Interestingly, tourists keep asking for ferry services to cross the Gulf of Thailand, but this facility has never existed!

This Pattaya Transportation Guide gives a break down of getting to and around Pattaya . For more information regarding transportation to and around Thailand please consult our Thailand Transportation Guide. If you are really keen to travel by sea and you don't have a budget constraint, the neighbouring dive shops could offer you some interesting solutions. You may also want to take one of the many Pattaya tours and experience this city from a different perspective.

Pattaya Transportation Guide

Getting to Pattaya

By Plane

Though Pattaya does not have its own commercial airport, travelling by air to Thailand is pretty uncomplicated, especially if you are travelling via Suvarnabhumi.

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Flights to Pattaya

This swanky new airport is only about 110 km from Pattaya. It is a good 40 km closer than the once famous Don Muang airport. Travelling from here to Pattaya should take you only about 80-90 minutes. In the future, as a few connecting highways get constructed, it is expected to take even less time.

Don Muang

The Don Muang airport was once the only means of travelling to Pattaya. However, when the Suvarnabhumi airport was opened on 28 September, 2006, its popularity dipped considerably. It reopened again only on the 24 of March 2007. As of now, it handles most of the domestic flights of Thai Airways as well as flights by Nok Air, PB Air and One-Two-GO.

The easiest means of transiting is by hiring a taxi. However, if you are looking for cheaper alternatives, it is best to take a bus and travel via Bangkok's bus terminal in the north, the Moh Chit. If you are travelling from Pattaya to Don Muang, you can also commute by train through Hualamphong.

U-Tapao

The U-Tapao Airport is often erroneously called 'Pattaya Airport'. However, it is actually situated at Sattahip, 30 kilometres to the south of Pattaya, and off the Sukhumvit or Sattahip -Chanthaburi highway.

One of the closest airports, it is mainly a military facility. Commercial passenger flights are available only to a few select destinations.

Unfortunately, there are no passenger flights that connect U-Tapao with either Don Muang or Suvarnabhumi. The best way to travel from U-Tapao to Pattaya is to board the minibus, which plies from door to door. The usual time taken is about 30 minutes. A pre-booked service could cost you anywhere between 200 and 250 baht.

By Bus

The best way to travel to Pattaya is to take a bus from one of the airports.

The Moh Chit (Northern Terminal) and the Ekamai (Eastern Terminal) terminals have buses departing every 20-40 minutes, depending on the time. They provide even more frequent service during public holidays and weekends. Travel could take anywhere between 2 and 2.5 hours.

The buses plying from the Southern Terminal of Sai Tai Mai, however, could take much longer and are not very regular.

Second-class Bus - While the second-class service buses are air-conditioned, they do not have toilets on board and they steer clear of expressways.

These buses take a relatively longer time to reach their destinations than the first class buses. This is mainly because they make lengthy stops at various places, unlike the first class bus services, which travel directly without making any halts, except towards the final approaches of the destination.

The bus terminus for second-class services to and from Bangkok and other nearby destinations is supposed to be on the South Pattaya road. In practice, however, most passengers get picked up and dropped off en-route.

You can purchase your tickets either on board the bus or at the bus station. Where prices are concerned, there is not much of a difference between first and second-class buses. From June 2006, second-class services have increased their fare to 100 baht.

Minibus - You could also take a minibus to Hat Lek (the crossing lying at the southern-most border between Thailand and Cambodia). However, this is not always an option: the minibus goes via Laem Ngop only if the demand happens to be high on that particular day.

Running between Pattaya and Bangkok's hotels and the Khao San Road, minibuses afford passengers the comfort of being dropped off at the exact destination of their choice. The fare, at 400 baht, is quite nominal, though it is naturally higher than either the first or second-class bus services.

The departure time varies largely; the 09:00 / 12:00 and 17:30 services are the most publicised. Usually, the driving time is about 2 hours. In fact, if you are among the first to be picked up and among the last to be dropped off, it could even take longer.

Depending on the prevalent need, you can also take a minibus right up to the Hat Lek, a crossing at the southernmost border between Cambodia and Thailand.

By Taxi

You can travel to Bangkok by a taxi for the surprisingly nominal rate of 800 baht. This low fare is widely advertised within Pattaya and stems from the fact that these cabs are actually travelling back home to Bangkok from Pattaya.

You can easily arrange for them through hotels, guesthouses and travel agencies. For a steeper fare of about 1800 baht, you can charter a minibus and travel taxi-style!

If you are travelling from Bangkok to Pattaya, the fare could be anywhere between 1000 and 1500 baht, which is the usual meter-taxi rate. Licensed meter taxi rates can be negotiated to the lower range, while arranged car services would lean towards the higher range of 1500 baht.

You should be able to cover the distance in about 90-120 minutes, depending on which part of Bangkok you are travelling from. If you are travelling during the peak hours, you might take a longer time.

The standard rate to Pattaya from the Suvarnabhumi Airport is 1050 baht and to Jomtien, about 1100 baht. The highway toll would cost you another 60 baht. Under agreeable conditions, you should be able to cover the distance in around 90 minutes.

By Train

Very few tourists are even aware of Pattaya's railway station! It is situated near the Siam Country Club to the north of the Sukhumvit Road and the one-way fare costs just 31 baht.

Everyday, a train leaves the railway station in Bangkok (Hualamphong) by 7 a.m. and reaches Pattaya in about 5 hours. A highly recommended experiment if you've never had the chance to experience the thrills of a third-class Thai train!

Getting Around Pattaya

By Songthaew

Pattaya has only a very few private operators and almost no tuk-tuks. Most of the local passengers are handled by a fleet of 700 plus, dark blue songthaews. Also called 'Baht buses', these are nothing more than pickup trucks that have been remodelled into buses.

Though the actual fare is only 5 baht for all trips made within Pattaya, you'll realise that as a foreigner and tourist, you will be asked to pay at least 10 baht.

Keep a sharp look out for drivers of empty songthaews, especially those who pull up and wait at the roadside. They will approach you with the firm conviction that you want to be chartered. If you do not expect that, do set the record straight. If you do want to be chartered, expect to pay anywhere above 100 baht, depending on your bargaining skills.

By Local Bus

After much debate and a long delay, a public bus system supported by the government was initiated in August 2005. The future proposition is to begin plying them along six routes. These will be determined by selecting three clockwise routes and three anti-clockwise routes.

Plans are underway to launch three air-conditioned buses per route, having a seating capacity of 34. These buses will stop at predetermined stations at 20-minute intervals between 06:00 and 02:00.

The government also intends to introduce buses with special facilities for people in wheelchairs. There is also a proposal to introduce buses in Pattaya that permit open-top sightseeing.

By Motorbike Taxi

Motorbike taxis are an integral part of Thailand's transportation system. A rather unusual arrangement, drivers travel around the town on their motorbikes, offering paid ‘lifts' to tourists. You'll find plenty of moto-taxi stands dotting the town and finding one should not be difficult. You are also free to hail passing moto-taxis in Pattaya provided they are empty.

The drivers wear distinct coloured vests so you can hardly go wrong in identifying them. But more likely than not, chances are that they will catch your attention themselves - either by calling out loudly to you or clapping their hands!

This mode of Pattaya transport is relatively cheap compared to the songthaews and faster too. However, they are not as safe. Hold on so that you don't fly off!

By Taxi

Meter-taxis are a popular and common mode of transport in Pattaya. Most drivers are from Bangkok. Usually, they bring passengers down to Pattaya from Bangkok and then hang around, plying locally, until they find a passenger who is travelling back to Bangkok.

You can hire non-metered taxis and car services or charter a minibus on an on-call basis. Usually, these options are suited for long trips and can be organised through various travel agencies, hotels and guesthouses.

Car hire

While renting your own vehicle has the advantage of giving you increased mobility and freedom, it can be a bewildering experience as the traffic in Pattaya is highly erratic and chaotic. For one, you will have to get used to driving on the left side of the road and this could be intensely frustrating if you are new to it. You'll also realise that in Thailand, even the police flout road rules flagrantly! On one-way streets, you'll find people driving the wrong way and motorcyclists driving along the kerb on the 'oncoming side' of the street.

Motorcycle rentals are a great way to get around, as they are quite cheap. However, for those with no prior experience of Eastern traffic habits, it could be quite an unsafe option. You can rent motorbikes in Pattaya at various locations, including at many hotels and guesthouses. Fortunately, many rental companies do not demand a licence. However, they do not take care of your insurance either. Keep in mind too that accidents and motorcycle thefts are pretty common around here.

Cars are a safer option, especially if you want to explore the stretches lying beyond city limits. They can be easily rented too. However, given the congested roads and heavy traffic, they are not the most practical option. You'll find it extremely difficult to find a parking slot, especially during the evenings and on weekends. It is also crucial that you find a rental car with the right kind of insurance.

Until recently, tourists also had the option of renting bicycles. But now, due to lack of demand, this custom has waned and you will either have to bring your own bicycle or purchase one locally.