Best Day Trips From Pattaya
What are the best day trips in Pattaya?
Twenty-one day trips in and around Pattaya, Thailand, compared on rating, price and area. The Bikers Cafe Thailand is the highest rated at 4.8★ from 730 Google reviews, with Rayong Botanical Garden close behind at 4.7★. They spread across Pattaya (4), Sattahip (3) and Bang Phra (2). Most entries carry a first-person verdict from Rob, who lives in Pattaya.
21 of the best, compared on rating, price and area — with a quick verdict on each. Islands, beaches, temples and market towns within about ninety minutes of Pattaya — how far each one is, how to get there, and which is worth the drive.
| Place | Rating | Price | Area | Known for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Bikers Cafe Thailand | ★ 4.8 | ฿฿ | Sattahip | Food repeatedly described as delicious and reasonably priced, breakfasts especially |
| Rayong Botanical Garden | ★ 4.7 | — | Chakphong | Kayaking is the favourite way round, through calm black water, lotus and mangrove channels |
| Wat Yanasangwararam Woramahavihara | ★ 4.7 | — | Pattaya | Peaceful and uncrowded, with beautifully kept gardens and a lotus pond |
| Bangsaen Viewpoint (Khao Sam Muk) | ★ 4.6 | — | Saen Suk | Clean, blue sea views over the bay, with small beaches visible below |
| Samae San Island | ★ 4.6 | — | Sattahip | Clear, calm water with plenty of fish visible while snorkelling |
| Viharn Sien | ★ 4.6 | — | Pattaya | Impressive replica Terracotta Warriors and vast Chinese art collection |
| Khao Kheow Open Zoo | ★ 4.5 | — | Bang Phra | Huge site — renting a golf or electric cart is widely recommended over walking |
| Khao Laem Ya–Mu Ko Samet National Park | ★ 4.5 | — | Phe | Clear blue water and Koh Samet views without having to take a boat |
| Ko Kham | ★ 4.5 | — | Sattahip | Clear, calm water and clean white sand; praised as well managed and well preserved |
| Ko Sichang | ★ 4.5 | — | Tha Thewawong | Peaceful and non-touristy, a genuine break from busy Pattaya |
| Koh Larn (Coral Island) Day Trip | ★ 4.5 | — | Koh Larn | Take the 07:00 ferry and go on a weekday to beat the tour-group crowds |
| Wat Khao Tabaek | ★ 4.5 | — | Nong Kham | Steep climb of about an hour, so take water and expect to work up a sweat |
| Bang Phra Reservoir | ★ 4.4 | — | Bang Phra | Peaceful, relaxing atmosphere by a wide stretch of water |
| Bangsaen Beach | ★ 4.3 | — | Pattaya | Close to Bangkok and easy to reach for a day trip |
| Ko Samet | ★ 4.3 | — | Phe | Beautiful soft-sand beaches with clean, clear water |
| Silverlake Vineyard | ★ 4.3 | ฿฿฿ | Na Chom Thian | Scenic vineyard rows and flower-filled grounds are the main draw |
| Chonburi Grand Canyon | ★ 4.1 | — | Huai Kapi | Striking cliff-and-water views that photograph well |
| Ang Sila | — | — | Ang Sila | — |
| Ban Chang | — | — | Ban Chang | — |
| Sattahip | — | — | Pattaya | — |
| Si Racha | — | — | Si Racha | — |
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Photo: The Bikers Cafe Thailand via Google “Exactly what you want at the end of a ride out — big breakfasts, decent coffee, and bikes and gear filling a room that's closer to a Harley showroom than a café. It's ten minutes from the Buddha at Khao Chi Chan, so the two make a natural half-day on two wheels. Check the day before you set off, because it's shut Mondays and Tuesdays.”
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Photo: สวนพฤกษศาสตร์ระยอง via Google -
Photo: Pattaya via Google “The most serene half-day out of Pattaya — a vast royal temple complex of shrines, a lake and a hilltop pavilion, far calmer than the in-town wats. Pair it with Viharn Sien next door and the Buddha Mountain a few minutes away for a proper morning south. Dress respectfully and go early before the heat.”
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Photo: Anan Nawakitbumrung via Google “A clifftop lookout above Bang Saen with the clearest sea view on the northern run, best paired with Bangsaen Beach and Ang Sila rather than driven to on its own. The monkeys here are bolder than most and a few turn nasty, so carry nothing loose and leave nothing on the bike. Morning or early evening — midday glare flattens the whole view.”
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Photo: Mr C9 via Google “Navy-run, which means clear water, no litter and rules — and the snorkelling is the reason to come rather than the beach, which is ordinary next to it. The boat transfer costs more than you'd expect and more again if you're not Thai. Worth it for a day in properly clear water, though if you only do one island off Sattahip, Ko Kham is the prettier.”
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Photo: Khumtaywa คุ้มเทวา via Google “A surprising Chinese-Thai museum right by Wat Yan — three floors of statues, bronzes and warrior figures that most visitors miss. Worth an hour if you're already out this way, especially paired with the temple and Buddha Mountain. Not worth a special trip on its own.”
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Photo: Sandy.J via Google “The best zoo within reach of Pattaya by a wide margin — open enclosures, deer that wander up to you, and Moo Deng pulling crowds since she became famous. It's forty minutes north and far too big to walk, so hire a golf cart the moment you arrive. Come on a weekday, be there at opening, and plan the day around the feeding sessions.”
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Photo: Nong Khing via Google -
Photo: Autu Pitakkarnkun via Google “The best beach day on this coast, and the visitor cap is exactly why — numbers are limited daily, so the island stays clean and quiet, and you can't turn up on a whim. Get to the pier early, because once the day's quota has gone, that's that. Fifteen minutes on the boat, clear calm water, shade under the trees and food on the island.”
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Photo: Phupakorn Dangrungroj via Google “A genuine island day out for under an hour of travel — hire a scooter off the ferry and do the loop: the red hillside shrine, the old royal palace grounds, and a couple of quiet beaches. Half of it is faded and half-ruined, which is much of the charm. The crossings can feel rough, so think twice with small children or anyone unsteady.”
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Photo: Jyrki Ikonen via Google “Koh Larn is ideal for a day trip or a 2–3 day break, with some great beaches and restaurants. Tawaen Beach can get busy but has the most tourist facilities — banana boats, beach restaurants and the like. Beaches like Nual (Monkey Beach) on the other side of the island are a little quieter. It's best to rent a motorbike to get around, and there are some lovely trails to follow that most people miss. I always put guests on the early ferry — you get a couple of calm hours on the sand before the speedboat crowds land mid-morning. Weekdays over weekends, every time.”
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Photo: Warich Nathtigoon via Google -
Photo: Turnoff Channel via Google “This is a beautiful spot that most foreign tourists never find but which is very popular with Thais. Find a picnic spot, buy some food from the many food stalls, and enjoy the wonderful views.”
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Photo: Jeffey via Google “Where Bangkok and Chonburi locals go at the weekend rather than tourists — a long, lively Thai beach an hour north with deckchairs, inner tubes and endless seafood hawkers. Not postcard-pretty, but a fun, authentic and dirt-cheap day out. Weekdays are calm; Sundays are a proper Thai beach party.”
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15Ko Samet
Photo: CHOKRMG via Google “The nearest properly beautiful island beach — powder-white sand and clear water about two hours east in Rayong, doable as a long day but better as an overnight. Go midweek to dodge the Bangkok weekenders, and take cash as the island runs on it. There's a small national-park fee on arrival.”
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Photo: Silverlake Vineyard via Google “A proper change of scene from the beach — rows of vines, seasonal flower fields and the giant Buddha carved into the mountain right next door. The estate wine is pleasant rather than special, so go for the setting and a long lunch on the terrace. Best in the cooler months when the sunflowers and cosmos are out.”
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Photo: Anantapong Ngancharoenkul via Google -
18Ang Sila
Photo: Photos are copyrighted by their owners via Google “A genuine working fishing town up towards Chonburi, known for its granite mortars, fresh seafood and an old covered market — about as un-touristy as it gets near Pattaya. Come for a seafood lunch and a wander rather than sights. Best paired with Nong Mon market and Bang Saen on a day north.”
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Photo: AmyLoveMaToom via Google “An hour south-east past U-Tapao, and a look at what this coast is like where nobody built a resort strip — Phala and Nam Rin are proper quiet local beaches. There's nothing to see in the sightseeing sense, so come for a seafood lunch and a slow drive along the shore. A good excuse for a ride out on a weekday.”
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20Sattahip
Photo: AmyLoveMaToom via Google “Less a destination than the reason the coast south of Jomtien is worth your time — a navy district where the development stops and the beaches get clean. Use it as the frame for a day out: pick one of the navy beaches, eat at a local seafood place in town, and carry an ID card, because most of the good sand sits behind a checkpoint.”
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21Si Racha
Photo: MercedesLover29 via Google “A working fishing town rather than a resort, and better for it — stilt houses, piers, temples and a seafront with no beach to speak of. Half a day is about right: wander the old town, then walk the causeway out to Ko Loi. Go in the late afternoon so you finish up at the night market on the island.”
Common questions
- What are the highest-rated day trips in Pattaya?
- The Bikers Cafe Thailand (4.8★), Rayong Botanical Garden (4.7★) and Wat Yanasangwararam Woramahavihara (4.7★), on Google rating. Exactly what you want at the end of a ride out — big breakfasts, decent coffee, and bikes and gear filling a room that's closer to a Harley showroom than a café.
- How many day trips are covered in this guide?
- Twenty-one, chosen and written up individually rather than scraped from listings. Ratings and opening hours come from Google and are refreshed periodically; the verdicts are Rob's own.
- Which is the cheapest?
- The Bikers Cafe Thailand sits in the mid-range band, rated 4.8★. Price bands here are Google's relative measure of typical spend, not an entry fee.
- Which is closest to Pattaya?
- Koh Larn (Coral Island) Day Trip, about 3 km from central Pattaya by road, plus a ferry crossing. Distances are driving distances, not straight lines.
- Where in Pattaya are they?
- Across Pattaya (4), Sattahip (3), Bang Phra (2), Phe (2), Ang Sila (1), Ban Chang (1), Chakphong (1), Huai Kapi (1), Koh Larn (1), Na Chom Thian (1), Nong Kham (1), Saen Suk (1), Si Racha (1) and Tha Thewawong (1). Pattaya here means the greater Pattaya area of Chon Buri province, which stretches from Naklua in the north to Bang Saray in the south.
- When was this list last updated?
- October 2026. It is maintained by Rob, who lives in Pattaya, and revisited as places open, close or change.
Top of our list: The Bikers Cafe Thailand, rated 4.8★.
Curated in Pattaya · Last updated October 2026