Commonly known as Bangkok Airport, Suvarnabhumi Airport is the main international gateway to Bangkok and the rest of Thailand. Therefore, if you are traveling from another country, you will definitely end up here. It is a very large and modern airport that opened in 2006 to replace the smaller and older Don Mueang Airport. This airport was temporarily closed for refurbishment and reopened as Bangkok’s second airport. It mainly serves domestic and regional flights. If you are arriving at Suvarnabhumi Airport and don’t want to travel too far to go to the beach, enjoy the nightlife, play golf, go to amusement parks, visit cultural sites or shop, Pattaya should be your next destination. Read on to find out the best way to travel from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Pattaya.
Highway 7 at Suvarnabhumi Airport exit, connecting Bangkok, Suvarnabhumi Airport and Pattaya © Patnaree Asavacharanitich / Shutterstock.com
Options to go from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Pattaya
From Suvarnabhumi Airport to Pattaya, it is only 120 kilometers by road, which can be covered in just 1 hour and 30 minutes. There are direct buses and taxis from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Pattaya, avoiding the hassle of getting to downtown Bangkok. As the airport is located east of the city, you won’t have to worry about traffic jams as Pattaya is located to the south and you can travel in peace and stress.
From Suvarnabhumi Airport to Pattaya by bus
When the journey is not too long, the bus is always a good option to travel around Thailand as it is usually the cheapest mode of transport. The bus from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Pattaya is no exception. It is the cheapest option and is also quite fast, as it takes only half an hour longer to cover the route than by taxi. The planned duration of the tour is two hours. The only real downside to taking the bus from Suvarnabhumi to Pattaya might be that you have to wait a bit for the bus after getting off the plane. For example, Bell Travel buses depart from Suvarnabhumi Airport every two hours, with the first departure at 8am and the last at 6pm, so there are six options. With any luck, your arrival will coincide with one of these, so you won’t have to wait too long.
The bus from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Pattaya can be booked online via 12Go.asiaso you’ll be sure you’re guaranteed a seat in advance. This way, after landing and collecting your luggage, you can go directly to the buses without having to worry about looking for ticket offices to buy tickets.
The buses are of the Express type, so they are comfortable and air-conditioned, they are enough for a two-hour journey. Bell Travel buses arrive at Pattaya Bus Station, which is quite close to the city center. From here, there are various options to walk to your accommodation or get to the famous Jomtien Beach.
From Suvarnabhumi airport to Pattaya by taxi
Public taxis are easy to find at Suvarnabhumi Airport by following signs © SIHASAKPRACHUM / Shutterstock.com
If you don’t plan to rent a car and drive from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Pattaya, the only viable option other than a bus is a taxi. You can walk out of the arrivals terminal and easily find a public taxi as there are always plenty of them. But you can also opt for a private taxi, which can be booked in advance via a website like 12Go. Prices should be pretty similar between the two options, so it all depends on what you prefer. If you want to have everything organized in advance, it is a good idea to pre-book a private taxi. In this way, you will avoid worrying about communication problems, because the driver will already have information about the place you are going to. However, if you are taking a public taxi, it may not be that easy to give the necessary directions so that the driver knows where to take you.
Another advantage of a private taxi is that you can choose the type of vehicle you want to pick up. This is an important detail if you are traveling in a group or with your family and need a large car or van for nine passengers. You can book these types of vehicles in advance, depending on the number of passengers. At the airport, public taxis usually have room for up to three passengers. Private taxis from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Pattaya are also more convenient as the cars tend to be larger, newer and more luxurious than conventional taxis.
If you book online, there are several private taxi companies you can book through 12Go. On this page you can easily compare the prices and types of available vehicles. The scheduled duration of the trip varies from company to company, but the truth is that it takes almost the same for all of them, depending on where you are going in Pattaya. Taxis always have the advantage of a door-to-door service. You will arrive at your booked hotel in Pattaya and, unlike the bus, the taxi can leave at the time of day you choose. Therefore, it is a good option if your plane arrives at the airport late in the day and you need to fly to Pattaya. There may not be more bus departures, in which case a taxi would be your only option unless you don’t mind waiting until the next morning.
Taxis from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Pattaya are more expensive than buses, but check online and compare prices. If you are traveling alone, there is no doubt that the bus will save you money. But if you’re traveling with a group of friends or family, a taxi can be quite affordable, splitting the total cost between all of you. Taxis are not much faster than buses, but they will take you wherever you want and save you the hassle of finding your way to your hotel.