Pattaya is a popular tourist destination in Thailand, located only 150 km away from Bangkok. It is a great place for nightlife, beaches, shopping, and visiting some cultural attractions.
You can visit Pattaya from Bangkok as a part of the day trips and overnight trips. To explore the city at its best, I highly recommend spending at least a weekend or couple of nights in Pattaya.
In this travel guide about Where to Stay in Pattaya, I will share with you the best areas and neighborhoods to stay in Pattaya, things to do and the best hotels in each area.
I stayed at two accommodations in Pattaya North Beach including a hotel and a backpacker hostel. I will also share what I like and dislike about each place and some tips for choosing the quality hotel in Pattaya.
You can check things to do, itineraries, and getting around Pattaya in these articles:
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The 4 best areas to Stay in Pattaya
I personally stayed in Pattaya Beach and believe that it is the best area for first-timers and those who are staying in the city for a short time. This is the most central area, so you can easily walk to all the points of interest in Pattaya including the beach, the pier, shopping malls, and the walking street.
#1. Pattaya Beach. This is 4km long in the central location of Pattaya City, and is the heart of the action. The North Pattaya Beach has a quieter atmosphere and is home to major malls such as Terminal 21.
The South Pattaya Beach has a more party vibe where you can find The Walking Street, Night Bazaar, the Central Pattaya Mall. This area is home to Bali Hai Pier, where you can take ferries to Coral Island.
#2. Jomtien Beach. This is a 6km long beach, located just south of Pattaya Beach. This beach has a quieter vibe, more family-friendly, and more budget hotels than Pattaya Beach.
Jomtien still has plenty of tourist amenities, and is home to Jomtien Night Market, which is one of the best night markets in Pattaya. Jomtien is ideal for families and long term visitors.
#3. Wong Amat Beach. This is 1.5km long beach, located just north of Pattaya Beach. This beach has quieter atmosphere and more high-end accommodation compared to Pattaya Beach.
#4. Koh Larn. Also known as Coral island, this island is located just 30 minutes ferry ride from Pattaya Beach. The island has more beautiful white sandy beaches than inland Pattaya. It is a great day trip and overnight trip from Pattaya City.
My top hotel picks in Pattaya:
- Luxury: Amari Pattaya
- Mid-range: DeeProm Pattaya Hotel
- Budget: Siam View Hotel and Residence
The Best Places to stay in Pattaya
1. Pattaya Beach
Pattaya Beach is the most popular location to stay in Pattaya City, ideal for first-timers, party animals, and those who want to be in the middle of everything. You can find many hotels, resorts, and backpacker hostels on the Beach Road, Second Road, Walking Street, and small alleys.
This area is packed with shopping malls, night markets, bars, nightclubs, restaurants, cafes, and massage shops. It is also home to many entertainment venues such as interactive art museums, Alcazar Show and Tiffany’s Show. Bali Hai pier is also located on the beach, offering easy access to Koh Larn.
This 4 km long beach may not be one of the best beaches in Thailand but still a good place for relaxing, swimming, and enjoying water sport activities such as jet skiing, and parasailing. The beach has all beach facilities such as sunbeds and umbrellas and beach vendors selling food and drinks.
You can find restaurants, shops, convenience stores, bars, and malls along the Beach Road running parallel with the beach. The beachfront is also home to a wide palm tree lined pedestrian promenade, making it a safe place to stroll along the beach.
With 4km long, Pattaya Beach can be divided into three sections: North Pattaya Beach, Central Pattaya Beach, and South Pattaya Beach. The North offers a quieter atmosphere while the South is a place to go for nightlife and party. Both areas have plenty of shopping malls and night markets to explore.
1.1. North Pattaya Beach
North Pattaya Beach is ideal for those who want a quieter stay but still a short distance from the nightlife and party action of Pattaya. You can easily use Grab, songthaews, or even walk to the Walking Street and the bars. This area is around Pattaya Soi 1 to Soi 6, home to Terminal 21 and Central Marina.
These malls are popular places to go shopping, eating, and enjoy various kinds of entertainment. The food court in Terminal 21 is a great place to eat good and reasonably priced Thai dishes. Central Marina has a night market in the evening, featuring food stalls, souvenirs, and live music.
This area is also home to two most famous entertainment venues in Pattaya, which are Alcazar Show and Tiffany’s Show. If you want to watch a lady show, you can easily walk to these places.
North Pattaya Beach is also close to the North Pattaya Bus Terminal. This is where the buses arrive and depart from/ to Suvarnabhumi Airport, Ekamai, Mo Chit 2 and Sai Tai Mai in Bangkok, and even Hua Hin.
The beach in North Pattaya Beach is quieter and cleaner than the South. You will have access to all beach facilities, including sun loungers, deck chairs, and beach vendors along the shore. The beach is good for swimming and watersport activities like jet skiing, banana boats…
In my opinion, North Pattaya Beach is a great base for families, couples, and solo travelers who want to stay in the quieter zone of Pattaya while still being close to the malls, tourist amenities, and the beach.
Where to stay in North Pattaya Beach:
Grande Centre Point
Grande Centre Point is one of the best places to stay in Pattaya for families. This is a 5-star luxury hotel conveniently located in a prime location right next to Terminal 21 shopping mall, which offers a range of clothes shops and restaurants. The hotel has a nice swimming pool area for adults and children.
The hotel is close to the beach and is further away from the nightlife area and the Walking street, which is ideal for families with kids. They have plenty of activities to entertain little ones including the pool, waterside, foam party, and a kid club.
Amari Pattaya
Amari is a beachfront hotel located at the tip of Beach Road in a quiet zone of Pattaya Soi 1. The hotel is a great base for couples and families. It has a Kids Aqua Park, where kids can explore water slides and the Kids’ Club. It is also easy access to the baht bus route, and a short ride from the nightlife area.
Siam@Siam Design Hotel
Siam Hotel is a popular place for couples and solo travelers. The hotel is located near the Second Road, in the northern part of Pattaya, close to famous shopping malls and entertainment venues. You can walk to the beach easily. It is in the central location but not too noisy.
The hotel has a well equipped fitness center as well as a rooftop terrace with restaurant, bar, and pool. You can choose to stay on the high floor which has stunning views of the city, especially at sunset.
1.2. Central Pattaya Beach
Central Pattaya Beach is a great central location with lots of nightlife, shopping malls, and easy access to the beach. This is the area around Central Road, and Central Pattaya Mall, which is the most notorious mall in the city.
In addition to Central Pattaya, this area is home to many other malls, including Mike Shopping Mall Anas, Big C, and Royal Garden Plaza. There are several night markets in Central Pattaya Beach such as Night Bazaar, Runway Street Food, Pattaya Beach Market, and Tree Town Night Market.
The Walking Street with hundreds of bars, night clubs, and restaurants are located just within walking distance from Central Pattaya Beach.
The beach at the central area of Pattaya Beach is also packed with beach vendors, sunbeds, and umbrellas. You can easily rent sunbeds for 100 baht the whole day. Lots of watersports activities can be enjoyed here such as banana boat, and jet skiing.
Where to stay in Central Pattaya Beach:
Hilton Pattaya
Hilton is a 5-star beachfront hotel located on Beach Road, on the top of CentralFestival Pattaya Beach Complex. You’ll have stunning views of Pattaya Beach and direct access to hundreds of shops and restaurants. This is a convenient base to explore most parts of the city.
They have excellent facilities including an amazing swimming pool, as well as rooftop restaurants, and spacious rooms. I highly recommend this hotel for both business and leisure travelers.
Somerset Pattaya
Somerset is conveniently located on Pattaya 2nd Road, opposite the Central Mall. It is also within 5 minutes walking distance from the beach. Staying here means you’ll be close to everything. It has a nice rooftop area with an infinity pool overlooking the ocean.
Hard Rock Hotel
Hard Rock is a 4-star mid-range hotel located on Pattaya Beach Rd, easy to go everywhere, including the beach, shopping malls, and the walking street. You can find a 7-Eleven store and massage shops nearby. They have a good-sized swimming pool, a gym, and many activities for kids.
1.3. South Pattaya Beach
If you want to be in the heart of the party and nightlife, look no further than Pattaya Walking Street in South Pattaya Beach. This is where you can find many girl bars, go-go bars, ladyboys, and a lot of people. Bali Hai Pier is also near the walking street, making it convenient for ferry to Koh Larn island.
There are several attractions near the South of Pattaya including the light house (great place to watch sunset), Wat Phra Yai, Phra Tamnak Mountain Viewpoint, the Pattaya city sign Viewpoint.
Where to stay in South Pattaya Beach:
Avani Pattaya Resort
Avani is a beautiful beachfront hotel centrally located on the Beach Road, within a short distance from the party and walking street. It has a wonderful swimming pool and easy access to the beach and the shopping malls.
I recommend Avani for both families, couples, and solo travelers who want a quiet and calm stay but still in the middle of everything.
Unixx Pattaya by Alvin
Unixx is apartment style accommodation set in a nice location in South Pattaya. It is 10-15 minutes walk from the walking street and It is a good base for both short and long stay. The accommodation has a swimming pool, fitness center, and clean rooms.
The Classroom Hotel
This is good value for money for solo travelers. It is located in a good position, close to the beach, walking street, and beach road. Easy access to the bath too.
2. Jomtien Beach
Jomtien Beach is a popular area located just south of Pattaya Beach. This area is home to a 6km long beach, Jomtien Night market, and lots of other tourist amenities. It has a quieter atmosphere than Pattaya beach and is ideal for expats and families who want a relaxing vibe and cheaper hotels.
Jomtien Beach itself is a long beach with golden sand and clean calm water. It is suitable for swimming and water sports such as jet skiing, banana boat, and windsurfing. You can rent equipment or take a surfing lesson at rental shops on the beach.
There are plenty of sunbeds, and beach vendors on the beach’s shore where you can chill and watch the sun go down. The wide pedestrian broadway is located right next to the beach.
Running partly with Jomtien Beach is the Beach Road and the Second Road. You can find lots of bars, cafes, massage shops, and seafood restaurants on these roads. Jomtien Night Market is located on the Beach road, and is a popular spot for trying delicious Thai street food.
The bars, nightclubs, and massage parlors are concentrated on the north of Jomtien, from Jomtien Soi 1 to Soi 7. The nightlife in this neighborhood is much more relaxed than in Pattaya Beach.
Around Jomtien Beach, you can find several major attractions such as the family-friendly Pattaya Park and Underwater World Pattaya. Pattaya Floating Market is not far away from Jomtien, where you can experience local ways of trading on the river.
From Jomtien, you can easily use Grab, Bolt, songthaews, or motorbike taxi to get to Pattaya Beach for shopping and nightlife. You can use Baht Bus running along Jomtien Beach Road and Thappraya Road to get to the central area of Pattaya.
Where to Stay in Jomtien Beach:
The TJ Hotel Jomtien
The TJ is a popular 4-star hotel in Jomtien located on Jomtien Soi 14, within a 5 minute walk from the beach. It is good value for money for couples and solo travelers. Restaurants, markets, and 7-eleven are within walking distance away.
U Jomtien Pattaya
U Jomtien is a nice seafront hotel situated across the road from Jomtien Beach. This is a popular hotel for families and couples. It has a beautiful rooftop pool, bar, and fitness center with views of the sea.
This popular 5-star hotel is located on Soi 14 in South Jomtien Beach. The resort has 2 pools, a fitness center, a rooftop bar and multiple restaurants. If you are looking for a luxury stay in Jomtien, this is a great choice. Lots of amenities can be found within a short distance away from the resort.
3. Wong Amat Beach & Na Kluea
Wong Amat Beach & Naklua are popular areas located just north of Pattaya Beach. This area is known for its quiet beach, upscale atmosphere, and lots of high-rise condo and apartment buildings.
If you are looking for somewhere quieter and more upscale than Pattaya beach, Wong Amat Beach is a great base. Depending on your location, you can take Grab, Bolt, tuk tuk or even walk to Pattaya Beach.
This residential area is also close to the famous Sanctuary of Truth. You can have some great views of this complex from the sea of Wong Amat Beach.
Wong Amat Beach is a 1.5km long beach, ideal for swimming, chilling, and enjoying some watersport activities. There are some nice beach bars, restaurants, and cafes along the beach.
The South Section of the beach is home to lots of seafood vendors where you can buy fresh seafood dishes at reasonable prices. The beach is lined with luxury resorts and condos. It does not have a boardwalk running parallel with the beach like Pattaya Beach or Jomtien beach.
Na Kluea is the neighborhood where Wong Amat Beach is located. Na Kluea has all the tourist facilities that you would need for a comfortable stay. There are lots of restaurants, bars, shops, convenient stores, markets, massage shops, and travel agents in the area, on the main roads and small alleys.
Where to stay in Wong Amat Beach & Na Kluea:
Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort
Centara is a 5-star family-friendly hotel located in the central area of Wong Amat Beach. They have a water theme park, and a swimming pool near the beach. You can easily walk to the beachfront area.
COSI Pattaya Wong Amat Beach
COSI is a 3-star hotel located within a few minutes walking distance from Wong Amat Beach. The hotel has an outdoor swimming pool, a fitness center, and comfortable rooms.
Brighton Grand Hotel
Brighton is in a great location in the northern part of Pattaya and a 15 minutes taxi ride to the city center. Rooms are clean and comfortable.
4. Koh Larn (Coral Island)
You can consider taking a day trip or stay in Koh Larn while you’re already in Pattaya. Koh Larn is only a 30-45 minute ferry ride from Pattaya. You can easily book the ferry or speed boat right on the beach at Bali Hai Pier at the South of Pattaya Beach.
There are plenty of things to do and see on Coral Island. The island is packed with beautiful white sandy beaches and relaxing atmosphere. Popular beaches include Tawaen Beach, Samae Beach, Tien beach, Tonglang beach, Nual beach, and Ta Yai Beach.
On Coral island, you can go beach hopping, checking the viewpoints, visiting the Big Buddha, and relaxing at the beach. The island is small, it is possible to explore the whole island on foot, especially if you are an active traveler.
If you are confident driving in hilly conditions, you can consider renting a scooter for 200-300 baht a day. Otherwise, hire a private driver for a few hours to see all the island. Motorbike taxis can be found at all popular beaches on Coral Island.
Where to stay in Koh Larn:
The Castello Resort
This resort is located on the east coast of Koh Larn. It offers a free shuttle bus to Na Baan Pier and Haad Ta Waen Beach, which is a 10 minute drive away.
TC villa on beach
TC is a beachfront condo hotel located on the north coast of Coral island, close to popular beaches such as Tawaen Beach, Thong Lang Beach, and Tien Beach.
Xanadu Beach Resort
Xanadu is a 3-star hotel located on the west coast of Koh Larn close to Samae Beach It is half an hour drive from the main pier.
Where did I stay in Pattaya? – My personal experiences
I traveled to Pattaya in early December, which is part of the high season in Pattaya and Thailand. I booked my accommodations at the last minute, so I didn’t have many options. Most available at the time were insanely expensive, or some not very good quality hotels.
I was able to book two places, Red Planet Hotel and Sindy’s Hostel, during my visit to Pattaya. Both are located in a central location near the Second Road on North Pattaya Beach. It was convenient to explore the city on foot and by motorbike taxi.
I chose these hotels because they are located within walking distance from each other, so I can easily swap the hotels by walking. It saved me both travel time and transportation costs.
If you come back to Pattaya again, I will make sure I book hotels in advance, especially if I travel in the peak season (from November to May). I wouldn’t want to stay at these hotels again unless there are no better options available.
Red Planet Pattaya
Location
This hotel is located in a very central location on the Second Road, between Pattaya Soi 2 and 3, in North Pattaya Beach. From the hotel, I walked to the beach, as well as several shopping malls like Central Marina and Terminal 21.
There are many night markets and food complexes near the hotel including Runway Street Food, Soho Chinese Town, Korean town, and the night market in front of Central Marina Mall. I could walk to all of these places easily.
If you want to watch a ladyboy show, you can easily walk to Alcazar Show and Tiffany’s Show located within the same area with Red Planet Pattaya. The interactive Art In Paradise Pattaya is also within walking distance from the hotel.
From the Red Planet Hotel, I explored most places in Pattaya on foot. I walked to Pattaya Beach, all the shopping malls, night markets, the Walking Street, Pattaya Sign Viewpoint, and Bali Hai Pier. Sometimes I used a Grab Bike to get to places like Jomtien Night Market and Wong Amat beach.
Amenities
I checked in early in the morning, I paid in cash, then the staff helped to store my suitcase. I went exploring the city and came back later at the check in time when the room was ready.
My room is a standard double room with city views. The room has a double bed, a safe, a TV, and a hair dryer. It has air conditioning and a window with lots of natural light. There is soap in the bathroom.
There were no free bottles of water provided, but there is a vending machine at the ground floor where you can buy water from there. The hotel has a 7 floor toilet, and it has a lift, which is convenient to carry my suitcase up to my room on the 5th floor.
I didn’t like the bed as it was quite soft for me. I stayed outside most of the time day and night, so it was not a big problem for me as long as it was a safe place to sleep.
Sindy’s Hostel
Location
Sindy’s Hostel is located in a similar location as the Red Planet, in North Pattaya Beach. From the hostel, I can easily walk to Central Marina, Terminal 21, Tiffany’s Show, and Art In Paradise.
Lots of massage shops, seafood restaurants, and night markets within walking distance nearby. Chinese Town and Korean Town are also close to the hostel. This is a very good location in Pattaya to explore the city on foot.
Amenities
Sindy’s Hostel has both a private room and a dorm room. I stayed in a single private room with a shared bathroom. The room is tiny but it was ok for just a couple of night stays. I just need somewhere safe to sleep at night.
The hostel does not have a lift, so you need to carry the suitcase to your room. The owner was nice, he helped me with it. The common bath rooms were clean. There are just a couple of bathrooms and toilets on my floor, but I didn’t have to wait to have a shower during my stay.
My room rate includes free breakfast, which is great. Instant noodles, cookies, cafes, and coffee are also free to use at the common area. You can order omelets, toast, and sausage from the kitchen.
See more: Where to Stay in Thailand
In conclusion, I personally think that Pattaya Beach is the best overall area to stay in Pattaya. This area is packed with malls, bars, and restaurants. For more relaxing holidays or long term travelers, you can consider staying north or south in the Jomtien area or Wong Amat Beach. Jomtien has more budget-friendly hotels while Wong Amat offers higher-end condos and resorts.