Best Time to Visit Pattaya

Cool and dry: December to February

This is the best stretch, and the data agrees. Days stay around 28 to 29°C, rain is rare, and evenings feel pleasant on Walking Street and along Beach Road. December is the coolest month, with lows of 24°C.

It's also high season. Hotels fill up around Christmas and New Year, and Pattaya hosts big countdown parties and fireworks on the seafront. Chinese New Year, usually in late January or February, brings extra visitors too. If you want a beach day on Jomtien or a boat trip to Koh Larn (the island just offshore), this is when the sea looks its best. Just expect company.

Hot and getting wet: March to May

March is still Excellent, with more humidity and only a little more rain. April is hotter, with lows of 29°C, so nights stay sticky. It's also when Songkran, the Thai New Year water festival, takes over. Pattaya holds its own celebration a few days after the main date, called Wan Lai, and it's a giant beach water fight on the seafront. Don't carry anything you can't get soaked.

By May the rain settles in. It falls on 24 days, though often as heavy bursts rather than all day. Prices start to drop.

Rainy season: June to October

Be honest with yourself here. Every month in this stretch is rated Poor. September and October are the wettest, with around 250 mm each and rain on 27 or 28 days. Sun is scarce, often an hour a day or less. Rough seas can make boat trips to Koh Larn less pleasant, and some days you'll just stay in.

So why go? Hotels are cheaper, and the beaches and bars are quieter. If you're happy with indoor plans, this works. Try the Sanctuary of Truth (a huge carved wooden temple), a cooking class, or the big malls. Many people also come for the Vegetarian Festival, which usually falls in late September or October. You'll see street processions and plenty of vegetarian food stalls.

Which month for which trip

For a classic beach holiday, aim for December to February. For fewer crowds and still decent weather, try November or March. November is rated Good, with 74 mm of rain, and the sea is calming down. If you're travelling on a tight budget and don't mind grey skies, pick August or September, but keep your plans flexible.