Dongtan Beach is a charming and peaceful spot nestled almost in the heart of Pattaya, yet easily accessible by public transport. Lined with palm groves, it offers shaded pathways and a sense of serenity that makes it feel less crowded than many of the city’s other beaches.
The beach is well-maintained, largely due to the nearby upscale hotels and condominiums that ensure its cleanliness. While it gives the impression of being quiet and not too busy, you’ll often find European retirees relaxing here.
Beach Overview
Dongtan Beach stretches for about 0.6 miles (1 kilometer), beginning near the police station and 7-Eleven, where Jomtien’s Beach Road takes a sharp turn into Thappraya Road, and continues to a small cape just beyond Pattaya Park Water Park.
Beyond the cape lies Pratamnak Beach, which extends another 0.4 miles (700 meters) before it’s cut off by rocks, making it impossible to walk further along the shore. Although the distinction between Dongtan and Pratamnak beaches is largely conceptual, they are often mistaken for one another or merged in online descriptions.
The width of Dongtan Beach varies, reaching up to 130 feet (40 meters) at its widest point, with about 65 feet (20 meters) of sandy area closer to the sea. A pedestrian pathway runs the length of the beach, although it’s not exclusively for pedestrians as cars and motorbikes occasionally use it. Nevertheless, it maintains the appearance of a dedicated walkway.
Between the pathway and the sea, closer to Jomtien, you’ll find a grove of palm trees, while a line of casuarina trees stretches along the sandy beach. These tall trees, which resemble pines with soft “needles,” drop small prickly cones and give off a slight pine scent in the air.
Throughout the beach, the atmosphere is deliberately clean and orderly, with facilities such as showers and toilets in two locations, trash bins along the pathways, and even a spot offering free Wi-Fi.
Swimming Conditions
A buoyed swimming area stretches almost the entire length of the beach, forming a large U-shape about 2950 feet (900 meters) long when viewed from above. The section adjacent to Pattaya Park Water Park, near the cape, lacks shade and sunbeds and is not buoyed, making it feel like the wild part of Dongtan Beach. During high tide, the water deepens quickly, reaching waist height just a few meters in.
At low tide, particularly at its extreme stages, you’ll need to wade through shallow water for several meters before it gets deep. Strong waves are common towards the end of the season when the wind picks up. The seabed is generally free of large stones and shells, making it a pleasant spot for swimming.
The sea is usually calm during the season, but in the off-season, from late February, strong winds and waves can make swimming challenging.
Sunbeds and Shade
Dongtan Beach is divided into several zones. After the 7-Eleven and police station, you’ll find a parking area and a wide palm grove along the beach, with casuarina trees growing closer to the water.
There is little free sand between the water and the grove, just a few meters. Under the casuarina trees, there are dense rows of sunbeds and loungers beneath umbrellas, with the first row almost touching the waterline.
About 1150 feet (350 meters) further, the trees thin out, leading to a section of beach densely packed with umbrellas and sunbeds arranged in many rows. Further on, the beach becomes almost wild, with casuarina trees closer to the pathway, providing a sandy area where you can sit or lie on your own mats.
A little further on, the trees disappear entirely, leaving a wide strip of sand without shade and a volleyball court. This section is near the fence of Pattaya Park Water Park. Beyond the cape is Pratamnak Beach.
Beach Photos
Amenities
While Dongtan Beach doesn’t have large shops, there’s a 7-Eleven on the border with Jomtien, and a few cafes cater to Europeans. Nearby, next to the parking lot, there’s an outdoor gym that operates in the evenings.
Near the cape and Pattaya Park, you’ll find a board and windsurfing rental, as well as a volleyball court. Otherwise, standard beach activities like jet skis and banana boats are available. Beach vendors offer drinks, coconuts, and simple snacks.
The most notable attraction here is the Pattaya Park Water Park and its tower, offering breathtaking views of Pattaya. You can even descend from the tower to the beach via a zipline.
From Dongtan Beach, you can walk along the coast to Pratamnak Beach and then exit onto Pratamnak’s 5th Street, leading into the Pratamnak district. Between Thappraya Road and the Welcome World Resort & Spa lies the “gay quarter,” and near Rabbit Resort, the beach is also known as a gathering spot for the LGBTQ+ community.
Accommodation
Closest to Jomtien and Thappraya Road are large condo complexes such as View Talay 7 and Suntalay View Talay 5, where long-term rentals are available. There are also large hotel complexes in this area, including Welcome World Beach Resort & Spa and Avalon Beach Resort Pattaya.
While there are smaller guesthouses in this part of the beach, most are inland without direct beach access. An exception is B.B House, a small establishment located right by the beach walkway.
Further down the beach, after the cape, are more hotels and condos, but these are generally considered part of Pratamnak Beach. There are no rental homes directly on Dongtan Beach, at least not at reasonable prices.
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