Pattaya View Point
Pratumnak Hill viewpoint, the highest point in Pattaya, with a view over the whole bay - best at sunset.
The viewpoint on Pratumnak Hill (Khao Phra Tamnak) is the highest point in Pattaya, 98 metres above sea level. From here you get a panoramic view of the whole bay: the curve of Pattaya Beach, Bali Hai Pier, and Koh Larn island on the horizon. The hill sits between South Pattaya and Jomtien, and from the open terrace you can see both areas at once.
The hilltop has long been military ground: a Royal Thai Navy radio station still operates here, and next to the viewpoint stands a monument to Prince Abhakara Kiartivongse, regarded as the father of the modern Thai Navy. The same hill holds Wat Phra Yai, home to an 18-metre golden Buddha statue - the temple grounds date back to the 1940s, while the statue itself was built starting in 1977. A few steps from the viewpoint is the small Wat Phra Bat, which houses a Buddha footprint.
Entry is free, and the viewpoint is open from early morning until evening. You can get up by motorbike taxi or songthaew from the bottom of the hill - the road up is narrow and winding, so it's best to avoid driving up yourself during traffic. The most striking time is the hour before sunset, when the light turns the bay gold and Koh Larn becomes a dark silhouette on the water. Mornings are good too: the air is clearer and the city is visible all the way to the horizon.
Most visitors combine the viewpoint with a walk to Wat Phra Yai - it's the same hill, just a couple of minutes on foot. You can also get up the hill on a rented bike or car; Pattaya has plenty of rental options, and you can park right by the viewpoint.
