Fly from U-Tapao at 13:00 or travel via Suvarnabhumi.
Pattaya and Phuket are located on opposite coasts of Thailand, approximately 970 km apart. Since there is no rail or ferry connection, the only way to reach them is by plane. The easiest option is the single direct flight of the day with Bangkok Airways. This departs at 1:00 PM from U-Tapao Airport, Pattaya's airport, about 30 km south of the city, and lands in Phuket at 2:40 PM. If you leave your hotel in Pattaya around 11:00 AM, you will reach Patong around 4:00 PM.
Check the latest flight times and seat availability for Pattaya → Phuket on 12Go.
This option is more expensive, however, costing around 4,700–5,700 baht via 12Go in November, including 20 kg of luggage and one meal. Those looking to save money should take Roong Reuang's bus for two hours along Highway 7 to Suvarnabhumi Airport and from there catch one of the approximately 50 daily flights from Bangkok to Phuket. These flights are available from around 1,000 baht if booked a few weeks in advance. While the journey takes longer, six to seven hours door-to-door, you can choose your flight time.
Sawasdee All Thai's only direct bus departs at 3:00 PM from their office on Third Road in Pattaya, arriving at Phuket 2 bus station around 8:00 AM. However, this bus is not available daily through booking portals. Below you will find all connections with the main departure times, the bus with a transfer in Bangkok, car rental options, and information on how to get from Phuket Airport to your beach.
Where to stay in Phuket
This route ends in Phuket. Search for hotels in Phuket for your travel dates or narrow your search to the region you wish to visit. Filter for hotels with free cancellation if you'd like to book a room and decide later.
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My recommendations in every price category in Phuket
The short answer
Fly. Bangkok Airways offers a nonstop flight from U-Tapao at 1:00 PM, landing in Phuket at 2:40 PM. The price is approximately 4,700–5,700 baht (including 20 kg of baggage) with 12Go. A cheaper option is to take the airport bus to Suvarnabhumi (approximately 135–158 baht, about a 2-hour journey) and then fly from Bangkok to Phuket (approximately 1,000 baht). The only direct bus connection is the Sawasdee All Thai overnight bus at 3:00 PM (approximately a 17-hour journey).
Key Facts (2026)
Once daily nonstop, U-Tapao 13:00 to Phuket 14:40
Bangkok Airways flies the route daily in approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes. The fare includes 20 kg of free baggage allowance and one meal. Thai Airways and Etihad also offer flights with the same aircraft. All other airlines listed on booking portals offer connections with the same aircraft type.
U-Tapao is located 30 km south of Pattaya.
Approximately 40 minutes by Grab or taxi from central Pattaya, slightly less from Jomtien. Pre-booked cars via 12Go cost around 800–1000 baht for a sedan.
A flight from Suvarnabhumi usually costs significantly less.
You can reach the departure hall in about two hours by taking a bus from Roong Reuang in Jomtien (hourly from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM, ฿158) or from North Pattaya (seven times daily, ฿135). Flights from Bangkok to Phuket are available from around ฿1,000 if booked several weeks in advance.
The direct bus departs at 3:00 PM and arrives around 8:00 AM.
Sawasdee All Thai operates a bus from its office on Pattaya Third Road to Phuket 2 bus station, a journey that takes approximately 17 hours including a meal break. 12Go offers express tickets for around 1,450 baht and VIP tickets for 24 people for around 1,930 baht, but only on certain days.
The bus through Bangkok runs every day.
At midday, you take a minibus or bus from Roong Reuang to Mo Chit, then in the evening a coach operated by Transport Co. heads south. Arrival at Terminal 2 is between 6:00 and 9:00 AM. 12Go sells both as a single ticket for approximately 1,040–1,210 Baht.
A car needs 13 to 17 hours.
12Go's private cars cost approximately 12,000–20,000 baht per vehicle for the entire journey across the country. This is only worthwhile for groups with a lot of luggage.
All routes from Pattaya to Phuket compared (2026)
Prices for flights, buses, and rental cars are from 12Go for the period from November 17th to 23rd, 2026, and include fees. Bus tickets are cheaper at the ticket counter; according to busonlineticket, seats with Sawasdee cost between 792 and 1,056 baht. Long-distance bus fares are set by Roong Reuang himself. Prices for the Bangkok–Phuket route, as indicated by booking portals, are available two to four weeks in advance, excluding baggage. Prices increase over Christmas, New Year's, and Songkran.
Check seats from Pattaya to Phuket
12Go sells direct flights with Bangkok Airways, the direct bus from Sawasdee (when available), and tickets for vans and buses with a transfer in Mo Chit – all e-tickets in English. The flight list also shows daytime connections; therefore, select the 1:00 PM flight from U-Tapao.
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The Nonstop From U-Tapao at 1:00 p.m
One flight per day with Bangkok Airways, 1 hour 40 minutes, including baggage and lunch.
U-Tapao Airport (signposted as U-Tapao Rayong–Pattaya International Airport) is located approximately 30 km south of Pattaya. There is one daily flight to Phuket: Bangkok Airways departs at 1:00 PM and lands at Phuket International Airport at 2:40 PM. This flight operates daily until October 2026, and 12Go offers it for all November and December dates I checked. Bangkok Airways is a full-service airline on this route, so the fare includes 20 kg of free baggage allowance, a meal, and seat reservation. Thai Airways and Etihad offer codeshare flights on the same aircraft type. Other airlines that appear when searching for flights from Pattaya to Phuket typically offer connecting flights via Bangkok, which often take almost a full day.
The catch is the price. With 12Go, a direct flight cost around 4,700–5,700 baht at the end of November—three to five times the price of a ticket from Bangkok to Phuket booked several weeks in advance. If you're traveling with just one suitcase, the whole family's luggage, or for a short stay, the direct flight is worthwhile, as it saves you the two-hour bus ride and the queues at Suvarnabhumi Airport. To catch the 1:00 PM flight, you should leave central Pattaya around 11:00 AM. The journey by Grab or taxi takes about 40 minutes, slightly less from Jomtien. Pre-booked cars from a Pattaya hotel to U-Tapao with 12Go cost around 800–1,000 baht for a sedan.
Instead, fly from Suvarnabhumi or Don Mueang
A two-hour journey by airport bus, then a choice of around 50 flights to Phuket per day.
If the 1:00 PM flight doesn't suit you or the price is too high, fly from Bangkok. Roong Reuang offers hourly bus connections from Pattaya to Suvarnabhumi Airport between 6:00 AM and 10:00 PM. Buses depart from the Jomtien Terminal on Jomtien Second Road (158 baht) and seven times daily from the North Pattaya Terminal (135 baht). Both bus stops opposite Exit 8 on Level 4, the departures level. The journey takes approximately two hours. From Suvarnabhumi, Thai Airways, Bangkok Airways, Thai VietJet, and some Thai AirAsia airlines offer flights to Phuket in 1 hour 20 to 1 hour 35 minutes. There are around 50 flights daily between Bangkok and Phuket from both airports. Prices start at around 1,000 baht if you book two to four weeks in advance.
Don Mueang Airport is served by low-cost carriers Thai AirAsia, Nok Air, and Thai Lion Air, and sometimes offers the cheapest fares. However, getting there from Pattaya is a bit more complicated. The pink 999 bus, operated by the Transport Co., departs six times daily from the office on Sukhumvit Road near Soi 45. The fare is 167 baht and the journey takes about two and a half hours. If you factor in two hours for the bus ride, airport check-in, and the flight itself, the trip from a Pattaya hotel to Phuket takes a total of six to seven hours, compared to about five hours with a direct flight. You can find all bus connections to both airports in the "Pattaya–Bangkok" travel guide.
The direct night bus at 3:00 PM
Sawasdee All Thai, about 17 hours to Phuket 2 bus station, and not every day
A single bus company operates the entire route without transfers. Sawasdee All Thai (listed as Sawadee Tour on 12Go) departs from its Pattaya Third Road office at 3:00 PM, with check-in 30 minutes prior. Buses arrive at Phuket 2 bus station around 8:00 AM the following morning, with a food break en route. A traveler who filmed the trip in July 2024 measured a journey time of 17.5 hours. The double-decker bus features more spacious VIP seats (24 seats) on the lower deck and less expensive seats on the upper deck. 12Go offers these as express tickets for approximately 1,930 and 1,450 baht respectively, including fees, while busonlineticket lists them for 1,056 and 792 baht respectively.
The catch is in the calendar. For the week of November 17-23, 2026, 12Go listed the 3:00 PM departure on Tuesday, Saturday, and Monday, but not on the other four days. Omio, however, shows it on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. So, check your date before planning your trip. If the departure isn't listed, take the bus via Bangkok described below, which runs daily. Terminal 2 is located north of Phuket Town and can be reached from Patong or Kata in 30 to 60 minutes by taxi or Grab.
Bus tour through Bangkok, every day
At midday to Mo Chit, in the evening by bus southwards, Terminal 2 until breakfast
Night buses to Phuket depart from Bangkok in the evening. The daily overland route therefore takes you to Mo Chit, Bangkok's northern bus station, at midday, where you'll need a seat on one of these buses. 12Go offers this as a single ticket. Saharat and Pannipa vans depart from their offices in central Pattaya at 12:00, 14:00, and 15:00, arriving at Mo Chit approximately two and a half hours later. Alternatively, the Roong Reuang bus departs from Pattaya's northern bus station at 10:00, 12:00, or 13:00. From there, a Transport Co. bus travels south overnight to Phuket 2 bus station, arriving between 06:00 and 09:00. The total cost is approximately 1,040–1,210 baht.
These are tickets with transfers, so you'll need to change buses yourself in Mo Chit. Delayed minibuses mean you'll miss your connecting bus. I'd recommend choosing the earlier departure to allow for a two- to three-hour buffer. Alternatively, you can book the legs of the journey yourself: Take the Roong Reuang bus from North Pattaya to Mo Chit 2 for 155 baht, and then an evening bus from Mo Chit or the South Terminal, where Sombat Tours' VIP buses depart at 6:00 PM and 6:50 PM. The Bangkok-Phuket travel guide lists all bus companies heading south.
By car, the entire length of the country
Approximately 970 km on Highway 7 and Route 4, 13 to 17 hours
The journey covers approximately 970 km, initially heading towards Bangkok's eastern ring road and then south on Route 4 through Hua Hin, Chumphon, and Ranong to the Sarasin Bridge. Drivers from 12Go estimate a travel time of 13 to 17 hours and a price of approximately 12,000–20,000 baht per vehicle, with a small car at the lower end and a nine-seater van at the upper end. For two people, a direct flight is cheaper. Dividing the cost by six, the flight is cheaper per person than six direct flights and offers the only option of breaking up the journey with an overnight stay.
The best-rated hotels in Phuket
Here is my ranking of the 10 best hotels in Phuket. Each button will take you directly to the hotel's page on Booking.com, where you have already entered your travel dates.
Is there a train or ferry connection from Pattaya to Phuket?
No, neither.
Phuket is not connected to the rail network. The nearest train station is Phun Phin in Surat Thani. From Pattaya, this requires a bus to Bangkok, a night train south, and then a four- to six-hour bus ride west – a journey of more than a day with no time savings. There is no ferry service either. The ferry connections shown are bus and boat tours through the Gulf Islands, which also take more than a day. The "Seahorse" car ferry from Sattahip, mentioned in older forum posts, has not operated in Phuket since 2024, but now sails to Bangkok and Koh Samui.
Phuket Airport (HKT) → Patong
The last hour, from Phuket airport to your beach
The 2:40 PM flight lands at the northern tip of the island, about 50 minutes from Patong and an hour from Kata. The Smart Bus (100 Baht) departs from the airport every 30 minutes and takes 1 hour 20 to 1 hour 30 minutes to reach Patong. A metered taxi costs 700–800 Baht, including the airport fare. If booked through 12Go, the price is fixed before landing.
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Arrival in Phuket
The airport is for flights, Terminal 2 is for all buses.
Flights land at Phuket International Airport in the north of the island, about 30 minutes from Bang Tao, 50 minutes from Patong, an hour from Kata or Rawai, and 46 minutes from Phuket Old Town (under normal traffic conditions). The Smart Bus to Patong, Karon, Kata, and Rawai costs a flat rate of 100 baht, as does the airport bus to Phuket Town. All buses from Pattaya terminate at Phuket 2 Bus Station on the northern edge of Phuket Town. From there, you can reach Patong or Kata in 30 to 60 minutes by taxi or Grab, and Phuket Old Town in less time.
Check out the night bus before you book.
Two bus journeys from Pattaya to Phuket, filmed by other travelers. YouTube only loads when you press "Play".
Return journey from Phuket to Pattaya
The nonstop return flight departs Phuket at 3:10 PM and lands in U-Tapao at 4:50 PM. The bus from Sawasdee departs Terminal 2 at 3:00 PM and arrives in Pattaya around 8:00 AM. The journey continues north along the road through Thalang. The Phuket–Pattaya travel guide provides information on both connections, including flights to Suvarnabhumi Airport and the last bus to Pattaya, as well as travel times from the beach to the airport.
Pattaya and Phuket in one trip
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently asked questions about traveling from Pattaya to Phuket.
Fly. Bangkok Airways offers a daily nonstop flight from U-Tapao (30 km south of Pattaya) at 1:00 PM, landing in Phuket at 2:40 PM. The price is approximately 4,700–5,700 baht (including 20 kg of baggage) with 12Go. If that's too expensive or the flight time doesn't suit you, you can take a bus from Roong Reuang to Suvarnabhumi Airport (135–158 baht, about two hours) and then fly from Bangkok to Phuket for around 1,000 baht.
Yes, once a day. Bangkok Airways flies from U-Tapao to Phuket at 1:00 PM, arriving at 2:40 PM; the flight time is approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes. Thai Airways and Etihad offer codeshare tickets on this route. Flights from other airlines offer connecting flights, usually via Bangkok.
The direct flight from U-Tapao takes approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes. For the journey from a hotel in Pattaya to one in Patong, you should allow about five hours, including 40 minutes for the trip to U-Tapao and check-in, and 50 minutes from Phuket Airport to Patong.
Yes, the Sawasdee All Thai night bus departs from their Pattaya Third Road branch at 3:00 PM and arrives at Phuket 2 bus station around 8:00 AM. The journey takes approximately 17 hours. As the bus does not run every day, please check before planning your trip. On other days, you can take a van or bus to Mo Chit and from there catch the Transport Co. evening bus south. A ticket costs approximately 1,040–1,210 baht.
On 12Go, an express seat on the direct bus from Sawasdee costs approximately 1,450 baht, and a VIP 24-seat seat costs approximately 1,930 baht. Tickets for the combined van and bus journey via Bangkok cost approximately 1,040–1,210 baht. Busonlineticket lists seats on Sawasdee at 792–1,056 baht.
No. Phuket is not accessible by train. The nearest train station is Phun Phin in Surat Thani, and getting there from Pattaya involves going via Bangkok and ultimately a long bus ride, so the journey takes well over a day.
No. Pattaya is located on the Gulf of Thailand and Phuket on the Andaman Sea; the peninsula lies between them. The "ferry connections" suggested by route planners consist of bus and boat trips through the Gulf islands that take more than a day.
The route is approximately 970 km by road and about 620 km as the crow flies. The journey takes 13 to 17 hours, while a direct flight takes 1 hour and 40 minutes.
Private car rentals from 12Go cost between 12,000 and 20,000 baht, depending on the vehicle, and take 13 to 17 hours – from small cars to nine-seater minibuses. For one or two people, a direct flight is cheaper.
The journey from Pattaya city center takes about 40 minutes by Grab, taxi, or pre-booked car. A 12Go ride from a Pattaya hotel costs approximately 800–1000 baht for a sedan. For the 1:00 PM ferry to Phuket, you should leave around 11:00 AM.
Sources
The flight, bus and coach details on this page come from these websites.
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Onward journey from Phuket
The next stage, with the fastest and cheapest way to get there.
Return journey? From Phuket to Pattaya – All 13 routes from Phuket
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I lived in Bangkok for four years and traveled throughout the country from there. The guidebooks reflect my personal opinion and are written as I would explain things to a friend planning a trip.
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