Your Travel Guide to Thailand
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All you need to know to visit Pattaya
Central Thailand
140 km from Bangkok
Province of Chonburi
Thai prononciation : Pattaya
Travel guide to visit Pattaya
Pattaya's reputation as the epicenter of sex tourism in Thailand is well established. While efforts have been made to attract more family-oriented tourism, it is clear that gogo bars and other establishments promoting encounters or offering, let's say, rather suggestive services, are ubiquitous—not only on the famous Walking Street. Additionally, the beaches in the south of Pattaya are far from exceptional, crowded with speedboats in the morning, which later give way to a dense forest of umbrellas and deckchairs. In short, if nightlife and its excesses are not your thing, one might say that Pattaya is not for you. Perhaps not all of Pattaya, but certainly South Pattaya. However, there is still Naklua in the north, as well as Jomtien or even Na Jomtien, which I personally prefer over Jomtien, although the strong Russian presence can also be a bit overwhelming.
But for the beautiful beaches, it is not that far to go, Koh Larn Island off the coast of Pattaya is not far and if on the weekend many Bangkokians come there in large numbers to spend the weekend, during the week, as long as you avoid the very crowded Tawaen Beach, it is really nicer than the beaches of Pattaya.
There are a few visits to do in Pattaya, like the Sanctuary of Truth, the Big Buddha on the hill between South Pattaya and Jomtien and the floating market, which is certainly quite commercial and artificial.
Russian customers have been very present in Pattaya for several years, especially in Jomtien with even the storefronts and massage parlors exclusively in Cyrillic. In South Pattaya, avoid the seaside in the evening, especially if you are with your family, as well as Walking Street at the end of the same street, the mecca of nightlife with its go-go bars and striptease, you avoid embarrassing questions from your children...
In short, you will have understood, even if Pattaya is trying to rebuild its image as a destination for family holidays in Thailand, for my part, it is not a destination that I particularly like even if I like Nakluea and Koh Larn if we choose to sleep there.
To see all optiosn to get around in Pattaya, read our dedicated paragraph about getting around in Pattaya.
Accommodations in Pattaya
When we speak of Pattaya, you should know that there are many areas, more or less lively. Optionsto sleep in Pattaya are very numerous. This is South Pattaya with its sulphurous Walking Street that attracts the most tourists and is the busiest district. It contains the largest number of hotels and guesthouses. The tourist density in Jomtien, a little further in the South is also very important. The Russian community there is a large and small accommodation with cheap rates are less numerous. They are mostly concentrated near Thap Phraya Road. The more you go to Na Jomtien, the less umbrellas on the beach and accommodation are numerous. In the North, Naklua is much quieter. There is less accommodation. In North Pattaya, the cheapest guesthouses are located in Soi 3 and its surroundings.Find accommodation in Pattaya
My recommandations
Practical information about Pattaya
Note that here Songkran festival, the celebration where people splash water on each other to celebrate the Thai new year, lasts a week instead of three days like in the rest of the country. During this period (starting April 13), you can not go out in the street without risking being completly wet. So dress accordingly.Pattaya has its own television channel: TV Pattaya. There are many buses from Bangkok to go to Pattaya (you can book your tickets online HERE)
How to go to Pattaya ?
To go to Pattaya, the most convenient is the bus. From Bangkok, there are very regular ones that leave from the Ekkamai Terminal or the Mo Chit Terminal but less frequently or from Suvarnabhumi International Airport and even since March 2025 from Don Muang Airport!
From Bangkok, the bus journey takes a little over 2 hours. You can book your tickets online HERE or buy them directly at the dedicated ticket offices in the bus terminals or at the airports in Bangkok, knowing that if you buy them at the last minute, you may have to let one or two buses leave before you get a seat.
Alternatively, Pattaya has an airport, in Utapao, with direct flights from Koh Samui, Phuket or Udon Thani and even Chiang Mai, which land there as well as a few international flights. Otherwise, there are two trains per day from Bangkok.
How to get around in Pattaya ?
Surprisingly, there are quite a few tuk-tuks in Pattaya. And the taximeters that circulate in Pattaya generally come from Bangkok and are very reluctant to use their meters. Motorcycle taxis are much more numerous and cheaper but less safe. There are still apps for ordering vehicles with drivers like InDRIVE or Grab and Bolt.
But the most used transport to get around Pattaya remains the songthaews also called bath buses. They generally circulate on defined routes and charge 10 THB for a short trip. The white songthaews go to Si Racha or Sattahip (and the fare is more expensive if you go to these destinations). Dark blue buses run mainly between Naklua and Jomtien.
Pattaya city also has a bus service on 3 routes designated by 3 colors, green, red and yellow. All routes start at the Big C in South Pattaya. A one-way ticket costs about 20 baht. Maps are available from drivers and at most hotels and resorts.
Renting a car in Pattaya costs from 800 to 1500 THB per day depending on the model, renting a scooter starts at 150 THB (often with a deposit of 1000 THB). Inspect your vehicle carefully and take pictures to avoid any problems later. And if some rental companies ask you to leave your passport as security, refuse, it is illegal and could cause you problems. You are supposed to have your passport with you at all times.
Festivals in Pattaya ?
Here is a list of the main festivals taking place every year in Pattaya. I mention their dates as soon as they are official on Thai Festivals page.
Wonderfruit Festival
This festival generally takes place in the month of Several times a year
Pattaya International Music Festival
This festival generally takes place in the month of March
Pattaya Lighting festival
This festival generally takes place in the month of May
Pattaya Seafood Festival
This festival generally takes place in the month of May
Pattaya Bikini Beach Race
This festival generally takes place in the month of October
Pattaya International Fireworks Festival
This festival generally takes place in the month of novembre
Pattaya traditional boats race
This festival generally takes place in the month of November
Pattaya New Year Countdown Celebrations Festival
This festival generally takes place in the month of December
Plus d'infos sur Pattaya New Year Countdown Celebrations Festival
Must-visits in Pattaya
Sanctuary of Truth
ปราสาทสัจธรรม
Pattaya Big Buddha
วัดพระใหญ่
Koh Larn island
เกาะล้านOther places to see in Pattaya
Wang Sam Sien
on the hill between South Pattaya and Jomtien, just before the Big Buddha, this small Chinese temple is especially interesting for its wall where you can read short stories and Chinese legends
Pattaya Floating Market
built from scratch, this floating market is certainly artificial, but still a nice place to shop, stroll and eat especially if you have not yet had the opportunity to see this type of market. The choice of wooden and bamboo houses and boardwalks gives it an appreciable semblance of authenticity even if the place is still far from a real traditional Thai floating market.
Khao Chi Chan
mountain a few dozen kilometers from Pattaya with a large Buddha image drawn on one of its walls. It is located in the district of Sathahip.
Koh Si Chang island
Located opposite the town of Si Racha, a little north of Pattaya, Koh Sichang island is quite rocky with only two sandy beaches but between its viewpoints and landscape, its temples, its seafood restaurants and the location of a royal residence which was dismantled and rebuilt in Bangkok, it is an island very popular with Thais who come in large numbers on weekends and public holidays. It is a short trip from Bangkok.
Weather & climate in
Pattaya has a tropical humid and dry climate. There are three seasons in Pattaya : a warm and dry season (December to February), the best time, a hot and humid season (March and April) and a warm and rainy season (May to November).The best moment to come to Pattaya is from November to April and especially from December to February. September and October are the rainiest months.
How to ask in Thai to go to Pattaya ?
I want to go to Pattaya / Yak paï ti Pattaya.Where is Pattaya ? / Pattaya you ti naï ?
All COVID-19 restrictions for coming to Thailand lifted from October 1 !
We have been waiting for it for months, hoping it will happen on July 1, but it will finally be October 1, 2022, when Thailand will lift the last COVID restrictions to enter the country. From this date, it will no longer be necessary to show...