While Don Mueang International Airport is now secondary to Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport, this has not always been the case. Don Mueang was once one of the largest international airports in the world and was known as Bangkok International Airport until Suvarnabhumi Airport was built to replace it as the main gateway to Thailand. Despite this, Don Mueang has reopened after refurbishment and is now the world’s largest low-cost airport. Although you can’t fly there from Europe or North America, there are direct flights from other Asian countries and from other places in Thailand. Therefore, if you landed in Don Mueang and want to party or spend a few days at the beach, we recommend going to Pattaya. It is the closest beach resort to Bangkok and is the perfect place to relax. Read on to find out how to get from Don Mueang Airport to Pattaya.
Find out more:
• From Don Mueang airport to Pattaya by taxi
• By bus from Don Mueang Airport to Pattaya
• From Bangkok to Pattaya (Guide)
Depending on the time of day, travel times from Don Mueang to Pattaya can vary greatly.
Travel options from Don Mueang Airport to Pattaya
Pattaya is south of Don Mueang Airport, but to follow the road you have to go around the Gulf of Thailand a bit. This adds some distance to the trip up to 150 kilometers. With traffic jams, the journey can take about 2.5 hours. We do not recommend renting a car and driving yourself as the roads in Thailand can be a bit confusing if you are not used to the country’s traffic. The downside is that there are no buses that run directly from Don Mueang Airport to Pattaya, but there are several bus and van companies that run from Bangkok to Pattaya. For convenience, you can take a taxi directly to Pattaya without having to go to Bangkok.
From Don Mueang airport to Pattaya by taxi
Taxis waiting outside Don Mueang Airport © MMXeon / Shutterstock.com
If you have arrived at Don Mueang Airport and want to go directly to Pattaya, the best option is to take a taxi. Getting to central Bangkok first takes more time, more money, and the added hassle of commuting to the city. Therefore, taxis are a more practical option, although they are also the most expensive and the cost can be prohibitive for some travelers.
Once you leave the Don Mueang Terminal, there will be plenty of public taxis waiting to run errands. While you can take one of these taxis, we advise you to book a private taxi in advance. This way, you’ll be guaranteed a taxi waiting for you and avoid queuing and having to negotiate the price of your trip to Pattaya.
If you pre-book a private taxi, you pay a fixed price and can choose your pick-up time, regardless of the time of day your flight arrives. The price varies depending on the type of vehicle booked. Also, if you book in advance, you can choose the vehicle size that best suits your plans and you won’t have to take the standard car that is usually available at the airport.
The cheapest rate is an Economy taxi, which is designed for two passengers. If you are visiting Thailand with family or friends, you can book a 4 seater SUV or a 9 seater van. You can easily book any of these vehicles through the website 12Go.asiawhere you can see the search results of different taxi companies and book online.
By bus from Don Mueang Airport to Pattaya
Public bus for THB 30 goes to Mo Chit (subway/train station closest to Don Mueang, Bangkok) © Iryna Rasko / Shutterstock.com
As mentioned earlier, taking the bus from Don Mueang Airport to Pattaya is not as direct as taking a taxi. That’s because there are no direct buses from Don Mueang to Pattaya, so you’ll need to go elsewhere first to catch a bus south.
There are many combined transport options to go to Pattaya. The disadvantage is the additional time involved in making such a journey and the inconvenience of having to use at least two different means of transport. Things will change if a new rail link to Don Mueang Airport is finally built, but for now the project is on hold. At the moment, the choice is to travel to Bangkok or take a shuttle bus to another airport in Bangkok, Suvarnabhumi, and from there a direct bus to Pattaya.
The airport bus runs directly between the two airports in Bangkok, but the journey takes between 1 and 1.5 hours. From there, the bus journey to Pattaya takes about 2 hours. Another option is to travel to Bangkok. You can take a bus to the nearest BTS station, which is Mo Chit, and move around the city to catch one of the many buses that go to Pattaya. An easier option is to go to Mo Chit and there a direct bus to Pattaya. You can book these buses through 12Go for your Roong Reuang coach journey. There are two daily departures, one at 1:00 PM and the other at 6:30 PM, and the journey takes approximately 3 hours.
Vans at New Van Terminal in Mochit, a few kilometers from Mo Chit BTS station © hayachanta / Shutterstock, Inc.
You can also take a van from the Mo Chit New Van Terminal which is located in the same location as the bus terminal. If you choose to travel this way, you’ll be able to choose from more departure times, but keep in mind that vans are slightly more expensive than buses.
If you don’t mind going to Bangkok first, there are a lot more vans and buses going from there to Pattaya. You can travel with 12Go Transport Transport by van from Makkasan station or by bus or van in Khao San Road area.
Although there are many different ways to get to Pattaya from Don Mueang Airport, currently the only direct option is by taxi. Book a private taxi online for more peace of mind and you’ll be in Pattaya in just a few hours.