Pattaya in December–February: Weather, Packing, Plan

December–February in Pattaya: what to expect

Pattaya is a beach city on the Gulf of Thailand, about 150 km southeast of Bangkok. You can swim and play in the sea between the city beach, quieter Jomtien Beach and Ko Larn (Koh Lan), reached by boat. November-February is somewhat cooler with less rain, the easiest time to visit, and December, January and February all fall inside that window.

Month by month, December has the lowest temperatures and the least rain in the climate normals. January is much like December, and of these three months February has slightly warmer nights. March-May is very hot.

Bookings can fill up around year-end and Lunar New Year — check early.

• Full Pattaya travel guide →
• Incheon → Bangkok flights →
• Warm beaches from December to February: 10 compared →

December, January and February side by side

The figures below are 1991–2020 normals for Pattaya station from the Thai Meteorological Department submission · WMO normals collection (NOAA NCEI), rounded to whole numbers. Each line shows average high / average low / monthly rainfall.

In all three months, highs are about 30-31°C and lows about 23-25°C: hot by day and warm at night. Monthly rainfall is about 12-20 mm, far below the yearly average of about 92 mm a month. Of these, December has about 12 mm, the least of the 12 months.

Normals are long-term averages and do not predict this year's weather, so check the forecast right before you leave.

• December: high about 30°C / low about 23°C / about 12 mm
• January: high about 31°C / low about 24°C / about 16 mm
• February: high about 31°C / low about 25°C / about 20 mm

What to wear and pack

With average lows of about 23-25°C in all three months, light summer clothes are the basics. The sun is strong and it's hot, so bring sunscreen and a hat, and drink water often.

Wat Phra Yai (Big Buddha Temple) is a temple, so cover shoulders and knees. Pack one outfit for temple days. If you plan to swim around Ko Larn, add swimwear. If you plan to rent a scooter, check you hold a licence valid in Thailand and what your travel insurance covers first, and always wear a helmet.

• Light summer clothes and swimwear
• One outfit covering shoulders and knees for temples
• Sunscreen, a hat and water
• If you rent a scooter: check your licence and insurance cover, and wear a helmet

Year-end and Lunar New Year: good to know

Event dates for December-February change every year. Jomtien Beach sometimes hosts beach sports events, so check official sources for year-end events and local schedules before you go.

Korea's Seollal (Lunar New Year's Day) falls on Sunday 7 February 2027 (Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute lunar calendar); check the government's official announcement for the holiday period.

Whatever the month, the safety basics are the same. Watch for pickpockets in crowded places such as Walking Street, and wear your bag in front. At sea, follow warning signs, especially red flags, swim only in designated zones, and stay out of the sea at night. Rent jet skis and water sports gear only from registered, insured operators; agree the price and time first and photograph any existing damage.

• Events: check dates in official sources before you go
• Seollal: Sunday 7 February 2027; check the official announcement for the holiday period
• Sea: follow warning signs such as red flags, and stay out of the sea at night
• Water sports: registered, insured operators; agree price and time first and photograph damage

A 3-5 day plan built on a core route

Plan on 3 to 4 days. Below is a short version of a 4-day plan. Our Pattaya first-trip post covers each day's moves and the airport transfer in detail.

With 3 days, pick what you most want from Days 1-3, and on your last day leave plenty of time for the drive of about 2 hours to Suvarnabhumi Airport. With 4 days, follow the plan as it is. With 5 days, add a slow day in a quiet area such as Jomtien Beach or Naklua, home to the seaside Lan Pho Naklua Public Park.

On Day 3, the Khao Phra Tamnak Viewpoint looks over Pattaya Bay and the sea and is especially lovely at sunset. For a base, Pattaya Beach (city center) suits a first visit, Jomtien suits a quieter beach stay, and Pratumnak Hill is close to the viewpoint and the Ko Larn pier.

• Day 1: Suvarnabhumi to Pattaya, check in, sunset walk on Pattaya Beach, seafood dinner
• Day 2: Morning boat to Ko Larn, beaches and the Sangwan Beach wooden bridge, back late afternoon, Walking Street (early evening is best)
• Day 3: Wat Phra Yai, Khao Phra Tamnak Viewpoint, a lazy afternoon on Jomtien Beach, dinner at sunset
• Day 4: Khao Chi Chan, then Suvarnabhumi Airport (about 2 hours by road)
• Adding a fifth day: a rest day in Jomtien or Naklua

Airport transfer, getting around and budget

Here we use Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) as the way in. The airport bus leaves from the Level 1, Gate 8 area of the main terminal, from about 135 THB; intercity buses run from the airport's Public Transportation Center roughly 06:30-21:00 for about 140-190 THB. Public taxis leave from Level 1 between Gates 4 and 7, charging the meter plus an airport surcharge of about 50 THB. All three take about 2 hours; check official information for timetables and fares.

In town, songthaews (shared pickup trucks) loop along the beach roads and through town. They are cheap on set routes, but going off-route or hiring the whole truck costs more, so confirm the destination and fare before boarding. Ride-hailing apps set the fare in advance, which helps in the evening or for longer trips to Jomtien or the viewpoints. Boats to Ko Larn, regular ferries and speedboats, leave from piers in south Pattaya; check locally where to board and check official information for times and fares.

A daily budget per person is about 1,200-1,800 THB (guesthouse, street food, songthaews), about 3,000-5,000 THB (beach hotel, a Ko Larn day trip, restaurants) and about 10,000 THB+ (resort, private car or boat). According to Thailand's Ministry of Tourism and Sports (2025), foreign visitors to Pattaya (Chon Buri province) spent an average of 6,198.25 baht per person per day (spending there; excluding international airfare). Actual costs vary widely with your itinerary and lodging.

Checklist before you go

Work through the list below. Our Pattaya first-trip post has more on getting from the airport to town and each day's route.

• Weather: normals are only a guide; check the forecast before you leave
• Entry: visa exemption periods, the digital arrival card and other rules can change; check official Thai government or embassy information
• Travel advice: check your own government's travel advice for Thailand
• Packing: light summer clothes, swimwear, a temple outfit, sunscreen, a hat
• Ko Larn boats: check locally where to board, and official information for times and fares
• Songthaews: confirm the destination and fare before boarding
• Grilled seafood: check whether prices are per 100 g or per 1 kg before choosing

• Full Pattaya travel guide →
• Pattaya first trip: from the airport, and how many days? →

FAQ

Related reading

Itinerary · ThailandPattaya first trip: from the airport, and how many days?Suvarnabhumi to Pattaya by bus or taxi (about 2 hours), a 3 to 4 day plan, songthaews…ComparisonWarm beaches from December to February: 10 comparedTen beaches side by side for December, January and February: average highs, lows and…ComparisonWhere to travel in December — warm cities, snow and marketsEight December picks — warm dry-season cities, snow trips and Christmas markets — from…

All articles →