Pattaya travel guide: where to stay, where to eat, and getting in from BKK
A personal Pattaya travel guide. Getting in from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi, the resort hotel rotation including the Andaz Jomtien, and where to actually eat well.
Pattaya is the beach-resort town on the Gulf of Thailand two hours south-east of Bangkok. The reputation is mixed and earned in both directions. The south end (Jomtien, Pratumnak Hill, Na Jomtien) is family-and-couple friendly, while central Pattaya beach skews toward the older nightlife circuit. The trade-off of a Pattaya trip is that the right neighborhood matters more than usual. Pick the south side and the trip is fine, pick the center and it can be very different. Three or four days is the right shape if you want a beach base. Longer if you are using it as the warm half of a longer Thailand trip.
On this page
Getting in from the airport
Pattaya Bangkok Suvarnabhumi (BKK) is reached from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi (BKK) about 110 km north-west, or from U-Tapao (UTP) 35 km south-east. BKK is the international gateway for almost every traveler.
| Mode | Time | Cost | When to use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bell Travel Service shuttle | 90 min | 400 THB per person | The default. Shared shuttle from BKK direct to Pattaya hotels, every couple of hours. Book online ahead of arrival |
| Pre-booked private car | 90 min | 1,500 to 2,500 THB | Door-to-door with a driver. The easy version for a tired arrival or a group splitting the fare |
| Bus 389 to Pattaya bus station | 120 min | 124 THB single | The cheapest path. Runs from the public transport center at BKK to Pattaya bus station, then a songthaew or taxi to your hotel |
| Grab | 90 to 120 min | 1,500 to 2,500 THB | Available from BKK but pricier than the shuttle. Useful for late arrivals |
Festivals and big annual events
Pattaya runs on the Thai festival calendar, with two locally-significant events that fill the beach strip. The Christmas-and-New Year window is the priciest hotel time of the year.
| Event | When | What it changes |
|---|---|---|
| Pattaya International Music Festival | A weekend in March | Free open-air music festival along Beach Road and Bali Hai Pier. Multiple stages, Thai and international acts. Around 200,000 across the weekend. Hotels in central Pattaya fill but the south side (Jomtien, Pratumnak) stays normal |
| Songkran | April 13 to 19 (extended in Pattaya) | The Thai new year water-throwing festival, extended in Pattaya to seven days ("Wan Lai" runs April 18-19 as the Pattaya-specific finale). Beach Road becomes a continuous water-fight zone. Hotels fill, prices spike |
| Loy Krathong | Full moon of the 12th lunar month, usually early to mid-November | Floating-offering festival. Beach Road, Bali Hai Pier, and the lakes north of the city are the venues. Quieter than Chiang Mai |
| Pattaya Marathon | A Sunday in mid-July | Beach Road and Sukhumvit closures across the Sunday morning |
| Pattaya Fireworks Festival | A weekend in late November | Free international pyrotechnic competition over the bay. Hotels along Beach Road fill |
| Christmas and New Year (peak season) | December 20 to January 5 | The single most expensive hotel window of the Pattaya year. Beach hotels double or triple. NYE fireworks over the bay |
| Wonderfruit Festival | A weekend in mid-December, four days | Not in Pattaya itself but at The Fields at Siam Country Club, 20 minutes north. The art-and-music festival has built a serious international following. Around 30,000 attendees. Hotels in north Pattaya fill |
| Chinese New Year | Late January or February | Pattaya has a meaningful Chinese-Thai population. Lion dances along Beach Road, fireworks. Hotels reasonable |
The trip-shaping window is the Christmas-NYE peak. Push the dates a week in either direction if the priciest week is not the trip. Wonderfruit in December is the underrated international music-and-art festival most travelers do not connect to Pattaya.
Where to stay
| Property | Note |
|---|---|
| Amethyst Hotel Pattaya | Pinned |
| Andaz Pattaya Jomtien Beach - a Concept by Hyatt | Pinned |
| InterContinental Pattaya Resort, an IHG Hotel | Pinned |
These are the hotels I have pinned from prior stays. Each links to the pin with the address and any notes.
Where to eat
Pattaya food runs from the casual Thai street stall to the dressed-up resort dinner, with the imported international scene (Italian, German, American, Russian) reflecting the long-stay expat market. The picks below mix the casual evening with the better neighborhood spots.
| Spot | Rating |
|---|---|
| Manga & Hubba | 5/5 |
| Beerfest Brewery & Restaurant | Pinned |
| BRONX PIZZA | Pinned |
| Coffee War | Pinned |
| Happy Steak House | Pinned |
| Hops Brewhouse | Pinned |
Keep reading
Companion pages on places and themes that overlap with this list.