🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
Chonburi is more than Pattaya, and Pattaya is more than the Walking Street. Plan it well and the province works for families, beach lovers, and photo hunters alike. The easiest way to think about it is by zone: Bang Saen Beach and Khao Sam Muk sit up north near Chonburi town, while Pattaya, Koh Larn, and Nong Nooch Garden are further south. Khao Chi Chan and Silverlake are down around Sattahip. Do one zone per day and you won't waste hours driving back and forth.
Beaches — the sea closest to Bangkok
Chonburi beaches aren't the clear water you get on the southern islands, but they win on being close and easy to reach — good for a day trip or a single overnight. Bang Saen is the Thai-family beach, while Jomtien is quieter than Pattaya Beach and has plenty of seafront spots where you can sit for hours.
Bang Saen Beach
The classic Thai beach day — rent a canvas deckchair and eat seafood by the water all afternoon. Prices are noticeably cheaper than Bangkok and entry is free. It's packed on weekends, so come on a weekday if you want it quieter.
Jomtien Beach
The long stretch that continues south from Pattaya — quieter and cleaner than Pattaya Beach, with lots of water activities and beachfront restaurants. Good for sunset, and close to the Columbia Pictures Aquaverse water park.
Pattaya Beach
The beach in the middle of Pattaya, right in the thick of things — walkable to malls and Walking Street. The water isn't as clear as elsewhere, but it's the most convenient. Good for an evening stroll along the front, and it's where boats to Koh Larn leave from at Bali Hai Pier.
Beach tip
Bang Saen jams up badly on weekend evenings heading out, so going early and leaving by mid-afternoon is much smoother. Most beachfront deckchairs come with a rental fee — ask the price before you sit down so there are no surprises when they come to collect.
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.
Islands — clear water swimming
For clear water in Chonburi you have to take a boat out to an island. Koh Larn is the easiest one to reach from Pattaya — boats leave from Bali Hai Pier near Walking Street. The regular passenger ferry is 30 THB each way and takes about 45 minutes to an hour to Na Baan pier, or you can charter a speedboat to get there faster.
Koh Larn — Tawaen Beach
The main beach on Koh Larn where the passenger ferry docks. It has everything — restaurants, deckchairs, and water activities like jet skis and parasailing. It's the busiest spot on the island, good for anyone who wants convenience and isn't staying overnight.
Koh Larn — Samae Beach
A white-sand stretch about 500 metres long, with clearer water than Tawaen and fewer people — good for families. The passenger ferry only runs a few trips a day, so most people take a songthaew or motorbike taxi onward from Na Baan pier.
Koh Larn — Tien Beach
The smallest and quietest of the main beaches, with fine sand and only a handful of restaurants. There's no road access, so it suits anyone wanting to escape the crowds. Bring cash — the island runs mostly on cash.
Island tip
Koh Larn runs mostly on cash — ATMs are scarce and charge high fees, so bring enough with you. Food and drinks on the island cost more than on the mainland, so buying water and sunscreen back in Pattaya works out cheaper.
The city side — Pattaya and what's in town
Pattaya is a city you can enjoy day and night. Beyond the beaches there are viewpoints, a floating market, and water parks to choose from — good for families or groups of friends. Getting around town is by songthaew (the red trucks), 10–20 THB a ride depending on distance.
Pattaya Viewpoint (Pratumnak Hill)
The popular viewpoint over Pattaya on Pratumnak Hill, taking in the whole curve of Pattaya Bay. There's a Pattaya City sign for photos, entry is free, and it's best in the late afternoon before sunset. It's right next to the Big Buddha temple.
Big Buddha Temple (Wat Phra Yai, Pratumnak Hill)
A large golden Buddha image, around 18 metres tall, on Pratumnak Hill. You walk up a staircase flanked by golden nagas, with good views over Pattaya. Entry is free; dress modestly. It's close enough to the viewpoint to walk between the two.
Pattaya Floating Market (Four Regions)
A floating market built as Thai houses from the country's four regions, with food, souvenirs, and rowboat rides through the market. Entry is around 200 THB for foreigners (cheaper for Thais) — good for photos and a spread of Thai food in one spot.
Columbia Pictures Aquaverse
A Sony movie–themed water park in Jomtien — formerly Cartoon Network Amazone, rethemed and renamed back in 2022. Lots of slides and water rides, good for families and groups of friends. Check ticket prices in advance.
Culture — woodwork, gardens and Buddha images
The other face of Chonburi is its culture and craftsmanship, which you don't see in many places. These three are the kind of spots people make a special trip for. Allow half a day each — they're large and there's a lot of detail to take in.
Sanctuary of Truth
A teak-wood temple by the sea at Naklua, entirely hand-carved and built continuously over decades. Foreigner entry is 500 THB (daytime session), open 8:00–18:00 including a guided tour. You wear a hard hat inside because it's still under construction.
Nong Nooch Garden, Pattaya
A huge botanical garden with a French garden, a cactus garden, and a model dinosaur valley. There are elephant and Thai culture shows several times a day (10:30 / 11:30 / 13:30 / 15:30), and it's open 8:00–18:00. Check ticket prices in advance.
Khao Chi Chan
A Buddha image laser-carved into a rock cliff at Sattahip — enormous, and the largest cliff-carved Buddha image in Thailand. Entry is free, open 6:00–18:00, and it's near the Silverlake vineyard where you can stop for photos and a glass of wine.
Khao Sam Muk — the viewpoint above Bang Saen
At the north end of Bang Saen bay there's a small hill called Khao Sam Muk — both a viewpoint and the Chao Mae Sam Muk shrine that locals come to pay respects at. The road up is narrow but drivable, and a few hundred monkeys live up top. The view over Bang Saen bay is especially nice in the late afternoon, around 16:30–18:30 when the light softens. Watch the monkeys for snatched food — don't hold food bags in plain sight, and lock your car.
Khao Sam Muk tip
The monkeys here are used to people and quick to grab — stash your glasses, hat, plastic bags, and any food before you get out of the car. At the bottom of the hill there's a bridge for feeding fish; you can buy a bag of bread for 20 THB and toss it to the fish that swarm up to the surface.
How to plan your days without burning out
Chonburi is bigger than it looks — driving from Bang Saen down to Sattahip takes about an hour. With 2–3 days, doing one zone per day is more fun than cramming everything into one. Here's a sample plan that flows naturally from place to place.
Northern beaches — Bang Saen and Khao Sam Muk
Island day — swimming at Koh Larn
Culture and views
Getting around Chonburi smoothly
- Songthaew (red trucks) in Pattaya — they loop along the beach and the beach road, 10–20 THB a ride depending on distance. Just flag one down, press the buzzer when you want off, and pay as you get out.
- Ride-hailing apps — convenient and metered by distance, good for further-out spots like Nong Nooch Garden or Khao Chi Chan, and you avoid haggling over the fare.
- Renting a motorbike or car — the most flexible option if you're covering several zones; the drive from Bang Saen to Sattahip is easy. You'll need a licence, and watch for police checkpoints.
- Boat to Koh Larn — leaves from Bali Hai Pier near Walking Street, passenger ferry 30 THB. Check the last departure carefully so you don't miss the boat.
Want a detailed Chonburi plan for the whole trip?
See the Chonburi travel guide →