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

Reach Bangkok's Eastern Bus Terminal by BTS and catch buses to Pattaya, Rayong, Trat and Koh Chang. Tickets, facilities and tips.

Bus terminal 🇹🇭 Thailand Bangkok

Last updated: October 26, 2026

Eastern Bus Terminal (Ekkamai)

Photo: シャムネコ / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Every bus and minibus to Pattaya, Rayong, Ban Phe (for Koh Samet), Chanthaburi and Trat starts here, along with the morning coaches to the Laem Ngop piers for Koh Chang. The Eastern Bus Terminal, officially Bangkok Bus Terminal (Ekkamai), sits on Sukhumvit Road right by BTS Ekkamai, so you can ride the Skytrain to the door.[1] That makes it the easiest of Bangkok's long-distance terminals to reach. For the north and northeast you need Mo Chit 2, and for the south Sai Tai Mai.[2]

The Transport Co., a state enterprise, runs the terminal, and private operators work its licensed routes alongside its own buses.[2] Expect air-conditioned coaches for the longer runs and minibuses for the short hops.[1]

Location and how to get there

The terminal stands on Sukhumvit Road in Phra Khanong Nuea subdistrict, Watthana District.[1]

  • BTS Skytrain: Take the Sukhumvit Line to Ekkamai station. The terminal is next to it, so there is almost no walk.[1]
  • Taxi or ride-hailing: Sukhumvit Road clogs at rush hour. If you have a ferry or flight to catch, the BTS is the safer bet.

Operators and destinations

Almost everything heads east. Buses and minibuses serve Chonburi province (Pattaya, Bang Saen), Rayong (Ban Phe and the Koh Samet ferries), Chanthaburi (the city and Laem Sing) and Trat (the gateway to Koh Chang and Koh Kood). Minivans also cover shorter hops to nearby towns.[1]

The covered bus bays and waiting seats at the Eastern Bus Terminal in Ekkamai
The covered bus bays and waiting seats at the Eastern Bus Terminal in EkkamaiPhoto: Chainwit. / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0

The Transport Co. runs a morning coach to the Koh Chang piers: the 07:45 to Laem Ngop arrives at 14:30 and costs 292 baht in the standard class.[1] It saves you a change in Trat. For the other destinations, schedules shift with the season, so look up the day you travel in the route guides: 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.

Koh Kood is reached from Laem Sok pier in Trat Province, where high-speed catamarans cross to Ao Salad on the island in about an hour.[3] Take a bus to Trat first and continue to the pier from there.

Tickets and facilities

  • Counters: Plenty of ticket counters serve the terminal, and you can buy a seat for the next bus on the spot.[1]
  • Online: Book at tcl99web.transport.co.th, which has an English version, and pay within 30 minutes by card or QR, or at a 7-Eleven or counter service for a 15-baht fee. You can also buy at the pink BKS counters, in the BKS E-Ticket app or via Line @BKS99.[4]
  • Food: Restaurants and convenience stores inside the terminal cover a snack or coffee while you wait.[1]
  • Waiting: There is a seating area and restrooms.[1]

Tips

  • Pick a full-size coach over a minibus when both run to your destination. You get more room for a long ride.
  • Allow extra time at rush hour. Sukhumvit Road is slow, and buses can crawl out of the terminal, so do not plan a tight ferry connection.
  • Heading to Koh Chang? The Laem Ngop bus skips the change in Trat. If you miss it, take any Trat bus and continue from there.

Sources and background

Numbers in the text such as [1] refer to these sources.

  1. [1] BusTicket.in.th (Transport Co., Ltd. ticketing): Bangkok Bus Terminal Eastern (Ekkamai): timetable, services and information. Retrieved October 21, 2026.
  2. [2] The Transport Co., Ltd (Bor Kor Sor): Scope of business of The Transport Co., Ltd (Thai). Retrieved October 19, 2026.
  3. [3] Boonsiri High Speed Ferry: Koh Kood Travel Guide 2026: Beaches, Waterfalls & How to Get There. Retrieved October 26, 2026.
  4. [4] The Transport Co., Ltd (Bor Kor Sor): BKS online booking: how to book and pay. Retrieved October 21, 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the Eastern Bus Terminal in Bangkok?

It is on Sukhumvit Road in Ekkamai, right next to BTS Ekkamai station on the Sukhumvit Line. The official name is Bangkok Bus Terminal (Ekkamai).

How do I get to Ekkamai Bus Terminal?

Take the BTS Sukhumvit Line to Ekkamai station, which is beside the terminal. A taxi works too, but Sukhumvit Road is often congested, so the Skytrain is more predictable.

Which buses leave from Ekkamai Bus Terminal?

Buses and minibuses to Pattaya, Bang Saen, Rayong, Ban Phe (Koh Samet), Chanthaburi and Trat, plus a morning bus to Laem Ngop for Koh Chang. Services to the north and northeast leave from Mo Chit 2, and southern services from Sai Tai Mai.

How do I buy a ticket for the Pattaya bus?

Buy at the ticket counters in the terminal or book online at tcl99web.transport.co.th, which has an English version. Pay within 30 minutes of booking.

Is Ekkamai the same as the Eastern Bus Terminal?

Yes. Ekkamai Bus Terminal, Eastern Bus Terminal and Bangkok Bus Terminal (Ekkamai) are the same station.

Can I reach Koh Chang from Ekkamai?

Yes. A morning Transport Co. bus runs to the Laem Ngop piers for Koh Chang, or you can take any bus to Trat and continue from there.

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