Cheap flights to Pattaya

Quick summary

Why watch Pattaya with SniperAir

A beach resort with no airport of its own, reachable through three gateways

Pattaya is a seaside city in Chonburi Province on the east coast of the Gulf of Thailand, about 150 km south-east of Bangkok. A fishing village until the 1960s, it has grown into a resort that welcomes millions of Thai and foreign visitors. It offers an urban beach, islands within boat reach, a remarkable carved-wood temple and a large botanical garden.

What matters for a flight search is that Pattaya has no airport. You arrive through U-Tapao Airport (UTP) in neighbouring Rayong Province, or through Bangkok's two airports, Suvarnabhumi (BKK) and Don Mueang (DMK), linked to the city by road. Prices vary with the gateway you pick, so watching UTP, BKK and DMK together helps you spot the best deal.

Airports and getting into town

UTP, BKK or DMK: three gateways to the east coast

Distances and times are approximate, based on Wikivoyage (EN, DE), Wikipedia (EN, ES) and Wikipedia (FR); the sources disagree and bus timetables change. We do not quote fares.

From central Bangkok, Pattaya is about 150 km away: first-class buses from Mo Chit or Ekkamai take two to two and a half hours according to Wikivoyage (EN, DE). A third-class train runs on weekdays only, with one departure a day and up to three and a half hours of travel. None of the sources we checked gives a reliable public-transport time from the airports, so check timetables in advance.

Sanctuary, temples and gardens

An all-wood temple, dragon roofs and a topiary garden

Pattaya is best known for its beach and nightlife, but its most memorable visits lie elsewhere. The three places illustrated below are the Sanctuary of Truth, a Chinese-style temple and Nong Nooch garden; the beach, the island and Buddha Hill are described in text.

The Sanctuary of Truth

On the waterfront in the north of the city, this vast carved-wood temple mixes figures from Thai, Khmer, Lao and Chinese cultures, according to Wikipedia (DE). Construction began in 1981 under businessman Lek Viriyaphan (Wikipedia, EN). Sources disagree on whether it is unfinished (Wikipedia, EN) or completed in 2025 (Wikipedia, FR): check its status before you go.

A Chinese-style temple

Around Pattaya, several Chinese shrines add red-tiled roofs and colourful dragons and phoenixes. The geometric paving and the bronze statues lined up in a courtyard make these places look like film sets.

Nong Nooch garden

About fifteen kilometres from the centre (17 km according to Wikipedia, FR), Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden lays out maze-like clipped hedges, cones of greenery and little golden stupas. It also offers cultural shows and an orchid farm (Wikipedia, DE).

Beach, Koh Larn and Buddha Hill, in text

Pattaya Beach, about 3 km long, is busy; Jomtien, about 6 km, is calmer; and Wong Amat to the north is cleaner and quieter, according to Wikivoyage (EN). Koh Larn lies 7 to 7.5 km offshore: the ferry takes about 45 minutes and a speedboat about 15 (Wikipedia DE and ES). On Khao Phra Tamnak hill a large Buddha overlooks the city and a nearby viewpoint is good at sunset.

Museums and culture

Few classic museums, but temples, parks and shows

Shrines and temples

Pattaya is not a city of big museums. The Sanctuary of Truth is the cultural attraction guides cite most; the Buddha on its hill and several Chinese shrines complete a visit. Remember to cover shoulders and knees in places of worship.

Parks and gardens

Nong Nooch offers cultural shows and an orchid farm, and the Mini Siam model park on Sukhumvit Road reproduces landmarks (Wikivoyage, EN). Wikivoyage (EN) points out that many attractions sold as 'Pattaya' are actually in Jomtien, Sattahip or Si Racha, so check the distance before booking.

History

A fishing village until the 1960s, Pattaya took off when American servicemen came on leave during the Vietnam War, near the U-Tapao base (Wikipedia, EN, FR). It received city status in 1978 according to Wikipedia (EN). We do not quote admission prices.

Food and drink

Thai street food, seafood and night markets

Street food and seafood

Pattaya is a sea town: grilled fish and seafood are everywhere, alongside Thai street food. The sources we checked say little about local specialities, so we stay general and refer you to local tourist-office advice.

Night markets

Wikivoyage (DE) mentions the Jomtien night market, open roughly from 17:00 to 22:00, with many inexpensive food stalls. Shopping centres also have large food courts with cuisines from around the world.

A cosmopolitan table

With visitors from many countries, the city has restaurants of very different cuisines, including European ones (Wikivoyage, DE). For something more local, step away from the main tourist avenues.

Getting around

Songthaews, motorbike taxis and few metered taxis

Songthaews

Songthaews, known as 'baht buses', are the main transport: they follow fixed routes at a flat fare of about 10 baht according to Wikivoyage (EN, DE). Do not negotiate before boarding, or the driver may take it as a private hire, which costs much more.

Taxis and motorbike taxis

There are few metered taxis, mostly at bus stations, and hailing one in the street is rare (Wikivoyage, DE). Motorbike taxis suit short hops; helmets are compulsory and the rule is enforced. A ride-hailing app also exists.

Two-wheelers and vigilance

Renting a scooter carries accident and theft risks, and bag-snatching occurs (Wikivoyage, EN). Wikivoyage (EN) also warns of drivers who quote an all-inclusive price and then ask for the expressway tolls.

Budget and precautions

Prices vary widely, so check them

Price level

Pattaya offers stays from budget to luxury, and prices change a lot between high and low season. We give no ranges or figure-based comparisons because we could not cross-check them on two independent, up-to-date sources; the bus fares quoted by Wikivoyage (EN) and Wikivoyage (DE) even differ from page to page. The currency is the baht.

Flights

The flight is the most variable item. SniperAir monitors prices to UTP and compares them with the route's history, but it does not sell or book tickets. Bangkok's airports (BKK, DMK) can complement your watch, since the road to Pattaya is direct.

Entry rules and precautions

Entry rules for Thailand depend on your nationality: check them on official sites and read your country's travel advice. The city has long had a reputation tied to its nightlife; the authorities are trying to build a more family-oriented tourism (Wikipedia, FR). Keep an eye on your belongings, and call the tourist police on 1155 if needed (Wikivoyage, DE).

Best time to go

Three seasons, with a drier period from November to February

The climate is tropical monsoonal, with three seasons: a hot dry period, a hot humid one and a hot rainy one (Wikipedia, EN, DE, ES). The exact months vary slightly between sources and annual rainfall is given as roughly 1,100 to 1,180 mm, so we do not publish precise figures. Check the forecast before you go.

By length of stay

What to do in Pattaya depending on how long you stay

In pictures

Pattaya in pictures

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions about flights to Pattaya