Pattaya is a resort city on the east coast of the Gulf of Thailand, located 100 km southeast of Bangkok. Rapidly growing and developing, the place is a mix of beachfront hotels and towers, shopping, and some seedier elements. The best places for running in Pattaya are the wide beach-side paths along Pattaya Beach and Jomtien Beach. It’s also fun to take a hilly run up Phra Tamnak Mountain and around Buddha Hill to enjoy great views and see the Golden Buddha and Giant Buddha. For a longer off-road run, there’s the 10.8 km loop around Map Prachan Reservoir, a few km inland from the city. We’ve also researched some of the best parks and roads that that are good for running in Pattaya and vicinity. Ko Lan Island, a 45-minute ferry ride from Pattaya, is a popular day trip — and features some nice beach and road running there.
A couple of notes about running in Pattaya: the weather is hot and humid nearly year-round — best to go early! Many of of the roads in Pattaya are congested and don’t have a sidewalk, so please use caution. Also, there can be petty theft, so be careful about carrying money/phone.
