Thailand by bus

Intercity buses in Thailand

In Thailand intercity buses are available on more than 449 travel combinations, while traveling with an average speed of 45 km/h. Of course, intercity bus routes via highway have a higher average speed. The majority of the Thai intercity buses are comfortable long distance coaches, but older vehicles might be used on busier travel days.

The timetable for popular intercity bus routes like Chiang Mai - Pai or Pai - Chiang Mai can be found online, but for some shorter intercity bus routes you might have to go to the bus station. Tickets are sold both online and on the spot, but after the COVID-19 pandemic an increasing number of travellers prefer buying their tickets online.

Domestic routes

As mentioned above there are more than 449 domestic intercity bus travel combinations in Thailand. Below you will find some of the most popular Thai travel routes with minimal or no stops along the way:

Airport buses in Thailand

If you are flying to Thailand you will land in one of 12 airports located throughout the country. From the majority of Thai airports you have a bus shuttle to the nearest largest city and in some cases even intercity buses to other cities in the region. Click on the airport name below and read more about getting to and from the airport.

International airports:

Domestic airports:

Bus companies in Thailand

There are over 194 bus companies operating in Thailand. 143 companies offer intercity bus lines, 5 companies drive airport shuttles, 0 companies operate regional and local lines, 10 bus companies offer bus rental and 4 companies offer bus tours. The bus companies are located in 39 cities throughout the country. The majority of companies can be found in Bangkok and Phuket.

143 intercity bus companies operating in Thailand are very different in size. The largest Thai company Thai Railway connects more than 60 cities, whereas the smallest intercity bus company Ahlin Tour only has service to 1 cities.
Below we have listed some of the most popular bus companies in Thailand. Full list of bus companies in Thailand can be found here.

Bus stations in Thailand

In most cities there is a dedicated bus station, in smaller cities the bus station might be a parking lot with a shelter or a section on the road marked for multiple buses. In some cities buses also stop at public road bus stops or at gas stations and hotel parking lots. In larger cities you will find bus stations with amenities like toilets, luggage storage, kiosks, fast food restaurants and other useful services for travellers. In Thailand there is a total of 116 bus stations, below we have listed 15 of the most popular bus stations, for a full list of bus stations in Thailand click here.

Hire a coach in Thailand

Thai bus rental companies offer coaches for any kind of group trip, whether it’s a transfer from the airport to your hotel, or single and multi day excursions to the many sights in Thailand. Rest assured you will be able to find a suitable partner. If you are travelling during the high season, it is advisable to book your bus in advance to secure one of the best vehicles for your group.
Here you can see a list of some companies offering bus rental in Thailand:

• Pattaya Express
• Lotte
• Pongprasert Tour
• Thai Sriram
• Vision Transport

What to see in Thailand

As a visitor of Thailand, you have lots of great Thai sights to visit. Some of the most popular sights are Railay Beach, Wat Arun (Bangkok), and Khao Yai National Park (Nakhon Ratchasima). That said, there are a lot of other sights in Thailand worth visiting! Some of the sights do not have an entrance fee, whilst others charge for entrance. Below you will find a list of the most popular sights in Thailand:

Railay Beach

beach

free entrance

Wat Arun

monumental building

Khao Yai National Park

national park

Grand Palace

monumental building

Phuket Big Buddha

monument

Phuket FantaSea

amusement park