Quick answer
Jomtien Beach runs for about 6 km south of Pratumnak Hill, 5 km from Central Pattaya. Dongtan, at its northern end, is a quiet stretch shaded by old trees. A chair with umbrella costs 50 to 150 THB, a jet ski 700 to 1,500 THB for 30 minutes and parasailing 700 to 1,200 THB. The baht bus from South Pattaya costs 15 to 20 THB and takes 10 to 15 minutes.
Jomtien is Pattaya's second beach and, for a day on the sand, the better one. It starts on the south side of Pratumnak Hill, about 3 km from the end of Pattaya Beach and 5 km from Central Pattaya, and runs in a nearly straight line for 6 km down the coast towards Na Jomtien. Jomtien Beach Road follows it throughout. The mood is slower than in the city: families, long-stay residents and Thai weekenders rather than tour groups.
How long is Jomtien Beach and what are its sections?
The beach is about 6 km long. The side streets off Jomtien Beach Road are numbered from Soi 1 at the northern end, and the beach changes character as the numbers rise.
| Section | Where | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Dongtan | Northern end, below Pratumnak Hill | About 1 km of sand along a narrow lane with little traffic, with beach bars and chairs under the trees |
| Northern and central Jomtien | From the Thappraya Road junction to about Soi 14 | The widest and busiest stretch: most chair operators, restaurants and water sports, and the night market on the beach road |
| Southern Jomtien | Beyond the central sois towards Na Jomtien | Fewer operators, more open sand, condominiums and quieter hotels |
| Na Jomtien | Past the end of Jomtien Beach Road | Resort coast: hotels with their own beach frontage and seafood restaurants |
Where to stay behind each section is covered in the Jomtien area guide.
What makes Dongtan Beach different?
Dongtan is the first kilometre or so of the bay, tucked under the southern slope of Pratumnak Hill. The main beach road does not run here: a narrow lane follows the sand instead, used by a few slow cars and motorbikes, by walkers and by cyclists. Tall trees shade the northern part; further south they thin out and rows of umbrellas take over.
With little traffic behind it and deep shade through the hottest hours, Dongtan is the calmest place on the mainland to spend a full day by the sea. It has chair operators, a handful of beach bars and cafes, and a long-established, easygoing LGBTQ+ friendly section. Swimming is in roped areas and jet skis are fewer than further south.
From the northern end, the lane continues to Yinyom Beach at the foot of the hill; the hill itself is described in the Pratumnak Hill area guide.
Is Jomtien good for families and for swimming?
Yes. The sand shelves gently, the swimming areas are marked off with buoys, and there is far less boat traffic than in Pattaya Bay because the island speedboats do not operate from here. The water is Gulf water, greenish rather than clear, cleaner than the city bay on most days and cleanest in the dry months from November to April.
After heavy rain, drains along the beach road release runoff into the sea and the water near the outlets darkens. That happened visibly at the Na Jomtien end in February 2026; tests ordered by the local authorities afterwards found the water within normal standards and the beach was declared safe for swimming. The practical rule is simple: if the sea looks brown after a storm, wait a day.
- Swim inside the buoyed zones and stay out under a red flag.
- Keep well clear of the lanes where jet skis and banana boats come ashore.
- Jellyfish are more common in the rainy season. For a sting, leave the water, rinse the skin with vinegar for at least 30 seconds and call 1669 if the reaction is strong.
- Medical emergencies 1669, Tourist Police 1155, Pattaya City hotline 1337.
More ideas for children, on and off the sand, are in Pattaya with kids.
Is the sand being widened in 2026?
Yes. The Marine Department is widening Jomtien with dredged sand in two phases. The first, finished in November 2023, gave 3.5 km of the beach an average width of 50 m. The second, a 318 million baht contract covering a further 2.85 km in 300 m sections, was 30 to 40 percent complete in August 2026 and is scheduled for completion in February 2027. Work moves along the beach one section at a time behind barriers, with pipes and machinery on the sand, and the rest of the beach stays open. If your usual spot is fenced off, walk a few hundred metres in either direction.
How much do chairs and water sports cost at Jomtien?
Licensed operators rent chairs in fixed blocks, as on Pattaya Beach, and most serve food and drinks to your seat. Water sports are concentrated on the busier northern and central sections. Prices are set by each operator and are open to discussion on quiet days.
| Item | Price (THB) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Chair or lounger with umbrella | 50 to 150 | Per person for the day; the higher figure is usual for a padded lounger |
| Jet ski, 30 minutes | 700 to 1,500 | Agree price and duration first |
| Parasailing, solo flight | 700 to 1,200 | Tandem flights from about 1,200 |
| Baht bus from South Pattaya | 15 to 20 | Runs the length of Jomtien Beach Road |
- A life jacket is compulsory on every motorised ride. Refuse an operator who does not hand you one.
- Photograph a jet ski from all sides before riding, and never pay on the spot for damage you did not cause: call the Tourist Police on 1155.
- You may bring your own mat, chair and umbrella and use any open sand free of charge.
- Operators clear the sand on chair-free Wednesdays. Bring a mat if you find the rows empty.
Where do you eat on and near the beach?
Three levels, at three prices. On the sand, chair operators bring Thai dishes, fruit and cold drinks to your seat, and walking vendors sell grilled prawns, corn and som tam. Across the road, open-fronted seafood restaurants line the central sois: plates run 150 to 350 THB, with whole fish and prawns priced by weight, so ask the weight and the total before ordering.
The least expensive meals are at the night market on Jomtien Beach Road, around Soi 9, which sets up daily from about 17:00 to 23:00 with grilled seafood, noodles, fruit shakes and desserts. It and the larger markets inland are covered in night markets in Pattaya.
How do you get to Jomtien by baht bus?
Baht buses (shared songthaews) for Jomtien wait at the corner of Second Road and South Pattaya Road, leave when they have enough passengers, climb over the hill on Thappraya Road and then run the length of Jomtien Beach Road. Ring the bell to stop anywhere and pay the driver as you get off.
- Fare: 15 THB for a ride of up to 10 km and 20 THB beyond, the shared rates in force since 10 April 2026. Have coins or a 20 THB note ready.
- Journey time from South Pattaya to the start of Jomtien Beach Road: 10 to 15 minutes, and 20 to 30 minutes to the far end.
- For Dongtan, get off at the bottom of Thappraya Road where the bus turns onto the beach road, and walk north for five minutes.
- To return, flag any baht bus heading north on Jomtien Beach Road or on Jomtien Second Road.
- A bus you hire for yourself is a charter: agree the price before getting in. A ride-hailing car from Central Pattaya costs 150 to 250 THB.
The full route map and app taxi prices are in getting around Pattaya. For clearer water than any mainland beach, take a day on Koh Larn, or compare with Pattaya Beach.
Frequently asked
- Is Jomtien Beach better than Pattaya Beach?
- For a day on the sand, yes for most visitors. Jomtien is twice as long, has less boat traffic, a calmer family atmosphere and slightly cleaner water. Pattaya Beach wins on convenience: it is in the middle of the city, next to the malls, the promenade and the ferries for the islands. Many visitors stay near one and take the 15 THB baht bus to the other.
- Which part of Jomtien is the quietest?
- Two parts. Dongtan, at the northern end, is quiet because it has a narrow lane with little traffic instead of the main beach road, and old trees for shade. The southern third of Jomtien, beyond the central sois, is quiet because there are fewer chair operators and almost no water sports. The stretch between them, roughly Soi 5 to Soi 14, is the liveliest.
- Can you walk from Pattaya to Jomtien Beach?
- You can, but it is a hot 4 to 5 km over Pratumnak Hill along Thappraya Road, with traffic and little shade, and takes about an hour. The baht bus covers the same route in 10 to 15 minutes for 15 to 20 THB. Walking makes more sense along the seafront itself: Dongtan's shaded lane and the Jomtien promenade are flat and continuous.
