The most beautiful beaches near Bangkok, sorted by nearest beach

The closest beach to Bangkok is Bang Saen, a 90-minute drive from Ekkamai bus station. It's more of a promenade with street food than a swimming beach. The best water can be found within half a day on Koh Larn, an island accessible by ferry from Pattaya for 30 baht. There, Samae and Tien beaches offer clear water and white sand, a feature often missed on the mainland. For a weekend getaway, Koh Samet (three to four hours plus a short boat ride) is a great option, while Hua Hin (three hours by train) is an ideal resort town.

Located five and six hours east of Koh Chang and Koh Kood respectively, you'll find beaches well worth the flight. The ten beaches listed below have been rated based on their quality and include realistic travel times, flight prices, and descriptions of the actual water quality.

Where to stay during a beach holiday

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My picks in every price category on Koh Samet

  • ParadeeLuxury · 5 stars · 4.5 (627)
  • Ao Prao ResortMid-range · 4 stars · 4.6 (966)
  • Samed Villa ResortBudget · 3 stars · 4.3 (2,331)

    • Comparison of beaches near Bangkok

    The stated times are for door-to-door travel from central Bangkok on a normal weekday. On Friday evenings and Thai holiday weekends, when everyone else seems to have the same idea, you should add an hour.

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    The 10 most beautiful beaches near Bangkok

    The ranking is based on the beaches themselves – the water, the sand, and the atmosphere when many visitors arrive on weekends. The distance is indicated in the individual entries but is not factored into the ranking. Therefore, the closest beach is ranked sixth, and the two best are the furthest away.

  • 1. Samae Beach, Koh Larn, near Pattaya – Best swimming in half a day. For 30 baht, you can take the ferry from Pattaya to Koh Larn. Samae Beach is the perfect destination upon arrival: a long stretch of white sand with crystal-clear water. It's quieter than the beaches near the ferry pier and lined with restaurants and drink stands offering affordable prices. A concrete path leads up the hill at one end, and the view across the entire bay is reason enough to enjoy it in the first hour before the worst of the heat. It's a great place to swim within a two-hour radius of the capital. Be aware, however, that sun loungers are everywhere and the vendors vary in friendliness. On weekends, the beach is packed by late morning. It's best to go on a weekday, take the early ferry, and then take a songthaew directly to Samae instead of stopping at the pier in Tawaen. Getting there: Bus from Ekkamai to Pattaya (144 baht, approx. 2 hours), then the public ferry from Bali Hai Pier (30 baht one way, 45 minutes, every 30 minutes); speedboats cross the island in 15 minutes for approx. 150 baht. Shared taxis (songthaews) operate between the beaches (approx. 30 baht), and scooters can be rented for 200–300 baht per day. Best time to visit: November to April for calm seas; weekdays year-round for plenty of space. Samae Beach (4.5 stars, 7,145 baht), open 24 hours daily. Directions. Hotels in Pratumnak (South Pattaya).
  • 2. Sai Kaew Beach, Koh Samet – The perfect weekend island: Koh Samet is the go-to destination for Bangkok residents on Friday nights. After a three- to four-hour drive to Ban Phe Pier and a forty-minute ferry ride, you reach the dazzling white sand beach nestled within a national park, one of the driest places in the Gulf of Thailand, making it ideal even during the months when the Andaman Sea is dry. Sai Kaew is the busiest beach, lined with sun loungers, seafood restaurants, and speedboats. An exclusive resort sits at one end, and the area is buzzing with activity in the evenings. The tip for Samet: Just keep walking. The southern bays of Ao Phai and Ao Hin Khok are quieter; Ao Wai, further south, is highly rated by critics; and Ao Prao on the west coast is the exclusive sunset beach. Foreigners pay a 200 baht parking fee upon arrival. The beach is popular with Thai students and locals, and a nightly acoustic guitar concert on the sand is simply part of a perfect Samet evening. Getting there: By bus or minivan from Ekkamai to Ban Phe Pier in Rayong (3–4 hours), then by ferry to Na Dan Pier (40 minutes, 100–120 baht return) or by speedboat (15 minutes, 200–500 baht). For families, a taxi from Bangkok to Ban Phe is recommended. Best time to visit: Almost year-round; the island is drier than the surrounding coast. November is the wettest month in the Gulf. Sai Kaew Beach: 4.4 (1,217 reviews) Getting there Hotels in Sai Kaew Beach
  • 3. Hua Hin Beach, Hua Hin – The best resort. The shallow water is its biggest plus, allowing you to wade out up to 100 meters. This makes the beach ideal for families, hesitant swimmers, and anyone who wants to enjoy a drink while standing in the sea. The sand is light and slightly coarse, and the large rocks in the shallow water are popular sunbathing spots and are often photographed. Entry is free, and the town behind the beach has a night market, restaurants, and a train station. Don't expect too much. There's some litter, the hotel restaurants on the beach charge hotel prices, and a five-minute walk inland costs half the price. The beach is more practical and pleasant than secluded and pristine – and it's presented that way. The Bangkok to Hua Hin travel guide includes all train and bus connections. Getting there: Train No. 43 from Bangkok Aphiwat, approximately 3 hours (330 Baht), one of ten trains daily. Or take the minibus from Ekkamai (200 baht at the counter, journey time 3.5–4 hours, departures approximately hourly from 5:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.). A coach runs directly from Suvarnabhumi Airport for 361 baht. Best time to travel: November to April (driest weeks); Hua Hin is a good place to visit almost year-round, with October being the wettest month. Hua Hin Beach: 4.2 (7,136 reviews) | Getting there | Hotels in Hua Hin
  • 4. Suan Son Pradiphat Beach, Hua Hin – The best quiet family beach. Here you can spend a relaxing day at the beach without any hustle and bustle. The long, pine-lined stretch of sand lies south of Hua Hin's town center, next to the military base, and the trees are the absolute highlight. Real shade, a gentle sea breeze, and clean sand that invites you to walk barefoot. The water is calm with a small surf, ideal for children, and most visitors are Thai families. Even on busy days, the beach still feels half empty. A chair, a parasol, and a small table together cost around 100 baht, toilets and showers are 10 baht, and you can get lunch from a few food stalls. Khao Takiab Beach, a brown sand beach between Suan Son and the town, is an alternative for a longer walk. At one end of the beach, on a hill, is the Monkey Temple. Getting there: Ten minutes south of Hua Hin by songthaew, taxi, or local train, which stops at Suan Son Pradiphat station. Best time to visit: November to April. On weekends and Thai holidays, the best spots under the pine trees are taken early. Suan Son Pradiphat Beach 4.6 (2,943) Directions to hotels in Khao Takiab
  • 5. Tien Beach, Koh Larn, off Pattaya: The quietest beach on Koh Larn. The eight-minute walk is the reason this beach is so much quieter than others. Leave the access road, walk down to the sand, and the small barrier ensures it's less crowded than the more popular beaches. Clear water, clean sand, and geese strolling along the shore—a sight no one warns you about, and one everyone remembers. Sun loungers can be rented for 100 baht, and jet skis are available. Eat in the market area near the pier rather than directly on the beach, where prices are quite high for the crowds, and bring your own water. During peak season and on weekends, the beach is busy in the early afternoon; on a weekday morning, it's a completely different story. Nual Beach to the south is an alternative for early risers. It opens at 6 a.m., and you can spot monkeys at the far end of the beach. However, the coral there has long since died, and the current is stronger. Getting there: As in Samae, take the ferry (30 baht) from Bali Hai Pier to Na Baan, then a shared taxi (approx. 30 baht) to the access road to Tien and from there walk down. Best time to visit: November to April for calm waters; year-round on weekday mornings. Tien Beach: 4.5 (5,258 reviews). Directions. Hotels in Jomtien.
  • 6. Bang Saen Beach, Chonburi – The closest beach to Bangkok. From Ekkamai, it's about a 90-minute minibus ride. Popular with Thais, it's less frequented by tourists. The long, palm-lined promenade offers street food stalls, mats and low tables set up on the sand, seafood restaurants, and a pedestrian zone that's perfect for strolling on weekends. The water is brown and shallow, and few people swim. But that's not the appeal of Bang Saen; it's more about a late afternoon walk, grilled squid, and the sunset. Two things make the beach a worthwhile day trip: Wat Saen Suk, the temple with its garden full of sculptures depicting Buddhist hell scenes, and Khao Sam Muk, the lookout hill at the southern end with monkeys and views across the entire bay. If you have a free day in Bangkok and want to see the sea, this is the place to go. If you want to swim, you should allow an extra hour for a trip to Koh Larn. Getting there: Minibuses from Ekkamai bus station run approximately hourly, costing around 110 baht (fare mid-2025), and the journey takes less than two hours. Grab bikes and taxis are available upon arrival in town. Best time to go: Anytime; the sea isn't the main reason to visit. Weekday afternoons offer plenty of space, while weekend evenings attract visitors with good food and a lively pedestrian area. Bang Saen Beach: 4.4 (8,327 reviews). Directions. Hotels in Naklua.
  • 7. Jomtien Beach, Pattaya – Pattaya's nicer beach. Pattaya's own beach is more suited to strolling than swimming. Jomtien, a six-kilometer stretch of tree-lined beach south of the city, is a place where mainlanders also like to relax. Sun loungers, bars, and restaurants line the beach, water sports are available in the middle, and the sand is wider and quieter than on the city beach. Jomtien is more of a starting point than a destination, being two hours from Ekkamai and ten minutes from the ferry to Koh Larn. If the beach is the main reason for your trip, the ferry to Koh Larn is the better choice. However, if you're looking for a hotel with a pool, a night market, and a beach within walking distance, Jomtien is perfect. The quietest section is Dongtan Beach, the first kilometer at the northern end below Pratumnak Hill. There's a promenade, a designated swimming area, and a long-established, gay-friendly crowd. Getting there: Bus from Ekkamai to Pattaya (144 baht, 16 daily from 5:00 am to 10:00 pm, about 2 hours), then a songthaew along Thappraya Road. From Suvarnabhumi, the Roong Reuang bus to Jomtien (158 baht, hourly) goes directly there. Best time to visit: November to April for calm seas; the rest of the year it rains more often, but the beach isn't crowded, and Pattaya is sheltered. Jomtien Beach: 4.4 (6,308) Directions Hotels in Jomtien
  • 8. Cha-Am Beach, Phetchaburi – Thailand's best weekend beach. 25 kilometers north of Hua Hin lies Cha-Am, the beach where Thai families from the capital flock. A long, straight, pine-lined stretch of sand with sun loungers, umbrellas, banana boats, and horseback riding. Fish stalls line the road behind. Western tourists are a rare sight. The water is the same shallow, slightly murky bay as in Hua Hin – ideal for children and unremarkable for snorkeling. It's quieter than Hua Hin during the week, but busier on Thai holiday weekends when the entire beach transforms into a picnic paradise. Come for the atmosphere and the seafood. If you want to visit the night market and take the trains, Hua Hin is a good base. Visit the Cha-Am Wednesday night market if your travel dates allow. Getting there: Trains from Hua Hin stop in Cha-Am, one station before Hua Hin. The journey from Bangkok takes about 2.5–3 hours; by car it's 30 minutes less than to Hua Hin. Best time to travel: November to April. Hotels in Cha-Am
  • 9. White Sand Beach, Koh Chang – Ideal if you have five hours to spare. Five to six hours east of Bangkok and a short ferry ride away lies Koh Chang, Thailand's third-largest island and the first place on this list with truly worthwhile beaches. White Sand Beach on the northwest coast is the most developed stretch of sand, lined with a dense array of hotels, guesthouses, and open-air restaurants. The narrow beach feels more intimate than expansive, and the atmosphere is relaxed rather than party-oriented. It's the perfect starting point for first-time visitors. Klong Prao, the next beach to the south, is expansive and offers some of the island's most beautiful sunsets. A little further south, Lonely Beach is a popular backpacker hangout – quiet by day, lively by night. Kai Bae lies somewhere in between. Three nights are the minimum to make the trip worthwhile. Getting there: Take bus 999 from Ekkamai to Ao Thammachat Pier (approx. 6 hours, 329 baht) or a minivan including ferry (700–900 baht). The car ferry costs 90 baht and takes about 30 minutes. Bangkok Airways flies to Trat in about an hour. Best time to travel: November to April. Koh Chang has the wettest July in the country; the island is not recommended during the monsoon season. White Sand Beach (4.5 stars, 821 reviews). Directions. Hotels in White Sand Beach.
  • 10. Bang Bao Beach, Koh Kood – The best beach near Bangkok. Six hours from the capital, via Laem Sok Pier in Trat, it's easily the best beach on this list. The sheltered, palm-fringed bay on Koh Kood's west coast offers shallow, mirror-like waters that shimmer from clear to aquamarine. The clean, sandy beach is perfect for relaxing. A long wooden jetty stretches across the bay, and a few unobtrusive resorts are nestled behind the palm trees. Even in peak season, it's rarely crowded. In the neighboring Klong Chao Bay, a river is accessible by kayak, leading to a waterfall and a natural swimming spot. This beach definitely belongs on the list of Thailand's best beaches and is the reason why a long weekend from Bangkok can beat a whole week in Phuket. Plan for four nights, not just two – the journey is the destination. Getting there: By bus to Trat and then on to Laem Sok Pier, followed by a speedboat; the total journey takes about six hours. Flying to Trat reduces the travel time to three hours. Best time to visit: November to April. Bang Bao Beach (Koh Kood) 4.7 (1,300) Open 24 hours daily. Directions. Hotels on Koh Kood.

    • How to get from Bangkok to the individual beaches

    Almost all connections on this page depart from Ekkamai, the eastern bus terminal next to the Ekkamai BTS station. This is key for anyone staying in the Sukhumvit area. Buses to Pattaya run 16 times daily from 5:00 AM to 10:00 PM for 144 baht and take about two hours. Minibuses to Bang Saen take less than two hours; minivans to Ban Phe on Koh Samet take three to four hours; and the minibus to Hua Hin costs 200 baht (cash only at the counter) and takes 3.5 to 4 hours. It runs approximately hourly until 7:00 PM. Buses to Koh Chang depart from Ekkamai or Mo Chit to Ao Thammachat Pier and take five to six hours. Tickets are usually sold together with the ferry.

    Hua Hin and Cha-Am are the worthwhile exceptions. Ten trains depart daily from Krung Thep Aphiwat; line 43 takes three hours and costs 330 baht. From Suvarnabhumi Airport, buses run directly to Pattaya (bus 389) and Hua Hin (361 baht), so a visit to the beach can be the first stop of the trip instead of having to take a detour through the city.

    For families traveling to Ban Phe or Hua Hin, a taxi or private transfer is recommended (1,200–1,500 baht to Pattaya, more to other locations). Grab is an option for trips to Bang Saen. The route descriptions below include all departure times and prices.

    Is there a beach in Bangkok itself?

    No. Bangkok lies in a river delta, 25 kilometers upstream from the Gulf, and the coastline near the city consists of mudflats and mangroves, not sand. Bang Pu, the coastal recreation area in Samut Prakan that sometimes appears on lists of Bangkok's beaches, is a boardwalk over the mudflats where Bangkok families feed migratory gulls between November and April; it makes a pleasant afternoon outing, and there is no beach. The nearest sandy beach is Bang Saen, 90 minutes away, and the nearest body of water suitable for swimming is on Koh Larn.

    The best-rated hotels in Koh Samet

    Here is my ranking of the 10 best hotels on Koh Samet. Each button will take you directly to the hotel's page on Booking.com, where you can enter your travel dates.

  • #5 Le Vimarn Cottages & Spa 4.7 (646 reviews) Luxurious beach houses and villas on Koh Samet with spa, pool bar and dive center. Check prices
  • #6 Baan Ploy Sea 4.7 (573 reviews) Beach resort on Koh Samet with an infinity pool, open-air restaurant, and free breakfast. Check prices
  • #8 Vongdeuan Resort Koh Samet 4.2 (876 reviews) Cozy beachfront resort on Koh Samet with rooms, villas, pool, bar and free breakfast. Check prices

    • Day trip or overnight stay?

    Bang Saen, Pattaya, and Koh Larn are suitable for day trips. Leave Ekkamai by 8 a.m., take the ferry, and you'll be back in Bangkok in time for dinner. However, Koh Larn offers a nicer beach if you spend a night in Pattaya or Jomtien and take the first ferry. Koh Samet and Hua Hin are ideal for one- or two-day stays; the travel time is the same in both cases, and the beaches are more beautiful at sunrise than at midday. Plan for at least three nights for Koh Chang and four nights for Koh Kood, as the five- to six-hour journey each way means you'll pay for a deserted beach.

    If you have a day to spare and want to see the sea, go to Bang Saen. If you have a day to spare and want to swim, go to Koh Larn. If you have a weekend to spare, go to Koh Samet. If you have a long weekend, go to Koh Kood and don't return early.

    What Bang Saen really looks like

    The nearest beach to Bangkok, filmed on a weekend during the rainy season, featuring the promenade, street food, the minibus from Ekkamai, and the temple's hell garden. The video will only load when you press "Play".

    The route guides and regional beach rankings can be found behind this page.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Frequently asked questions about the 10 best beaches near Bangkok, from 90 minutes to 6 hours away.

    Bang Saen in Chonburi is about a 90-minute minibus ride from Ekkamai bus station. It's more of a beachfront promenade with street food and seafood than a swimming beach; the water is brown and shallow. The nearest beach suitable for swimming is Samae Beach on Koh Larn, two hours from Pattaya, plus a 30 baht ferry ride.

    Bang Saen is about 80 kilometers away by car or 90 minutes by minibus from Ekkamai. Pattaya is 150 kilometers away and can be reached in two hours by bus; the pier at Koh Samet in Ban Phe is 3-4 hours away; Hua Hin can be reached in three hours by train.

    Yes, you can wade far out on Koh Larn, Koh Samet, Cha-Am, Koh Chang, and Koh Kood, all of which offer clean, calm water during the season, and on the shallow city beach of Hua Hin. Bang Saen and Pattaya's city beach are better suited for walking and dining than swimming. From October to December, watch out for red flags on the Gulf beaches, as the surf increases during this time.

    Hua Hin entices visitors with its beach and urban flair, family-friendly waters, a night market, a welcoming atmosphere, and a train connection from Bangkok. Pattaya, on the other hand, is popular thanks to the ferry to Koh Larn, whose beaches of Samae and Tien are reachable from the capital in half a day and offer excellent water quality. Water sports and nightlife are also plentiful here. But the comparison between Pattaya and Hua Hin goes even further.

    Yes, for a weekend. The drive to Ban Phe takes three to four hours, the ferry forty minutes. The sand is dazzling white, and the island is one of the driest places in the Gulf. Therefore, it's also suitable in months when other destinations are less popular. Foreigners pay a national park fee of 200 baht. Sai Kaew is the busiest beach; for more peace and quiet, a walk south to Ao Phai and Ao Wai beaches is recommended.

    Yes. Take an early morning bus from Ekkamai (144 baht, two-hour journey), then from North Pattaya bus station take a songthaew or a Bolt to Bali Hai Pier. Cross the river by ferry (30 baht, 45 minutes) or speedboat (150 baht) and take a songthaew to Samae or Tien Beach. For the return trip, take the speedboat, as the ferry takes over an hour. This way, you'll be back in Bangkok in time for dinner.

    The Andaman coast, including Phra Nang and Railay in Krabi, Koh Lipe, the Similan Islands, and the Trang Islands, is not accessible for a day trip from Bangkok; you have to fly or take an overnight train. For a complete ranking of Thailand's most beautiful beaches, see the guidebook "The Best Beaches in Thailand".

    Bangkok doesn't actually have a beach, so yes. The real question is whether to spend a free day in Bangkok on Koh Larn or Bang Saen, or save the beach for a flight to Phuket or Krabi, where the water is a different color. With two days, a trip to Koh Samet in the east is recommended; with five days, a flight south.

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    I lived in Bangkok for four years and traveled throughout the country from there. The guidebooks reflect my personal opinion and are written as I would explain things to a friend planning a trip.

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