🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
Bangsaen Beach sits in Saen Suk subdistrict, Mueang Chonburi, about 13 km from Chonburi town and roughly 100 km from Bangkok. Generations of Bangkok families have come here because it's easy to reach and you don't have to stay overnight. The real draw isn't crystal-clear water — it's the relaxed, eat-and-laze-by-the-water vibe at prices that are friendly to Thai wallets.
Beach chairs and lounging by the sea
What sets Bangsaen apart is the rows of brightly coloured canvas chairs under umbrellas running the whole length of the beach. A set of umbrella, chairs and table rents for around 100 THB, and you can sit all day. The vendors who set out the chairs are usually seafood restaurants too, so you can order food and eat right there. If you'd rather skip the chair fee, the Saen Suk municipality has organised the beach into zones — there are umbrella-free sections where you can lay out your own mat for free.
- Umbrella and canvas-chair set — about 100 THB/set, sit all day, usually tied to ordering food from that vendor
- Rubber ring — rents for around 50 THB for going in the water
- Mat-only zones — lay out your own mat for free, good if you want to save money
Straight talk
The water at Bangsaen isn't the clear blue you get on the southern islands, and on long holiday weekends the beach gets packed. If you want a calmer scene, come on a weekday or in the early morning, and head to the Won Beach side to the south where there are fewer people.
Want more out of Chonburi? Book tours & activities
Booking online ahead on Klook or GetYourGuide is usually cheaper than the gate and skips the queue. Pick only the experiences you actually want — prices and availability are shown live on each site.
Seafood by the sea — what to order
The beach road known as 'Bangsaen Lang' is the real seafood strip — restaurants line up one after another, competing on freshness and price. The good part is that prices are set for Thai families, not for foreign tourists. A seafood meal of several shared plates for two, with rice and drinks, usually lands around 300–600 THB. These are the places reviewers mention often and that are still open.
Krua Rim Lay
A seaside spot on Bangsaen Lang Soi 14 with a wide menu — seafood, pizza, spaghetti and made-to-order Thai dishes. Rice plates start at about 60 THB, and it's a good fit for families.
Pa Juk, Won Beach
A seafood restaurant on Bangsaen Lang that serves generous, no-frills plates — short mackerel, squid, sand whiting, shellfish, all fresh from the sea, with a homey, honest feel.
Je Ple, Won Beach
A seafood spot in the Won Beach area on Bangsaen Lang Soi 18, open during the day — handy for a lunch stop before heading back to the beach.
Seafood Club Bangsaen
A seafood place on Bangsaen Lang that stays open late — fresh catch, good prices, made for a long, easy dinner by the water.
Won Beach Seaside Restaurant
An island-style spot with a Hawaii-meets-Bali fit-out, known for its fried sea bass with seafood dipping sauce. Watch the sunset over a meal with live music.
Open-air beach tents
Seafood tents set up alongside the canvas chairs right on the sand. Order steamed blue crab, blanched cockles or grilled prawns and eat at your seaside table — simple and fresh.
Beach snack vendors
Hawkers work the whole beach selling grilled squid, fried oyster omelette and seasonal fruit — light, cheap bites while you sit in your canvas chair.
Nong Mon Market
Not right on the beach but a short drive away — Chonburi's go-to for edible souvenirs like khao lam (sticky rice in bamboo), khanom jak, dried shrimp and chilli pastes. Stop in to stock up before heading home.
The beach road and a walk along the shore
The Bangsaen beach road runs along the coastline, lined with restaurants, cafes and places to stay. The evening is the best time — the sea breeze cools off, and people come out to stroll, jog and watch the sunset. On weekends there's the Bangsaen Walking Street, with food and stalls open for a long, easygoing shop.
Bangsaen Walking Street
Open on weekends — street food, souvenirs and small stalls to browse by the sea.
Laem Taen
A rocky cape at the southern end of the beach with pretty sea views, a few seafood spots and photo points.
Khao Sam Muk
A hill with a Chinese shrine and a troop of monkeys — Bangsaen's well-known sunset spot, and you can drive up.
Cycling along the sea
Bangsaen is a great town for cycling. There are bike lanes and a seaside fitness park where you can ride in the sea breeze, and bike-rental shops are spread out along the beach road — easy to rent and not expensive. Early morning or the late-afternoon golden hour are the best times to ride. Beyond bikes for the shore, there are also water bikes for rent to pedal around in the sea.
- Bike rental along the beach — shops dot the road, ride the whole shore in the breeze, best in the morning or evening
- Water bikes — rent and pedal around in the sea by the beach, fun for families
- Seaside fitness park — cycling and running lanes, lovely in the evening
Tip
The sun at Bangsaen is strong through the late morning and afternoon. If you're cycling or walking for a while, skip 11:00–15:00 and bring a hat, water and sunscreen.
Getting to Bangsaen
From Bangkok, Bangsaen takes about 1.5–2 hours. Driving is the easiest, but if you don't have a car, public transport gets you there without much trouble. Around Bangsaen itself, blue songthaews (shared pickup trucks) run loops through town and along the beach for a fare in the tens of baht.
- Self-drive — take Motorway 7 (Bang Na–Trat) then Highway 3, about 1.5–2 hrs, with parking along the beach
- Bus — from Ekkamai bus terminal to Chonburi, fare around 100–120 THB, then a songthaew into Bangsaen
- Songthaew — runs loops around Bangsaen and along the beach, fare in the tens of baht, flag one down along the way
Plan more of Chonburi — where to eat, what to see, and where to stay
See the Chonburi travel guide →