The rational design of bifunctional catalysts is an effective strategy for improving the reaction performance. In this work, three Pt/ZSM-5 catalysts (all of the loading of platinum is relatively low, about 0.2 wt %) were prepared through three different preparation methods, and then their application in the alkylation of benzene with ethane to ethylbenzene was studied. Among the three catalysts, the one prepared by the in situ encapsulation method contains nanoparticles of Pt mainly located in the interior of ZSM-5, and there is a low intimacy between the Pt−acid sites on the support. This catalyst shows the lowest benzene conversion. On the other hand, for the catalyst prepared by the impregnation method, the platinum particles are mainly located on the external surfaces of ZSM-5, and there is high intimacy between the Pt−acid active sites. This catalyst delivers high benzene conversion but low ethylbenzene selectivity due to easy access to the Pt−acid active sites for the side reactions. The best catalytic activity with a 90.6% ethylbenzene selectivity and a benzene conversion of 9.8% is achieved by the catalyst produced by ion exchange. This catalyst contains Pt located on both the external and interior of ZSM-5, with the highest intimacy between the Pt− acid active sites. It achieves not only high benzene conversion but also high ethylbenzene selectivity. This study reveals the relationship between the location and intimacy between two active sites of Pt/ZSM-5 catalysts in alkylation reactions and demonstrates a great significance for the rational design of other bifunctional or multifunctional metal−zeolite catalysts.