🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
Chonburi stretches all the way from Bangsaen in the north down to Pattaya–Sattahip in the south. Bangsaen to Pattaya is around 40–45 km, roughly a 45-minute to 1-hour drive, so if you don't plan well you'll waste time doubling back. That's why this plan keeps day one in the Bangsaen zone, sleeps one night, then shifts down to Pattaya on day two for a smooth run before heading back to Bangkok.
Driving yourself is easiest
Chonburi is easiest to get around with your own car. From Bangkok, take Motorway 7 and you'll reach Bangsaen in about an hour and a half. If you don't have a car, you can take a minivan or coach from Ekkamai or Mo Chit to Bangsaen and Pattaya, then use songthaews (shared pickups) or Grab locally. Pattaya has songthaews looping the city for around ฿10–30 per ride.
Day 1 — Bangsaen, Khao Sam Muk, then snacks at Nong Mon
Day 1
Bangsaen Beach · Khao Sam Muk · Nong Mon Market
08:00
Leave Bangkok, take Motorway 7 to BangsaenIt's around 100 km, roughly an hour and a half if traffic is light. Leaving a little early helps you avoid the mid-morning build-up. There are rest stops on the motorway if you need a bathroom break.
10:00
Arrive at Bangsaen Beach, stroll, rent an inner tube, grab a deck chairIt's a long sandy beach you can swim at, with umbrellas and deck chairs to rent along the front for around ฿100–150 a set. Plenty of vendors walk the sand selling food. You can grab a photo at the Bangsaen sign on the plaza in front of the beach. There's no entry fee for the beach.
12:00
Lunch — seafood by Bangsaen BeachThere are several beachfront seafood spots: fresh oysters, stir-fried crab with curry powder, grilled prawns, grilled squid, all priced by weight. Pick a place with clearly posted prices. Expect around ฿250–500 per person depending on how heavily you order seafood.
13:30
Drive up Khao Sam Muk — feed the monkeys, pay respects at the Chao Mae Sam Muk shrine, take in the sea viewIt sits at the far end of Bangsaen Beach, and you can drive right up to the top. There's a car park and a viewing terrace. There are loads of monkeys, so keep valuables and plastic bags well out of sight and close your car windows. No entry fee, open daytime until around 18:00. Late afternoon, when the sun softens, is the prettiest time.
15:30
Check in to your Bangsaen hotel, cool off and relaxThe Bangsaen area has beachfront and in-town hotels across a range of budgets. Drop your bags, shower and rest a bit before heading out for snacks in the evening.
17:00
Walk Nong Mon Market, buy local snacks and souvenirsThis is the famous souvenir market on Sukhumvit Road, about 1 km from the turn-off into Bangsaen Beach. You'll find Nong Mon sticky rice in bamboo, khanom jaak, hoy jor, dried shrimp, dried squid, chili dips and plenty of snacks to nibble as you walk. It's open from morning until around midnight, with small souvenir items starting in the tens of baht.
19:00
Dinner in Bangsaen town — moo kratha or a seafood spotBangsaen is a university town, so there's moo kratha (Thai BBQ hotpot), buffets and beachfront restaurants open late. A relaxed dinner runs around ฿200–400 per person. A stroll along the beach at night is a nice way to walk it off.
Watch out for the Khao Sam Muk monkeys
The monkeys at Khao Sam Muk are smart and used to people. The moment they see a plastic bag or a bag of food they'll lunge for it, so don't walk around holding a bag in plain sight. Keep your glasses, phone and food tucked away. If you park, always close the windows and lock the doors.
🎟️Book the activities in your Chonburi trip ahead
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.
🎟️ See all Chonburi tours & activities (Klook) Day 2 — Down to Pattaya: Sanctuary of Truth, Khao Phra Tamnak, ending with Naklua seafood
Day 2
Sanctuary of Truth · Khao Phra Tamnak · Naklua Seafood
08:00
Breakfast, check out, then drive down to PattayaBangsaen to Pattaya is around 40–45 km, roughly 45 minutes to an hour. Leaving a little early lets you hit the Sanctuary of Truth in the morning, before the crowds build and the sun gets harsh.
09:30
Visit the Sanctuary of Truth in NakluaIt's the largest all-wooden carved sanctuary in the world, right by the sea. Open 08:00–17:00, entry around ฿500 per person. There are wood-carving areas, plus optional elephant rides and boat trips. Walking around and taking photos is an easy 1.5–2 hours. Dress modestly and cover your shoulders.
11:30
Head up Khao Phra Tamnak — photo at the Pattaya City sign, pay respects at the Big BuddhaThe Phra Tamnak viewpoint sits between South Pattaya and Jomtien, looking out over the whole of Pattaya Bay. There's the popular Pattaya City sign for photos, and nearby is the Big Buddha temple (Khao Phra Yai) you can climb up to. No entry fee, and there's parking.
12:30
Lunch in Pattaya townTake your pick of à la carte spots, noodle shops or international restaurants around Central and South Pattaya. Lunch runs around ฿150–400 per person. If you want to save your appetite for a seafood dinner, keep this one light.
14:00
Choose an afternoon activity — Jomtien Beach or shopping at Terminal 21If you want more beach time, Jomtien is quieter than Pattaya Beach and has plenty of beachfront spots. If you'd rather escape the heat with some air-con, Terminal 21 Pattaya has photo zones and restaurants inside. Pick one based on the weather.
16:30
Close the trip with fresh seafood at Lan Pho Market, NakluaNaklua's fresh market has good-value seafood — prawns, crab, shellfish, squid. Pick what you want and have a stall steam, boil or grill it for you. Open roughly 06:00–18:00; come in the late afternoon before closing while everything's still fresh. Priced by weight, you pay for what you take.
18:00
Head back to BangkokFrom Pattaya back to Bangkok via the motorway is about an hour and a half to two hours. Avoid leaving on a Sunday evening, when traffic tends to pile up. If you have time to spare, stop at a gas station for a coffee and wait for it to thin out.
If you're travelling with kids or want a fuller day of activities, you can tweak day two: drop Khao Phra Tamnak and swap in Nong Nooch Garden or Khao Chi Chan (the Buddha image carved into a cliff face) in the Sattahip–Bang Saray zone south of Pattaya. Just budget extra driving time and leave your hotel earlier.
Rough budget per person (2 days 1 night)
- Accommodation — a mid-range Bangsaen/Pattaya hotel at ฿700–1,800 per night (split between 2 people)
- Food — 5–6 meals, around ฿900–1,800 for the whole trip depending on how much seafood you go for
- Transport — fuel plus tolls for the Bangkok round trip, around ฿800–1,200 split between 2
- Entry fees — the Sanctuary of Truth is around ฿500; the beach, Khao Sam Muk, the market and Khao Phra Tamnak are all free
- Rough total — around ฿2,200–4,000 per person, not counting souvenir shopping
Tips to make the trip smoother
- Avoid long weekends — Bangsaen and Pattaya get very crowded on weekends and public holidays, when hotels are pricey and traffic is heavy. Going on a weekday is more relaxed and cheaper.
- Check seafood prices first — when ordering seafood by weight, ask the price per kilo and have it weighed in front of you. Pick a place with clearly posted prices to avoid a runaway bill.
- Hit the Sanctuary of Truth in the morning — less sun, fewer people than the afternoon, better photos, and you'll still have time to fit in other stops the same day.
- Don't underestimate the Khao Sam Muk monkeys — keep valuables and bags tucked away, close your car windows, and don't hand-feed them too close up.
