Bus Routes & Transport in Pattaya

Songthaews are converted pickup trucks with two bench seats in the back — Pattaya's primary public transport. The circular route runs along Beach Road (north to south) and Second Road (south to north) continuously. Fixed fare: 10 THB per person for any distance on the main circular route. Press the buzzer to stop, pay when exiting. Runs approximately 6 AM–2 AM. Most frequent during daytime (every 1–3 minutes on Beach Road). Blue songthaews run the main Pattaya loop.

Blue (dark blue): main Pattaya circular route — Beach Road down, Second Road up. Most common, most useful for tourists. White: Jomtien route — runs along Jomtien Beach Road. 10 THB. Yellow/Orange: Naklua to South Pattaya routes, less frequent. Green: Sukhumvit Road routes to outskirts. Red: specific routes to East Pattaya. Color coding is loose — some songthaews don't follow strict routes. For non-standard routes, negotiate a price before boarding. Chartered songthaew (private): 200–500 THB depending on distance.

The blue songthaew circular route: starts at Naklua/Dolphin Roundabout, goes south along Beach Road past Central Festival and Walking Street, turns at South Pattaya, goes north along Second Road past Soi Buakhao, back to the starting point. Total loop: approximately 45 minutes. Board anywhere along the route — just wave or step up. No stops or signs — flag it down. To exit: press the ceiling buzzer, the driver stops, you pay 10 THB through the rear window. Simple and incredibly cheap.

White songthaews run between Pattaya and Jomtien Beach. Route: from Sukhumvit/Thepprasit junction along Jomtien Beach Road to the end and back. Fixed fare: 10 THB. To get from Central Pattaya to Jomtien: take a blue songthaew to South Pattaya, then transfer to a white Jomtien songthaew. Or take a chartered songthaew directly (100–200 THB). The Jomtien route is less frequent than the main Pattaya loop — expect 5–10 minute waits.

Minivans to Bangkok depart from Pattaya Bus Station (North Pattaya Road) and various pickup points. Routes: to Ekkamai Bus Terminal (120 THB, 2–2.5 hours), to Mo Chit (150 THB, 2.5–3 hours), to Suvarnabhumi Airport (250 THB, 2 hours), to Don Mueang Airport (300 THB, 3 hours). Depart every 30–60 minutes, 5 AM–9 PM. Buy tickets at the counter or via 12Go.asia. Minivans seat 10–13 people. AC included. Luggage goes on your lap or in a small rear compartment.

Songthaew (shared route): 10 THB flat. Songthaew (chartered/private): 200–500 THB negotiated. Motorcycle taxi: 20–100 THB depending on distance. Grab car: 60–200 THB for city trips. Grab motorcycle: 30–80 THB. Minivan to Bangkok: 120–300 THB. Government bus to Bangkok: 108–140 THB. Private transfer to Bangkok airport: 1,500–3,000 THB. Tips: songthaews never charge more than 10 THB on shared routes — if asked for more, you're being scammed or it's being chartered.

Blue songthaew (main loop): 6 AM–2 AM, every 1–5 minutes during peak hours, 5–15 minutes late evening. Jomtien white songthaew: 6 AM–10 PM, every 5–15 minutes. After 10 PM, finding a shared songthaew in Jomtien is difficult — use Grab. Bangkok minivans: 5 AM–9 PM from Pattaya Bus Station. Motorcycle taxis: available until late (some 24/7 at busy intersections). Grab: available 24/7 but fewer drivers after midnight. On holidays, songthaews run later but are more crowded.

Board from the back — duck under the roof and sit on the benches. Move to the far end to make room. Hold on during turns. Press the buzzer once when approaching your stop. Pay exact fare (10 THB) through the rear window after exiting. No need to tell the driver where you're going on the circular route — just ride and exit where you want. For destinations off the route: ask the driver before boarding if they go there, and negotiate a price. During rain, songthaews fill up fast — expect standing or waiting.

Tourist scam: empty songthaew approaches you and offers a ride — then charges 100–500 THB as if chartered. Prevention: only board songthaews that already have passengers (shared route). If a driver quotes more than 10 THB for the circular route, decline and wait for the next one. Late-night overcharging: after midnight, some drivers charge 20–50 THB. Acceptable but you can wait for another. Airport run quotes: always compare with Grab before accepting a songthaew driver's airport price.

Songthaews are generally safe but have no seatbelts, doors, or crash protection. Sit toward the front of the bench (less exposed). Hold on tightly during turns and stops — sudden braking can throw passengers. Keep bags on your lap, not dangling outside. Avoid standing on the rear step for extended distances. In heavy rain, roads get slippery and visibility drops — consider Grab instead. For families with small children, Grab or taxi is safer than songthaews. Always keep track of your belongings when exiting.

Useful landmarks along the main circular route: Dolphin Roundabout (north, near Terminal 21), Central Festival (Beach Road, central), Royal Garden Plaza (Beach Road, near Walking Street entrance), Walking Street entrance (south end of Beach Road), Big C South Pattaya (Second Road), Soi Buakhao intersection (Second Road), Soi Diana/LK Metro (Second Road). No official bus stops — memorize landmarks along Beach Road and Second Road. Drivers know major locations if you ask.

Grab (Southeast Asian Uber): most reliable metered transport. Cars: 60–200 THB city trips. Motorcycles: 30–80 THB. Payment: cash or GrabPay. Download the app before arriving. Motorcycle taxis: drivers in orange vests at intersections. Negotiate before riding. 20–100 THB depending on distance. Fast but riskier — helmet usually provided. Rental scooter: 200–300 THB/day, requires international driving permit (technically). Bolt app: alternative to Grab, sometimes cheaper. For airport trips, Grab is usually cheapest.