Bangkok Airport to Pattaya: Bus, Taxi and Transfer Compared

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Bangkok Airport to Pattaya: The Quick Answer

Buses win on price, and taxis win on speed. Roong Reuang's airport bus costs about ฿130 and takes roughly 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours. A taxi from Suvarnabhumi to a Pattaya hotel takes around 90 minutes and typically costs ฿1,000 to ฿1,200 before tolls. Fares and schedules shift, so treat every figure here as approximate and confirm at the counter. For every route into town, see our Pattaya getting-there guide.

Which Airport Are You Flying Into?

Suvarnabhumi (BKK) is the main gateway, and direct airport buses to Pattaya leave from here. Don Mueang (DMK) has no equivalent direct service in the evidence we have, so it gets its own section below. Pattaya also has its own nearby airport, covered in our U-Tapao airport guide. Check current counter locations and services on the Suvarnabhumi airport site before you fly.

By Bus from Suvarnabhumi

Two operators run airport buses to Pattaya. Roong Reuang Coach runs the #389 service for about ฿130. Bell Travel Service charges about ฿280 to ฿300 and adds a hotel drop-off by van. Ticket counters sit on the ground floor (Level 1) near Entrance 7 or 8. Reports differ on the exact number, so ask at the airport information desk after you clear baggage claim. Luggage is limited to one bag plus one backpack or suitcase, up to 20 kg (about 44 lb) per passenger. Extra weight or bags cost a surcharge.

• Roong Reuang: about every 30 minutes, roughly 07:00 to 22:00 in one report. Another report lists a 05:30 start, so check current times.
• Roong Reuang drop-offs: fixed points in north, central and south Pattaya, not hotels. Named stops include the Thappraya Road office, the stop opposite Big C South Pattaya, and Sukhumvit Road near Bangkok Pattaya Hospital.
• Bell Travel: six departures a day, every 2 hours from 08:00 to 18:00. Hotel drop-off covers North Pattaya, Naklua, Central, South, Pratumnak and Jomtien.
• Bus journey time: about 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours, depending on traffic.

By Taxi or Private Transfer

Skip the "official taxi" signs in baggage claim, which can point to the pricier airport limousine service. Public taxis leave from the ground floor (Level 1). Follow the overhead taxi signs, press a button on a ticket machine and walk to the bay printed on your slip. Groups of 3 or 4, or travelers with lots of luggage, can use the machines for larger SUV-type taxis. One published fare for the run is ฿1,050, and drivers commonly ask ฿1,000 to ฿1,200. Agree the price before leaving. Expressway and motorway tolls are extra. Telling the driver to avoid tolls saves roughly ฿200 but adds a slow crawl through city traffic. Split four ways, ฿1,000 to ฿1,200 works out to ฿250 to ฿300 each. That is close to the Bell Travel fare and far quicker. Online private transfers are another route, and they are the safest fallback after the last bus.

Getting from the Drop-Off to Your Hotel

Your hotel zone decides which option fits. Roong Reuang riders still need a ride after the stop. Shared baht bus trucks cost about ฿50 for a hop along Beach Road or Second Road. Motorbike taxis run ฿50 to ฿100 but suit only small bags. Our baht bus guide explains routes and how to flag one down. Grab or a roadside metered taxi also works if your hotel is far from the stop.

Arrival-Day Timing and Late Flights

Book a bus about 2 hours after your scheduled landing. That buffer absorbs immigration queues and slow bags. If you land earlier, an inexpensive food court beside the bus counter makes the wait easy. Last departures are limited. Roong Reuang reportedly runs until about 22:00, and Bell Travel's last airport departure is 18:00. Landing after about 20:00 is the point to switch to a taxi or pre-booked private transfer. No night bus is known to run, so a midnight arrival needs a private car. Confirm the current timetable with the operator at the counter.

From Don Mueang

Direct airport buses to Pattaya from Don Mueang (DMK) are not documented, so most travelers connect through Mo Chit bus station. Buses from Mo Chit cost about ฿128 and take roughly 3 hours. One report lists departures every 30 minutes from 05:00 to 20:00. Add time for the transfer between the airport and Mo Chit. A taxi straight from the airport is the simpler option for groups. Check current ground transport on the Don Mueang airport site.

Alternatives: Train and City Buses

Trains are cheap and slow. On weekdays there is one early third-class service taking about 3.5 hours for ฿31. At weekends an air-conditioned service takes about 2.5 hours for ฿170. No train runs from the airport itself. Timetables are on the State Railway of Thailand site. City buses from Ekamai cost about ฿119 and take around 2 hours. They suit travelers already in town, and our Bangkok to Pattaya bus guide covers them in detail.

Mistakes to Avoid

Most problems come from timing and assumptions about drop-offs.

• Booking a bus for the minute you land. Leave about 2 hours.
• Assuming the bus stops at your hotel. Roong Reuang uses fixed stops.
• Following baggage-claim "official taxi" signs to the limousine desk.
• Skipping a price agreement before the taxi leaves the bay.
• Arriving after 20:00 with no private transfer booked.
• Packing beyond the 20 kg bus allowance without budgeting a surcharge.