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BANGKOK TRAVEL GUIDE // ATTRACTIONS

Best Beaches in Bangkok

10 Best Beaches to Escape to and Relax on near Bangkok
BY DAVE STAMBOULIS
BANGKOK LOCAL EXPERT

While most visitors to Thailand include some island time in their itineraries, usually flying or
taking the train or bus down south to head to famed islands like Ko Phi Phi, Samui, or
Phuket, those who've come for a Bangkok stay can still `t in a beach visit a bit closer to the
capital. Here are some of the better choices.

Most Bangkok Thais head to Hua Hin for a combo of quick escape, nice resorts, and good
food, but for something less discovered and with a much nicer beach, head an hour or two
further south to Prachuap Khiri Khan, one of the country's better kept secrets. Also off the
radar is the fantastic beach in Khao Sam Roi Yod National Park. Near to here you will also
`nd Pranburi, another sleepier beach resort frequented by Thais. Ko Samet gets very busy
on the weekends, but it is the closest thing to a real island paradise comparable to what
ENJOY FLEXIBLE you'll `nd further south around Phuket and Koh Samui.
CANCELATION
If plans change, it's easy to
adjust with our flexible rates.
 If you need a quick dose of sun, Ko Larn, which lies just offshore of Pattaya, is a great bet
(and total contrast to the dirty overcrowded beach in Pattaya), with plenty of white sand
and beautiful water, while Bang Saen is Bangkok's nearest beach, popular with Thais. Koh Si
Show Me
Chang is also a cool local escape, as it is more popular for its temples and seafood, but
does feature one nice white sand cove on its west side, and you won't see too many tourists
here. 

Cha-am is another nearby resort, probably more noted for its seafood and annual kite
! " # $ festival along with kite-sur`ng options as it is usually windy here, as opposed to white sand
HOTELS FLIGHTS PACKAGES CARS
and sun tanning, but if you want a tropical paradise with squeaky white sand, you're better
City off investing more time and making the jaunt eastward out to Ko Kood, truly one of
Thailand's nicest island escapes.
Bangkok, Thailand

Check-in 10 KO KOOD
OUTSIDE THE CITY

09/23/2022

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SEE & DO EAT Photo courtesy of Dave Stamboulis

PARTY STAY For years Ko Kood was known as the Bangkok island, as the resorts were expensive, getting
here was exhausting if one didn't fly and take a private boat, and the tropical escape was
SHOP REGIONS the home of the Bangkok upper crust. More ferry options, reasonably priced resorts, and
the word getting out amongst foreigners has changed all that, and Ko Kood not only is
TIPS
within striking distance of Bangkok, but its empty white sand beaches and turquoise water
are far more pristine and postcard-worthy than any island you'll `nd down south. It's well
EXPERT TIPS worth the effort of getting here to have a bit of paradise all to yourself.

Dave Stamboulis: Recommended for Beaches because: For one of Thailand's most spectacular paradises, Ko
Bangkok Local Expert
Kood stands alone.
Dave says, Don't leave
Bangkok without seeing a
sunset from the top of the Dave's expert tip: You can fly Bangkok Air to Trat and then take a speedboat to Ko Kood if
Moon Bar.” you are really looking to get here fast.

More About Dave

Read more about Ko Kood →

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One of Bangkok's quickest beach getaways, Cha-am is packed with Thais on the weekends,
Where to Get as hordes of Bangkokians come down to eat the fresh seafood and escape the city heat and
Outdoors and Away
smog. While the main beach here is nothing special, further north you'll `nd few people
from the Sprawl in
Bangkok and even some nice stretches of white sand. Often lumped together with neighboring Hua

View the List Hin, Cha-am is a bit more subdued, and there is an excellent choice here of posh private
resorts, such as the happening BaBa Beach Club, to choose from. The seafood here is
outstanding, and if you like kite boarding, or just generally flying kites, you'll love it here, as
the strong winds that sweep the region make it an excellent spot to fly. There's even an
annual kite festival held here every year, one of Thailand's more unique local `estas.

Recommended for Beaches because: For inexpensive seafood and a quick beach escape,
Cha-am is worth a trip.

Dave's expert tip: You can get here via minivan from Bangkok, or even charter a whole
private taxi for around 2,000 baht.

Read more about Cha-Am →

8 KOH SI CHANG
OUTSIDE THE CITY

Photo courtesy of Dave Stamboulis

Sleepy Koh Si Chang sees few foreign tourists. Set in the Bight of Bangkok, it receives a lot
of shipping barges docked in its port, and for the most part, only gets busy on weekends,
when Bangkokians wanting a bit of a city escape make the quick drive down. There is only
one beach here, Hat Tham Phang, over on the west side of the island, which does offer
some nice white sand and swimming. It's also worth coming here though just to explore
around the small island and its quirky temples, clifftop sunset views, and there is even an
old colonial palace of King Rama V to check out. There is plenty of good seafood, and prices
are reasonable, without any of the hassles of the more popular islands. On Si Chang, locals
just stick to their daily lives, with tourism being a very small part of it.

Recommended for Beaches because: For the sleepiest beach escape near Bangkok, Ko Si
Chang is it.

Dave's expert tip: To get here, take a bus from Bangkok's Ekkamai Eastern bus station for
two hours to Sri Racha. From the station, take a tuk tuk or motorcycle taxi to the Si Chang
pier, from where it's a 40 minute ferry ride over to the island.

Read more about Koh Si Chang →

7 BANG SAEN
OUTSIDE THE CITY

Photo courtesy of Little Devil (Flickr Creative Commons)

While the beach itself might not win any awards, this is the `rst beach you reach on the
eastern seaboard from Bangkok, so if you are looking for a fast, hassle-free escape, this is
it. You can even get here in under an hour from the airport! It's cheaper than both Pattaya
and Hua Hin, closer than both, and you get the bonus of having far less foreign tourists.
Most of Bang Saen's visitors are Bangkok Thais, and if you come out during the week, you'll
`nd great hotel deals, quiet seafront restaurants, and a mellow vibe. Come Friday and
Saturday night though be prepared to party much of the night or bring your earplugs.

Recommended for Beaches because: For Bangkok's fastest beach escape, Bang Saen is as
good as it gets.

Dave's expert tip: Pattaya bound buses that run from Ekamai Bus Terminal stop at Nong
Mon, from where you can take a shared songthaew. Alternatively, there are minivans from
the Victory Market area that go directly to Bang Saen every 30 minutes or so.

Read more about Bang Saen →

6 KO LARN
OUTSIDE THE CITY

Photo courtesy of Dave Stamboulis

It is amazing to think that one can `nd such clear water just off the coast of Pattaya and so
near to Bangkok, but here it is. Ko Larn is a small isle, reached by a short ferry or speed boat
ride from the pier in Pattaya. It gets very crowded during the day with day trippers from
Pattaya, but if you choose to spend the night here, you will have it mostly to yourself, a
million miles from the raucous nightlife across the bay. There are several nice white sand
beaches on Ko Larn, the biggest of which is Tawaen on the east side, a short motorcycle
taxi ride from the port town of Naban. Samae Beach on the west side is also very inviting
and less crowded.Parasailing, banana boat rides, jet skis, and all the other water sport
activities are available here, and there are plenty of places to eat and sleep should you be
tempted to extend your stay.

Recommended for Beaches because: For white sand beaches and a pleasant Pattaya
surprise, Ko Larn is super.

Dave's expert tip: Ferries run every hour or two to different locations on Ko Larn from the
Bali Hai Pier in Pattaya, with the most frequent departures going to Naban Port. From
Naban, motorcycle taxis await passengers to whisk them off to the beaches, or you can
also hire you own if you want to tool around the island.

Read more about Ko Larn →

5 PRANBURI

Photo courtesy of Dave Stamboulis

It's only 30 kilometers south of Hua Hin, but sleepy Pranburi feels worlds away. Bangkokians
`ll up the resorts here on the weekends, but even then Pranburi remains a nature lover's
dream, with several quiet bays that boast pretty beaches as well as those of Sam Roi Yod
National Park towards Pranburi's southern end. During the winter, trade winds make
Pranburi an excellent kite-sur`ng destination, the fresh seafood here will keep travellers
gourmet needs sated, and with plenty of small family-friendly eco-resorts like the Aleenta
Hua Hin, everyone can enjoy this peaceful beach escape.

Recommended for Beaches because: For a sleepy beach escape, Pranburi is one of the top
choices near Bangkok.

Dave's expert tip: You might want to consider renting a car out of Hua Hin to come here,
otherwise you'll be at the mercy of pricey taxis, as unless you are staying in the small town,
most of the resorts, nicer bays, and natural attractions are a fair ways away, all requiring
transport.

Read more about Pranburi →

4 HUA HIN
OUTSIDE THE CITY

Photo courtesy of Dave Stamboulis

Famed for its history as a royal residence, Hua Hin remains Bangkok's most popular
weekend seaside getaway. While the `ve kilometer beach isn't anything overwhelmingly
special, not to mention quite crowded with families at its center, the town still retains a
very local village feel, with excellent food, especially at its bustling night market, where
fresh `sh is served to every table. Hua Hin also has an excellent choice of resorts of every
price, and is easily accessible by rail, bus, and car from Bangkok in just a few hours time. To
get a more secluded feel, stay outside of town at one of the fancier, hip, and self-contained
resorts like Baba Beach Club for a real escape. Golf courses are also in abundance, bringing
down scores of Tiger Woods wannabees every weekend, and the town also hosts plenty of
festivals throughout the year, such as the International Jazz Festival, which draws top acts
from around the world.

Recommended for Beaches because: For being Bangkok's nearest nice beach, enjoy Hua
Hin.

Dave's expert tip: The fastest way to get here via public transport is to take the BTS
Skytrain in Bangkok to the Victory Monument station, and then grab a minivan from here.
The vans leave throughout the day as soon as they get 10 passengers, and only cost 120
baht, and get to Hua Hin in less than 2 hours.

Read more about Hua Hin →

3 KOH SAMET
OUTSIDE THE CITY

Photo courtesy of Anton Whoa

Koh Samet is the closest thing resembling the island paradises you'll `nd further south
(such as Koh Samui or Phuket) without having to travel far from Bangkok. While its old
hippie days and sleepy island days are long gone, the island still boasts nice white sand
beaches, and the water here is far cleaner than in places like Hua Hin or Pattaya. You do
have to pay a ridiculous "national park" fee of 400 baht, despite the island being full of 7-
11s, endless development, and nothing suggesting national park status (other than in
name), but if you come during the week, you'll `nd some of the beaches pretty quiet,
especially the further south down the island you go. Sai Kaew beach gets packed with Thai
partiers on weekends, and you'll have to share the surf with jet skis and banana boats, but
south of Ao Wong Deuan, things get pretty tranquil.

Recommended for Beaches because: For Bangkok's fastest real island escape, Koh Samet
is the one.

Dave's expert tip: Don't be mislead by the touts at the Ban Phe boat pier telling you that
you have to buy a return ticket in advance. They are the same price from the other side.

Read more about Koh Samet →

2 KHAO SAM ROI YOD NATIONAL PARK

OUTSIDE THE CITY

Photo courtesy of Dave Stamboulis

Khao Sam Roi Yod is one of the better day trips a family can make from Bangkok. The
National Park has something for everyone, from some nice beaches to excellent hiking, sea
views, and a magical royal throne located inside of a mountainside cave. Additionally, the
park is home to hundreds of migratory birds which call in here during the winter season.
Besides the quiet beaches, the excellent hiking and views, and the over 300 species of
birds, many of them migrating from Siberia and Europe, the most astounding sight here is
the Phraya Nakhorn Cave and its eerie royal thronel pavilion with a four gabled roof sitting
in the middle of it, Getting to the cave involves a 20 minute climb up over a mountain, from
where one descends into a huge cavern. In the early morning, light `lters in from the
openings and creates a dramatic and surreal effect on the surroundings.

Recommended for Beaches because: For a mix of birdlife, scenery, hiking, beaches, and a
surreal cave, Khao Sam Roi Yod is a must visit national park.

Dave's expert tip: It's best to have your own transport to get here, although you can
arrange a taxi or motorbike from Pranburi town.

Read more about Khao Sam Roi Yod National Park →

1 PRACHUAP KHIRI KHAN

OUTSIDE THE CITY

Photo courtesy of Dave Stamboulis

Prachuap Khiri Khan is one of Thailand's least discovered destinations. The extra hour or
two it takes past Hua Hin to get here keeps the Bangkok weekend escapists at bay. While
the main town beach isn't anything special, you can head to Ao Manao beach located on the
Wing 5 Airforce Base property (you need to show ID and sign in at the checkpost to access
it) just outside of town, which is one of the most pristine strips of pure white sand around.
During holiday periods, the Air Force also open up access to climb Khao Lommuak
mountain, a steep rock scramble which has been made accessible via ropes, giving
stunning panoramas from the top. There are lots of cute dusky langur monkeys at the base
of the climb, so tame they'll even perch on your shoulders for photos. Seafood in Prachuap
is some of Thailand's freshest and most inexpensive, and there's a lovely night market
along the beach with tons of simple eateries to choose from.

Recommended for Beaches because: For Thailand's most inexpensive and sleepy beach
escape, Prachuap Khiri Khan is at the top of the list.

Dave's expert tip: You can take a bus from Bangkok's southern bus terminal to get here,
but the morning express train is a faster and better option.

Read more about Prachuap Khiri Khan →

MEET DAVE STAMBOULIS

Dave Stamboulis is a travel writer/photographer based in Bangkok. Born in
Athens, Greece and growing up in the U.S., Dave first discovered Bangkok while
on a 45,000-kilometer bicycle trip and...  More About Dave

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