# Pattaya Viewpoint and the Big Buddha > The Pratumnak Hill viewpoint is Pattaya's best free view: the bay, the curve of the beach and Bali Hai Pier, next to the PATTAYA CITY sign. The hill rises to 98 m between Pattaya and Jomtien beaches, and 1 km away Wat Phra Yai has an 18 m golden Buddha. Entry is free. It's about 3 km from the centre, 5–10 minutes. Sunset is the best time. Web page: https://yesgo.io/thailand/pattaya/pattaya-viewpoint - City: [Pattaya](https://yesgo.io/thailand/pattaya), Thailand - YesGo score: 41/100 (Yes, if nearby) - Time on site: 45 min - Opening hours: Viewpoint — 24 hours; Wat Phra Yai — roughly 7:00–22:00 - With kids: Fine with kids - Entry: Free — the viewpoint and the temple - Viewpoint: An open lookout, 24 hours - Wat Phra Yai: Roughly 7:00–22:00; sources give different hours - Temple dress code: Shoulders and knees covered - Where: Pratumnak Hill between Pattaya and Jomtien beaches, above Bali Hai Pier - Distances: ≈ 3 km from central Pattaya, ≈ 6 km from Jomtien - Coordinates: 12.92230, 100.86610 - Facts checked: 08.11.2026 ## Key facts - **98 m** — Pattaya's highest natural point, on Pratumnak Hill (source: English Wikipedia) - **18 m** — the height of the golden Buddha at Wat Phra Yai (source: English Wikipedia) - **1977** — the statue was built; the temple dates back to the 1940s fishing-village days (source: English Wikipedia) - **7 heads** — on each of the two naga serpents lining the stairs to the Buddha (source: English Wikipedia) - **7 statues** — of the Buddha in different postures — one for each day of the week (source: English Wikipedia) - **24,000 m²** — the size of Chaloem Phrakiat Park and its viewpoints (source: English Wikipedia) - **PATTAYA CITY** — the big sign on the hillside, visible from the beach (source: English Wikipedia) - **≈ 3 km** — from central Pattaya, 5–10 minutes by car (source: OSRM route) ## What is the Pratumnak Hill viewpoint? **Pratumnak Hill** (Khao Phra Tamnak, 'palace hill') is the only high ground in central Pattaya; its highest point is **98 m**. It separates Pattaya Beach to the north from **Jomtien** to the south. On the hill are **Chaloem Phrakiat Park**, about 24,000 m² with several viewpoints, and the big **PATTAYA CITY** sign that you can see from the beach. From the lookout the **bay** spreads out below: dozens of boats, the curve of the beach with its high-rises and **Bali Hai Pier** at the foot of the hill, where ferries leave for Koh Larn. At the summit stands a bronze statue of Prince Abhakara, regarded as the father of the Royal Thai Navy. ## The Big Buddha — Wat Phra Yai About a kilometre south on the same hill is **Wat Phra Yai** ('Big Buddha Hill'). The temple dates back to the 1940s, when Pattaya was a fishing village, and the golden seated **Buddha, 18 m tall**, was built in **1977**. Stairs lined by two **seven-headed nagas** lead up to it, surrounded by **seven Buddha statues** in different postures for the days of the week. Entry to the temple is free. Sources disagree on hours — from 6:30–17:00 to 7:00–22:00 — so in the evening visit the temple before the viewpoint. **Cover shoulders and knees** at the temple. > **Come for sunset** Pattaya Bay faces west, so the sun sets right over the sea. Arrive 30–40 minutes before sunset to catch both the daytime view and the city lights. The best time to photograph the PATTAYA CITY sign and the Big Buddha is before sunset, while it's still light. ## What to see - **The bay panorama** — Pattaya Beach, the boats and Bali Hai Pier. - **The PATTAYA CITY sign** on the hillside. - **Chaloem Phrakiat Park** — several lookouts. - **Wat Phra Yai** — the 18 m golden Buddha. - **The naga staircase** up to the statue. - **The Prince Abhakara monument** on the summit. ## How to get to the viewpoint 1. **From central Pattaya** it's about 3 km south — 5–10 minutes by Bolt, Grab or songthaew. 2. **From Walking Street** it's about 25 minutes uphill on foot from Bali Hai Pier. 3. **From Jomtien** it's about 6 km, 10 minutes by car. 4. **From the viewpoint to Wat Phra Yai** it's about 1 km south along the hill. 5. There's a small car park at the top; it fills fast in the evening. ## How long do you need? **About an hour** covers the viewpoint and Wat Phra Yai. The best plan: the Big Buddha an hour before sunset, the viewpoint at sunset, then down to **Walking Street** at the foot of the hill in the evening. Midday is hot with little shade on the hill; mornings are quiet and clear. The view is best in the dry season, November to April, when there's less haze. ## Is Pratumnak Hill worth it? Yes: it's the best free view of Pattaya and a must on a first visit, and the Big Buddha next door adds a temple to the walk. The YesGo take: at sunset the sign and lookout get crowded and the car park is small. Come a little earlier or go up in the morning. Don't confuse it with the golden Buddha cliff at Khao Chi Chan — that's a different place, 25 km south. ## Before you go: checklist - [ ] Arriving 30–40 minutes before sunset - [ ] Shoulders and knees covered for the temple - [ ] Water — there are stairs up to the Buddha - [ ] Evening: down to Walking Street - [ ] Bolt or songthaew back ## Pattaya viewpoints: compare and choose Viewpoints in Pattaya rated by YesGo. - [Pattaya Viewpoint](https://yesgo.io/thailand/pattaya/pattaya-viewpoint) — YesGo score 41/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · free - [Khao Chi Chan Buddha](https://yesgo.io/thailand/pattaya/khao-chi-chan) — YesGo score 30/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · free - [Ko Lan](https://yesgo.io/thailand/pattaya/ko-lan) — YesGo score 17/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 4 h · ferry ≈ 30 baht, speedboat ≈ 150–300 ## Southern Pattaya in a day Jomtien Beach in the morning, the Pratumnak Hill viewpoint at sunset, and Walking Street in the evening. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers. 1. [Jomtien Beach](https://yesgo.io/thailand/pattaya/jomtien-beach) — YesGo score 33/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · free 2. [Pattaya Viewpoint](https://yesgo.io/thailand/pattaya/pattaya-viewpoint) — YesGo score 41/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · free 3. [Walking Street](https://yesgo.io/thailand/pattaya/pattaya-walking-street) — YesGo score 50/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h 30 min · free (street) ## Good to know The Big Buddha on Pratumnak Hill (Wat Phra Yai) is in Pattaya itself. The golden Buddha cliff of Khao Chi Chan is 25 km south. Hotel rooftop bars are separate, paid venues. ## Tips - Photograph the PATTAYA CITY sign before sunset, while it's light. - The best bay view is from the edge of the lookout above Bali Hai. - Climb to the Buddha by the naga staircase. - In the evening it's 25 minutes on foot down to Walking Street. - In the morning: [Jomtien Beach](https://yesgo.io/thailand/pattaya/jomtien-beach) on the other side of the hill. ## Questions ### Is there an entrance fee for the Pattaya viewpoint? No — the viewpoint and Wat Phra Yai are both free. ### Where is the viewpoint? On Pratumnak Hill between Pattaya and Jomtien beaches, above Bali Hai Pier. ### How do I get to the viewpoint? About 3 km from the centre — 5–10 minutes by Bolt or songthaew, or 25 minutes on foot from Walking Street. ### How tall is Pattaya's Big Buddha? 18 m; the statue was built in 1977. ### When is the best time to go? 30–40 minutes before sunset. ### What are Wat Phra Yai's opening hours? Roughly 7:00 to 22:00; sources differ. ### What is the temple dress code? Shoulders and knees covered. ### How long do you need? About an hour for the viewpoint and the temple. ## How we checked There's no official website. The hill's height, the park, the sign, the monument and Wat Phra Yai details are from English Wikipedia. Sources give different temple hours (6:30–17:00, 7:00–22:00), so they're marked unconfirmed. Viewpoint coordinates are from OSM; the Wikidata item describes the whole hill. In line with YesGo policy we leave out disputes over building and land use on the hill. Distances are OSRM routes from the centre (3 km) and Jomtien (6.4 km). ## Sources - English Wikipedia — Khao Phra Tamnak: hill height, Chaloem Phrakiat Park, PATTAYA CITY sign, monument, Wat Phra Yai (18 m statue, 1977, nagas, seven statues) - 2026 travel guides — Wat Phra Yai hours (unofficial) - OSM — viewpoint coordinates; OSRM route — distances from the centre and Jomtien - YesGo general facts for Thailand — payment, transport --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.