Below are my best Pattaya travel tips and advice from more than 30 trips to this city. Pattaya is a coastal beach city but is most famous for its crazy nightlife and party atmosphere.
As I mentioned below, you can find some family-friendly activities and places to stay, but if you travel with kids or are looking for a lovely beach holiday, my best travel advice is to avoid Pattaya.
South Thailand has many beautiful beaches near Phuket, Koh Samui, Krabi, and many other locations. Pattaya is for partygoers and has less than average beaches.
For even more tips, check out my list of best 4-star hotels in Pattaya and Thailand travel tips.
When is the best time to visit Pattaya?
The best time to visit Pattaya is in the dry season from November to March, but if you come to enjoy the nightlife, the weather doesn’t matter. The hottest month is April, and the wettest months are September and October. If the rain doesn’t bother you, the hotels are cheaper in the rainy season.
Where to stay in Pattaya?
Best places to stay in Pattaya for nightlife
If you are a single male traveler and looking for fun, the best areas to stay in Pattaya are:
- Walking Street
- LK Metro area
- Soi 6
Walking Street has the best but most expensive bars and discos. It’s not suitable for kids and families. However, one of the few exceptions in the area is Siam Bayshore; the resort is ideal for everyone.
The LK Metro area in Central Pattaya is the best value for money and has everything: all kinds of venues and restaurants.
Soi 6 has cheap daytime bars, but they close early.
Beach Road hotels and Amber Hotel are excellent for nightlife, but they are also family-friendly.
Hilton Pattaya is the best place to stay in Pattaya for nightlife. Other great options are newly built hotels like Blackwoods Hotel and Acqua.
Best family-friendly areas
- Jomtien for the best beach.
- Naklua for shopping near the Terminal 21 mall
- Beach Road between Naklua and Central Pattaya
Royal Cliff Beach Hotel is a great kid-friendly hotel in Phra Tamnak Hill. Other great options are Centara Grand Mirage in Naklua, Holiday Inn Pattaya, and The Bayview Hotel.
What to see in Pattaya and the best attractions
- Sanctuary of Truth is a huge wooden temple located in North Pattaya.
- Nong Noooch Tropical Garden is a lovely garden with tropical plants and traditional shows.
- Jomtien Beach is the best beach in Pattaya.
- Walking Street has the best of Pattaya’s (in)famous nightlife.
- Pattaya’s floating market has a boat ride, shows, and other activities.
- Art in Paradise Pattaya is a 3D museum.
Where to change money in Pattaya?
TT currency exchange usually has some of the best exchange rates, with many branches in Pattaya. Avoid changing money at hotels and Walking Street as the rates are higher. The TT branch on Second Road near Soi 14 often has the best rates.
How to get from Pattaya to Bangkok?
The best options are by bus, taxi, and private transportation.
Private car transportation rates start from 1000-1200 baht for a one-way ride from Pattaya to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport and from 1300 baht from Pattaya to Bangkok City.
I often use Nam Taxi, an excellent, reliable service. She has safe and professional lady drivers. It’s always better to book in advance, and the driver will pick you up from your hotel in Pattaya and drop you off at the airport or your hotel in Bangkok.
The best cheap and reliable option is by airport Pattaya bus from Jomtien Station to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport.
You can also use Bell Travel Service, which has excellent shared transfer and door-to-door service.
Utapao is the Pattaya airport, a 40-minute ride from Pattaya city. The taxi rates start from 800 baht one way.
Tip: If you have a flight with AirAsia, you can use their shuttle bus from Central Pattaya to Utapao Airport.
Pattaya transportation and how to get around the city?
Bolt is the best way to get around the city. I love Grab and use them often in other Southeast Asian cities, but Bolt is much cheaper in Pattaya, and the service is excellent.
Catching a baht bus is the cheapest option to get around Pattaya. You have to wait at the station or wave at the driver to stop. Always pay when you get out at the end, and you must have an exact amount of money (10 baht) as some drivers don’t give you change back.
Taxis are all over Pattaya, but sometimes they ask for ridiculously high amounts of money. Expect to pay 200 baht and up, even for a short ride.
Motorbike taxis are cheap and fast but are not a safe way to get around. The price for a ride between LK Metro and Walking Street is 60 baht, and 100 baht between Walking Street and North Pattaya.
Tip: If you stay in Central Pattaya, you can easily walk to most places.
Where are the best beaches in Pattaya?
The beaches in Pattaya are of less than average quality, so I don’t suggest going for a beach holiday there. If you are a beach lover, visit Phuket, Krabi, or Koh Samui. However, Jomtien Beach is the best beach in Pattaya, and Koh Larn is the best beach for a day trip from Pattaya.
How to get from Pattaya to Koh Larn?
The best way to get to Koh Larn from Pattaya is by using a speed boat from Bali Hai Pier at the end of Pattaya Walking Street. It’s a 15-minute bumpy ride to go there, and the cost is 150 baht one way or 300 baht return ticket. You can hire the whole boat for yourself, and the price starts from 2000 baht.
You can also get the Koh Larn ferry from Bali Hai pier for a slower but cheaper ride. The travel time is 30-40 minutes for 30 baht per person. Koh Larn ferry has two stops on the island: the main village – Naban Port, and Tawaen Beach, the largest beach on the island.
Pattaya safety tips
- Don’t wear gold chains, especially if you walk on the Beach Road late at night. Gold snatching is one of the most famous crimes in Pattaya. Ladyboys approach you, offering their services, and then they snatch your gold chain and run.
- Some people use the above tactics for pickpocketing and bag snatching.
- Leave your passport in the hotel safe and bring only a copy.
- Don’t bring too much money, only enough for the day.
- Buy travel insurance for your trip to Pattaya. The pills are cheap in Thailand, but more is needed.
- Don’t drink tap water. Buy bottled water instead.
- Pattaya is safe to travel alone, but don’t get involved in fights with locals or other tourists.
- Although feminism is not popular in Thailand, Pattaya is safe for female travelers, too.
- Use private or public transport, and don’t drive in Pattaya. Driving in Pattaya is only for very experienced drivers.
- Taxis are safe, and the biggest problem is avoiding overcharging. Always negotiate the price in advance. Also, make sure that the highway tolls are included in the price!