Best Time to Visit Pattaya: An Honest Month-by-Month Guide

If you’ve read the generic travel guides, you’ll have seen some version of “the best time to visit Pattaya is November to February.” That’s true — but it’s also incomplete. Pattaya has 18 million visitors a year, which means it works in every season. The real question is: what kind of trip do you want?

Here’s the honest breakdown.

Pattaya’s Three Seasons

Cool and Dry Season (November – February): This is peak season and for good reason. Temperatures hover around 25-32°C, humidity drops to tolerable levels, and the rain is minimal. The Gulf of Thailand is calm and the water clarity is at its best. Pattaya Bay has a Mediterranean-in-Asia quality during these months. The downside: hotels fill up, prices rise, and crowds are at their maximum, particularly around Christmas, New Year, and Chinese New Year (January/February).

Hot Season (March – May): Thailand’s summer is genuinely hot — Pattaya can hit 38-40°C in April. The beach is less pleasant in the midday hours (11am-3pm) but perfectly usable at either end of the day. This is Songkran season (Thai New Year, mid-April) — one of the world’s great water festivals and genuinely extraordinary to experience. Lower hotel prices, fewer Western tourists.

Wet Season (June – October): The monsoon brings rain but not constant rain — typically afternoon and evening showers, with plenty of sunshine in the mornings. Sea conditions can be rougher, affecting island trips. Hotel prices are at their lowest. September and October see the most consistent rainfall. The city empties of some tourist volume, which has its own appeal.

Month by Month

November ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The sweet spot opens. Rains ease off, temperatures drop to comfortable, seas calm down. The city gears up for peak season but it hasn’t quite arrived yet — meaning better prices than December with almost the same weather. Our pick for best value in good weather.

December ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Peak season in full swing. Christmas and New Year are enormous in Pattaya — hotels book out months ahead, Beach Road is festive and packed, and the energy is electric. The weather is typically perfect: dry, sunny, 27-30°C. Prices are at their highest. Book everything months ahead if visiting over the holidays.

January ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Excellent. The post-New Year calm brings slightly lower prices while the weather remains perfect. Chinese New Year (late January or February) brings large numbers of Chinese visitors — adds a festive quality, affects availability at certain hotels. Excellent month to visit.

February ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Still peak season weather. Valentine’s Day brings couples. The last of the cool dry period before heat builds. Very good, slightly pricier around Valentine’s.

March ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Weather starts warming but remains largely dry. Good deal prices emerge as peak season technically ends. Excellent for those who prefer sun lounger days without the December crowds. Great value.

April ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Hot (very hot — pack light clothing). SONGKRAN: April 13-15 is Thai New Year, celebrated as a massive water festival. In Pattaya, this is absolutely extraordinary — the entire city becomes a water fight for three days. Locals and tourists armed with water guns, trucks carrying giant water tanks, everyone drenched and happy. If you can handle the heat, April is one of the most memorable times to visit.

May ⭐⭐⭐

Transitional month. Still warm, first rains arriving, prices low, crowds thin. Some afternoon rain from mid-May. Good for budget travelers. Island trips still reliable in early May.

June ⭐⭐⭐

Wet season begins properly. Typically good mornings with afternoon/evening rain. Beach days are still possible — just plan your activities accordingly. Hotel prices 30-50% lower than peak season.

July ⭐⭐⭐

The rain is regular but rarely ruins a full day. Good for budget travelers who don’t mind a wet afternoon. The sea can be choppy on some days, affecting Koh Larn ferry reliability.

August ⭐⭐⭐

Similar to July. Some years drier than others — checking historical averages only tells part of the story. Rain typically in the afternoon, mornings often clear.

September ⭐⭐

The month with the most consistent rainfall. Not the worst time to visit if your plans are primarily hotel, spa, and city-based rather than beach-focused. The lowest hotel prices of the year.

October ⭐⭐⭐

Rain eases toward the end of the month. The sea is rough at times but improving. Buddhist holidays affect some businesses. Prices start to tick up slightly in anticipation of peak season returning.

Special Events Calendar

Thai New Year / Songkran (April 13-15): The world’s biggest water fight. Extraordinary and highly recommended.

Pattaya International Music Festival (March): Three-day music festival on Pattaya Beach with international and Thai acts. Free admission.

Pattaya International Fireworks Festival (May): Multiple evenings of competitive fireworks displays from international teams. One of the best in Asia.

Loi Krathong (November full moon): Thousands of lotus-shaped floats lit with candles are set onto the water. One of Thailand’s most beautiful festivals, magical in Pattaya.

Pattaya Running of the Bulls (no, not really): This doesn’t happen. Just checking you’re reading.

Christmas and New Year (December): Major events at hotels, shopping malls, and Walking Street. The countdown at Walking Street is genuinely spectacular.

The Bottom Line

Best weather + experience: November to February
Best weather + value: November or March
Most memorable event-based visit: April (Songkran)
Best budget visit: June to August
Worst months: September and October (though not impossible)

Whatever time you visit, Pattaya will be open for business. Unlike some destinations that essentially shut down in low season, Pattaya operates at some level of intensity year-round. Even in the rain, the food is excellent, the temples are open, and the hotel prices make you feel very clever indeed.