On this page9 sections
At a glance
- Coach from Bangkok
- Ekkamai or Bangna 144 baht, Mo Chit 2 155 baht, to Pattaya Bus Terminal; about two hours, listed on 1 October 2026Source 1
- Train from Bangkok
- Weekends only in October 2026: train 887 leaves Hua Lamphong at 06:45 and reaches Pattaya at 09:13Source 2
- Coach from Suvarnabhumi
- 135 baht to North Pattaya, 158 baht to Jomtien, listed on 1 October 2026Source 3
- Pattaya to Suvarnabhumi
- From the Jomtien terminal every hour from 06:00 to 22:00, 158 bahtSource 4
- Sanctuary of Truth by day
- 500 baht per adult; tickets on sale 08:00 to 17:00Source 5
Sources: 1Roong Reuang Coach: Bangkok terminals to Pattaya, checked 1 Oct 2026 2State Railway of Thailand: D-Ticket booking system, Bangkok–Pattaya trips searched for 5 to 17 October 2026 (in Thai), checked 1 Oct 2026 3Roong Reuang Coach: Suvarnabhumi and North Pattaya route, checked 1 Oct 2026 4Roong Reuang Coach: Suvarnabhumi and Jomtien route, checked 1 Oct 2026 5Sanctuary of Truth Museum: tickets and tour times (in Thai), checked 7 Sep 2026
How many days in Bangkok and how many in Pattaya
Put Bangkok first: land, see the capital while you are fresh, then slow down by the sea. Give Pattaya at least two full days, or it shrinks to a late arrival and an early checkout.
| Trip | Bangkok | Pattaya | What the Pattaya part covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 days | 3 days | 2 days | Pratumnak Hill at sunset, then the Sanctuary of Truth and Wong Amat Beach |
| 6 days | 3 days | 3 days | Add a Jomtien beach day, or Nong Nooch and Khao Chi Chan in the south |
| 7 days | 4 days | 3 days | The plan below: the hill, the north, then Jomtien and the coach to the airport |
Reverse the order when you want the last night near the airport or a shopping day at the end: a direct coach runs from Suvarnabhumi to Pattaya, so you can start by the sea without crossing Bangkok. Pattaya vs Bangkok compares the two as bases.
Days 1–4: Bangkok
Keep the first day for arrival and one easy outing near your hotel. Then give each full day one district: the Grand Palace and Wat Pho in the old town with the river; Chatuchak Weekend Market or the malls around Siam; and a slower day for what you missed.
Choose a hotel near Ekkamai or along the BTS Sukhumvit Line if you can: Ekkamai coach terminal sits beside Ekkamai BTS station, so the move to Pattaya starts with a short ride.
On a five- or six-day trip, cut Bangkok to three days by dropping the slow day.
Day 5: the coach to Pattaya and Pratumnak Hill
Morning: check out and ride to the coach terminal nearest your Bangkok hotel. Roong Reuang coaches leave Ekkamai at 05:00, 06:00 and then hourly from 09:00 to 22:00, with none at 07:00 or 08:00; Mo Chit 2 hourly from 05:00 to 18:00. Check in 30 minutes before departure, as the operator's FAQ asks. Tickets cannot be refunded, and the allowance is one suitcase up to 20 kg and a small bag.
The coach reaches Pattaya Bus Terminal on North Pattaya Road in about two hours, more in heavy traffic. With luggage, take a taxi or a ride-hailing car from there to your hotel.
Afternoon: rest, then walk part of Pattaya Beach. Late afternoon: ride up Pratumnak Hill to Big Buddha HillMap: Big Buddha Hill (Wat Phra Yai) on Google Maps, a working temple with free entry, and Pattaya ViewpointMap: Pattaya Viewpoint (Khao Phra Tamnak) on Google Maps, a separate free lookout over the whole bay at sunset.
Day 6: the Sanctuary of Truth and Wong Amat Beach
Morning: take a ride-hailing car north to the Sanctuary of TruthMap: Sanctuary of Truth on Google Maps on the Naklua headland. Day tickets go on sale at 08:00 and a guided tour is included. Cover shoulders and knees and wear closed shoes. After Bangkok's temples, its carved wood is a different kind of visit: a building still under construction, with hard hats in the work area.
Afternoon: spend it on Wong Amat Beach close by, calmer than the city beach. Ask the chair price before you sit, and swim only where the flags allow.
With a sixth Pattaya day to spare on a longer trip, book a car for Nong Nooch Tropical GardenMap: Nong Nooch Tropical Garden on Google Maps and Khao Chi Chan south of the city, as on day three of 4 days in Pattaya.
Day 7: Jomtien Beach, then the coach to the airport
Morning: stay near Jomtien Beach or ride over the hill for a last swim. Ask your hotel to keep your bags after checkout while you do.
Then take the airport coach from the Jomtien terminal on Jomtien Second Road, which leaves every hour from 06:00 to 22:00 for 158 baht and goes straight to Suvarnabhumi. Work back from the check-in deadline: about two hours on the road, a margin for traffic and 30 minutes to check in for the coach.
Flying from Don Mueang instead? No confirmed timetable runs from Pattaya, so book a private car; see Don Mueang to Pattaya.
Coach, train or car between Bangkok and Pattaya
- Coach: the simple baseline, with a timetable, a proper terminal and room for a suitcase. Ekkamai and Bangna cost 144 baht and Mo Chit 2 costs 155 baht; choose the terminal you can reach easily rather than the cheapest. Bangkok to Pattaya by bus has the counters and platforms.
- Train: a weekend option only. On 1 October 2026 the State Railway of Thailand's booking system listed rapid train 887 on Saturdays and Sundays from Hua Lamphong at 06:45 to Pattaya at 09:13, and none on the weekdays searched. A May 2026 government notice names weekend train 997 instead, so confirm with the railway on 1690.
- Private car: door to door, and the easy choice for a family, several bags or a hotel far from the coach terminals. Compare its written quote with every coach ticket plus the rides at both ends, and agree whether tolls are included.
No high-speed train runs between Bangkok and Pattaya yet, and the official sources give no opening date to plan around.
Where to stay in Pattaya on a split trip
With two or three nights, stay where the transfer is easy. Central Pattaya is a short ride from the bus terminal and from every stop in this plan. Jomtien puts you beside the airport coach terminal for the last day, with a longer ride north on day six.
Book two things ahead: the room, and the airport coach or car on your last day. Leave the Pattaya days open so the beach day can move with the weather.
Questions
Is it better to do Bangkok or Pattaya first?
Bangkok first, for most trips: the busy sightseeing comes while you are fresh and the beach comes last. Pattaya first suits a trip that ends with shopping in Bangkok or a flight from Don Mueang, on the north side of the capital.
How long is the trip from Bangkok to Pattaya?
About two hours by coach from the Bangkok terminals to Pattaya Bus Terminal, more in heavy traffic, as Roong Reuang Coach puts it. Add the ride to the Bangkok terminal and from the Pattaya terminal to your hotel. The weekend train takes about two and a half hours.
Is Pattaya worth it on a Bangkok trip?
If you want beach days after the city, yes, with at least two full days. With less time, a long weekend is better spent in one place. See is Pattaya worth visiting.
Can I visit Pattaya as a day trip from Bangkok?
You can, but four hours on the road leaves little time by the sea. Staying at least one night lets you see the sunset from Pratumnak Hill and a morning sight in the north.