Getting To & Around Pattaya
How to Arrive and Get Around Town

🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026

Before you plan, it helps to get the big picture: Pattaya sits in Chonburi province, about 145–150 km from Bangkok, and there are several cheap ways to get there. Private cars and vans take Motorway 7 (the Bangkok–Chonburi–Pattaya motorway) straight into town in around 2 hours, and buses run multiple times a day. If you're further away and want to fly, you can land at U-Tapao airport, which sits on the Rayong side next to Pattaya, then drive about 30 km into town. Once you're in town, Pattaya's sights are spread out — from Pattaya Beach and Jomtien Beach to Pratumnak Hill, all the way out to Koh Larn offshore. Each spot is reached a different way, so we'll walk through them one by one.

Vans & buses from Bangkok — easiest and cheapest

If you don't have a car, vans and buses are what most people use, because they leave often, cost little, and run straight into Pattaya. There are two main departure points in Bangkok: Ekkamai Bus Terminal (Eastern Bus Terminal) and Mo Chit 2 Bus Terminal (Chatuchak). In Pattaya you'll arrive at the Pattaya Bus Terminal (Sukhumvit Road, North Pattaya), though some services continue down to South Pattaya / Bali Hai. The trip is around 145–150 km and takes roughly 2–2.5 hours depending on traffic and stops.

• Air-conditioned coaches — Cherdchai Tour (Eastern routes) and BKS buses run Ekkamai–Pattaya several times a day. Tickets start around ฿131–200 and drop you at the Pattaya Bus Terminal.
• Vans (minibuses) — run from both Ekkamai and Mo Chit 2, leaving continuously from early morning to evening (roughly 05:30–20:00). Fares are around ฿130–170. They're a bit faster than the coaches because they make fewer stops, but they're less comfortable if you have big luggage.
• Stops along the way — many services pass through Chonburi, Bang Saen, Nong Mon, Si Racha, Laem Chabang and Naklua before reaching Pattaya. If you want to get off en route, tell the driver in advance.
• Booking tickets — you can book online ahead of time through busonlineticket, minibusticket or 12go, or just buy at the counter at the terminal. On long weekends seats fill up fast, so book ahead.

Driving yourself / private car from Bangkok

If you have your own car or want to rent one in Bangkok, Pattaya is a very easy drive. Take Motorway 7 (Bangkok–Chonburi–Pattaya) straight into town — about 145 km, roughly 2 hours if traffic is clear. There are toll plazas along the way, so keep cash or an M-Pass/Easy Pass card ready. The upside is flexibility: you can stop off at Bang Saen, Nong Mon, or Nong Mon Market on the way.

• Toll / motorway fees — the whole route comes to a little over a hundred baht each way. Have cash or an automatic-pass card ready so you don't have to queue in the cash lane.
• Avoiding traffic — Friday evenings heading out of Bangkok and Sunday evenings coming back are jammed every single week. If you can, leaving early morning or late at night is far smoother.
• Parking in town — big hotels have parking, but around South Pattaya / Walking Street it's tight and hard to find a spot, and it's packed at night. Use a mall or hotel car park rather than parking on the street.
• Renting in Bangkok — you can rent at Suvarnabhumi/Don Muang airport and drive down yourself. A small sedan runs around ฿1,000–1,500 a day. Get full (Class 1) insurance and photograph the car all around before you take it.

Flying into U-Tapao airport, then into town

If you're coming from the North, Northeast or South and don't want to connect through Bangkok, you can fly straight into U-Tapao International Airport (Rayong–Pattaya · code UTP). The airport is in Ban Chang district, Rayong province, about 30 km from central Pattaya — roughly a 30–40 minute drive. The catch is that domestic flights into U-Tapao still aren't as frequent as at the big airports, and the schedule is limited, so check your route and flight times carefully before planning. Some people choose to fly into Suvarnabhumi and connect down by road instead, simply because there are more flights.

• Airport–Pattaya transfers — there are vans, buses and pre-booked transfers running U-Tapao–Pattaya for around ฿200–300 per person. A private chartered car to your hotel door runs around ฿800–1,200 per trip depending on the vehicle.
• Renting at the airport — U-Tapao has car-rental counters, so if you want to drive the whole trip you can rent the moment you land. A small sedan is around ฿1,000–1,400 a day.
• Grab/Bolt — ride-hailing apps do operate around the airport, but during quiet periods you may wait a while or find no cars, so have a backup plan.
• Allow time for your flight back — if you're flying out of U-Tapao, check the last transfer time and allow 1–1.5 hours travelling from Pattaya plus check-in.

Songthaews (Baht Buses) — the workhorse for getting around town

Once you're in Pattaya, the star of getting around town is the blue songthaew (Baht Bus), which loops along Pattaya Beach and Pattaya Second Road all day and all night. You don't need to call one — just stand by the road and wave to hop on. When you want to get off, press the buzzer and pay as you step down. It's the cheapest and most convenient way to get around if you're sticking to the Pattaya Beach strip.

• Fare on the main loop — songthaews loop along Pattaya Beach Road and Pattaya Second Road for ฿10 per person, paid when you get off. That's the standard local rate.
• Off-route or out to Jomtien — if you want one to go off its loop — into a deep soi, up Pratumnak Hill, or out to Jomtien — it becomes a chartered ride and you have to agree the price before getting on, every time. It runs anywhere from tens to hundreds of baht depending on distance.
• How to pay the right fare — board one running its normal loop and don't announce your destination as you get on, or you may be charged as a charter. If you're going along the normal beach strip, just get off and pay ฿10.
• Watch for overcharging — some drivers charge tourists more than the real rate. If you're unsure, ask the fare first, or use a ride-hailing app that shows the price clearly instead.

Grab / Bolt / taxis — when you want convenience and a clear price

Pattaya has ride-hailing apps like Grab and Bolt. The upside is you see the price before you book, with no haggling — handy for late nights, when you've got a lot of bags, or for spots the songthaews don't pass. There are some metered taxis in Pattaya, but many won't run the meter and want to agree a price first, so if you care about price certainty an app is more straightforward.

• Grab/Bolt — book through the app and see the price before confirming. At night or when it rains the price can rise with demand, so leave room in your budget.
• Metered taxis — they exist but aren't as common as in Bangkok, and many would rather agree a price than run the meter. If you use one, agree the price before getting in, every time.
• Chartering a songthaew — if you're a group or hitting several spots in one day, chartering a whole songthaew with a driver for a half or full day is better value. Agree the route and price clearly up front.
• Motorbike taxis — found at intersections and soi entrances, good for short hops when traffic is bad. Ask the price before getting on.

Ferry to Koh Larn — leaving from Bali Hai Pier

The highlight of Pattaya that many people come for is Koh Larn, the clear-water island offshore that's only about a 45-minute boat ride away. Every boat leaves from Bali Hai Pier at the far end of South Pattaya. There are both cheap scheduled passenger ferries and faster (but pricier) speedboats — pick based on your budget and time. Most importantly, always check the weather and sea conditions first: during the monsoon the sea gets rough, and some days the small boats stop running or push back their sailings.

• Scheduled passenger ferries (the big boats) — leave Bali Hai on set sailings, around ฿30 per person, taking roughly 45 minutes to Na Ban Pier (the main pier) or Tawaen Beach pier depending on the sailing. Cheapest, but you have to wait for a sailing.
• Sailing times — boats from Pattaya to Koh Larn start early, around 06:30–07:00, with mid-morning and afternoon sailings. The last boat back from Koh Larn is usually around late afternoon to early evening, so check the last sailing carefully so you don't get stranded on the island.
• Speedboats — much faster, around 15–20 minutes, good if you're in a hurry or want to pick your own beach. Charter or shared, prices start in the low thousands per trip/boat. Agree the price and destination beach clearly before you go.
• Tickets — buy passenger-ferry tickets at Bali Hai Pier; for speedboats, book online ahead or agree with the operator at the pier. Check the official price boards at the pier to avoid being overcharged.

Renting a car / motorbike — explore on your own all day

Many of Pattaya's sights — like Khao Chi Chan (the Buddha Mountain), Nong Nooch Garden, the Big Buddha temple, the Pratumnak Hill viewpoint and Jomtien Beach — are spread out and fairly far apart. If you want to hit several in one day without waiting for songthaews or opening an app every time, renting a car or motorbike to drive yourself is far more convenient. Pattaya has plenty of rental shops, from local roadside outfits to big chains you can book online.

• Motorbike rental — starts around ฿200–350 a day, and some shops will deliver to your hotel. It's nimble around town, but Pattaya traffic gets busy at night, so wear a helmet every time and ride carefully.
• Car rental — a small sedan runs around ฿1,000–1,500 a day; an SUV/larger car around ฿1,500–2,200 a day. Book through a big chain like Drivehub or a counter at U-Tapao airport, and full (Class 1) insurance gives you more peace of mind.
• Documents — you'll need a driving licence and ID card/passport; foreigners should carry an International Driving Permit. Photograph the car/motorbike all around before taking it to avoid disputes when you return it.
• Driving in town — the motorway and main roads are in good shape, but in central Pattaya in the evening and at night it gets jammed and there are lots of pedestrians crossing. Drive slowly and watch for people on foot. Parking around South Pattaya is hard to find, so allow time.

Nightlife with your wits about you — what to know

Pattaya has nightlife areas like Walking Street that buzz all night. You can enjoy them, but keep your wits about you. We'll be straight with you here, because this is about your own safety and your wallet.

• Keep valuables safe — crowded areas late at night are where things go missing easily. Hold your bag in front of you, and don't leave your phone or bag sitting on the table and look away.
• Check the bill before you order — some venues/bars have service charges or prices that aren't clearly stated. Ask the price before ordering and keep the receipt, so there are no surprises when you pay.
• Mind your own drink — don't accept drinks from strangers and don't leave your glass unattended. Drink in moderation so you can get back to your hotel safely.
• Get back safely — late at night, calling a Grab/Bolt with a clear price is better than negotiating with a roadside ride, and note your hotel name/location in case you need to tell the driver.

In short — which option suits you