Traveling by bus in Thailand

Practical information about traveling by bus in Thailand

The bus is the number one means of transport for long-distance travel in Thailand. The network is very large and departures are frequent. Public buses are the cheapest, and many private companies offer VIP buses with a little more comfort and better service. Apart from local buses covering short distances, most buses are in very good condition and air-conditioned. The average speed depends on the bus and is around 60 to 70 km/h.

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By bus, you can go almost anywhere in Thailand: it is the most widely used public transport in the country. Fares are very affordable, especially on public buses, and higher on VIP buses, which generally offer more comfortable seats, a bottle of water and one or more meals included in the price. Sometimes films or TV shows are played on board, but only in Thai. In Thailand, you can flag down buses by the roadside like taxis and simply buy a ticket on board – no need to go to the bus terminal. Likewise, if you want to get off at any point during the journey, just tell the driver or the bus attendant and they will drop you off. If you are visiting the islands, you can buy a combined bus + ferry ticket. There is no luggage limit on buses and no extra fee for heavy bags. Each city has a bus terminal where you can buy your tickets. Travel agencies also sell bus tickets, but it is cheaper to buy them directly at the counters in the bus terminals, where you can also compare the prices of the different bus companies and find the timetable that suits you best. Bangkok has three major bus terminals, each serving a different region: Mo Chit, the largest, is the gateway to the North of Thailand and also has some departures to the South and the East; Sai Tai Mai serves the South, and Ekkamai the East of the country. Some terminals are outside the city center, so you need a taxi, tuk-tuk, songthaew or other means of transport to reach them.

Note that there are persistent reports of theft on buses leaving from Khao San Road and on buses during ferry crossings. Apart from these two cases, however, theft is extremely rare, if not nonexistent.

Speaking a little Thai can help you find your way around Thailand's bus system: asking locals about bus timetables and the best routes will be much easier. You can learn Thai for free with an online language learning app, so that you know at least a few basic Thai phrases to get around easily.

Minivans in Thailand

Most minivans in Thailand run on the same routes as buses. They are a little more expensive, but not by much. Depending on your destination, you sometimes have no choice, but if you are hesitating between a minivan and a bus, be aware that minivan drivers often drive much more aggressively, even dangerously, than bus drivers: speed is the minivans' main selling point. If you are tall, you may not have much legroom, and you sometimes have to pay for an extra seat if you are traveling alone with heavy luggage.

Direct bus to the temples of Angkor

Buses leave from Mo Chit in Bangkok for Siem Reap in Cambodia, home of the Angkor temples. The journey takes 8 to 9 hours, including the border crossing and visa formalities. We strongly recommend taking advantage of your trip to Thailand to discover Angkor (allow at least 3 days)!

Direct buses are a good, easy and affordable way to get to Cambodia. Once there, have a look at this page about Siem Reap for all the information you need to organize and enjoy your stay!

It is best to book your seats at least 5 days in advance. You can book bus tickets online on the 12Go website.

Flying is sometimes cheaper than the bus

Domestic flights are occasionally cheaper than, or only slightly more expensive than, a long bus journey – especially when low-cost airlines in Thailand run promotions. Nok Air is the champion of special deals, so why not have a look at its website? Don't forget that you may also have to pay for a transfer from the airport to the city, but you will save hours of travel.

Follow us on X (Twitter) and Facebook: we share all the flight deals we come across.

Major bus companies operating in Thailand

Main bus stations in Thailand

Address

Phone

Air con bus to Bangkok

76000 Phetchaburi

032 425 922
032 400 215

Alek Tour

Ranong Bus Terminal
85000 Ranong

077 832 900
088 560 3386 (mobile)

Ayutthaya Mainland bus terminal

13000 Ayutthaya

Ayutthaya Naresuan Road Bus Station

Naresuan Road
13000 Ayutthaya

Bang Saphan Bus Station

Kamnoet Nopphakhun
77140 Bang Saphan

032 691 267

Bang Saphan Tour Co. LTD

77140 Bang Saphan

032 699 043

Bangkok Mo Chit Bus Terminal

Kamphaeng Phet 2 Road
10900 Bangkok

02 936 2852
02 936 2842

Buriram Bus Terminal

Bu Lamduan Road
31000 Buriram

044 612 534
044 651 081

Bus Ticket office

77190 Ban Krut

032 695 074

Bus to Cha Am and Phetchaburi

77110 Hua Hin

Bus to Historical Park

64000 Sukhothai

Bus to Pranburi

77110 Hua Hin

Cha Am minivan to Bangkok

Soi Rod Tour (Soi Bus Station)
76120 Cha Am

083 240 7629 (mobile)

Cha-Am Bus Terminal

76120 Cha Am

032 471 615

Chanthaburi Bus Terminal

Saritdidet Road
22000 Chanthaburi

Chao Phrom Market Bus station

Naresuan Road
13000 Ayutthaya

Cherdchai Tour Chanthaburi

Saritdidet Road
22000 Chanthaburi

039 350 357

Chiang Mai Arcade Bus Terminal

Wat Ket
50000 Chiang Mai

053 242 664
053 246 503

Chiang Mai Chang Puak Bus Station

Chotana Road
50000 Chiang Mai

053 211 586

Chiang Rai Bus Terminal 1

Prasopsook Road
57000 Chiang Rai

053 715 952

Chiang Rai Bus Terminal 2

57000 Chiang Rai

053 773 3989

Chokeanan Tour Office

226/6
85000 Ranong

02 433 0723

Chumphon Bus Station

86000 Chumphon

077 502725

Ekkamai Bus Terminal

Sukhumvit Soi 63
10110 Bangkok

02 391 2504
02 392 9227

Hat Yai Bus Station

90110 Hat Yai

074 232 789
074 232 404

Hua Hin Bus Terminal

Kiab Tang Rodfai Road
77110 Hua Hin

032 511 230

Hua Hin Pran Tour Bus Station

Sra Song Road
77110 Hua Hin

032 511 654

Kamphaeng Phet Bus Terminal

Kamphaeng Phet Road, Nakhon Chum
62000 Kamphaeng Phet

055 799 103

Kanchanaburi Bus Station

Ban Nua Village
71000 Kanchanaburi

034 511 182

Khon Kaen Bus terminal 1

Prachasamosorn Road
40000 Khon Kaen

Khon Kaen Bus terminal 2

Klang Muang Road
40000 Khon Kaen

Khon Kaen Bus terminal 3

Klang Muang Road
40000 Khon Kaen

Koh Phangan Terminal

84280 Koh Phangan

077 238 507

Krabi Bus Terminal

Talat Kao
81000 Krabi

075 611 804

Lampang Bus Station

Thanon Jansurin
52000 Lampang

054 277 410

Loei Bus Terminal

42000 Loei

042 833 586

Lopburi Bus Station

Narai Maharat Road
15000 Lopburi

Nakhon Pathom local bus station

Phayapan Road
73000 Nakhon Pathom

Nakhon Ratchasima Bus Terminal 1

Burin Road
30000 Nakhon Ratchasima

044 242 899
044 26 8899

Nakhon Ratchasima Bus Terminal 2

Mitttraphap Road
30000 Nakhon Ratchasima

044 256 006
044 256 009

Nan Bus Terminal

55000 Nan

Nang Rong Bus Station

31110 Nang Rong

044 631 543

Niramit Tour Office

Khao Niwet
85000 Ranong

077 811 150

Pai Bus Terminal

58130 Pai

053 699 888
053 699 940

Pattaya Bus Station

20260 Pattaya

038 429 877

Phetchaburi Bus Terminal

43/13, Moo 5, Tambon Ban Mo
76000 Phetchaburi

032 425 307

Phetchaburi Tour

76000 Phetchaburi

02 894 6011

Phetprasert Tour Chanthaburi

Saritdidet Road
22000 Chanthaburi

039 325 566

Phitsanulok Bus Terminal 1

65000 Phitsanulok

055 302 716

Phitsanulok Bus Terminal 2

65000 Phitsanulok

Phrae Bus Terminal

Yantrakit Koson Road Soi Muban Phet Rat
54000 Phrae

Phuket Bus Terminal 1

83000 Phuket

076 211 977
076 211480

Phuket Bus Terminal 2

83000 Phuket

Prachuap Bus Station

Sala Cheep Road
77000 Prachuap Khiri Khan

032 611 411

Public Transportation Center - Suvarnabhumi Airport

Suvarnabhumi Airport, 999 Moo 7
10540 Bangkok

Ranong Bus Terminal

Petchkasem Road
85000 Ranong

077 811 548

Rayong Bus Station

67000 Rayong

038 611 379

Roi Et bus Station

45000 Roi Et

Sai Tai Mai Bus Terminal

Boromratchchonnani Road, Thonburi
10700 Bangkok

02 894 6122
02 435 1190

Samui Bus Station

84320 Koh Samui

077 421 195

Sangkhlaburi local bus sation

Si Suwan Khiri Road
71240 Sangkhlaburi

Sangkhlaburi minivan to Kanchanaburi

Thetsaban 1 Road
71240 Sangkhlaburi

Sangkhlaburi Transport Co LTD bus sation

Thetsaban 1 Road
71240 Sangkhlaburi

081 777 6546 (mobile)

Sombat Tour Ranong

Ranong Bus Terminal and Near Tinidee Hotel
85000 Ranong

090 665 6636 (mobile)

Sukhothai Bus Terminal

Ban Kluai
64000 Sukhothai

055 613 296

Surat Thani Bus Station

84000 Surat Thani

077 200 032

Surin Bus Terminal

Jitbumrung Road
32000 Surin

044 511 756

Suwannatee Tour

76000 Phetchaburi

02 894 6066

Trang Bus Terminal

Huay Yot Road
92000 Trang

075 210 455
075 218 718

Trat Bus Station

23000 Trat

039 534 014

Ubon Ratchathani Bus Terminal

Chayangkul Road
34000 Ubon Ratchathani

045 316 085

Udon Thani Bus Terminal 1

41000 Udon Thani

042 221 489

Udon Thani Bus Terminal 2

41000 Udon Thani

042 214914

Yellow Bus

Nang Rong Bus Station
31110 Nang Rong

044 631 443
087 608 8792 (mobile)