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Dongtan Beach
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Next along the coast
Schematic map, not to scale.
What Dongtan Beach is like
Dongtan is the short, straight beach where the coast leaves Pratumnak Hill and becomes Jomtien. OpenStreetMap places it between the Pattaya Park resort at its northern end and the corner where Jomtien Beach Road begins, with Rabbit Resort's gardens directly behind the middle of the sand.
A guide to Thai beaches, updated in September 2025, describes about 1 km of sand with a line of tall casuarina trees along it and palms near the Jomtien end, so there is shade for much of the day. A path runs the whole length: mostly people on foot, with some cars and motorbikes.
The same guide calls it a clean, quiet extension of Jomtien: smaller and calmer than the long beach to the south. Afternoons and weekends are the busy times, Travel Gay notes.
The promenade and the shade
The seafront was rebuilt in 2017 and 2018 as part of the city's Jomtien renovation. Pattaya Mail reported a wider road and footpath from the Dongtan police box to Rabbit Resort, a new drainage system, new lighting and 1,000 new trees, with the work due to finish in early 2018.
Toilets and showers stand in two buildings along the beach, according to the 2025 guide; bring small notes and coins in case they charge. Look up before you settle under a casuarina: the trees drop small, prickly cones.
Parking at Dongtan is free: Pattaya's mayor said so in August 2020, after people posing as attendants had tried to charge drivers. Pay only at a signed, official car park.
An LGBTQ+-friendly stretch
Dongtan has long been known as Pattaya's gay beach, centred on the stretch in front of Rabbit Resort. Travel Gay notes that it now draws tourists, expats and locals alike, all year round, and that most people leave around 18:00.
Everyone is welcome; it is a public beach like any other, with the same rules on dress and behaviour. For where to stay and the year's events, see LGBTQ+ Pattaya.
Sunbeds and swimming
Reports differ on the sunbeds. The 2025 beach guide describes rows of loungers and umbrellas; Travel Gay says the loungers and street vendors were cleared when the promenade was rebuilt. Expect to find out on the day, and bring a mat or towel in case there are none. Where a chair is offered, ask the full price, and what it includes, before you sit.
Swimming is a same-day decision. Stay out under a red flag, when the water is badly discoloured or after heavy rain, and keep well clear of boats and jet skis. The Tourism Authority of Thailand warns that jellyfish can be more common near the shore in the monsoon months, so read any local notices first.
Jomtien's second phase of beach nourishment was more than 30% complete in May 2026, Pattaya Mail reported, with a target of February 2027. The report does not say whether the work reaches Dongtan; if machinery or barriers take your stretch, move along the sand. The full routine is in staying safe in Pattaya.
Getting there
OpenStreetMap's route planner puts Dongtan about 6 km by road from Central Pattaya, around 10 minutes without traffic. A taxi or a ride-hailing app is simplest: set the pin to Rabbit Resort or Pattaya Park rather than to "Jomtien", which covers several kilometres of coast.
Shared songthaews (baht buses) link central Pattaya and Jomtien: Pattaya Mail reported a fare of 15 baht for trips up to 10 km since 10 April 2026. Ask the driver for Dongtan before you climb on. A parked driver asked for a direct trip is running a charter, so agree the price first; see getting around Pattaya.
Who it suits, and what is nearby
- Anyone who wants shade and a quieter stretch without leaving the city.
- LGBTQ+ travellers looking for Pattaya's long-standing gay beach.
- Guests at Rabbit Resort and the low-rise stays at the Jomtien end of the hill; see romantic hotels.
- A swim after the view from Pattaya Park Tower, at the north end of the beach.
For a cove reached by stairs, try Cosy Beach on the other side of the hill; for room, chairs and food all day, walk south to Jomtien Beach. Pattaya Viewpoint, at the top of Pratumnak Hill, is a short ride away.
Questions
Is Dongtan Beach part of Jomtien Beach?
Yes: it is the northern end of the same shore, below Pratumnak Hill, but it has its own name and feel. The Jomtien Beach page covers the long stretch to the south.
Is Dongtan Beach the gay beach in Pattaya?
It is the beach long known as Pattaya's gay beach, especially in front of Rabbit Resort. Today it draws a mixed crowd of tourists, expats and locals.
Is Dongtan Beach the same as Dongtan in Sattahip?
No. Ao Dong Tan is a different bay inside the navy area at Sattahip, south of Pattaya, with a weekend evening market. See beaches near Pattaya for the Sattahip beaches and their entry rules.
Are there sunbeds at Dongtan Beach?
Reports differ: one 2025 guide describes rows of loungers, another says they were cleared when the promenade was rebuilt. Bring a mat, and if a chair is offered, ask the full price before you sit.