Quick Options Ranked by Reliability
| Mode | Time | Cost | Comfort |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grab Taxi | 6 min | 160-200 THB | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Score: 9) |
| Baht Bus | 10 min | 10 THB | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Score: 8) |
The distance between Central Pattaya and South Pattaya is about 2.5 km. Sounds short? It is. But traffic on Beach Road turns it into a 20-minute crawl during happy hour (17:00-19:00). Mornings are smooth.
Baht Bus: The 10 THB Lottery
Catch it on Second Road near the Dolphin Roundabout. You’ll see blue songthaews rolling by every 5-10 minutes. Wave your hand. Driver stops. Climb in the back. Pay 10 THB when you hop off. Easy.
Comfort? Zero. You’re sitting on metal benches with your knees touching a stranger’s. Luggage space? Also zero. Saw a backpacker try to squeeze a 70L pack in last month. Driver kicked him off. If you’ve got more than a daypack, skip this.
Check current baht bus routes on 12Go if you want to map the stops. But honestly? Just flag one down and point.
Grab Taxi: The 6-Minute Escape
Open the app. Pin your pickup spot. Car arrives in 3 minutes. Driver knows you’re going to South Pattaya before you even say it (every third ride is this route). AC cranked. No small talk. You’re there in 6 minutes flat.
Surge pricing hits Friday/Saturday nights (20:00-02:00). Price jumps to 250 THB. Still worth it if you’re drunk and your phone is dying. Want a private driver booked in advance? Compare prices on Kiwitaxi. Good for airport pickups too.
Comfort & Amenities Showdown
Baht bus = open-air sauna. You’ll smell exhaust fumes, grilled pork from street vendors, and someone’s cigarette smoke. Grab taxi = sealed bubble with AC and a driver who won’t try to sell you a ping pong show ticket.
Luggage? Taxi fits 2-3 suitcases. Baht bus fits nothing. I’ve seen tourists balance suitcases on their laps for 10 minutes. Looked miserable.
Route Map & Final Tips
Both options follow Beach Road or Second Road. Baht buses hug Second Road with stops every block. Taxis cut through sois (side streets) to dodge traffic. You’ll pass Central Festival Mall, Walking Street junction, and South Pattaya Road in that order.
Peak traffic times: 08:00-09:00 (school run), 17:00-19:00 (office workers). Add 5-10 minutes to any estimate during those windows. Early morning (06:00-08:00)? Smooth sailing.
Need to connect to other routes? Check the Pattaya Bus Terminal 2 to City Center guide if you’re arriving from Bangkok. Or the North Pattaya to U-Tapao Airport route if you’re flying out.
Baht buses stop running fixed routes after midnight. You’ll negotiate a charter price (100-200 THB). Grab runs 24/7 but surge pricing is brutal after 01:00 (300+ THB). Plan accordingly.
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