Although Thailand is a country known for its islands, the mainland also has coastal towns with hotels, restaurants and bars perfect for a holiday. Pattaya is one of them. It is located on the eastern coast of the Gulf of Thailand, and since it began to develop in the 1980s, it has not stopped growing. Pattaya is a fantastic place if you are looking for a lively atmosphere and lots to do. But if you’ve already enjoyed its vibrant nightlife and want to go somewhere quieter, you can head across the bay to the coastal city of Hua Hin. Here you will find a more authentic Thai experience, as this city, where the royal family rests, is more popular with domestic tourists. Although it is also a bustling city, it is very different from Pattaya. If you want to know how to travel from Pattaya to Hua Hin, read all the details.
Travel options from Pattaya to Hua Hin
Royal Passenger Liner ferry service from Pattaya Pier to Hua Hin © littleman / Shutterstock.com
If at any point before January 2017 you tried to travel from Pattaya to Hua Hin, the road was probably the only option you found, and it’s quite a long journey. But since the new ferry service was launched, the travel time has been significantly reduced, plus it is a very pleasant way to get from Pattaya to Hua Hin. But there are other options if you don’t like traveling by boat. There are also routes by bus, van or taxi, and you can even travel by train.
From Pattaya to Hua Hin by ferry
Royal passenger liner at Bali Hai Pier, Pattaya © Jakraphan Churuphant / Shutterstock.com
Let’s start with the latest and fastest way to get from Pattaya to Hua Hin: the ferry. There is only one company operating this route, Royal Passenger Liner. They have modern, fast ferries that have air conditioning, hostesses, bathrooms and TVs on board, but they don’t have catering services, so you need to bring food and drinks with you for the crossing.
The duration of the trip is about two hours, although it depends on the sea conditions. If the water is choppy, the ferry will have to slow down and the crossing can take up to three hours. Still, the journey is much faster than by road.
The ferry from Pattaya to Hua Hin departs daily at 10:00 and arrives at 12:00, just in time for lunch. Ferries leave from Bali Hai Pier in Pattaya. This pier is quite central near Walking Street so it’s perfect as you don’t have to drive far out of town to board.
The downside to the ferry is that it is not cheap, and as there is currently only one company operating on this route, there is no competition to make prices more reasonable. Therefore, if you are traveling on a budget, a ferry ticket can be expensive for you. If so, read on to find the cheapest way to travel from Pattaya to Hue Hin.
Bus from Pattaya to Hua Hin
The cheapest option to get from Pattaya to Hua Hin is undoubtedly the bus. Costs less than half of a ferry ticket. The downside, of course, is that it takes more than twice as long to get to your destination. The good thing is that the buses that serve this route are VIP type which means they are comfortable and well equipped for long journeys. They have only three seats in a row, so passengers have more space. There are also bathrooms, snack service, hostesses, air conditioning and TVs on board.
There is only one company that runs buses from Pattaya to Hua Hin: Bell Travel. Its buses depart from Pattaya Bus Station at 11:00 AM each day and arrive at the new Hua Hin Bus Station around 4:30 PM, although the duration depends on traffic.
From Pattaya to Hua Hin by taxi or van
If you don’t like the idea of being on a bus for more than five hours, there are faster options to get from Pattaya to Hua Hin by land. Two companies, Hua Hin Cars and Glassflower, offer several options depending on the vehicle and number of passengers. The cheapest option is a standard taxi for up to three passengers, as long as you don’t carry too much luggage, although there are also minivans, sedans and vans for nine passengers. Prices depend on the size of the vehicle and you always pay a fixed price, not a price per person. This means that if you are traveling with family or friends, you can split the cost between everyone and the individual price will be cheaper than the ferry and even comparable to a bus ticket.
The biggest advantage of taxis is that timetables are completely flexible and offer a door-to-door service. They can pick you up from your hotel in Pattaya at any time and drop you off at your hotel door in Hua Hin. This makes taxi services much more convenient than ferry or bus services as there is only one service per day in these cases. Travel time is also shorter than by bus, but still longer than by ferry, 4 to 5 hours in total.
Train from Pattaya to Hua Hin
Bangkok Hua Lamphong Train Station © MeSamong / Shutterstock.com
The last option is the train, but the journey is very long and not recommended as good alternatives are available. Trains run from Pattaya to Bangkok once a day. In Bangkok you have to change trains to Hua Hin. Time on trains is about 8 hours, but you have to add waiting time in Bangkok. Therefore, if you do not want to travel around Thailand only by train, it is best to opt for a ferry, bus or taxi.