Things to do in Pattaya: top sights and where to go
Pattaya curves around its bay: Pattaya Beach, Beach Road and the nightlife of Walking Street fill the centre, the Pattaya Viewpoint and Big Buddha crown Pratumnak Hill to the south with Jomtien Beach beyond it, and the carved wooden Sanctuary of Truth stands 4 km north. Give the first day to the city, the Sanctuary and Ko Lan island (about 45 minutes by ferry from Bali Hai Pier); keep a second for Nong Nooch Garden, the Khao Chi Chan Buddha cliff and Wat Yan, 15–20 km south, or Khao Kheow Open Zoo, 40 km north-east.
Sights
Sanctuary of Truth
Pattaya, Thailand
2 hday 500 baht, night 700; children 110–140 cm 250/350churcheshistorymuseums
Nong Nooch Tropical Garden
Pattaya, Thailand
3 h≈ from ≈ 500 baht, packages with shows cost morenatureparkswalks
Pattaya itineraries
Pattaya travel guide
Before you go: Pattaya and Jomtien beaches, the Sanctuary of Truth, Nong Nooch, Koh Larn island, the trip from Bangkok, areas and weather.
Pattaya on your own: the essentials
- How many days
- 3–7 days: beach, island, parks
- When to go
- November–March: drier and less hot
- Visa
- Depends on your passport — many are visa-exempt
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Arrival card
- Online TDAC before you fly
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Currency
- Thai baht (THB); cash for songthaews and markets
- From Bangkok
- BKK airport ≈ 120 km, 1.5–2 h
- Sea
- Gulf of Thailand: warm; clearer at Koh Larn
- Getting around
- Songthaew loops, Grab and Bolt
- Rainy season
- May–October: mostly short showers
- Time zone
- UTC+7 all year
officiali
Confirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Key facts
Sourcei
Sanctuary of Truth — official websiteSourcei
Wikipedia, “Sanctuary of Truth”Sourcei
Wikipedia, “Ko Lan”Sourcei
Wikipedia, “Khao Chi Chan”Things to do in Pattaya
The top things to do in Pattaya are the seaside Sanctuary of Truth, the Pratamnak Hill viewpoint, Pattaya and Jomtien beaches and Walking Street at night. Outside town are Nong Nooch Garden, the gold Buddha at Khao Chi Chan, Wat Yansangwararam and Khao Kheow Open Zoo; Koh Larn island makes a day trip. Every place with its YesGo score is in the list above.
| North | Sanctuary of Truth | 2 h |
|---|---|---|
| Centre | Pattaya Beach, Walking Street | evening |
| Pratamnak | Viewpoint | sunset |
| South | Jomtien | ½ day |
| Outskirts | Nong Nooch, Khao Chi Chan, Wat Yan | 1 day |
| Island | Koh Larn | 1 day |
| Zoo | Khao Kheow | ½ day |
Rather not plan it yourself? The list above has ready itineraries for 1–2 days, with places in a sensible order.
Bangkok to Pattaya
Most visitors fly into Bangkok Suvarnabhumi (BKK), ≈ 120 km away — 1.5–2 hours by transfer, taxi or bus straight from the airport. U-Tapao (UTP), ≈ 40 km south, is closer but has fewer flights.
| Transfer, taxi | BKK airport | ≈ 1.5–2 h |
|---|---|---|
| Bus | BKK airport | ≈ 2 h |
| Bus | Bangkok, Ekkamai | ≈ 2–2.5 h |
| Taxi | U-Tapao airport | ≈ 45 min |
Where to stay in Pattaya
Where to stay in Pattaya: Central Pattaya by Beach Road for shops, cafés and Walking Street; Naklua and Wongamat in the north for quieter, cleaner beaches; Pratamnak Hill between the bays for views; Jomtien in the south for a long beach and a calmer feel.
| Central, Beach Road | Everything close, nightlife | Busy beach |
|---|---|---|
| Naklua, Wongamat | Quieter, cleaner sand | ≈ 15 min to the centre |
| Pratamnak | Views, calm | Hilly to walk |
| Jomtien | Long beach, families | ≈ 15 min to the centre |
Pattaya weather by month
The best time to visit Pattaya is November to March: drier, ≈ 30–33 °C by day, with the sea at 27–29 °C. April and May are the hottest. May to October is the rainy season, but showers are usually short and Pattaya is drier than many Thai resorts.
°CiLong-term averages, °C: day and night air, sea water near the shore, rain — rainy days a month. Any given year can be warmer or cooler. Tap a month for details below. | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day | 31° | 32° | 33° | 34° | 33° | 33° | 32° | 32° | 32° | 31° | 31° | 30° |
| Night | 23° | 25° | 26° | 27° | 27° | 27° | 26° | 26° | 25° | 25° | 24° | 23° |
| Sea | 27° | 28° | 29° | 30° | 30° | 30° | 29° | 29° | 29° | 29° | 28° | 27° |
| Rain | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 18 | 15 | 5 | 1 |
Warm — 20 °C and above by dayBest time to go: January–March and November–December
- day ≈ 31°
- night ≈ 23°
- sea ≈ 27°
- rain 2 days
Dry, ≈ 31° — a great time. Warm for swimming, water — about 27°.
- day ≈ 32°
- night ≈ 25°
- sea ≈ 28°
- rain 2 days
Dry and warm. Warm for swimming, water — about 28°.
- day ≈ 33°
- night ≈ 26°
- sea ≈ 29°
- rain 4 days
About 33°, hotter. Warm for swimming, water — about 29°.
- day ≈ 34°
- night ≈ 27°
- sea ≈ 30°
- rain 6 days
Peak heat; Songkran. Warm for swimming, water — about 30°.
- day ≈ 33°
- night ≈ 27°
- sea ≈ 30°
- rain 13 days
Rains begin. Warm for swimming, water — about 30°.
- day ≈ 33°
- night ≈ 27°
- sea ≈ 30°
- rain 13 days
Short showers. Warm for swimming, water — about 30°.
- day ≈ 32°
- night ≈ 26°
- sea ≈ 29°
- rain 14 days
Rain. Warm for swimming, water — about 29°.
- day ≈ 32°
- night ≈ 26°
- sea ≈ 29°
- rain 14 days
Rain. Warm for swimming, water — about 29°.
- day ≈ 32°
- night ≈ 25°
- sea ≈ 29°
- rain 18 days
The wettest month. Warm for swimming, water — about 29°.
- day ≈ 31°
- night ≈ 25°
- sea ≈ 29°
- rain 15 days
Rains easing. Warm for swimming, water — about 29°.
- day ≈ 31°
- night ≈ 24°
- sea ≈ 28°
- rain 5 days
The season opens. Warm for swimming, water — about 28°.
- day ≈ 30°
- night ≈ 23°
- sea ≈ 27°
- rain 1 days
Dry — the best time. Warm for swimming, water — about 27°.
Pattaya ticket prices
The beaches, the Pratamnak viewpoint, Walking Street and Wat Yansangwararam are free. You pay for the Sanctuary of Truth (500 baht by day), Nong Nooch, Khao Kheow Zoo and the ferry to Koh Larn.
| Sanctuary of Truth | 43 | 2 h | day 500 baht, night 700; children 110–140 cm 250/350 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nong Nooch Tropical Garden | 19 | 3 h | from ≈ 500 baht, packages with shows cost more |
| Ko Lan | 17 | 4 h | ferry ≈ 30 baht, speedboat ≈ 150–300 |
| Khao Kheow Open Zoo | 16 | 4 h | ≈ 350 baht, children ≈ 120 |
Free — 6 places: Walking Street, Pattaya Beach, Pattaya Viewpoint, Jomtien Beach, Khao Chi Chan Buddha, Wat Yansangwararam.
Tips
- Songthaews — blue pick-ups — loop Beach Road and Second Road; agree the fare before you hop on.
- Take an early ferry to Koh Larn from Bali Hai Pier — the island’s beaches are cleaner and quieter in the morning.
- Cover shoulders and knees for the Sanctuary of Truth.
FAQ
Is Pattaya worth visiting?
Yes, as an easy beach base near Bangkok with Koh Larn, the Sanctuary of Truth and family parks — though the central beach is busy.
Do I need a visa for Thailand?
It depends on your passport: many nationalities are visa-exempt for a set number of days, and all visitors fill in the online TDAC arrival card. Check the official rules for your passport.
How do I get from Bangkok airport to Pattaya?
By transfer or taxi in 1.5–2 hours, or by bus from the airport in about 2 hours.
What is the weather like in Pattaya in December?
Dry and warm: about 30 °C by day with the sea near 27 °C.
Where is the best beach in Pattaya?
Jomtien and Wongamat on the mainland, or Koh Larn island for clearer water.
Where to stay in Pattaya with kids?
Jomtien or Naklua — calmer with cleaner beaches than the centre.
How do I get to Koh Larn?
By ferry from Bali Hai Pier in 30–45 minutes, or by speedboat.
When is the rainy season in Pattaya?
May to October, with mostly short showers; September is the wettest.
What to do in Pattaya with kids?
Nong Nooch Garden, Khao Kheow Open Zoo, Koh Larn and Jomtien beach.
How much is the Sanctuary of Truth?
About 500 baht by day; evening visits have a separate price.
Sources and fact-check
- Sanctuary of Truth — official website
- Wikipedia, “Pattaya”; “Sanctuary of Truth”; “Ko Lan”; Pattaya climate (1991–2020 normals)
- Tourism Authority of Thailand — official website
Day trips from Pattaya
- Bangkok · 100 km
- Koh Samui · 385 km
- Krabi · 590 km
- Phuket · 624 km
- Chiang Mai · 681 km