Pattaya’s crescent-shaped bay stretches for 3kms from the tip of North Pattaya to the end of Walking Street.

The bay is broken up into three areas: North, Central and South. North Pattaya beach is relatively quiet and you can slump back into a deckchair safe in the knowledge you won’t be constantly pestered by hawkers. The beaches by Central and South Pattaya are bustling, busier places. Expect to be offered fried prawns, ice-cream and a tattoo if you sit along here, although the hawkers are polite and move on when asked.

Out on the water, banana boats regularly tip people off, jet-skis zip past and Thais dive in fully clothed. The sands here are reasonable but the beach itself is usually a thin strip, though on occasions the tide retreats several hundred metres and transforms the sands into something more respectable.

Some of the best beaches are further south in Jomtien. These long, wide areas come with solid, compact sand and have far fewer people. The beach stretches for several kilometers and at the southern-most tip you’re almost guaranteed complete privacy. Jomtien is also a favoured place for water and beach sports. Football, volleyball, windsurfing and jet-ski tournaments are common here, and spectator seating is provided.

At the northern end of Pattaya is Naklua (salt field), an area largely populated by Germans and Scandinavians. Wong Amat, at the southern end of Naklua, is a great strip of sand, with a few restaurants providing snacks, but some areas are now being taken over by private developers, so make the most of it while you can.

Central Pattaya Beaches

North Pattaya Beaches

South Pattaya Beaches

Jomtien Beaches