Línea del Este · de tres a cuatro horas
Bangkok–Pattaya en tren: la costa despacio y barato
The train to Pattaya is the least-known way to reach Thailand's most famous beach town. It is slow, it leaves from the old station in Chinatown, and it costs almost nothing. If you are going for the journey rather than the destination, it is the best value ride out of Bangkok.
The station trap
Pattaya is on the eastern line, and the eastern line still runs out of Hua Lamphong, the 1916 station in Chinatown — not Krung Thep Aphiwat. Searching "Bangkok to Pattaya" and picking the central terminal will return nothing, because those trains do not exist.
The trains
| Train | Departs | Arrives | Duration | Service |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 997 | 06:45 | 09:13 | 2h 28m | Ordinary |
| 283 | 06:55 | 10:34 | 3h 39m | Ordinary |
There are only a couple of departures a day, both in the morning. Both are ordinary diesel services that stop at every station through the eastern suburbs before the line opens out across the coastal plain. Expect three to four hours.
Why take it, and why not
- Take it if you want the ride: the line passes through working rice country, small markets and stations that see almost no tourists. The fare is a fraction of a bus ticket.
- Take it if you are going all the way to the end of the line at Ban Plu Ta Luang or Sattahip, where there is no convenient bus.
- Skip it if you have one day and want beach time. A bus or minibus from Ekkamai takes two to two and a half hours for a few hundred baht, and leaves all day.
Arriving
Pattaya station sits inland from the beach, on the east side of Sukhumvit Road. From there it is a short songthaew ride to the beach road, or a walk if you are staying in the centre. The line continues south to Pattaya Tai and on toward Sattahip.
Every departure for your date, with durations and classes side by side. Seats on these services are arranged by us and confirmed with the railway before you pay.
Questions people ask
Does the train from Bangkok to Pattaya leave from Hua Lamphong?
Yes. The eastern line still uses Hua Lamphong. Trains do not leave from Krung Thep Aphiwat for Pattaya.
How long is the train from Bangkok to Pattaya?
Three to four hours, because the service stops at every station through the eastern suburbs. The bus does the same trip in about two and a half hours.
How much is the train to Pattaya?
It is an ordinary third-class service and among the cheapest journeys out of Bangkok — tens of baht rather than hundreds. We confirm the current fare when you book.
How many trains a day are there?
Around two in each direction, both in the morning. This is not a line you can use spontaneously in the afternoon.