Chonburi is the coastal province Bangkok escapes to. It starts barely an hour or two down the road, yet it packs in a remarkable range: an old-school Thai beach where families picnic under umbrellas, a giant Buddha etched into a cliff, the round-the-clock energy of Pattaya and a sleepy island with royal history. Along the way you’ll also pass industrial estates and busy ports, a reminder that this is a hard-working province as well as a holiday playground.
Bang Saen: where Thais go to the beach
Bang Saen lies around 100 km south-east of Bangkok, about an hour and a half by road when traffic is light. Its beach, roughly 2.5 km long, faces the Gulf of Thailand and is a favourite with Thai families and university students rather than foreign tourists. At weekends the sand disappears under rows of rented deckchairs and umbrellas, vendors wander past with grilled squid, and seafood restaurants along the beach road serve the day’s catch. It’s a place for eating and lazing by the sea rather than serious swimming, as the water is often murky. Monday to Thursday are much quieter.
Two easy add-ons:
- Nong Mon Market, on Sukhumvit Road at the turn-off to the beach, is famous for khao lam (sticky rice roasted in bamboo) and dried seafood to take home.
- Khao Sam Muk, a small hill between Bang Saen and Ang Sila, has a viewpoint, a Chinese shrine and plenty of wild macaques, so keep snacks out of sight.
Khao Chi Chan: a Buddha carved into a cliff
About 30 minutes’ drive south of central Pattaya, in Sattahip district, a huge image of the Buddha shines from the face of a limestone hill. It was created in 1996 to mark the 50th anniversary of King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s accession to the throne. The outline was cut into the rock using laser technology and then inlaid with gold, producing an image more than 100 metres tall. The Buddha is shown in the Maravijaya posture, seated with the right hand reaching down to touch the earth, which represents victory over temptation.
A landscaped park below is the place for viewing and photos, and there is typically no entry fee. Shade is scarce, so the morning is the most comfortable time. Silverlake Vineyard and Nong Nooch Tropical Garden are nearby if you want to make a half-day of it.
Pattaya and Jomtien: never a dull moment
Pattaya is around 140 to 150 km from Bangkok by road, usually 1.5 to 2 hours by car via the motorway and longer by bus. It is busy day and night. Days are for water parks, museums, viewpoints and boat trips to nearby islands; evenings bring cabaret shows, rooftop bars and the neon of Walking Street, the city’s best-known nightlife strip. Just to the south, Jomtien Beach is longer and more relaxed, a good choice if you want to be near Pattaya without staying in the thick of it.
Buses run frequently from Bangkok’s Eastern Bus Terminal at Ekkamai. Visiting in April? See our guide to Songkran in Pattaya, one of the liveliest places in the country to celebrate the Thai New Year.
Koh Si Chang: a quiet island with royal history
For a complete change of pace, take the boat from Ko Loi pier in Si Racha to Koh Si Chang, a crossing of about 40 to 45 minutes. The island is small enough to explore in a day. Its highlight is Phra Chudadhut Palace, a seaside retreat begun by King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) in the 1890s. Parts of it were later moved to Bangkok to become Vimanmek Mansion, and the restored grounds are now a museum. Add a swim at the little cove of Hat Tham Phang, a visit to the Chinese shrine near the harbour and a seafood lunch, and check the time of the last boat back before you set off exploring.
Who Chonburi suits, and how to plan
Chonburi is ideal if you want the sea without a flight, enjoy variety, or like your holidays colourful. Bang Saen and Koh Si Chang work well as relaxed day trips from Bangkok, while Pattaya, Jomtien and Khao Chi Chan deserve at least a night or two. Our full Chonburi travel guide has more ideas. If you have extra time, continue down the coast to Rayong and Koh Samet or further east to Chanthaburi, with its gem market and fruit orchards.
Good to know
- Try to avoid leaving Bangkok on Friday evenings and returning on Sunday afternoons, when coastal traffic builds up.
- Agree prices in advance for deckchairs, boat trips and water sports.
- Cover your shoulders and knees at Khao Chi Chan and other temples.
- Boats to Koh Si Chang run less often outside the high season, so confirm the return schedule.
- Carry cash for markets, deckchair rental and island transport.
Summary
From Bang Saen’s local seaside scene and the gold-lined Buddha at Khao Chi Chan to Pattaya’s nightlife and peaceful Koh Si Chang, Chonburi offers more variety than its “weekend beach” reputation suggests, all within easy reach of the capital.
