Mar 14, 2008

Pattaya Beaches and Islands

Pattaya Beach

Some 4 kilometres long, this beach faces Pattaya Bay, the major venue from where boats visit Pattaya's offshore islands. The beach curves from north to south and is largely paralleled by a treelined promenade and beach road which is lined, in the northern and central parts, by hotels and restaurants. The northern section of the beach is largely tranquil, while the central and southern parts become increasingly lively, thanks to a position of shops, department stores, boutiques, beauty salons, supermarkets, bars, discotheques, restaurants and nightclubs. The central area of the beach is a major shopping area, while the southern end is one of Pattaya's major nightlife areas.

Starting from Dusit Resort Hotel in the area called North Pattaya to the small hill in the South, Pattaya beach and its parallel beach road is about 3 kilometres long. Apart from swimming and sunbathing, the beach also offers excellent facilities for watersports enthusiasts of all kinds


Pattaya in Daytime

Pattaya at Nighttime

The northern part is a more quiet area of resorts while the southern part is a place of hustle and bustle, where both sides of the street are lined up with department stores, restaurants, discotheques, bars and nightclubs and shops of all kinds.

Jomtien Beach


This 6-kilometre long, largely straight beach, some 4 kilometres south of Pattaya, is the most notable of several beaches south of the resort. The beach is popular with windsurfers and watersports enthusiasts, largely because the area enjoys brisk and fresh breezes sweeping island from the Thai Gulf, and because the seas are less congested with boats than is Pattaya Bay. Jomtien is also a major residential area with beachside hotels, bungalow complexes, condominiums and restaurants.

The former paddy fields have turned into a thriving beach. Only 3 km. down Pattaya Beach, Jomtien is highly recommended to those who seek a quieter resort, where the golden sand, bright sun and blue clear sea are always pleased to welcome all vacationers.


It is a good place for relaxation with modern comforts and accommodation. Its long straight coastline of 6 kilometres with a fringe of coconut and palm trees offers vacationers a pleasant atmosphere for relaxing and viewing the sun setting in the sea. Its calm sea is also suitable for swimming and playing all kinds of water sports for the whole year. Jomtien Beach is especially the best spot for windsurfing and instruction is widely available for beginners.

Ko Lan (Lan Island)
Some 15 minutes by speedboat from Pattaya Bay, Ko Lan is the largest of Pattaya's offshore islands and is a popular venue for watersports such as windsurfing, water skiing, snorkelling and scuba-diving. Viewing coral reefs through glass-bottomed boats and parasailing are other popular activities. Island beaches are lined with souvenir stalls selling colourful beachwear and decorative handicrafts, foodstalls and restaurants. Visitors seeking greater tranquility can travel to Ko Pai (Bamboo Island), some 35 minutes by speedboat from Pattaya Bay. Quiet, pristine beaches and clear waters ideal for swimming and snorkeling characterize this uninhabited island.