Pattaya is a popular beach destination near Bangkok. It is also known for its vibrant nightlife scene and lots of shopping malls. In this article, I will share an itinerary on how to spend 2-3 days in Pattaya and my opinion on how many days in Pattaya is enough.
Pattaya is located only 150 km from Bangkok, on the eastern Gulf coast of Thailand. It is home to several famous attractions such as Pattaya Beach, Jomtien Beach, Walking Street, Sanctuary of Truth, Koh Larn, and Nong Nooch Tropical Garden.
How Many days in Pattaya is enough?
In my opinion, 2-3 days is a good amount of time to spend in Pattaya. This time is enough to see major highlights of the city and take a day trip to nearby Koh Larn island. Of course, you can spend as much as you want if you’re a slow traveler and have plenty of time for your holiday.
There are also many organised day tours from Bangkok. Within this one day tour, you can see popular sites such as Sanctuary of Truth, Khao Chi Chan, Nong Nooch Garden, Big Buddha, Walking Street, and Pattaya Beach.
Here are some of my suggestions on things to do and how long I spend to do each things in Pattaya:
#1. Pattaya City Center. I recommend spending 1 day exploring the center area of Pattaya. This area is home to many shopping malls, and has a vibrant nightlife scene. You can explore Central Marina, Terminal 21, Pattaya Beach, Walking Street, Pattaya Viewpoint, and Night Markets.
#2. North and South Pattaya City Center. I recommend spending half a day exploring each of these areas of Pattaya. North Pattaya is known for Wong Amat Beach, Sanctuary of Truth, and Na Kluea. South Pattaya is famous for its Jomtien Beach and night market.
#3. Koh Larn (Coral Island). This island is located a 30 minute boat ride from Pattaya and is worth spending one full day exploring, enjoying the beaches and viewpoints. This can be done easily by yourself by taking a boat from Bali Hai Pier, or by using an organised tour.
# 4. Other things to do in Pattaya. You can consider spending more days or adding these things to your itinerary, including the Tiffany’s Show, Pattaya Floating Market, Khao Chi Chan, and Nong Nooch Botanical Garden.
See more:
- The 4 Best Areas to Stay in Pattaya
- 25 Amazing Things to Do in Pattaya
- 16 Best Things to See in Koh Larn
Getting to and Around Pattaya:
You can get to Pattaya from Bangkok city center and from Bangkok airport by bus, minivan, and taxi. The journey takes around 2 hours depending on traffic. Bus is the cheapest option. You can catch a bus from Mochit Bus Terminal or Sai Tai Mai Bus Terminal. Taxis are great for families and groups of friends.
You can get around Pattaya by taxi, tuktuk, songthaew (Baht Bus), Grab or Bolt. If you are confident with your driving skill and have an international driver permit, you can rent a motorbike. This is not only a cheap way to get around but also gives you freedom exploring at your own pace.
See more: How to get to Pattaya & Get Around
Best time to visit Pattaya:
The most pleasant time to travel to Pattaya is from November to February. These months are the dry season with good temperature, which is ideal for outdoor activities and beaches.
March to May is also part of the dry season but it can be very hot. June to October is the rainy season, like most parts of Thailand, this is a cheap time to explore the city.
Top areas to stay in Pattaya for tourists:
I recommend staying near the Pattaya Beach and Walking street if you want an easy walking distance to the nightlife. It is not suited for those who want a quiet beach holiday though.
For families and couples who want a relaxing holiday, I recommend booking an accommodation in either north or south of Pattaya Beach. Wong Amat Beach and Jomtien Beach are great locations close to the nightlife but still quiet enough for a good night sleep.
Here are brief of my itinerary for 2-3 days in Pattaya:
How to Spend 2-3 Days In Pattaya Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival and Pattaya City Center
I came to Pattaya from Bangkok by taking a minivan at Mo Chit minibus station. I bought a ticket at the bus station, and arrived at Pattaya around 10.30am.
Central Marina Shopping Center
My hostel is located right next to Central Marina, so after checking in the hotel, I walked here to explore. This mall has air conditioning, which is great to have a break from the heat outside.
Central Marina has lots of shops selling all kinds of goods, including clothes, electronics, beauty products, and souvenirs. You can buy daily essentials at its onsite Big C supermarket or have a meal at its food court. I had a chicken rice meal here and it was quite nice and affordable.
I spent around 1.5 hours wandering around this mall. There are massage chairs to relax and charging stations where you can charge your phone.
Terminal 21 Pattaya
Terminal 21 Pattaya is located only 7 minutes walk from the Central Marina, so I decided to check this mall out. Similar to Terminal 21 in Bangkok, this mall is a great stop for food, shopping, or watching movies at its cinema.
Terminal 21 Pattaya has 6 floors, each floor was decorated with the theme of famous international cities such as Tokyo, London, San Francisco, Paris, Istanbul, and Rome. an international airport theme.
The highlight of Terminal 21, for me, is its foot court. You can buy lots of traditional Thai food here at a reasonable price. I tried mango sticky rice, pad thai, son tum, smoothies, and mixed cut fruit here. I also have my prescription glasses made here when my old one broke on my holiday.
I spent one hour at Terminal 21 Mall, and I came back many times later when I was in Pattaya. It is a great destination to grab reasonably priced Thai food.
Pattaya Beach
From Terminal 21, I walked past Pattaya Soi 4, to head to Pattaya Beach. This is a very long beach, running along the Beach Road, stretching 4km all the way from Dusit Hotel to the Walking Street and Bali Hai Pier.
Pattaya Beach has a wide promenade and is lined with palm trees. It is great to take a stroll along either the promenade or the sand. There are also many beach chairs and umbrellas on the beach for rent.
The Beach Road is packed with shops, restaurants, bars, convenience stores, markets, shopping malls, and hotels. It is one of the busiest sections of Pattaya.
Pattaya Walking Street
After one hour walking along Beach Road from Pattaya Soi 4, I reach the sign of Pattaya Walking Street. Walking Street is a very popular place to visit in Pattaya. It is lined with bars, nightclubs, and restaurants.
It’s especially crowded in the evening when everyone comes here to experience its lively atmosphere. It is good to come here for people-watching. As it is a red light district, you should be aware of scams in some dodgy businesses. Be sure to take care of your belongings too.
At the end of the walking street, you can have a look at the Food Truck Market. This market has a nice setting with several food stalls with chairs and tables where you can eat and enjoy the views of the sea.
Bali Hai Pier
Bali Hai Pier is a bustling pier located near Pattaya Walking Street. This is where people take boats to Koh Larn island, which is a popular place for beach activities such as swimming and trekking.
This Pier also has great views of the ocean, “Pattaya City” sign, and the city’s skyscrapers.
The Lighthouse of Cape Bali Hai
I continued my walk from Bali Hai Pier to the Lighthouse to see the sunset. It was a nice stroll along the beach. There are just a few people walking along this path at around 5.30 pm. Lots of dogs here though. I just ignored them and kept walking.
From the Lighthouse, you can have beautiful views of the ocean and the city. There are restaurants and cafes nearby with nice settings for great photos and the sunset views.
Khao Phra Tamnak Viewpoint & Pattaya City Sign
From the lighthouse, I followed Google Maps and hiked up the staircase to head to Khao Phra Tamnak Viewpoint. There are not many views from here because it is blocked by trees.
Be careful as there were lots of stray dogs around. I had now problems with them, but you can bring some food with you to feed them.
I continued walking toward the Helicopter Pad, then headed to the viewpoints. The roads here are now flat but still lots of dogs on this road.
There is an observation deck at Pattaya City sign, but it was closed at the time I visited in Dec 2024. There are many other stops on the same roads where you can have stunning views of Pattaya City. There is a cafe at the viewpoint where you can enjoy the meals and the views.
I wanted to check Phra Tamnak Mountain Viewpoint, and Wat Phra Yai, but it was getting dark and I got lost a bit. I decided to walk forward to Chaloem Phra Kiat Park, followed the Pattaya 3rd Road, and headed back to Pattaya Walking Street.
Pattaya Walking Street is more crowded in the evening compared to the afternoon. There were lots of Chinese tourists in big group tours.
Pattaya Night Markets
Along the Beach Road, you can check out Pattaya Beach Market. There are also many night markets on Pattaya Sai Song Road, which is the main road running parallel with the Beach Road. There are night markets at Central Marina, Soho town (Chinese Hall), or Runway Street Food.
Thai Massage
I recommend having a foot or body massage after a long day exploring on foot. There are many massage shops around the city. I prefer to have a massage at one of the shops on the road between Central Marina and Terminal 21.
As there are many competitors, the price here is quite cheap compared to other parts of Thailand. It is like 200 baht for one hour of traditional Thai massage.
Day 2: Coast Walk from Pattaya North Beach to Wong Amat Beach, and Sanctuary of Truth + Jomtien Beach & Jomtien Night Market
On this 2nd day in Pattaya, I walk along the coast line from Dusit Thani Hotel, to Sashimi Secret Beach Naklua 18, then Wong Amat Beach and Bamboo Beach, and end at the beach that has views of Sanctuary of Truth.
In the late afternoon, I used Grab to get to Jomtien Beach and Jomtien Night Market.
Sashimi Secret Beach Naklua 18
I started my day from the Northern End of Pattaya Beach, near Dusit Thani Hotel. This area also has stunning views of the city and the beach. There were some locals fishing here.
You can probably walk/swim to the north along the coast from this point, but I didn’t do this. It might be easy to walk at low tide. I chose to follow Google Maps to walk to Sashimi Secret Beach Naklua 18. I walked along Na Kluea Road then turn left at Na Kluea 18 until reaching the beach.
There were several stalls selling street food, beach wear, and ice cream on Na Kluea 18 near the beach. I bought a coconut ice cream because it was very hot.
When you turn left at the end of Na Kluea 18, you will first see a seafood market. There are several stalls selling fresh seafood right on the beach. The price is reasonable. It is like 80 baht for fried rice seafood and 100 baht for a box of sashimi.
You can buy food and eat right here. Some of the stalls have small chairs and tables for seats. There are many spaces though. You can buy it here, continue walking and find a better spot to chill and eat. If you don’t bring a beach tower with you, you can rent a beach mat on the next beach.
Continue walking in the same direction, you’ll see souvenir stalls, then many other restaurants that sell seafood. These areas have more bedchairs and umbrellas for rent. It looks cool when they set up the table on the sand right on the water. There are many shades here which are great for relaxing and chill.
I walked all the way along the coast, passing Cape Dara Resort, then Hello Food & Drinks, where there are several beach massage parlors, convenience stores, and restaurants.
I stopped at the beach near Dusit Thani hotel (near my starting point of this 2nd day). You can walk or swim to Pattaya North Beach from here. The water was over the knee at the time, and there are many big rocks on the beach.
I walked back to Sashimi Secret Beach Naklua 18. There are many beautiful sections along the coast where you can stop for a swim or for a meal. Every corner has stunning views of Pattaya City.
Wong Amat Beach
Wong Amat Beach is a long beach with many high-rise apartments and hotels behind it. There are many sunbeds and sun loungers on the beach as well as beach massage parlors. It is less crowded compared to Pattaya Beach.
Sanctuary of Truth
I walked along this beach, then passed Bamboo Beach, a fish pier, and S’more Beach Cafe. And until I have the views of the Sanctuary of Truth. I walked all the way to the closest point to Sanctuary of Truth, but I cannot enter it from this direction.
I walked back and got out to the main road from Bamboo Beach. From here, I can use Grab to get to Sanctuary of Truth, but I decided to skip this attraction.
Na Kluea neighborhood
Back to the main roads from the beach, I wandered around the Na Kluea neighborhood a bit. This area is also packed with restaurants, bars, and massage shops. There are lots of other tourist amenities like apartments, travel agencies, and ATMs.
Lots of Russian tourists in this area. Most menus are in Thai and in Rusians. There is a food camp near the Tops Daily Nakluea Soi 16 where you can find many booths selling different kinds of food, souvenirs, and fresh fruits.
It was around 3pm and I was a bit tired. I used Grab Bike to get back to my hotel near Terminal 21.
Jomtien Beach
In the late afternoon, I used Grab Bike to get to Jomtien Beach. The traffic was quite heavy at the time, but we reached the beach at sunset after a 30 minute drive. It cost 90 baht.
Jomtien Beach is a long beautiful beach, located south of Pattaya Beach. It is less crowded than Pattaya Beach, but still offers all amenities for tourists.
There are nice wide promdae, palm trees, as well as sunbeds and umbrellas for rent. The beach road at Jomtien Beach is also lined with restaurants, bars, and shops.
Jomtien Night Market
Jomtien Night Market is located right next to Jomtien Beach and is a great place to visit for food lovers. In my opinion, it is the best night market in Pattaya. You can easily find good meals here from grilled meats, roasted chicken, to pad thai and seafood.
In addition to the food, this night market also has many stalls selling cloth, beach wear, and Thai souvenirs. There are bars and seating areas where you can sit and watch people go by.
Day 3: Day trip to Koh Larn
On my third day in Pattaya, I took a day trip to Koh Larn. Also known as the Coral island, Koh Larn is known for its beautiful sandy beaches and is located only a 15-45 minute boat ride from Pattaya.
Boat from Bali Hai Pier in Pattaya to Koh Larn
I took a Grab taxi from North Pattaya to Bali Hai Pier. I bought a ferry ticket to Na Baan pier on Koh Larn. The ticket was 30 baht one way. The journey is around 35-40 minutes.
You can get a speed boat ticket which is 150 baht one way. The journey is around 10-15 minutes. There are many counters selling speed boat tickets at the beginning of the pier. If you want to buy a ferry ticket, you need to walk to the end of the pier and buy a ticket before onboard.
There are two piers at Koh Larn, including Na Baan pier and Ta Waen Pier (located 2 km from each other). You can easily travel between two piers easily within a few minutes of a motorbike taxi ride.
There are many ferry trips during the days, you can update the latest schedule at the pier or ask your hotel before heading to the pier. Be sure to check the last boat from Koh Larn to Pattaya to return to the pier on time.
Arrive at Na Baan pier
I arrived at Na Baan pier around 10 am. At the pier, there are many people approaching you offering motorbike rental, or a tour around the island either on motorbike or songthaew.
I walked into the village and has lunch at a local restaurants. There are many guest houses, resorts, and hotels, as well as restaurants, convenience stores, and souvenir shops on the main street of town.
I followed Google Maps and walked to The Windmill Viewpoint. It was around a 1 hour walk under the heat. I wore a hat, so it was alright. The road was flat in the village, but getting steeper from the area near MYTH resort.
The Windmill Viewpoint
The Windmill Viewpoint is the highest point of Koh Larnta, offering 360 degree views of the surrounding mountains and beaches. I spent 1 hour here walking around, enjoying the views, and resting.
The road to the windmill is very steep and narrow, so if you drive a motorbike, you must be very careful. Make sure that you’re an experienced driver to do it.
There are warning signs near the windmill that say the road often has accidents and you should reduce speed. The road from Windmill Viewpoint to Samae Beach has many curve downhill side warning.
LaemThong Bay
From the Windmill, I walked down the same way I went up, then turned right to a hiking trail to head to LaemThong Bay. This trail does not show up on Google Map, but you can use Map.me to see the trail.
This trail runs parallel with the main road. You can always skip this trail to enter the main road to head to Nual Beach. I had some views of Nual Beach on the trail to LaemThong Bay. Be careful of the snake, especially if you trek in the rainy season. I saw one on the trail when I visited in early December.
LaemThong Bay is a remote beach with lots of black rocks. There were only a few people there. The way down to the beach is quite difficult with rope, and there were lots of cactus and thorn plants around. I got my finger bleeding a bit.
Priss Beach, Hat Tham, and Windmill Viewpoint
I climbed back to the trail from LaemThong Bay, toward Priss Beach, Hat Tham, then ended up again at Windmill Viewpoint. There were some nice views along the way.
Samae Beach
I walked down from Windmill Viewpoint to Samae Beach. It was around a 30 minute walk. This is a beautiful long beach with white sand and crystal clear water. There are lots of seafood restaurants and bars, as well as beach accessories, umbrellas and bed chairs for rent on the beach.
I walked all the way from the pier at one side to the viewpoint at another side of the beach. It is around 1 km between Samae Beach’s pier and Samae Beach viewpoint.
Tien Beach
From the Samae Beach viewpoint, I continued walking to Tien Beach. It is only a 5 minute walking distance. There were many shops selling beach facilities such as swimwear, and souvenirs on the road to the beach near Tien Beach Viewpoint.
Tien Beach is another beautiful white sandy beach on Koh Larn. It is lined with the shade of a mango tree, creating a chilling experience. You’ll need to walk through a long bridge to reach this beach.
Big Buddha statue & Tawaen Beach viewpoint
It was a 30 minute walk with lots of up and down curved hills to reach the Big Buddha statue from Tien Beach. You need to take extra precaution if you drive a motorbike.
There are many nice view points along the way, especially from the police point for emergency tourists to the big Buddha. You can have very nice views of Tawaen Beach and its pier.
I reached Big Buddha around sun set time and there were lots of people doing sky diving at this point. From here you can continue walking up to Guanyin Temple and Tawaen Beach viewpoint.
To reach Tawaen Beach viewpoint, you will need to climb up a 250 steep staircase. There is a small temple at the top, but I think you have better views at the Guanyin Temple.
Tawaen Beach
From Tawaen, I walked down to Tawaen Beach. It was around a 30 minute walk and there were several dogs chasing me at the temple. I was a bit scared but they walked away at the end.
Tawaen Beach is another nice beach on Koh Larn. This beach has white sand, clean water, as well as many beach facilities such as restaurants, resorts, and bedchairs.
It is also home to the pier where boats travel between Pattaya and Koh Larn. The last ferry to Pattaya from here was at 5 pm, so I need to come back to Na Baan pier to catch the last ferry at 5.30pm.
I had a quick look at this beach, then ordered a motorbike taxi to get to Na Baan pier. It was like a 5 minute ride and it cost 40 baht. I bought a ferry ticket then headed back to Pattaya.
I walked through the Walking street, explored small alleyways, the main roads, and stopped at Runway Street Food Night market.
Runway Street Food Night market
This night market is open everyday from 4pm. It is located right on the main road of Pattaya. This market has unique airplane-themed decor and a variety of foods. There are many tables and chairs to sit here.
Day 4: Bus to Koh Samet/ Other things to do in Pattaya
I took a minivan to Koh Samet on the morning of the 4th day in Pattaya. But if you have more time in this city, here are some other things that you can consider to do:
- Alcazar Cabaret Show/ Tiffany’s Show Pattaya
- Muay Thai Show
- Art In Paradise Pattaya
- Shopping Malls, Pattaya Floating Market
- Buddha Mountain (Khao Chi Chan)
- Nong Nooch Botanical Garden
Pattaya can be easily visited from Bangkok by a day trip, but I recommend spending at least a couple of nights here to experience its vibrant nightlife and take a day trip to Coral Island. The city is not only a party destination but also has many shopping opportunities and entertainment options for all travelers.
I hope my itinerary on how to spend 2-3 days in Pattaya helpful for you. Have a good trip!