Why should you go there and how do you do it right?

This is the viewpoint above the PATTAYA CITY sign at the northern end of Pratumnak Hill, the promontory between Pattaya's city center and Jomtien. From the railing, you can see across Bali Hai Pier and the end of Walking Street to the entire curve of Pattaya Bay and the skyline beyond – it's the best view of the city. The large letters are displayed a little further down the slope, and the heart-shaped picture frame next to the café is another popular photo spot.

The café fills up at sunset. City Coffee on the hill offers seats overlooking the bay, which are usually taken before sunset. So arrive early or try to find a spot by the railing. The letters are illuminated after dark, from about 6:30 pm – another good time for photos. It's quietest in the early morning.

Entry is free. According to Google and the Thai tourism directory, the hill is open from 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM, while the café is only open from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM (according to Google). You can drive up by car or motorbike, but parking is difficult at sunset, and the return trip by Grab or Bolt can take some time. On foot, from Bali Hai Pier at the southern end of Walking Street, walk to the lighthouse on the cape and then up the stairs, past the letters (approximately 10 to 15 minutes).

Pratumnak offers three viewpoints that are often confused. This one is located by the sign. The Khao Phra Tamnak viewpoint is about 500 meters northwest and slightly lower down, near the lighthouse at Cape Bali Hai, where the hill meets the sea. The temple viewpoint Wat Khao Phra Bat, with the monument to the Prince of Chumphon, is about 500 meters south, and the 18-meter-high golden Buddha of Wat Phra Yai is just over 1 kilometer south along the ridge.