Pattaya is a well-known seaside resort near Bangkok. And as with many seaside resorts, there are multiple beaches to hchoose from. But don’t expect too much. The following article will introduce six beaches for you, in order from beautiful to a bit less enjoyable.
The beaches in Pattaya are quite polluted. Tourist boats come and go and leave their rubbish behind. During my visit to Pattaya, I visited all the beaches to witness with my own eyes whether the condition of the beaches is as bad as people say. And guess what? To my surprise, I found some wonderful, clean and pleasant beaches that are worth paying a visit!
1. Pratumnak Beach
Pratumnak Beach is my favorite beach in Pattaya. The beach is clean and offers comfortable and relaxing beach beds.
Pratumnak is located further down Jomtien Beach, but because the beach itself is located away from the main road, the big crowds stay away. You will only find a few tourists and a handful of locals. For only 50 baht you can spend the whole day on a comfortable beach bed. All beach stalls offer delicious food – so don’t miss out on lunch with a view! Surf Kitchen is located almost on the beach, but we recommend it for a tasty Thai meal.
Pratumnak Beach has yet to be discovered by tourists – so shh, don’t tell anyone!
Hotel suggestion
Avalon Beach Resort – Opposite the beach with plenty of great restaurants in the area.
How to get there
The beach is located at the end of the Phratam Nak 5 street, but you could stroll from Jomtien Beach as well. At the beginning of Jomtien, turn right on the beach. After a ten-minute walk you will pass by the Pattaya Park waterpark, and you will have reached Pratumnak Beach.
2. Koh Larn
You will need to hop on a ferry if you are in need of a white sandy beach during your stay in Pattaya.
Koh Larn or Coral Island is located right off the coast of Pattaya. The island holds treasure to five breathtaking, white sandy beaches. A ferry ride brings you to the main beach, Tawaen Beach, within 40 minutes. One drawback is that this is the busiest beach on the island.
I recommend renting a motorbike upon arrival for around 300 baht. You can quickly discover the island, and within twenty minutes you find yourself on the other side of the island, at for example Samae Beach.
And if you are discovering the island anyway, stop at one of the many viewpoints to experience the breathtaking views.
Hotel suggestion
Xanadu Beach Resort – Beautifully situated near Samae Beach with an incredibly gorgeous view.
How to get there
The Pattaya Pier is located at the end of Walking Street from where two ferries with different routes leave to Koh Larn for only 30 baht. I recommend taking the ferry to Tawaen Beach as it will bring you straight to the beach. The other ferry goes to Nabaan Pier on the island, which takes a proper walk to the first beach. The ferry to Tawean Beach leaves daily at 8:00 AM, 9:00 AM, 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM and returns to Pattaya at 1:00, 2:00, 3:00, 4:00 and 5:00 PM.
3. Jomtien Beach
Jomtien Beach is the most visited beach of Pattaya in spite of being located out of the city center.
The beach and ocean in Jomtien are reasonably clean, but the water is always slightly murky. Jomtien has a walkway with plenty of hotels and eateries. A beach bed on Jomtien Beach will set you back 50 baht. If you prefer a bit more excitement, you should try parasailing or riding a jet ski.
Hotel suggestion
The Three Elephants – Gorgeous villas situated in a peaceful, green garden and only a 5-walk from the beach.
How to get there
The sandy beach stretching for several kilometers is easily accessible by taxi. It’s a fifteen-minute drive and costs around 150 baht.
4. Cosy Beach
Cosy Beach is exactly what its name implies!
This beach is hidden behind a couple of luxurious hotels and is a bit difficult to access, but this only contributes to its charm and coziness.
It’s a small and romantic beach with only a few beach stalls. Sky Gallery is great to enjoy a delicious lunch in combination with an out-of-this-world view. Because Cosy is so well hidden, the beach is often completely deserted and offers an excellent opportunity to escape the hustle and bustle of Pattaya.
Hotel recommendation
Royal Cliff Grand Hotel – a Luxurious resort with multiple large swimming pools overlooking the ocean
How to get there
There is only one flight of stairs leading to Cosy Beach which is well hidden behind the fence next to the entrance of the restaurant ‘The Chocolate Factory’ (on the corner of Rajchawaroon street). It takes around 60 steps downwards (and back up), which is not recommended if you are having difficulty walking. The fence is opened daily from 06:00 AM until 8:00 PM.
5. Pattaya Beach
Pattaya Beach is the easiest beach to reach. But I wouldn’t swim there if I were you!
The beach is located on Pattaya Bay, a bay packed with boats in all shapes and sizes. Unfortunately, these boats also leave a lot of rubbish behind in all shapes and sizes. The peculiar shape of the bay means that the garbage has nowhere to go, resulting in a dirty beach.
There is a very high chance that a plastic bag will stick to your feet when running into the water.
The municipality has taken up the rather large task of improving the beach. During my visit, a significant portion of the beach was cordoned off for renovations. Littering is more strictly monitored, and designated smoking areas have been established.
Hotel suggestion
Siam@Siam Design Hotel – Trendy hotel with luxurious rooms. The biggest asset is the pool on the roof offering a 360-degree view.
How to get there
You can’t miss Pattaya Beach. It’s located at the end of Walking Street and runs parallel with the city center and its large shopping malls.
6. Wong Amat Beach
Wong Amat Beach is situated more to the north of Pattaya. Don’t bother paying a visit to this beach as it is extremely polluted, and difficult to access.
This beach is home to several large luxurious hotels that have claimed the beach as their private beach. As a result, there is only one beach stall left for the ‘outsiders’. A beach bed will cost you 100 baht.
Eating on the beach is not allowed, and you would need to visit the significantly more expensive restaurants of the nearby hotels if you want to enjoy lunch.
Hotel suggestion
Thai Garden Resort – the best hotel in Pattaya! Gorgeous and quietly located between Pattaya Beach and Wong Amat Beach with the largest swimming pool in Pattaya.
How to get there
A 120-baht taxi ride will take you there in 15 minutes from the city center.
How to get to Pattaya
Pattaya is located 120 km to the southeast of Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok.
The easiest way to travel to Pattaya is to grab one of the many taxis waiting outside the airport. A trip to Pattaya takes around one and a half hours and will cost you 1,500 baht.
You can also hop on a bus from the airport which costs around 120 baht. The bus ride takes approximately two hours. Busses also depart from the center of Bangkok from the Morchit and Ekkamai bus terminals and cost about 150 baht.
For more information, you can visit 12Go Asia where you can book taxis and vans in advance.
In Pattaya, it’s best to travel by (shared) taxi or motorbike taxi. You can rent motorbikes at each street corner, but we wouldn’t recommend it as the main streets in Pattaya can be extremely busy and utterly chaotic.
For your safety, it’s better to take a songthaew (shared taxi) or a (private) taxi. You can hail songthaews at the side of the road, a ride cost between 10 and 20 baht a person. For traveling longer distances, we recommend taking a private taxi. A ride in a private taxi costs between 100 and 200 baht, depending on the distance.
