Every destination in one table
| Destination | How far | Season and fees | Skip it if |
|---|---|---|---|
| Koh Larn | Bali Hai Pier is 3.7 km from the centre, Na Ban Pier 8.5 km beyond it in a straight line | all year, boats stay in port in storms; no DNP fee | you want empty beaches |
| Nong Nooch Tropical Garden | 23.1 km, about 27 min | all year, 08:00-18:00; online tickets from 700 baht for foreigners | you object to animal shows |
| Sanctuary of Truth | 5.8 km, about 12 min | all year, daily; 500 baht by day | you dislike museums and crowds |
| Koh Samet | 80.8 km to Ban Phe Pier, about 64 min, then a ferry | best November to March; 200-baht DNP fee | you have one day and small children |
| Koh Si Chang | 30.5 km to Si Racha, about 25 min, then a ferry, about 13 km in a straight line | all year, best in the dry months | you expect white sand and reefs |
| Bangkok | 143.1 km, about 1 h 38 min | all year | you hate long drives and city heat |
| Ayutthaya | 204.1 km, about 2 h 21 min | all year, cooler in the dry months | your children struggle with 4+ hours in a car |
Road distances: OSRM routing on OpenStreetMap data from Central Pattaya, without traffic. Straight-line distances: our calculation from OpenStreetMap coordinates. We only give ferry times where an official source does, and there is none yet for these routes. Checked on 17 October 2026.
Islands from Pattaya
Koh Larn. The nearest island, and part of Pattaya City. Boats leave from Bali Hai Pier, where Pattaya City set up a passenger waiting area for Koh Larn boats in 2022. From Bali Hai Pier to Na Ban Pier on the island is 8.5 km in a straight line (from the piers’ coordinates in OpenStreetMap). We did not find an official ferry timetable or fare on the city website, so we do not quote one. People go for half a day or a full day when they want clearer water than the city beach.
Koh Samet. An island in Rayong province and part of Khao Laem Ya-Mu Ko Samet National Park. Under the DNP fee table, foreign adults pay 200 baht and children 100 baht; the neighbouring islets of Ko Talu, Ko Kham, Ko Kruai and Ko Kudee cost more, 300 baht. Ferries leave from Ban Phe Pier, 80.8 km from Central Pattaya. As a day trip it is long, and an overnight stay is easier.
Koh Si Chang. A separate district of Chonburi province north of Pattaya. Boats usually go from Si Racha; we have not checked an official ferry timetable. Ko Loi waterfront in Si Racha is 30.5 km from Central Pattaya and the island is about 13 km beyond that in a straight line. People come for walks and views rather than beaches.
Sights near the city
- Nong Nooch Tropical Garden. A 1,500-rai garden south of Pattaya, open daily 08:00-18:00, with an elephant show and a Thai cultural show
- Sanctuary of Truth. A hand-carved wooden building on the shore in Naklua, north Pattaya. Open daily, 500 baht by day and 700 in the evening, allow 2-4 hours (museum website)
Bangkok and Ayutthaya in a day
Bangkok is 143 km by road from Central Pattaya, and Ayutthaya, the former royal capital, 204 km. Ayutthaya means about 5 hours of driving there and back without traffic, so it suits people who care more about history than beaches. Getting to Bangkok by bus or train on your own is covered in Bangkok to Pattaya: same routes, opposite direction.
Which trips when
Thai Meteorological Department normals (Phatthaya station, 1991-2020) show 12-57 mm of rain a month from November to March, 91-132 mm from May to August and 214-225 mm in September and October. Plan boat trips for the dry months; trips by road work all year.
| Months | What to choose | Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| November-March | anything, including Koh Samet and Koh Si Chang | high demand, Chonburi hotel occupancy 82% in December and January (Ministry of Tourism, 2025) |
| April | anything | the hottest month, 29.4 °C mean |
| May-August | Koh Larn on clear days, Nong Nooch, Bangkok | showers on 11-13 days a month |
| September-October | trips by road | the wettest months, 16-17 rainy days |
How to choose a tour
- What is included. Hotel pickup, boat or ferry, lunch, park fees, insurance
- The boat. A speedboat is faster, a large ferry is smoother, which matters for children and anyone prone to seasickness
- Departure time. An early start gets you to the beaches before the crowds
- Cancellation terms. What happens if boats cannot sail because of the weather
- The seller. Do not prepay strangers in private messages; get a receipt or booking confirmation
For areas, seasons and practical tips, see the Pattaya travel guide.
FAQ
What are the best day trips from Pattaya?
In a week most people fit in Koh Larn, Nong Nooch Tropical Garden and a day in Bangkok. If you want quieter beaches than Koh Larn, Koh Samet is the alternative, but it means 81 km to Ban Phe Pier plus a ferry. Ayutthaya is for history lovers: about 2.5 hours each way by road.
Can I visit Koh Larn on my own?
Yes. Boats to Koh Larn leave from Bali Hai Pier in South Pattaya, 3.7 km by road from Central Pattaya, and Na Ban Pier on the island is 8.5 km away in a straight line (our calculation from the two piers' coordinates in OpenStreetMap). We did not find an official ferry timetable or fare on the city website, so we do not quote one: check at the pier on the day.
How much do Pattaya tours cost?
Prices vary by seller, and we do not publish them until we have a dated comparison. The fixed costs we can verify are the 200-baht Koh Samet park fee for foreign adults (DNP) and online Nong Nooch tickets from 700 baht on the garden's website (2026-10-17). Before paying, ask what is included: hotel pickup, boat, lunch and fees.
Is a day trip to Bangkok from Pattaya worth it?
If Bangkok is not already on your itinerary, it is a workable day out: 143 km from central Bangkok by road, about 1 hour 38 minutes without traffic. The catch is that 3-4 hours of a 10-12 hour day go on the road. If you are visiting Bangkok anyway, see it separately.
Which trips work in the rainy season?
Trips by road: Nong Nooch, the Sanctuary of Truth, Bangkok and Ayutthaya. Boat trips in wet September and October (214-225 mm of rain per TMD normals) are possible on clear days, but boats may not sail in a storm. Ask the seller what happens if the trip is cancelled before you pay.
Can I do a trip to Cambodia from Pattaya?
Such tours are sold, but we do not cover them: conditions at land border crossings and Cambodian visa rules change, and we have no verified primary sources for October 2026. If you decide to go, check the rules on official Cambodian sites and your own government's travel advice before booking.
Sources
- DNP. National park entrance fees for individuals (dataset, CSV)
- TMD. Climatological Data of Thailand for 30 Year Period (1991-2020), Phatthaya station (48 461)
- Pattaya City. Waiting area for Koh Larn boats at Bali Hai Pier (news, 04.08.2022)
- Nong Nooch Tropical Garden. Online tickets and opening hours
- OpenStreetMap, Nominatim: Koh Larn within Pattaya City
- OpenStreetMap, OSRM route: Central Pattaya to Ban Phe Pier
- OpenStreetMap, OSRM route: Central Pattaya to Si Racha (Ko Loi)
- OpenStreetMap, OSRM route: Central Pattaya to Ayutthaya
- OpenStreetMap, OSRM route: Bangkok (Victory Monument) to Central Pattaya
Found an error or outdated fact? Tell the editors, we will fix it and update the check date.