Thai Airports

Most visitors reach Pattaya through one of three airports: Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang in Bangkok, and U-Tapao next to Pattaya. Phuket and Samui are on this page for those who go south. Prices below are for a Standard Sedan.

Bangkok Suvarnabhumi (BKK)

Suvarnabhumi is the largest airport of Thailand and one of the largest hubs in South-East Asia, 25 km from the centre of Bangkok. It opened in September 2006. The control tower is 132.2 metres high, and the terminal covers 563,000 square metres, which only the terminals of Beijing and Hong Kong exceed. By default it handles 80 flights an hour.

In the design stage the site was called Nong Ngu Hao, the Swamp of Cobras. The king gave the airport the name Suvarnabhumi, the Golden Land. A taxi to Pattaya is the quickest way: 124 km, about 1 hour 30 minutes, 1,199 THB. See Suvarnabhumi to Pattaya.

Don Mueang (DMK)

Don Mueang was the main international airport of Thailand until 2006. It was founded in March 1914 on the base of the air force and lies 22 km north of the centre of Bangkok. Today it serves domestic and Asian flights. To Pattaya it is 130 km, about 2 hours, 1,499 THB: Don Mueang to Pattaya.

U-Tapao (UTP)

U-Tapao is 43 km from Pattaya and has both civil and military use. It serves mainly flights to Samui and Phuket and international charters. The taxi to Pattaya takes about 45 minutes and costs 999 THB.

Phuket (HKT)

The airport of the largest island of Thailand stands on Mai Khao beach, 30 km from Phuket Town, and has a modern terminal. A Standard Sedan from the airport to Pattaya costs 10,899 THB (955 km, about 10 hours 40 minutes), and to Bangkok 9,399 THB.

Samui (USM)

Samui Airport is near the Pan Gan pier and is called one of the most beautiful airports of the world. It is built in the shape of a wooden house, with flowers, flower beds and exotic plants inside, and it is considered environmentally friendly.

Other airports

Domestic and military or commercial flights go through many other airports. Chiang Mai serves domestic and international flights, and Krabi handles domestic flights to Bangkok and international ones to Singapore. For Krabi by road see Krabi.