How to Get from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Pattaya
This is one of the easiest airport transfers in Thailand and one of the most commonly overcomplicated. Suvarnabhumi is already on the eastern side of Bangkok, so the road to Pattaya leaves the airport and joins Motorway 7 heading the right way — you never enter the city. Ninety minutes to two hours, and you are there.
Book a Private TransferThe journey at a glance
| From | Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) |
|---|---|
| To | Pattaya |
| Distance | ≈ 120 km |
| Journey time | 1.5 – 2 hours |
| Private taxi fare | Sedan ฿1,200 · SUV ฿1,500 · Van ฿1,800 — per vehicle, tolls included |
| Payment | Cash in Thai Baht to the driver on arrival. Nothing charged at booking. |
| Cancellation | Free up to 24 hours before pickup. |
Every option compared
| Option | Typical cost | Total time | Departures | Door to door | Booking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private transfer | ฿1,200 per vehicle | 1.5 – 2 h | Meets your flight | Arrivals to your hotel door | Same day usually fine |
| Bell Travel coach | ≈฿300 per person | 2.5 – 3 h | Fixed daily departures | No — depot, then a shuttle | Book ahead |
| Bus into Bangkok, then Ekkamai | ≈฿170 per person | 4 h+ | Two connections | No | Buy as you go |
| Metered taxi from the rank | ฿1,300 – 1,800 total | 1.5 – 2 h | Queue at arrivals | Yes | No — take a ticket and queue |
Bus, minivan, train and ferry fares are approximate and were last checked in September 2026. They change without notice. Our own taxi fares are live from our booking system.
Do not go into Bangkok first
The single most common mistake on this route is treating it as two journeys: airport to Bangkok, then Bangkok to Pattaya. Every budget itinerary that starts with "take the Airport Rail Link" is sending you west into the city so you can then travel back east past the airport again.
It roughly doubles the time, costs more than it looks once you add the connections, and involves moving luggage across Bangkok in between. The airport is already on the Pattaya side of the city. Either take a direct coach or take a car — but go east from the moment you land.
The metered taxi, and the fixed fare
The official rank at Suvarnabhumi will take you to Pattaya on the meter, and it is legitimate: expect somewhere between ฿1,300 and ฿1,800 once the meter, the ฿50 airport surcharge and the Motorway 7 tolls are totalled. The uncertainty is the point — you do not know the number until you arrive, and long-distance meter runs from the airport are where most disputes on this route start.
A pre-booked fixed fare is ฿1,200 for a sedan, agreed before you fly, with a driver already waiting and 60 minutes of free waiting time after you land. On a route this long the fixed price is usually the cheaper of the two as well as the more predictable.
Practical tips
- Give us your flight number. We track it, so a delay does not cost you the car, and airport pickups include 60 minutes of free waiting.
- Tell us the hotel name, not just "Pattaya" — Naklua, central, Pratumnak and Jomtien are twenty minutes or more apart.
- U-Tapao (UTP) is Pattaya’s own airport and is only 45 minutes away. If you have a choice of arrival airport, it is by far the shorter transfer.
- Landing late at night is fine on this route — the road is quiet and the drive is quicker, though public transport has stopped.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the transfer from Suvarnabhumi to Pattaya?
Ninety minutes to two hours for about 120 km. The route leaves the airport onto Motorway 7 heading east, so it never enters Bangkok traffic.
How much is a taxi from Bangkok airport to Pattaya?
A metered taxi from the official rank usually totals ฿1,300 to ฿1,800 including the airport surcharge and tolls. A pre-booked fixed transfer is ฿1,200 for a sedan, ฿1,500 for an SUV and ฿1,800 for a van, agreed in advance with tolls included.
Is there a bus from Suvarnabhumi to Pattaya?
Yes — the Bell Travel coach runs direct for around ฿300 per person on a fixed schedule, dropping at a Pattaya depot with an onward shuttle. The cheaper route via Ekkamai means travelling into Bangkok and back out again, which takes over four hours.
Should I go to Bangkok first and then to Pattaya?
No. Suvarnabhumi is east of Bangkok and Pattaya is further east again, so going into the city means doubling back. Travel direct — it is faster, simpler and usually cheaper.
Book this transfer
Fixed fare from ฿1,200 per vehicle. See the full fare card on the BKK Airport to Pattaya route page, or book directly below. Most bookings on this route are made the day before travel.