Before you fly
Entry rules. Check them on Thailand’s official e-Visa website for your passport. They change often, so check close to your travel date.
Pick your area before your hotel. Pattaya is small, but the difference between a room above a bar street and a room on a quiet hillside is huge. The area chooser takes about a minute and shows the trade-off of each area. Torn between the two most popular bases? Read Jomtien vs Central Pattaya.
Book the airport bus. If you land at Suvarnabhumi, the direct bus is the simplest cheap option. Book ahead and leave room for immigration, baggage and check-in when choosing a departure. Details are in Bangkok airport to Pattaya.
Day one: arriving
The bus counter at Suvarnabhumi is at Level 1, Gate 8 of the passenger terminal. Allow about an hour for immigration and baggage, plus time to reach the counter. Check in at least 30 minutes before departure and leave extra room for delays. The Pattaya-bound bus costs ฿135 per seat and takes about 2 hours, depending on traffic.
From the bus station, a baht bus or a ride-hailing car gets you to your hotel. Arriving late at night? Read the late-arrival section of the airport guide before you book your flight.
How the city is laid out
Pattaya is a simple grid along the bay:
- Beach Road runs along the sand.
- Second Road runs parallel, one block inland.
- Soi Buakhao runs parallel again, further inland.
- Sukhumvit Road, the highway, marks the eastern edge of the tourist city.
- Numbered sois (lanes) link them.
- Walking Street is the southern end of Beach Road.
- Jomtien is its own beach, south over the Pratumnak headland.
The line map shows all of it on one screen.
Baht buses are shared pickup trucks that loop Beach Road and Second Road. They cost 15–20 baht, depending on distance. Wave one down with your palm facing down, press the buzzer to stop, and pay at the passenger window. Confirm a shared service if you need to ask about the route. For a private trip, agree the total price before boarding. Ride-hailing apps (Bolt and Grab both operate) are the easiest way home late at night. More in getting around.
The baht bus, step by step: routes, fares and shared versus private rides →
Your first afternoon and evening
- See Soi 6 in daylight. Choose the afternoon or early evening for a first look at Soi 6. Walk through and you’ll understand it faster than any description.
- Look first, sit later. After dark, walk Walking Street once end to end before choosing anywhere. The main strip is about 780 m, running from the Beach Road entrance towards Bali Hai.
- Try the cheaper side. LK Metro and the bars along Soi Buakhao are smaller, cheaper and less intense than Walking Street.
- Check the calendar. On the five Buddhist holy days most bars stop selling alcohol; the nightlife guide lists them.
Day two: make the trip your own
After the first evening, choose what you want more of. For another central night, pick one street rather than spending the evening travelling between all four. If beach time is the priority, compare Jomtien with the beachfront near your room before committing to daily cross-town trips.
Use yesterday’s receipts to adjust your trip budget, then set aside the cash for today and the journey home. On a longer stay, check the room’s noise after dark before extending the booking.
The traps that catch first-timers
- Running a tab. Check the bill before it builds up. Pay as you go and ask for itemised bills.
- Not asking the price first. Especially for drinks you buy for staff (lady drinks) and anything from a tout. A venue that won’t show a price list is a venue to walk past.
- “Free” shows and special offers from touts. Check the venue’s own menu instead of accepting a tout’s promise.
- Carrying everything. Take a fixed amount of cash and one card, and leave the rest in the hotel safe. Never let your card out of sight when paying.
- Photographing staff. Don’t. Photograph the street and the signs, not the people working there.
- Booking a room above the noise. If you sleep lightly, ask for a high floor at the back, away from bar sois.
Safety and the law
Save these numbers:
- Tourist Police: 1155.
- Police and general emergencies: 191.
- Medical emergencies: 1669.
Running a prostitution business is an offence in Thailand.
Thai law criminalises the sexual exploitation of children in prostitution. There is zero tolerance for anything involving minors. If you see or suspect child exploitation, call the 1300 hotline or the Tourist Police.
Staying safe in Pattaya: scams, scooters, the sea and who to call →
Your next decisions
- Where to base yourself: where to stay
- Which street suits your night: Pattaya nightlife
- What it will cost: budget calculator
- Getting home: Pattaya to Suvarnabhumi Airport
Keep Thai driver cards, airport links and emergency numbers together