ekkamai, arriving at the Mo Chit terminal, allows you to continue on a bus to the North or a minivan at the Minibus Station just across the road.
And the Pattaya - Don Muang buses are also very practical to continue on a domestic flight or to a neighboring country. While a bus to Suvarnabhumi allows you to continue on a return flight home (providing sufficient margin). It is also convenient to reach Don Muang Airport by A1 bus. You can book your tickets onlineHERE. Alternatively, there are 2 trains per day to Bangkok and flights from Utapao Airport to Koh Samui, Phuket, Chiang Mai or Udon Thani.IMPORTANT: from 19th January 2023, 52 trains leave or arrive in Bangkok at brand new Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal Station, the other ones will still depart and arrive in Hua Lamphong Station (until next step to move all trains to the new Bangkok railway station). For more information about the new Railway Station download this guide.
WARNING: many buses can only be booked 30 days before depature tops. They won't be displayed in the results on our transportation booking partner's website if not bookable yet.
The train is the cheapest way to travel in Thailand especially in 3rd class. This is also where the contact with the population is the most interesting and incredible...
Taking the plance to travel in Thailand is often not that much more expensive than the bus especially with the numerous specials offers and it is so much faster !
The train does not go everywhere in Thailand. It does not serve some destinations tourists love. But by bus you can get almost anywhere in Thailand...
Thailand has many many islands with beautiful beaches and except for Koh Samui and Phuket, the boat is the only option to get on the islands.