The long curve of Pattaya Bay
This beach is the city’s front edge. It runs roughly three kilometres around Pattaya Bay, with Beach Road and its palm-lined promenade on one side and the Gulf of Thailand on the other. Hotels, malls and bars sit shoulder to shoulder across the road.
The sand is wider than it once was. A sand-replenishment project finished in 2019 pushed the shoreline back out after years of erosion. You now get a proper strip of beach between the promenade wall and the water, lined with rows of rented deckchairs under umbrellas.
Walking the promenade, north to south
The promenade is the reason most people come. It is paved and flat, and it follows the whole bay, so you can walk end to end in well under an hour at an easy pace.
What you pass along the way:
- The northern stretch: calmer, with bigger hotels set back from the sand.
- Central Pattaya: Central Festival Pattaya Beach, the large shopping mall on Beach Road, useful for air conditioning, food courts and toilets.
- The southern end: Walking Street, the pedestrian nightlife strip, which leads down to Bali Hai Pier.
The beach faces west, so the sunset drops straight into the bay. Late afternoon is when the promenade fills with walkers, joggers and food carts. Look south from the pier for the Pattaya City sign on the slope of Pratamnak Hill.
Riding the baht bus loop
Getting around is easy and cheap. Beach Road is one-way heading south, and Second Road, one block inland, runs one-way north. The blue pickup-truck taxis called songthaews, or “baht buses”, circle this loop all day.
How to use them:
- Flag one down from the kerb. You do not need to book or agree on anything if it is on its normal route.
- Press the buzzer on the roof to stop.
- Get off, then pay the driver through the passenger window. Small notes and coins make it easier.
- If a driver quotes you a price before you get in, he is offering a private charter at a higher rate.
Coming from Bangkok, buses leave from Ekkamai (Eastern) Bus Terminal and take around two hours depending on traffic. There are also direct buses from Suvarnabhumi Airport. U-Tapao Airport, to the south, has some domestic and regional flights.
Deckchairs, jet skis and beach manners
A little care goes a long way here. The chairs on the sand belong to vendors. Once you sit down, you are renting one, so settle the price with the attendant first. Drinks and snacks are usually brought to your chair by the same operator.
Jet skis are where visitors get caught out. Pattaya has a long-running problem with operators who later claim you damaged the craft and demand payment. If you rent one, photograph every surface before you start, with the operator watching. Better still, skip it.
Some other things to know:
- Thailand bans smoking on major beaches, Pattaya included, outside designated zones, and fines are enforced.
- Topless sunbathing is not accepted on Thai beaches, even this one.
- Cover up with a shirt when you cross Beach Road into shops or malls.
Swim here, or take the boat to Koh Larn
Be honest with yourself about the water. Pattaya Bay is busy with boats and sits next to a city, so the water is usually murkier than you get on the islands. Plenty of people swim here anyway, but for clear turquoise water you need to leave the bay.
Ferries run from Bali Hai Pier to Koh Larn, a small island offshore. The public ferry takes about 45 minutes. Speedboats are faster and cost more. Its beaches, such as Tawaen and Samae, are the day trip that makes Pattaya Beach feel like a starting point. Check the ferry timetable at the pier, and look at the last boat back before you go.
When to come
The cool, dry season from November to February is the most comfortable time. Humidity drops and the sea is usually calm. From March to May it gets very hot. The southwest monsoon brings rain showers from roughly June to October.
Whatever the month, plan around the sun. Late mornings and middle of the day are hot on open sand with little shade except the rented umbrellas. Most people head for the promenade in the hour before sunset. Give yourself two to three hours for a walk, a swim and a drink by the water. Staying on for Walking Street after dark makes it an evening.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get to Pattaya Beach from Bangkok?
Take a bus from Ekkamai (Eastern) Bus Terminal, which takes around two hours depending on traffic. There are also direct buses from Suvarnabhumi Airport. Once you are in town, the blue baht buses loop along Beach Road.
Is the water at Pattaya Beach good for swimming?
You can swim, but the bay is busy with boats and the water is usually murkier than on the islands. For clearer water, take a ferry from Bali Hai Pier to Koh Larn.
What is the best time of year to visit Pattaya Beach?
November to February, when it is cooler and drier and the sea is usually calm. March to May is very hot. From roughly June to October, rain showers are common.
How long should I spend at Pattaya Beach?
Allow two to three hours to walk the promenade, swim and watch the sunset. Add more time if you want to carry on to Walking Street at the south end in the evening.
What is near Pattaya Beach?
Near the beach you have Central Festival Pattaya Beach mall on Beach Road and Walking Street at the southern end. Bali Hai Pier, where ferries leave for Koh Larn, is beyond Walking Street, and the Pattaya City sign is on Pratamnak Hill.
Plan your trip to Pattaya
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