Pattaya Travel Guide: Where to Stay and What to Do

Updated September 2026

Pattaya

About Pattaya

A stay in Pattaya pairs beach time with evening entertainment, with Koh Larn close enough for a boat trip. Use this guide to choose a place to stay, get around and plan your days by the sea.

Pattaya is a beach city 150 kilometres southeast of Bangkok, about a two-hour drive away. Its mainland beaches include Pattaya Beach and Jomtien Beach, while passenger boats from South Pattaya Port cross to Koh Larn. Songthaews circle the main tourist routes, and the city has attractions including the Sanctuary of Truth, Tiffany's Show and Pattaya Floating Market. This guide covers beach choices, entertainment, an island day trip, transport, where to stay and practical details for planning your visit.

Where to stay

Hotels in Pattaya

Book direct on our own Pattaya hotel pages — no booking fee.

Places to stay by type in Pattaya

Pattaya at a glance

Local currency
THB (THB)
Local time
(GMT+7)
Suggested area to stay
Jomtien Beach, Pattaya Beach, South Pattaya

History, culture and food in Pattaya

When to visit Pattaya

How good each month is here, on this destination's own scale. It compares months within this city, never one city against another.

Best months: February, March, November and December
  1. Jan
    61

    Beach weather (sea 28°C)

  2. Feb
    63

    Chinese New Year (14 Feb-1 Mar 2026)

  3. Mar
    67

    Pattaya International Music Festival

  4. Apr
    37

    Songkran and Wan Lai Pattaya (busy and pricier: Very hot conditions; Songkran brings crowds and transport disruption.)

  5. May
    25

    Rainy (157 mm)

  6. Jun
    34

    Typhoon season (Jun-Nov); impacts uncommon

  7. Jul
    39

    Pattaya Marathon (typhoon season (Jun-Nov); impacts uncommon)

  8. Aug
    34

    Typhoon season (Jun-Nov); impacts uncommon

  9. Sep
    1

    Often avoided: Frequent heavy rain can disrupt beach plans and boat excursions.

  10. Oct
    0

    Often avoided: Frequent heavy rain can disrupt beach plans and boat excursions.

  11. Nov
    63

    Pattaya International Fireworks Festival

  12. Dec
    66

    Beach weather (sea 28°C)

Things to do in Pattaya

14 places worth your time, grouped by when they are at their best.

Best in the evening

1 place

Tiffany's Show

Indoors

Any time of day

13 places

Pattaya Beach

Outdoors

Jomtien Beach

Outdoors

Samae Beach

Koh Larn

Outdoors

Nuan Beach

Koh Larn

Outdoors

Ta Waen Beach

Outdoors

Thong Lang Beach

Outdoors

Pattaya Floating Market

Outdoors

The Sanctuary of Truth

Outdoors

Phra Tamnak Mountain Viewpoint

Outdoors

South Pattaya Port

Outdoors

Na Ban Pier

Outdoors

Hard Tawaen Pier

Outdoors

Koh Larn

Outdoors

Pattaya itineraries, day by day

View all itineraries
Things to book

Tours and activities in Pattaya

Guided tours, day trips and tickets to book alongside your stay.

Before you go to Pattaya

Distance southeast of Bangkok
150 km
Approximate drive from Bangkok
2 hours
Length of Pattaya Beach road
3 km
Jomtien Beach from Pattaya
6 km
Pattaya to Koh Larn by boat
45 min
Koh Larn ferry fare
20 baht

How do you get to Pattaya?

You can reach Pattaya by road from Bangkok, take a bus from Suvarnabhumi Airport or travel by minibus from U-Tapao Airport.

  • From Bangkok: Pattaya is 150 kilometres southeast of Bangkok, about a two-hour drive. Bus routes include Bangkok–Ekkamai–Pattaya and Bangkok (Mo Chit)–Pattaya.
  • From Suvarnabhumi Airport: The bus runs via Motorway No. 7 to Pattaya, covering 127 kilometres for 122 baht. There are four outbound trips daily, departing at 07:30, 11:30, 13:30 and 17:30.
  • From U-Tapao Airport: U-Tapao International Airport is about 45 kilometres from Pattaya. A shared minibus to Big C South Pattaya costs 150 baht per person and leaves outside Terminal 2 at 12:30, 14:00 and 17:00.

How do you get around Pattaya and Koh Larn?

Use songthaews on Pattaya’s main tourist roads, then choose local minibuses, motorbike taxis or a rental motorbike on Koh Larn.

  • Songthaews: Songthaews circle Pattaya Beach Road and Pattaya Second Road, which are main tourist routes. A North Pattaya–Central Pattaya route covers 23 kilometres.
  • Koh Larn transport: Minibuses and motorbike taxis operate on Koh Larn. Visitors can also rent a motorbike to ride themselves.
  • Ferry and speedboat: The ferry crossing from Pattaya takes 45 minutes and costs 20 baht. A speedboat takes 15 minutes; rentals cost 2,500–3,000 baht or are by agreement.

Where should you stay in Pattaya?

Jomtien Beach is an area to consider, with a beachside road and a location 6 kilometres from Pattaya.

  • Jomtien Beach is the only area with hotel coverage identified for this guide. Pattaya’s beach roads and songthaew routes can help you orientate yourself when comparing places to stay.
  • Jomtien Beach: Jomtien Beach is 6 kilometres from Pattaya and has a 3-kilometre beachside road. Consider it if you want a stay by the beach.
  • Pattaya Beach: Pattaya Beach has a 3-kilometre road along the beach, and songthaews circle Pattaya Beach Road. The route makes it useful to know when choosing a base near the main tourist roads.
  • South Pattaya: South Pattaya is the location of the port for passenger boats to Koh Larn. It is also part of the hilltop viewpoint’s setting between South Pattaya and Jomtien.
  • Central Pattaya: Songthaews run on a North Pattaya–Central Pattaya route of 23 kilometres. The route is useful context when considering movement between these parts of town.

Which beaches should you visit in Pattaya?

Pattaya Beach and Jomtien Beach are two mainland beach choices, while Koh Larn adds island beaches to a Pattaya stay.

  • Pattaya Beach has a 3-kilometre road running along the beach, and songthaews circle along Pattaya Beach Road. Jomtien Beach is 6 kilometres from Pattaya and has its own 3-kilometre beachside road, offering another base for time by the water.
  • Koh Larn adds beaches beyond the mainland. Samae Beach is 350 metres long and Nuan Beach is 250 metres long; speedboat visitors can also stop at Ta Waen Beach and Thong Lang Beach.
  • Use the songthaews that circle Pattaya Beach Road and Pattaya Second Road for the main tourist routes.
  • Allow for the 6-kilometre distance between Pattaya and Jomtien Beach.

What entertainment can you find in Pattaya?

Pattaya has evening performances, a floating market with cultural shows and a hilltop viewpoint near South Pattaya and Jomtien.

  • Tiffany's Show has weekday performances at 18:00, 19:30 and 21:00, with additional weekend shows at 16:30 and 22:30. Pattaya Floating Market combines shops made of teak wood representing Thailand's four regions with cultural performances in an activity zone.
  • For a daytime or evening visit, the Sanctuary of Truth runs day tours from 08:20 to 18:00 and a night tour from 18:20 to 20:30. Dress modestly inside and wear a helmet. Phra Tamnak Mountain Viewpoint is on a hill between South Pattaya and Jomtien, close to Bali Hai Cape.
  • Check show schedules before you go, particularly if you are planning around a weekend performance.
  • Wear modest clothing and a helmet for a visit to the Sanctuary of Truth.

How do you take a day trip to Koh Larn?

Take a passenger boat from South Pattaya Port to Koh Larn, or use a speedboat for a shorter crossing.

  • Passenger boats leave Pattaya’s South Pattaya Port, also called Balihai Cape, for the 7-kilometre crossing to Koh Larn. The journey takes 45 minutes and the ferry fare is 20 baht. Departures from Pattaya run from 07:00 through 18:30, with several services during the day.
  • The ferry stops at Na Ban Pier. On Koh Larn, minibuses and motorbike taxis operate, and visitors can rent a motorbike to ride themselves. Speedboats take 15 minutes; boats are available for 10 people, with rental at 2,500–3,000 baht or by agreement. Speedboat visitors can stop at Ta Waen Beach and Thong Lang Beach.
  • Keep the return departure times in mind when planning your day on Koh Larn.
  • Check ferry times before you go, as departures are spread across several piers.

When is a good time to visit Pattaya?

Pattaya is warm year-round; December to February have lower average rainfall than the wetter months of September and October.

  • Thailand's hot season runs from mid-February to mid-May, its rainy season from mid-May to mid-October, and its winter season from mid-October to mid-February. The monsoon starts and ends can vary from year to year. Pattaya’s average highs range from about 31°C to 33°C: April and May reach about 33°C, while September and October have the most average rain, at 231 mm and 216 mm. Sea temperatures range from about 28°C to 30°C, and December averages 7 mm of rain.
  • Songkran (April): The traditional festival runs from 13–15 April, with major celebrations in Pattaya and other destinations.
  • Loi Krathong (November): Loi Krathong is celebrated nationwide on the full-moon night of the 12th month in the Thai lunar calendar, normally in November.
  • Pattaya International Jazz Festival (November): The 2026 festival was scheduled for 6–7 November at Pattaya Beach.
  • Pattaya International Fireworks Festival (November): The 2026 festival was scheduled for 27–28 November at Pattaya Beach.

Arrival card

Non-Thai nationals entering Thailand must submit a Thailand Digital Arrival Card online before entry.

  • Submit it within three days in advance of arrival, including the arrival date. It applies to entry by land, air or sea and is valid for one use on the expected arrival date.
  • Transit passengers who do not pass through immigration do not need one; leaving the airport requires one.

VAT refund

Eligible purchases must total at least 2,000 baht including VAT, per day per store.

  • Buy from a shop displaying the “VAT REFUND FOR TOURISTS” sign, and take the goods out of Thailand within 60 days.
  • For purchases totalling 20,000 baht or more, present the goods, P.P.10 form and original tax invoices to Customs before check-in. Request the refund on the departure date, trip by trip.

Temple visits

Take off your shoes before entering Buddhist temples in Pattaya.

  • At the Sanctuary of Truth, dress modestly and wear a helmet inside.
  • At Khao Chee Chan Buddha Mountain, do not get too close to the Buddha.

Electricity

Thailand’s electricity supply is 220 volts at 50 cycles per second.

  • Outlets generally have flat, two-pronged plugs; some also have holes for round plug ends, and few have three holes for grounded plugs.

Emergency help

Call the Tourist Police hotline on 1155.

Alcohol rules

The legal drinking age in Thailand is 20.

  • Alcoholic beverages may generally be sold from 11:00 to 24:00. Sales may be restricted on major religious days or during other official periods announced by authorities.

Browse Pattaya stays

Near Pattaya

Straight-line distance from the centre of Pattaya.

Getaways from Pattaya

Places people from Pattaya travel to, from our own travel research.

Frequently asked questions about Pattaya

How far is Pattaya from Bangkok?

Pattaya is 150 kilometres southeast of Bangkok, about a two-hour drive. Bus routes run from Ekkamai and Mo Chit.

How do I get from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Pattaya?

A bus runs from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Pattaya via Motorway No. 7. It costs 122 baht, with departures at 07:30, 11:30, 13:30 and 17:30.

How do I get from U-Tapao Airport to Pattaya?

A shared minibus from outside Terminal 2 goes to Big C South Pattaya for 150 baht per person. Departures are at 12:30, 14:00 and 17:00.

How do you get around Pattaya?

Songthaews circle Pattaya Beach Road and Pattaya Second Road, the main tourist routes. A North Pattaya–Central Pattaya route covers 23 kilometres.

Where should I stay in Pattaya for a first visit?

Jomtien Beach is the area identified here, 6 kilometres from Pattaya with a 3-kilometre beachside road. Songthaews also circle Pattaya Beach Road and Pattaya Second Road.

Where should I stay in Pattaya for nightlife?

No particular nightlife area is specified. Pattaya Beach Road and Pattaya Second Road are main tourist routes served by songthaews.

Where should I stay in Pattaya on a budget?

No particular budget area is specified. Jomtien Beach is 6 kilometres from Pattaya and has a 3-kilometre beachside road.

How much is the ferry from Pattaya to Koh Larn?

The ferry fare is 20 baht, and the crossing takes 45 minutes. Passenger boats leave from South Pattaya Port, also called Balihai Cape.

What time do boats leave for Koh Larn?

Pattaya departures run from 07:00 to 18:30, including services at 07:00, 08:00, 09:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:30, 17:00 and 18:30.

Which beaches can I visit on Koh Larn?

The beaches include Samae Beach, which is 350 metres long, and Nuan Beach, which is 250 metres long. Speedboat visitors can stop at Ta Waen Beach and Thong Lang Beach.

What should I wear to the Sanctuary of Truth?

Dress modestly and wear a helmet inside the Sanctuary of Truth. Day tours run daily from 08:20 to 18:00, with a night tour from 18:20 to 20:30.

When is the rainy season in Pattaya?

Thailand's rainy season runs from mid-May to mid-October. September and October have average rainfall of 231 mm and 216 mm in Pattaya.

What festivals take place in Pattaya?

Songkran’s traditional festival runs from 13–15 April, and Pattaya’s International Jazz Festival and International Fireworks Festival were scheduled for November 2026. Loi Krathong is normally celebrated in November.

Can tourists claim VAT back in Thailand?

Yes, eligible purchases must be at least 2,000 baht including VAT per day per store, and the shop must display the “VAT REFUND FOR TOURISTS” sign. Goods must leave Thailand within 60 days of purchase.

What should I know before entering Thailand?

Non-Thai nationals must submit a Thailand Digital Arrival Card online within three days in advance of arrival, including the arrival date. It is required for entry by land, air or sea.