I had a very long trip from Chiang Mai to Pattaya. I will share it with you in this article. I also share ways to reach Pattaya from Bangkok and how to get around Pattaya.
Pattaya is a popular tourist destination in Central Thailand, located very close to Bangkok, only 2-3 hours drive away. The city is known for its vibrant nightlife scene, beaches, and lots of shopping malls.
You can read more about Pattaya thing to do and itineraries in these articles:
- Where to Stay in Pattaya
- 16 Best Things to Do in Coral island
- 2-3 Days In Pattaya Itinerary
- 25 Best Things to See in Pattaya
- A Travel Guide to Jomtien Beach
Here are the main content:
How to get to Pattaya from Chiang Mai
The quickest way to travel from Chiang Mai to Pattaya is probably taking flights. You can fly from Chiang Mai airport to UTP Rayong Airport. You can also fly to Bangkok then take a bus or taxi to Pattaya.
I traveled from Chiang Mai to Pattaya by taking an overnight train to Bangkok then a minivan from Bangkok to Pattaya. It was around 13 hours on the train and 2.5-3 hours on the van between Bangkok Mo Chit MiniBus Station and Pattaya.
I wanted to try the 2nd class sleeper AC overnight train ride from Chiang Mai to Bangkok, but when I booked a ticket at the train station, only the 1st class and class 3 seating fans were available for the next train. I chose a class 3 with hard seats and fans only.
Taking the train with class 3 seating fans is good to experience if it is only a few hours ride and to see how locals travel; but it was not pleasant for a long train between ChiangMai and Bangkok. My back was in pain and every time I checked how long till reaching Bangkok. It is cheap though, only 310 baht.
The train terminates at Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Station. The train station has a food court, so you can have your breakfast here. I asked around if there was any train from here to Pattaya, but staff told me to get to Mo Chit MiniBus Station nearby to get a van to Pattaya.
It was like a 5 minute tuk tuk ride between Krung Thep Aphiwat Station and Mo Chit MiniBus Station. It was 100 baht. The bus station was huge with lots of buildings, so I asked around where to get a ticket to Pattaya.
Lots of ticket counters and companies selling tickets inside the building. I chose the random counter and bought a ticket to get to the next van. All people on the van are locals. They didn’t have a place in the back to store my suitcase, so I had to hold my suitcase most of the time.
The driver picked up and dropped off more people and goods along the way. I was not happy holding my suitcase and the driver was not friendly. He didn’t speak English. I didn’t know where he would stop in Pattaya, so I used google maps, and when I felt he was at the closest point at my hotel, I asked him to stop. From there, I got a Grab taxi to get to my hotel.
How to get to Pattaya from Bangkok
Bangkok to Pattaya by bus and van
There are three Bus Stations in Bangkok where you can buy bus and minivan tickets to get to Pattaya. They are Mo Chit Bus Station in the Northern part of Bangkok, Ekamai Bus Station in the eastern part of Bangkok, and Sai Tai Mai-Southern Bus Terminal.
Depending on your hotel location in Bangkok, you can find the way to the closest bus station near you to get to Pattaya. There are plenty of buses and vans running daily, so you can just arrive at the station and buy the ticket. It is around 2.5 to 3 hours bus ride between Mo Chit Bus Station and Pattaya.
The bus will terminate at Pattaya Bus Station, from where you can catch additional transport to your accommodation.
If you stay in Khao San Road, you can ask your hotels or travel agencies about minivan services. This can be an easier option than traveling to the main bus station to get to Pattaya.
Bangkok to Pattaya by train
If you stay near the train line between Bangkok and Pattaya, you can consider taking the train. The train departs from Hualamphong Station in Bangkok in the early morning, with ordinary trains running from Monday to Friday and rapid trains running on Saturday and Sunday.
The train is cheap but it is not the best option as it runs only one time per day around 7am. You can only buy ordinary train tickets at the train station while the rapid train can be booked online in advance.
Hualamphong Station is located close to Chinatown and Old Town of Bangkok, you can easily reach there by taxi, Grab, or metro. Pattaya Train Station is located 4km from the central beach area, you can catch a taxi, or Grab to get to your hotel from this station.
Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport to Pattaya by bus
You can find buses from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Pattaya. The journey is around 2 hours. You can buy tickets at the ticket counter at the airport or online on 12go.asia. Roong Reuang Coach and Bell Travel are two companies running this route between Bangkok and Pattaya.
If you are with a group, or travel with family, you can consider taking license services or private taxis. It is more expensive option but more comfortable ride and offer door to door transportation.
Best ways to get around Pattaya
Get around Pattaya on foot
You can easily explore Pattaya central area on foot. The distance of Pattaya Beach, from Terminal 21 in North Pattaya to Bali Hai Pier in the south, is only around 1 hour walk. You can visit shopping malls, walking streets, viewpoints, and the pier on foot if you stay in the central area.
If you are tired of walking or want to take a break from the heat, you can use a Grab bike or tuk tuk to get around.
I even walk all the way along the coast from the north end of Pattaya Beach near Dusit Thani hotel to the beach near Sanctuary of Truth. It is a nice path, passing Wong Amat Beach, and many nice fresh seafood markets with reasonable prices at Sashimi Secret Beach Naklua 18.
Explore Pattaya on Grab, Bolt, and InDrive App
I used GrabBike many times in Pattaya and Grab taxi when I had my suitcase with me. Grab bikes are cheaper than Grab taxis, and convenient if you travel solo without big luggage.
I have not tried Bold and InDrive in Pattaya but I believe it is available in the city as it is a very popular tourist destination. You can try both these apps for the best rate. I prefer InDrive because it gives the cheapest price compared to Bolt and Grab. I also prefer to pay the driver in cash as InDriver does.
Get around Pattaya on motorbike
Riding a motorbike is one of the best ways to explore Thailand and Pattaya. If you are comfortable with your driving skill and familiar with driving conditions in Thailand, you can consider renting a motorbike. Be sure to choose reputable rental shops and have your valid license.
This is a much cheaper option compared to taking guided tours, taking tuk tuk, and riding shared services. It also gives you freedom to see many places at your own pace.
Pattaya on guided tour
Taking an organized tour is also a great way to explore Pattaya. You can take a one day tour to see major attractions in the city or the tour to Koh Larn island. The tour usually takes you to major attractions such as The Sanctuary Of Truth, Floating Market, Big Buddha Temple, or Pattaya City Sign Viewpoint.
Baht Bus
Baht Bus is a local style public bus in Thailand. This is a pick up truck with a covered roof and two benches on the back for passengers. If you want to save money on getting around Pattaya, you can consider taking the Baht Bus sometimes.
There are the circular routes along Pattaya Beach on the Beach Road and the Second Road, as well as bus routes to Jomtien and Wong Amat beach/ Nakluea. You can use Baht Bus to travel between Jomtien and Pattaya Beach, or Wong Amat and Pattaya Beach.
To catch the Baht Bus, you just need to wait on the side of the road, wait for the driver to approach, wave him down, then get in the bus. The price is running from 10 baht to 50 baht. You pay directly to the driver, press the buzzer when you want to get off.
Taking ferry from Bali Hai Pier to Koh Larn island
While you can easily take a guided tour to Koh Larn, you can do it yourself by buying the ticket at Bali Hai Pier and spending a day on the island. The ferry ticket is cheap, only 30 baht one way. You can buy a speed boat ticket which is more expensive 150 baht one way.
It is only a 30-40 minute boat ride so I prefer taking the ferry ride. To buy a ferry ticket, you just need to walk to the end of the pier, and buy a ticket right before onboard.
Lots of people are selling speed boat tickets at the start of the pier so don’t be confused. Just ask locals around where to buy a ferry ticket, they will show you where to go.
These are my recommendations on how to get to Pattaya from Chiang Mai and Bangkok. Taking the bus is the most popular way to travel between Bangkok and Pattaya, but you also have other options such as trains, minivans, or private taxis. Getting around Pattaya is also very easy by walking, using riding share services, tuk tuk, or guided yours.