What time is sunset in Pattaya by month
We calculate sunset times ourselves by the NOAA method (General Solar Position Calculations: Julian day, equation of time, solar declination, zenith 90.833° with refraction correction) for central Pattaya (12.935° N, 100.883° E, UTC+7), for the 15th of each month in 2026. For Pratumnak Hill and Koh Larn the difference is under a minute. The azimuth gives the direction of the setting sun: 270° is due west.
| Month | Sunset | Sunset azimuth |
|---|---|---|
| January | 18:09 | 249° |
| February | 18:22 | 257° |
| March | 18:27 | 268° |
| April | 18:29 | 280° |
| May | 18:35 | 290° |
| June | 18:43 | 294° |
| July | 18:47 | 292° |
| August | 18:38 | 285° |
| September | 18:18 | 273° |
| October | 17:58 | 261° |
| November | 17:47 | 251° |
| December | 17:53 | 246° |
The nearest sunset to this update, 18 October 2026, is about 17:56. The earliest sunsets of the year, about 17:47, fall in mid-November, and the latest, about 18:47, in early July.
What this means in practice. In summer, May to August, the sun sets north of due west, azimuth up to 294°, and in winter south of it, 246-251°. From Pratumnak Hill, by OpenStreetMap coordinates, Tawaen Beach on Koh Larn lies in a direction of about 273° and 9.4 km away. So in March and September, when the sunset azimuth is 268-273°, the sun sets almost exactly over Koh Larn: this is our calculation from coordinates, not data from a source.
Khao Phra Tamnak viewpoint
Khao Phra Tamnak (also Khao Phra Bat and Pratumnak) is a small hill between South Pattaya Beach and Jomtien. According to the Department of Tourism directory, the summit has Wat Khao Phra Bat with Buddha images, the navy radio station and a memorial to Prince Chumphon. A viewpoint was set up here: you see the city and the beach, curved like a crescent.
- Hours. The directory: daily 7:00-22:00. Pattaya Mail says the viewpoint is open all day, with no entrance fee
- View. Per Pattaya Mail the panorama of Pattaya Bay runs from Bali Hai Pier to Naklua, with sunset the best time for photographers
- Nearby. The Prince Chumphon Shrine, dedicated to the father of the Royal Thai Navy. The directory mentions coin-operated binoculars
- Practicalities. There is parking nearby and small vendors of drinks and souvenirs (Pattaya Mail). It is hot by day: a hat, sunscreen or an umbrella
- Getting there. 3.5 km and about 9 minutes from Central Pattaya by OSRM (route). The directory lists car and motorcycle
Koh Larn, Tawaen Beach
By OpenStreetMap, Tawaen Beach lies at 12.9254° N, 100.7798° E, on the west side of the island, about 1 km west of Na Ban pier (our calculation from coordinates). Ferries leave from Bali Hai Pier. The last return time is not published in official sources, just as on our page about Koh Larn: ask for it at the pier before sailing. If you plan to stay for sunset, allow for returning in the dark or staying overnight.
South Pattaya Beach and Bali Hai
Pattaya’s beach faces the bay, to the west, and South Pattaya Beach leads to Bali Hai Pier, where boats to Koh Larn leave. After sunset, by the Department of Tourism directory, Walking Street begins here: daily 18:00-02:00, a street along South Pattaya Beach to Bali Hai Pier. The directory suggests paid parking at Bali Hai Pier, then a minibus.
When to go
Rainfall in Pattaya peaks in September and October: by TMD norms 213.6 and 224.5 mm. The driest months are December and January. The TMD norms do not show cloud cover.
| Period | What to expect |
|---|---|
| November-March | little rain, sunset 17:47-18:27 |
| April-June | hotter, rainfall rising, sunset 18:29-18:43 |
| July-August | 103.6 and 91.2 mm, sunset 18:47-18:38 |
| September-October | the wettest months, sunset 18:18-17:58 |
More on the season in Pattaya in October.
What to do in the rain
You cannot watch a sunset in the rain, but the city works in the evening. If a shower ruins the sunset, dinner and a walk on Walking Street (daily from 18:00) or a trip to a night market still work. In bad weather boats to Koh Larn may not sail: the operator decides, so ask at the pier.
Safety
- Parking. Pattaya Mail says parking is nearby, but spaces may run out around sunset: arrive early or by taxi
- Darkness. Return from Koh Larn after sunset only on boats you have confirmed at the pier
- Heat. It is hot at the viewpoint by day, bring water and a hat
What to bring
- Water and a hat
- A light layer: by Pattaya Mail there is a cool breeze at the top
- A charged phone and a camera: the sunset does not last long
- Coins for the binoculars if you want to look through them
Who it suits and who it does not
- Suits couples and families. A short trip from the centre, free entry
- Suits photographers. The sunset and the city lights are visible from one spot
- Does not suit anyone who wants quiet. The viewpoint is well known and busy
- Does not suit anyone relying on public transport. The directory lists motorcycle and car
FAQ
Where is the best place to watch the sunset in Pattaya?
The best-known place is the viewpoint on Khao Phra Tamnak (Pratumnak Hill): the Department of Tourism directory lists it as open daily 7:00-22:00, with a view of Pattaya Bay, the city and the beach. Pattaya Mail says entry is free and sunset is the best time for photographers. Alternatives are the west side of Koh Larn at Tawaen Beach or South Pattaya Beach by Bali Hai Pier.
What time is sunset in Pattaya in October and November?
By our NOAA-method calculation the sun sets at about 17:56 on 18 October 2026, about 17:58 on 15 October and about 17:47 on 15 November. These are the earliest sunsets of the year. Arrive at the viewpoint 45-60 minutes before sunset to find a spot: that is Thaipedia's advice, not the source's.
Is sunset ever late, in summer?
Yes. The latest sunset is about 18:47 in early July, about 18:43 on 15 June and about 18:47 on 15 July. The gap between the earliest and latest sunset in Pattaya is about an hour.
How much does the viewpoint cost and is there parking?
Pattaya Mail says entry is free, parking is available nearby, and small vendors sell drinks and souvenirs by the viewpoint. The source gives no number of spaces. Around sunset arrive early or by taxi so you are not hunting for a place.
Can I watch the sunset from Koh Larn?
Tawaen Beach lies on the west side of the island: by OpenStreetMap coordinates it is 1.0 km west of Na Ban pier. Ferries leave from Bali Hai Pier, and the last return time is not published in official sources, so ask for it at the pier before you sail and do not count on being back after dark.
What is next to the viewpoint?
Next to it stands the Prince Chumphon Shrine, dedicated to the father of the Royal Thai Navy, per Pattaya Mail. The Department of Tourism directory adds Wat Khao Phra Bat, the navy radio station and a memorial to Prince Chumphon. There are coin-operated binoculars at the viewpoint.
Is the sunset better in the dry season or the wet one?
In the dry months, November-March, TMD norms show little rain: 11.7 mm in December and 56.6 mm in November, against 224.5 mm in October. The norms do not show cloud cover or how beautiful a sunset will be.
Sources
- Department of Tourism of Thailand. Thailand Tourism Directory: Phra Tamnak Mountain (Khao Phra Phutthabat)
- Pattaya Mail. Khao Phra Tamnak Viewpoint offers timeless panorama and sacred serenity in Pattaya (21 October 2025)
- NOAA. Solar Calculator: sunrise and sunset equations (method used for sunset times)
- OpenStreetMap, OSRM route: Central Pattaya to Khao Phra Tamnak viewpoint
- OpenStreetMap, Nominatim: Tawaen Beach and Na Ban pier, Koh Larn
- Department of Tourism of Thailand. Thailand Tourism Directory: Walking Street Pattaya
- TMD. Climatological Data of Thailand for 30 Year Period (1991-2020), station Phatthaya (48 461)
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