Getting around Pattaya

Most of Pattaya Beach’s hotels, clubs, bars and shops are condensed into an area that spans little more than a few kilometres, so it’s perfectly possible to get around entirely on foot. However, the transport facilities here are so regular, reliable and affordable that you’ll probably see little point. Getting to anyone of the nearby beach areas, like Jomtien or Naklua, is also a cinch.






Songthaew

The most common form of transport in Pattaya is a songthaew, a dark blue pick-up truck with two benches in the back and a cover on top. Called 'baht buses' by most people, the official fare within Pattaya is B5, but foreigners are expected to pay B10. Although two tier pricing irritates many people, fighting the system probably isn't worth the effort. The fixed fare only applies when the songthaew is following a set route like a bus. If you want it to take you somewhere off its route, you'll have to negotiate a price.

The most frequently used route is a circular one along Beach Road, then left on South Pattaya Road to Second Road where it again turns left and travels parallel to Beach Road. When it reaches the Dolphin Circle roundabout, it travels back to Beach Road and begins the journey again. At Dolphin Circle some songthaews head to Naklua Beach and others up North Pattaya Road to the a/c bus terminal and Sukhumvit Road. Songthaews from the North Pattaya Road bus station to points along Beach Front and Second Road are B20. Songthaews to Jomtien can be boarded at the intersection of South Pattaya and Second Road.

For trips up and down Sukhumvit Road (the main highway to Bangkok) including trips to and from the airport at U-Taphao, the songthaew are white and cost B20. Songthaew from the North Pattaya Road bus station to points along Beach Front and Second Road are B20.

Motorbike Taxi

Pattaya is chocablok with easy to identify motorbike taxis. The operators wear colourful vests and can be flagged down as the cruise the streets or camp on street corners chatting and playing checkers.
The tariff is usually between B30 and B40 for trips within Pattaya, an amount that cheaper than chartering a songthaew. On the other hand, a songthaew is safer as there is a wall of metal between you and oblivion.