Pattaya

A coastal city on the Gulf of Thailand known for Walking Street nightlife, a 2.7 km beach and day trips to Ko Lan.

Find a room in Pattaya Start with the essentials Plan a trip to Pattaya

We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.

Pattaya is a beach city on the east coast of the Gulf of Thailand, in Chonburi province, about 150 km southeast of Bangkok. It started as a fishing village, and tourism grew during the Vietnam War, when American servicemen came on R&R leave. People come for Pattaya Beach, a bay of about 2.7 km, and for Walking Street, the nightlife strip at the beach's southern end.

Stay on Pattaya Beach for the city centre and nightlife, or in Jomtien, south of the city across Thepprasit Road, for high-rise condominiums, hotels and bungalows. Phra Tamnak Hill, also called Buddha Hill, has viewpoints and the Wat Phra Yai temple on its summit. Ko Lan, about 7 km offshore, is the closest island for a day trip. The 389 airport bus from Suvarnabhumi takes about 1.5 hours. Pick December to February for hot, dry weather. May to November is rainy, and flooding is frequent in the monsoon season. Two to three days covers the beaches, the hill and an island trip.

Pattaya in five

Get from Bangkok by bus, taxi or trainPattaya is roughly 2 hours from Bangkok by road, more in traffic. Buses and taxis are quickest; the train is cheap but slower. Fix your transfer before you land.Bangkok to Pattaya
Choose your area before your hotelCentral Pattaya is loud and walkable, Wong Amat and Naklua calmer, Pratumnak Hill quiet and Jomtien long and relaxed. A wrong area costs more evenings than a wrong room.Where to stay in Pattaya
Take a boat to Ko Larn for clearer waterFerries and speedboats leave from the Bali Hai pier in South Pattaya. Go on an early boat to beat the tour groups, and check the last return before you stay for sunset.
Agree jet ski prices in writingDamage-claim disputes over jet ski rentals are a well-known problem here. Use a posted rate, photograph the craft before you ride and walk away if an operator will not put the terms on paper.
Compare with Ko Samet before you commitIf beaches matter more than nightlife and malls, Ko Samet is 2–3 hours away by road and boat and has cleaner sand. Pattaya wins for rainy-day options and late nights.Pattaya or Ko Samet

Things to do in Pattaya

See all attractions in Pattaya

Sight · PattayaKo Lan

Temple · PattayaWat Phra YaiCover your shoulders and knees as a courtesy; long trousers are a practical choice.

a body of water with a boat in it and people around it

Museum · PattayaAnek Kusala Sala (Viharn Sien)Take time to explore both floors; the collection is spread throughout the building.

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to PattayaPut the places you like in Pattaya on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: Bangkok (BKK) about 1–1.5 hr by road; U-Tapao (UTP) is closer
Getting there: Bus, taxi or train from Bangkok, about 2–3 hr
Getting around: Baht buses (songthaews), ride-hailing, motorbike taxis, scooters
Best base: Wong Amat or Pratumnak Hill for calm; Central Pattaya for nightlife
Time needed: 2–3 days; 4 with Ko Larn and an inland day

Weather by month

Rainy days

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh30°Low24°Dry, sunny
FebruaryPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh31°Low25°Dry, hot
MarchRain14 rainy daysHigh31°Low27°Hot, calm
AprilRain14 rainy daysHigh32°Low27°Hot, Songkran
MayRain21 rainy daysHigh32°Low28°Rains start
JuneRain20 rainy daysHigh31°Low27°Wet, windy
JulyRain24 rainy daysHigh30°Low27°Wet, gaps of sun
AugustRain23 rainy daysHigh30°Low27°Wet
SeptemberRain25 rainy daysHigh30°Low26°Wettest
OctoberRain25 rainy daysHigh30°Low26°Rains ease
NovemberRain14 rainy daysHigh30°Low25°Dry, cooler
DecemberClear6 rainy daysHigh30°Low24°Dry, peak

Average daily high and low in Pattaya, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Pattaya

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 32°
Humidity: 91%
Wind: 4 km/h
Chance of rain: 100%

Pattaya

04:59 AM

Tuesday, November 3

GMT+7

Today31°24°100%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 100%.
Wed29°24°100%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 29°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 100%.
Thu30°25°96%Thursday: Thunderstorms. High 30°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 96%.
Fri31°25°90%Friday: Thunderstorms. High 31°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 90%.
Sat30°23°78%Saturday: Drizzle. High 30°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 78%.
Sun31°24°71%Sunday: Thunderstorms. High 31°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 71%.

Updated 01:07 AM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 33.76 THB

Amount

Converted to

THB · Thai Baht

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

Day trips by train

Ko Larnabout 30–45 min by ferryBeaches with clearer water than the city bay, best on an early boat.
Ko Sametabout 2–3 hours by road and boatA beach island reached from Ban Phe pier, with quieter sand.Read the guide
Bangkokabout 2 hours by roadThe capital for a day, or the other end of a short add-on trip.Read the guide

Before you go to Pattaya

Ko Larn and Pattaya day toursBoat, snorkel and transfer optionsCompare day trips

Pattaya hotels by areaBeachfront, hillside and condo staysCheck availability

eSIM for PattayaRide-hailing and maps on landingRead the guide

Insurance for water sportsCheck jet ski and scooter coverRead the guide

We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.

Rules for Pattaya, checked

Check entry requirements for your nationality with the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs before you book.Source
If you are the victim of a crime in Pattaya, the Tourist Police division can help. Report serious incidents to local police.
Prostitution is illegal in Thailand, including Pattaya, though it is tolerated in many places.
Cover shoulders and knees at Wat Phra Yai on Phra Tamnak Hill and other temples, and take off your shoes before entering temple halls.

All Pattaya guides

a very tall building with a sky in the background

Where to stayWhere to stay in Pattaya: four areas, from Walking Street to JomtienChecked Oct 3, 2026

How toBangkok to Pattaya: bus, taxi, train and airport transfers comparedChecked Oct 3, 2026

Head to headPattaya or Ko Samet: which beach trip from Bangkok suits you?Checked Oct 2, 2026

Plan around Pattaya

All of Thailand

Entry rules, regions and costs

Read the guide Ko Samet

Powdery beaches 2–3 hours down the coast

Read the guide Bangkok

The usual start or end point for a Pattaya trip

Read the guide

Pattaya FAQ

Is Pattaya worth visiting?

Yes if you want an easy beach resort near Bangkok with nightlife, malls, water parks and boat trips. It is not the place for quiet, clear-water beaches; for those, take a boat to Ko Larn or choose Ko Samet.

How many days do you need in Pattaya?

Two to three days covers the beach, one Ko Larn boat day and an inland sight such as the Sanctuary of Truth. Add a day for a water park, Nong Nooch Tropical Garden or a rainy-day mall visit.

Can you swim at Pattaya Beach?

Many visitors do, but the city bay is busy with boats and water clarity is a common complaint. Cleaner water is at Ko Larn and in quieter bays. Heed lifeguard flags, especially in the wet season.

Is Pattaya good for families?

Yes in the right areas. Wong Amat, Jomtien and Pratumnak Hill are calmer than Central Pattaya, and Walking Street is an adult nightlife strip after dark. Pick the area first, then the hotel.

Pattaya or Phuket for a beach trip?

Pattaya is two hours from Bangkok by road, so it is a short add-on. Phuket needs a flight but has better beaches and island trips. Choose Pattaya for a few days, Phuket for a beach week.