Ekkamai Bus Terminal (Eastern Bus Terminal) Bangkok: travel guide

The Eastern Bus Terminal, officially Bangkok Bus Terminal (Ekkamai), is where buses and minibuses to Pattaya, Rayong, Ban Phe (for Koh Samet), Chanthaburi and Trat leave, including the morning buses to the Laem Ngop piers for Koh Chang. It is run by the state-owned Transport Co. and sits on Sukhumvit Road right beside BTS Ekkamai, which makes it the easiest of Bangkok's three long-distance terminals to reach by train. For the north and northeast you need Mo Chit 2, and for the south you need Sai Tai Mai.

The terminal opened on 1 January 1960 and has never been moved. It is a single-storey building, small by Bangkok standards, and most departures are air-conditioned first-class buses plus a lot of minibuses on short eastern routes.

Location and how to get there

The terminal stands on Sukhumvit Road at the corner of Ekkamai Road, opposite the start of Soi Ekkamai (Sukhumvit Soi 63), and next to the Gateway Ekkamai shopping centre. Transport Co lists the address in Phra Khanong Nuea subdistrict, Watthana District.

• BTS Skytrain: Take the Sukhumvit Line to Ekkamai station. Travelfish describes the station as right beside the terminal, so there is no real walk.
• Taxi or ride-hailing: Travelfish quotes 150 to 300 baht from Silom or Khao San Road, with a slow crawl along Sukhumvit at busy times. If you have a flight or ferry to catch, the BTS is more predictable.
• City bus: BMTA bus 40 links Ekkamai with the Southern Bus Terminal (Sai Tai Mai) according to the Wikipedia article on that terminal, which is useful if you arrive from the south and need to continue east.

Operators and destinations

Transport Co (the "999" buses) is the main operator, and several private bus and minibus companies share the terminal. Almost everything goes east: Chonburi province (Bang Saen, Sri Racha, Pattaya), Rayong (Ban Phe for the Koh Samet ferries), Chanthaburi and Trat. There are also a few other services, such as minibuses to Hua Hin and Mae Klong.

The table shows what Travelfish recorded on the station signboards. Fares and frequencies change, so treat them as a guide to how often buses run.

Transport Co's own timetable lists the 07:45 Laem Ngop bus at 292 baht, so the real fare may be higher than the signboard figure above. See the route guides for Bangkok to Pattaya, Bangkok to Rayong, Bangkok to Koh Samet, Bangkok to Trat, Bangkok to Koh Chang, Bangkok to Koh Kood, Bangkok to Chonburi, Bangkok to Sa Kaeo and Bangkok to Hua Hin.

For Koh Kood, Koh Mak and other small islands in Trat, take a bus to Trat and arrange the onward boat transfer there; some combined tickets include the ferry.

Tickets and facilities

• Counters: The ticket counters are near the entrance. Most mark destinations in Thai and English, and your ticket shows the platform number for the bus pavilion at the back.
• Online: Transport Co sells tickets at tcl99web.transport.co.th, though the site is mostly in Thai. Agents such as 12Go cover only some of the services.
• Left luggage: Travelfish reports a 24-hour self-service locker system at 30 baht per hour or 240 baht per day for a large bag.
• Food: A few shops in the terminal sell coffee, drinks and snacks. For a proper meal, use the restaurants in Gateway Ekkamai next door.
• Other: Transport Co lists restrooms, a waiting area and convenience stores.

Tips

• Choose a full-size bus over a minibus when you can. Travelfish describes the minibuses as cramped and recommends the larger buses for comfort and safety.
• At peak hours Sukhumvit Road is congested, and Travelfish notes it can take up to 30 minutes just for a bus to leave the terminal. Do not plan tight connections with a ferry.
• For Koh Chang, the 07:45 and 09:00 Laem Ngop buses save a change in Trat. If you miss them, take any Trat bus and continue from there.
• Check the terminal before you travel if you hear about a move. In 2022 Transport Co spoke of relocating to Bang Na, and in 2025 the Transport Ministry considered moving all three terminals to Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal. In May 2026 the ministry ruled out moving Mo Chit 2, and there is no confirmed date for moving Ekkamai.