Pattaya & Sattahip Temples
A Route Through Buddhist Art

🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026

These sites are clustered in the South Pattaya–Sattahip area, a stretch locals lump together as the "Khao Chi Chan–Wat Yan road." Wat Yansangwararam and Khao Chi Chan sit very close to each other — under ten minutes apart by car — while the Big Buddha on Pratamnak Hill is in Pattaya city itself, near Jomtien Beach, easy to fit in morning or evening before or after this run. You can reach all of them comfortably with your own car or a hired ride, but public buses barely exist out here, so sort out transport in advance.

The entry fees and hours below were cross-checked from several sources around mid-2026, and these things change. Some spots charge only for certain buildings, and on merit-making days parts may close. Build in a little slack on both money and time. Most of all, every one of these is a working religious site where people actually come to make merit — dress modestly and keep your voice down and you'll fit right in.

Wat Yansangwararam — The Bodhgaya Replica Stupa

Wat Yansangwararam Woramahawihan is a large royal temple in Huai Yai sub-district, Bang Lamung district, about 20 kilometres south of central Pattaya. The grounds span hundreds of rai, shaded with trees and dotted with ponds. What people come to see is the Phra Buddhabat shrine on a hill that you reach by climbing stairs, and a replica of the Bodhgaya stupa modelled on the one in India — a gleaming gold structure standing out in the middle of a wide plaza. It photographs beautifully and feels far calmer than the temples in town.

Around the grounds you'll also find Phra Borommathat Chedi Maha Chakri Phiphat, a white chedi on a hilltop with broad views, plus several landscaped gardens to wander through. It's a temple you can easily spend an hour walking if you want to see it all, or just pay respects at the main spots and move on.

• Entry — the temple itself is free; some buildings or the hilltop shuttle stop ask for a transport fee or donation of around 20 THB
• Hours — daily, roughly 06:00–18:00 (inner buildings often close before evening)
• Where — Huai Yai, Bang Lamung; about 25–30 minutes' drive from South Pattaya

Khao Chi Chan — The Cliff-Face Buddha

A few minutes on from Wat Yan is Khao Chi Chan, the image most people associate with this route. Carved into a tall rock cliff is a seated Buddha image inlaid with gold line work — its full name is Phra Buddha Maha Vajira Uttamo Phasa Sasada — standing over a hundred metres tall, created to honour the late King Rama IX. Seen from the plaza below, the whole figure stands out against the grey rock. It's genuinely imposing and photographs well at any time of day.

Out front is a wide plaza with a reflecting pond that mirrors the Buddha and seasonal flower gardens — easy strolling and photos, no hiking required. Morning light is soft and the crowds thinner, while in the late afternoon the sun hits the front of the figure and makes the gold lines pop. Take your pick.

• Entry — free (there's a donation box if you'd like to give)
• Hours — daily, roughly 06:00–18:00
• Where — Na Jomtien, Sattahip; about 5–10 minutes' drive from Wat Yan

Viharn Sien — Chinese Art in a Buddhist Setting

Not far from Wat Yan is Anek Kusala Sala, better known as Viharn Sien — a three-storey Chinese-style building crammed with Chinese and Thai art and artefacts: bronze casts of the 18 Arhats, figures of Chinese emperors, replica terracotta warriors from the tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, and an upper floor given over to Buddhism, enshrining Buddha images and relics. It's a good fit for anyone who likes art and antiques, and more absorbing to walk through than you might expect.

• Entry — around 50 THB per person (a site maintenance fee)
• Hours — daily, roughly 08:00–17:00
• Where — Bang Lamung, near Wat Yan; easy to combine on the same loop

Big Buddha, Pratamnak Hill — Pattaya's Landmark Buddha

If you'd rather not drive all the way out to Sattahip, the Big Buddha on Pratamnak Hill (Wat Phra Yai / Wat Khao Phra Bat) is in Pattaya itself, near Jomtien Beach. It's a seated gold Buddha in the subduing-Mara posture, around 18 metres tall, set on a hilltop you reach by climbing stairs flanked by dragon balustrades. Up top, besides paying respects, you get a wide view over Pattaya and Jomtien bays — a popular spot in the evening for the breeze and the sunset.

Around the upper plaza there are birthday-Buddha images to venerate, a bell to ring, and viewpoints over the city. The crowd is a mix of tourists and locals coming to make merit, the vibe is easygoing, and there's no entry fee.

• Entry — free (there's a donation box and a stall for flowers, incense, and candles)
• Hours — daily, roughly 07:00–22:00 (open later than the others in the group)
• Where — Pratamnak Hill, South Pattaya, near the Pratamnak viewpoint; you can drive to the top

One-Day Temple Route

If you've only got one day, this is the route that links the main stops into a loop with no backtracking. Start early in the city, work your way south, and you'll be back in town by late afternoon in time for dinner.

Two-Day Route — Temples + Culture

If you've got two days and want to take it slow, split it into one day of Buddhist sites and one day of art and culture. You'll see a side of Pattaya most people skip right past.

What to Know Before You Go

• Transport — there's almost no public bus out to this temple cluster. Renting, hiring a car, or taking Grab is by far the easiest; agree on the price up front if you hire
• Dress — cover shoulders and knees, men and women alike, and take off your shoes before entering shrine buildings; carry a wrap just in case
• Cash — some entry fees, donation boxes, and the flower-incense-candle stalls take cash only, so bring small bills and coins
• Sun and water — many spots are open plazas with stairs, so bring water, a hat, and an umbrella, and avoid the hottest part of midday
• Respect the site — these are all working religious sites: keep your voice down, don't climb on the antiquities, and don't point your feet toward the Buddha images