Where to stay in Pattaya? With hotels and activities for every type of traveler, a 2.8-kilometer-long beach, countless Thai and International restaurants, mega malls, local markets, chilled-out bars, and lively nightlife, the central (downtown) area is the best place to stay in Pattaya for most purposes on most occasions.
Within easy reach of central Pattaya, though, there are (listed below) several nearby areas, neighborhoods, and beaches that are popular alternative places to stay in Pattaya for holiday-makers and expats alike.
Whether in Central Pattaya or a place nearby, there are hotels and all types of accommodation that cater to families, couples, singles, backpackers, travelers with pets, naturists (nudists), and even kinky couples.
Something to consider when choosing where to stay in Pattaya is how easy and cheap it is to get around Pattaya and to and from any popular nearby places to stay.
Baht buses will take you as far as Jomtien and Naklua for 10–20 baht; there are numerous motorcycle taxi ranks in most neighborhoods, and Bolt and Grab taxis will take you from wherever to anywhere.
For reference, use this handy map (below) of popular places to stay in Pattaya.
Sometimes, it’s easier to find the best place to stay in Pattaya based on the type of hotel or your requirements, especially if you prefer hotels right on the beach or are a family searching for popular child-friendly hotels in Pattaya.
Central Pattaya
The best place to stay in Pattaya for everything, almost.
The best place to stay within central Pattaya for convenience and where you can use the baht buses to get around cheaply is between the beach and 3rd Road (see map below).
Where to stay in Pattaya for nightlife?
Anywhere in central Pattaya is okay if you want to be near all the most popular nightlife zones, such as the famous Walking Street and legendary Soi 6. You’ll find the nightlife is either on your doorstep or just a short baht bus ride away.
And if you’re coming especially to indulge in the girls and nightlife scene, this is where you will find the most popular guest friendly hotels in Pattaya.
Where to stay for families in central Pattaya?
With more suitable hotels, less nightlife, and being relatively quiet, the area between North and Central Pattaya roads is best for families.
The best location in central Pattaya:
Due to the location, hotels on Pattaya Beach Road are among the most popular in Pattaya. Besides having the best sea views, many are ideally positioned for watching the New Year and International fireworks displays.
Although the hotels are generally cheaper further inland, there are also affordable budget-priced hotels on Beach Road.
Where to stay in Pattaya on a budget?
For those looking for the best place to stay in Pattaya cheaply, the Soi Buakhao area offers an abundance of cheap eateries, bars, guest houses, and apartments.
Hotel Booking: Wherever you choose to stay, here’s how you can get the best hotel deals in Pattaya.
Pratumnak
A popular place to live in Pattaya, with pretty beaches and outstanding sea-view restaurants.
Pratumnak is the hill area between Pattaya and Jomtien. It is often referred to as ‘the hill’ or Pratumnak Hill and is sometimes spelled Phra Tamnak and Pratamnak. It encompasses the Pattaya sign behind Bali Hai Pier, Wat Phra Yai (Big Buddha on The Hill), and the Pattaya Viewing Point.
The popular areas of Pratumank include Cosy Beach, Asia Hotel Beach (Hu Kwang Bay), and Pratumnak Beach, to the point where Pratumnak Road joins Thappraya Road.
Cosy Beach and Asia Hotel Beach are pretty beaches in bays overlooked by steep hills and can be accessed via steps. Some nice features of these two beaches are The Beach Bum Bar, which serves food and drinks on Asia Hotel Beach (Hu Kwang Bay), and the clifftop restaurants overlooking Cosy Beach.
Pratumnak Beach lies at the bottom of popular Sois 5 and 6. It continues south to Dongtan Beach, past Pattaya Park, and to Jomtien Beach. A small road at the bottom of Soi 5 runs parallel to the beaches and exits onto Jomtien Beach Road approximately 1.5 kilometers south.
There are many condos in all price ranges, making Pratumnak a popular choice for expats living in Pattaya.
Popular hotels in the area include the Birds and Bees Resort, a popular family-friendly hotel overlooking and with access to Asia Hotel Beach (Hu Kwang Bay), The Asia Hotel, which has its own 9-hole golf course, and Cosy Beach Hotel.
There are several open-style and air-conditioned bars and restaurants in the area, predominantly on Sois 5 and 6. A small number of them are girlie bars.
Like every other popular place to stay in Pattaya, there’s a plentiful selection of services and amenities, such as convenience stores, beauty salons, gyms, pharmacies, and cannabis dispensaries.
There are no baht buses (songthaews) in the area. To take a baht bus to Pattaya or Jomtien, you must walk or take a motorcycle to Thappraya Road, a distance of a kilometer or more, depending on where you are staying.
Taxi booking apps like Bolt and Grab are convenient and cheap ways to get to and from the Pratumnak area. A ride to central (downtown) Pattaya typically costs 100 to 150 baht.
Jomtien
The best place to stay in Pattaya that’s quiet, with some nightlife, a water park, and a good choice of accommodation.
Jomtien is south of Pattaya, just the other side of Pratumnak Hill.
From the junction of South Pattaya Road and 2nd Road, where you can take a baht bus to Jomtien, it’s a 3.5-kilometer drive to the northern end of Jomtien Beach and the southern end of Dongtan Beach.
The combined length of the Jomtien and Dongtan beaches is approximately 6.25 kilometers. The approximately 180 meters of beach beyond the Pu Pen restaurant at the southern end of Jomtien is the northernmost end of Na Jomtien Beach.
The 1.1-kilometer-long Dongtan Beach is popular with the gay community (look out for the rainbow flags). It has many shady trees where you can place your own chairs or beach mats and an array of parasol-covered deck chairs and loungers for rent.
Food and drinks can be ordered, and on the gay areas of the beach are male massuers.
On the small road behind Dongtan Beach are hotels, bars, restaurants, and coffee shops. The road is open to vehicular traffic but is mainly used to access the beach.
From Dongtan Beach you can also access Pattaya Water Park, the first and cheapest water park in Pattaya, all be it basic.
Jomtien is much like Pattaya in that it has a beach road and a 2nd road with many sois (streets) connecting the two. There is no 3rd Road though; beyond much of the length of 2nd Road is farming land, small backroads, some villages (moo bahns), and a few resorts and condos.
The most lively areas of Jomtien are the beach road north of Soi Bunkanchana, Thappraya Road to the junction of Thepprasit Road, and 2nd Road to the Rompho market and beer bars.
Places to eat in Jomtien:
There’s a host of Thai and seafood restaurants, Western restaurants, and two popular night markets selling all kinds of food along Jomtien Beach Road and many more cheap eateries on the side streets.
Jomtien bars and nightlife:
There are enough bars and nightlife areas in Jomtien, including girlie bars, to warrant only visiting central Pattaya for an occasional indulgence.
Popular bar areas are Soi 2, Soi 7, Soi Whitehouse, Rompho beer bar complex, and Super Town gay nightlife street.
Where to stay in Jomtien:
Like Pattaya, Jomtien has every type of accommodation, from resorts and high-rise hotels to rental condos and cheap guest houses, mainly along the beach road. Hotels along Dongtan Beach are a good option if you want somewhere convenient but quiet, without too much traffic.
Naklua and Wongamat Beaches
The best place to stay in Pattaya for peaceful beachfront living.
Immediately north of Pattaya Beach, beyond the Dusit Thani Hotel, are the beaches of Naklua, Wongamat, and a series of smaller beaches and bays stretching a little beyond the Sanctuary of Truth, a walking distance of around 3.8 kilometers.
Due to its many beachfront hotels and condos in a quiet location close to Pattaya, it’s a popular place to live or vacation.
The famously family-friendly Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort is among the many hotels on the beachfront on Wongamat Beach.
Some popular beachfront restaurants on Wongamat Beach are Bamboo Beach Bar and Surf and Turf. Charming little beach bars can also be found, especially at Naklua Beach.
The best places to find convenience stores, mini-markets, salons, restaurants, coffee shops, bars, etc, are Soi i8, Soi Saran Chol, and Soi 16.
There is no regular baht bus service in the area, like in Pattaya and Jomtien, but baht buses and taxis can be found waiting along Soi Saran Chol and Soi 16.
Koh Lahn
The best place to stay in Pattaya for a tropical Thailand island experience.
Also spelled Koh Lan, Koh Larn, and popularly called Coral Island, Koh Lahn is just 7.5 kilometers off the coast of Pattaya. It takes 45 minutes to reach by ferry from Bali Hai Pier at the southern end of Walking Street, and the cost is 30–50 baht.
It’s the closest of the islands near Pattaya, with beautiful soft sand and crystal clear waters on some “picture-postcard” beaches.
It gets busy on the island, especially on Tawaen Beach, and more so at weekends.
Quieter beaches that can be reached by taxi after taking the ferry to Na Baan Pier include Tien Beach, Nual Beach, and Samae Beach, where the highly-rated Xanadu Beach Resort is located.
Na Jomtien
The best place to stay in Pattaya for windsurfing and chilled-out beach clubs and bars.
Although Na Jomtien Beach is technically in Sattahip, it’s only a short distance from Pattaya and boasts many beachfront hotels and condos.
The most popular area of Na Jomtien is the 2.9-kilometer length of beach just south of Jomtien Beach, between the estuary and the Ocean Marina Yacht Club.
In addition to hotels and condos, there are beachfront restaurants, small bars, and a couple of beach clubs.
If windsurfing, kiteboarding, wing foiling, or paddle boarding is your thing, there are two fully equipped windsurfing clubs on the beach.
There are no major convenience stores in the area, just a mom-and-pop shop here and there.
The focal point of the area is the beach on the right, at the bottom of Na Jomtien Soi 8, where there are several bars and restaurants with sea views.
Krating Lai Beach
The best place to stay in Pattaya for beautiful sunsets and cheap family-friendly beachfront hotels.
Krating Lai Beach is approximately 7 kilometers north of Central Pattaya Road (Klang). Heading north on the Sukhumvit highway, turn left at Soi 6/1 (Bella Villa Cabana Hotel). There’s a car park near the beach.
It’s a picturesque beach but usually muddy beyond the shoreline, so it’s not ideal for bathing.
To reach the beach from the two hotels here, you only have to cross a footpath, which is equipped with exercise equipment and shaded seating areas.
Being an off-the-beaten-path place in Pattaya means the hotels are cheaper, especially if you’re looking for a hotel with large family rooms near the beach.
You can admire some of the most beautiful sunsets in Pattaya from the beach restaurants, especially during December—the month sun sets in its most southerly position and silhouettes the Sanctuary of Truth and the distant hills.
The options for getting into town from here are hotel shuttle service, Bolt or Grab ride booking apps, crossing the road and taking a white baht bus to north, central, or south Pattaya Road, and then a blue baht bus to central Pattaya.
East Pattaya
The best place to stay in Pattaya for expats with families seeking affordable property.
East Pattaya, known locally as the Darkside, is on the eastern side of Sukhumvit Highway (Highway 3) opposite Pattaya’s central (downtown) area.
It’s said that the ‘The Darkside’ was coined by two farangs (foreigners) in the early 2000s based on the (at the time) lack of street lighting.
Affordable property, mainly houses in gated villages (moo bahns), is a key reason foreigners choose to live in East Pattaya. They are much cheaper than comparative properties in central Pattaya. To rent or buy, and there’s an abundance of them, from basic 2 and 3-bedroom bungalows to luxury villas.
Bars, Thai and Western restaurants, convenience stores, and fresh food markets are commonplace along the main roads of Soi Siam Country Club, Soi Nernplubwan, Soi Khao Noi, and Soi Khao Talo.
There are also girlie bars in East Pattaya, but they are not as obvious as their counterparts in the naughty nightlife zones of central Pattaya.
One of the main focal points of East Pattaya is Mabprachan Lake and its accompanying public park, playground, and cycle track. Around the lake are some of the most popular restaurants in the area, some bars, hotels, and resorts.