Best Area to Stay in Pattaya: Our FAVORITE Neighborhoods

Pattaya City is bigger than you might think! Not only does the city center stretch along its large 2.7km of beach, but there are plenty of other neighborhoods to consider when deciding on your best area to stay in Pattaya – areas that most travelers and tourists have not even heard of. 

In fact, some of those lesser-known Pattaya neighborhoods are, in our opinion, the better areas to choose when looking for where to stay in Pattaya. 

In this Pattaya neighborhood guide (by a local – us!), we’ll break down the city area by area to give you guys a clear picture of what to expect from each so you can choose the best neighborhood in Pattaya for you.

Pattaya Beach – Best Area to Stay in Pattaya for Tourists

Pattaya Beach Road is quite a long stretch of sand so we feel it should be split up into three different areas – North Pattaya, Central Pattaya, and South Pattaya.

No matter where in Pattaya Bay you choose to stay, they all offer plenty of things to do in terms of restaurants, shopping, night markets and nightlife but they do differ in other ways which we will explain here! 

North Pattaya Beach (Best Area to Stay in Pattaya for First Time)

North Pattaya Beach, revolving around the Terminal 21 Shopping Mall, is one of the smarter areas in Pattaya’s city center. The newest large hotels can be found around here and it’s the end of the beach which had its promenade and beach road smartly renovated first. 

Overall, it has a more spacious feel than other parts of Pattaya Beach and it’s on the opposite end from Walking Street so no working girls to be found here. For us, this makes North Pattaya Beach a higher-end experience compared to Pattaya Beach’s Southern end.

Terminal 21, the centerpiece of North Pattaya, is a unique shopping complex designed with an airport theme. Each floor represents different world cities like Paris, Tokyo, and London, offering an immersive shopping experience.

The mall houses many levels of retail outlets ranging from well-known international brands to local Thai designers, catering to a wide variety of tastes and budgets. 

In addition to shopping, Terminal 21 offers a sprawling food court with an extensive selection of global cuisines at very cheap prices, alongside a state-of-the-art movie theater, providing entertainment for all ages.

The area is also home to the lesser-known Central Marina, a maritime-themed shopping mall on Pattaya Second Road offering budget-friendly brands, another food court, Big C supermarket and a nightmarket at the front of the building. 

This part of Pattaya is a hub for transportation, making it an ideal location for travelers who wish to get in and out of the city quickly. The North Pattaya Bus Terminal nearby enhances its connectivity with other major destinations in Thailand such as Bangkok and Suvarnabhumi International Airport.

A bus to Bangkok takes around 2 hours if there’s no traffic. It can take up to 3 hours during rush hours or big festival weekends. 

Central Pattaya Beach (Best Area to Stay in Pattaya for Shopping)

Central Pattaya Beach, around the Central Festival Shopping Mall, Pattaya Night Bazaar, and the lively Soi Buakhao, is what we regard as the center of Pattaya. It’s the middle section of Pattaya beach road so a good option to stay if you want to enjoy the attractions at both ends of the city. 

Central Festival Pattaya Beach, is the latest shopping Mall in Pattaya and dominates the beach road landscape here. This contemporary shopping and entertainment complex stretches along the beachfront, offering a retail experience with over 300 shops featuring both high-end international brands and local Thai products. 

The mall also boasts a vast array of dining options, from fast food to gourmet restaurants, alongside a multiplex cinema, making it a popular destination for families, tourists, and locals alike.

The mall is even attached to the Hilton Hotel making for some crazy convenience. At night, both the front (beach road) and back (second road) of the building are popular hangouts with several street food vendors and places to drink a local beer or cocktail. 

Adjacent to Central Festival across Pattaya Second Road is Soi Buakhao, a lively street that encapsulates the essence of Pattaya’s dynamic nightlife. There’s not much going on here during daylight hours but at night the street and surrounding area come alive with tourists, expats and Thai working girls. 

This area became popular when the pandemic shut down Pattaya Walking Street while many of the bars here remained open. The bar girls on Soi Buakao can be pretty forward so be prepared if you’re a solo male! 

The beachfront, just a stone’s throw away, adds another dimension to Central Pattaya’s appeal. Pattaya Beach Central is a hub of activity, where visitors can indulge in water sports and is often the center for the many festivals happening most weekends.

At night, this is the part of Pattaya Beach Road where the line of working girls starts and runs to Walking Street on the southern end. 

South Pattaya Beach (Best Area to Stay in Pattaya for Nightlife)

With the infamous Pattaya Walking Street being the center of attention here, South Pattaya Beach is where to stay in Pattaya if you want to be close to Pattaya’s nightlife action.

This is our least favorite part of Pattaya due to its run-down appearance. If Walking Street was not located here, there would be no reason for us to visit this area. 

I’m sure Walking Street needs no introduction but if you are somehow unaware of it then think Go-Go Bars, working girls, ladyboys, and many pumping nightclubs all along one 500-meter street. 

While Pattaya Walking Street at first can look and feel quite intimidating, venture inside and you’ll also find plenty of “normal” bars not focusing on providing you with solely girly entertainment.

Bars such as Muzzik Cafe and many others are great places to drink and enjoy the diverse cover bands and DJs on stage. These are the only types of places you’ll find us enjoying down Walking Street. 

At the Southern end of Walking Street, you’ll find Bali Hai Pier, the launch point for boat trips to Ko Larn. Extremely chilled Ko Larn is a place worth visiting on a day trip or staying a night or two. 

South Pattaya has also become a popular area for Indian tourists. The sois to the east of Walking Street are full of Indian restaurants and other Indian businesses so it’s only natural that many Indian tourists would choose to stay in the hotels in this area. 

Even Walking Street now has some nightclubs catering to Indian tourists with DJs playing Indian dance and pop music. At the front of those larger clubs, you can find Indian dancers and drummers adding a new element to Walking Street’s nightlife offerings. 

Pattaya’s Southern end of Beach Road is much like the rest of it offering the usual activities you’ll find at the beach during the day but at night be prepared for the overwhelming site of working girls lined up along the promenade. This makes it the best area to stay in Pattaya for single males.

There are hundreds of women so if that’s your thing then you’ll have plenty to choose from! But if it’s not, like it isn’t for us, then it might not be the best area to stay in Pattaya for you. 

Pratumnak (Best Area in Pattaya to Stay for Expats)

Pratumnak, often referred to as the “Beverly Hills of Pattaya,” is a unique and more upscale area nestled on the headland between South Pattaya and Jomtien. This is where one of our purchased condos is located and it’s our favorite part of Pattaya. It’s where to stay in Pattaya for expats and slow-paced travelers. 

It’s our best place to stay in Pattaya because the district has a very chilled expat atmosphere, a stark contrast and welcome relief to the bustling city center tourist vibes of central Pattaya. We always enjoy the feeling of returning to Pratumnak’s quiet sois after a few hours in central Pattaya! 

Covering Pratumnak Hill, the area offers some of the most awesome views of Pattaya Bay, Ko Larn and the Gulf of Thailand, making it a sought-after location for luxury living (for Pattaya) and higher-end tourism. Find yourself a high-level room facing the sea and you won’t be disappointed. 

One of the main attractions in Pratumnak is the Pattaya View Point, located at the highest part of the hill. This spot provides some nice panoramic views, especially at sunset. There are even a couple of places to grab a drink while you enjoy watching the sun go down.  

Nearby, the Wat Phra Yai Temple, with its enormous golden Buddha statue, stands as an iconic symbol of the area, visible from miles away and adding a spiritual dimension to Pratumnak’s landscape. 

Pratumnak has a couple of lesser-known Pattaya beaches too, with Cozy Beach as the standout and Paradise Beach being almost unknown to tourists. Smaller and more peaceful than Pattaya Beach, cove-like Cozy Beach is a favorite for those looking to escape the crowds and enjoy a more relaxed beach experience. 

Cosy Beach is also a popular destination because of the growing number of exciting restaurants perched on the cliff-top. Three Mermaids, Sky Gallery and Oxygen are highlights but there are several more to choose from. 

Pratumnak has an excellent selection of restaurants, cafes, and bars, with both Thai and international cuisine. You’ll find them scattered around the area but a higher concentration of them are along Pratumnak Soi 5 which runs down the hill to Dongtan Beach.

Next to Dongtan Beach, there’s a large 7/11 with plenty of outside tables and chairs for another sunset viewing option. From here, you can walk along Dongtan Beach all the way to Jomtien. This takes roughly 30 minutes and there are a handful of coffee shops and restaurants along the way.

Pratumnak nightlife is more subdued compared to central Pattaya. You’ll find mostly local expats in the smaller bars here and we’re not aware of any large nightclubs. Head to Walking Street for that which is only a quick 5-minute ride down the hill. And so is Bali Hai Pier! 

Wong Amat Beach (Best Area in Pattaya to Stay for Couples)

Like Pratumnak, Wong Amat offers a similar expat-vibe because of its quieter location and high density of good quality condos. It’s only a few minutes North of Pattaya Beach but couldn’t feel more different. At times you’d be forgiven for feeling like you’re on one of the Thai islands which is why we consider it the best area in Pattaya to Stay for couples. 

Wongamat’s narrow pristine beaches are nothing amazing but they’re super-clean and a lovely place to stroll at any time of the day along the footpath. There’s no road running alongside the beach so it’s very peaceful with views of only Pattaya Bay, front pool gardens of condos/hotels, and some nice restaurants/cafes just off the sand.

There’s also Wongamat Beach Club for something more high-end so book yourself a daybed and snuggle up with some awesome food and drinks.

Behind the first row of beach hotels and condos are a few sois offering a selection of food, drinks, massages, and more. While it feels similar to Pratumnak with its hidden-gem feel, we still prefer Pratumnak because of the deeper beaches and excellent location in the middle of Pattaya and Jomtien.

From Wongamat Beach you’ve got easy access to North Pattaya and Terminal 21 but you’re a longer ride away from other popular Pattaya areas.

Despite its tranquility, Wong Amat Beach is not short of attractions. The Sanctuary of Truth, a magnificent wooden structure located nearby, is a marvel of architecture and philosophy.

This temple-like building, entirely made of wood, showcases intricate carvings and sculptures based on traditional Buddhist and Hindu motifs. It’s not only a tourist attraction but also a place for reflection and appreciation of art and culture.

Jomtien Beach (Best Area in Pattaya to Stay for Families)

Jomtien Beach is the new big kid on the block. While Pattaya is the tourist and nightlife epicenter, Jomtien is a more family-friendly, expat and Thai beach destination. It’s where to Stay in Pattaya if you’ve got kids in tow. 

We live in Pratumnak which lies in the middle of Jomtien and Pattaya, and we choose to spend more of our time in Jomtien than in Pattaya City. It’s more laidback with far fewer crowds and an even longer stretch of beach – 6km! 

Since the end of the Covid pandemic, we’ve seen a countless number of new businesses open up along Jomtien’s beachfront. From several new night markets to good quality restaurants, with so many things to do in Jomtien, the area is now becoming a destination in itself. It’s truly up and coming and we can see it growing and gaining popularity for years to come. 

On weekends, Jomtien Beach is busy with local Thais from the surrounding area and Bangkok City. It’s also a popular choice for the new wave of Russian expats now calling Thailand home. Jomtien even has its own events calendar from watersports championships to food and music festivals. 

Nights can be spent at one of the many night markets, restaurants or local beer bars. While there is a small girly bar scene in the northern part of Jomtien Beach, it’s nothing compared to Pattaya city so there are plenty of bars to enjoy a drink without being approached for company (and more). 

At the most Southern end of Jomtien Beach is Na Jomtien. Now this area really is as chilled as it gets in Pattaya. The sois are small and sandy, and the restaurants are super-local, but if you know where to go, there’s an emerging beach club and restaurant scene here. The recently opened Cave, Alexa and Tahiti beach clubs are to name just a few to enjoy at sunset. 

Koh Larn – Best Area in Pattaya to Stay to Relax

Koh Larn, a hidden gem also known as Coral Island can be seen just off the coast of Pattaya. Azure waters, powdery white sands, and a vibe so laid-back, you’ll forget the bustling city is just a short ferry ride away. 

Hop on a speed boat from Pattaya’s Bali Hai Pier, and in about 30 to 45 minutes, you’ll be stepping onto Koh Larn’s sands, ready to embrace its small island charm. 

Koh Larn is dotted with some cute but stunning beaches. Tawaen Beach is the star of the show, with its busier vibe and selection of eateries and shops.

Seeking something more serene? Head to Samae Beach for a quieter retreat, where the sunsets are legendary. Don’t miss out on exploring the hidden nooks like Nual Beach, a sanctuary for those looking to escape the crowds and commune with nature. 

Beach hopping and island exploration are best done by motorbike which can be hired in the main village as you step off the pier. 

As the sun dips below the horizon, beachside stalls come alive, serving up mouthwatering seafood fresh from the ocean, alongside an array of Thai delicacies. As night falls, find a cozy spot on the sand, cocktail in hand, and enjoy the almost unknown island life of Pattaya. 

Considering Bali Hai Pier is just a handful of minutes away from our condo, we really don’t visit Koh Larn enough. We love it but it’s not where we’d recommend basing yourself for your Pattaya vacation. Visit Koh Larn on a day trip from Pattaya or better still, spend a night or two. 

Final word…

We hope this Pattaya neighborhood guide has been useful. We’ve spent a lot of time in all of these Pattaya areas so we fully understand the offerings and vibe of each. 

We wouldn’t let the Pattaya City sex-tourism scene put you off the southern end of Pattaya Beach, but we felt it’s something every Pattaya newbie should be aware of just in case you would rather avoid seeing it at all. 

Head to more Northern parts of the beach if it’s your first time. Pratumnak, Wongamat and Koh Larn are definitely for those who prefer the quiet life, while Jomtien offers local feels. Whichever neighborhood you choose as your best place to stay in Pattaya, have a great time!