Pattaya is known for its nightlife. Millions of people from all corners of the world come here every year, and many of them come because of the nightlife.
But how’s the safety? Is it safe to walk alone in Pattaya? Are there any safety concerns I should be aware of?
In short, Pattaya is quite safe, even in the red-light district. If you don’t look for trouble, you won’t run into trouble. But when talking about Pattaya, nightlife isn’t the only thing the city offers.
In this article, I’m going to give you a great overview of safety in Pattaya, common issues, what to avoid, and how to stay safe while enjoying your time here.
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Key Takeaways
- Pattaya is quite safe in general if you don’t look for trouble yourself
- Inside Walking Street, most problems involve alcohol, disputes, and petty theft
- It’s much safer outside Walking Street, even for a female solo traveler or a family
- Pattaya has a problem with drunk drivers, which often results in serious accidents: avoid being on the road late at night
- Food is generally safe. If you have a weak stomach, eat food that’s hot and freshly cooked
- If you need to withdraw money from an ATM, do it inside department stores
- Taxis in Pattaya rarely use meters: use a ride-hailing app instead
- If you are traveling to Pattaya (or other parts of Thailand), you can get travel insurance. We recommend Genki Traveler. It’s one of the best value plans out there for travel insurance with medical coverage.
Safety Overview
When we talk about the safety overview of Pattaya, it should be categorized into two zones, since there’s a big difference in safety between red-light districts and non-red-light districts:
- Red-light district: The level of safety in this zone is moderate. While it’s not like someone will approach you and point a gun at you, it’s just easier to get into trouble, especially when drugs and alcohol are involved. People come to this zone for a reason.
- Non red-light district: It’s generally safe, even for a female traveling alone or for families. In fact, there are many family-friendly activities here in Pattaya.
According to Numbeo, Pattaya has a Crime Index of 45.84 and a Safety Index of 54.16. While the numbers suggest a moderate crime level, most of it happens in the red-light districts.
Therefore, Pattaya is quite safe overall, with three main safety concerns in my opinion:
- Red-light district: Easy to get into trouble
- Petty theft: Pickpocketing may still happen, or you may be approached by a random stranger who distracts and steals from you
- Getting around: Scams and traffic issues
Let’s take a closer look.
Nightlife
Since Pattaya is notorious for its nightlife, the red-light district is also the most dangerous zone in Pattaya. Every time we see news about crime in Pattaya, most of it happens in the red-light districts and usually falls into one of these scenarios:
- A fight between drunken tourists
- Drunken tourists harass bar girls and get beaten by a bouncer
- Drunken tourists get beaten by others after harassing their female family members
- A fight over a girl
As you can see, the problem usually involves alcohol and women. So, if you drink responsibly and don’t go looking for trouble, it’s unlikely you’ll find yourself in any.
And in case you want to walk through Pattaya Walking Street just to see what it’s like, in general, it’s quite safe to do so. However, it’s not recommended for females traveling alone. People come here for a reason, so you may get approached by random strangers asking for it.
Here’s how to stay safe when walking in Pattaya Walking Street:
- Drink responsibly
- Don’t leave drinks unattended
- Avoid going home with strangers
- Keep an eye on your bill; some bars may inflate charges
- Don’t get into arguments with bar staff or other customers
- If something feels off, just walk away
You also might want to read: Is Thailand Safe for Solo Female Travelers? Our Experience and Safety Tips
Pickpocketing
Pickpocketing is another issue you should be careful of. It’s not just about someone sneaking up behind you in a crowd. Lately, we’ve heard more stories about random strangers approaching and distracting you with tricks, then snatching your money.
Here’s how it usually goes:
You take out some cash from an ATM on the street, and then a stranger comes over and starts chatting. They might pull out a foreign banknote, often something from the Middle East like Dubai, and ask to see a bill from your country. Sounds harmless.
The second you pull out your wallet, they grab your cash and take off.
It’s happened in Pattaya, Bangkok, and other popular tourist cities. To avoid getting caught up in it, here’s what you can do:
- Use ATMs inside department stores or banks, not ones out on the street
- If someone approaches you for an unknown reason, just ignore them
- Keep your wallet or purse in a secure area
- Don’t pull out your wallet for strangers, no matter how friendly they seem
Please note that pickpocketing usually happens in nightlife areas. In other parts of Pattaya, it’s rare.
Road Accident
It might just be me, but almost every time I visit Pattaya, I see a road accident early in the morning. And most of the time, it involves a motorcycle.
The issue isn’t the road itself. Pattaya’s roads are actually in good condition and well paved. The real problem is drunk driving. If you search for news about drunk drivers in Pattaya, you’ll find incidents almost every month. And unfortunately, many of them involve serious injuries or even deaths.
Pattaya is a beach party town. A lot of people come here just to drink and party all night. And not everyone drinks responsibly. Some get on their motorbike or hop in a car and head home — that’s when accidents happen.
Now, to be fair, there are police checkpoints in many areas, but they can’t catch every drunk driver.
This doesn’t mean you should avoid driving in Pattaya. You can still drive safely here. Just try not to drive late at night or very early in the morning. Basically, avoid the time when the party crowd is heading home.
If you stick to daytime driving, it’s generally very safe.
Still, here are a few safety tips if you plan to drive in Pattaya:
- Make sure you have a valid driving license
- If you’re riding a motorbike, always wear a helmet and avoid riding in the rain
- Follow the traffic laws
- Try not to drive late at night
Tip: Consider getting health insurance or travel insurance. If something does happen, at least you’ll have access to the best possible care.
Public Transportation
Public transportation in Pattaya can be somewhat limited, with three main options available:
- Songthaews (known as baht buses)
- Taxis and motorbike taxis
- Ride-hailing apps such as Grab or Bolt
Overall, public transportation in Pattaya is safe. The only issue you might face is minor scams, such as taxis or baht buses overcharging. For example, instead of paying THB 100 for a trip, you might end up paying THB 200 to THB 300.
Also, don’t expect taxis here to run on a meter, since you’ll need to bargain for prices most of the time. This happens to Thais as well.
To avoid this issue, you can use ride-hailing apps such as Grab or Bolt. Grab tends to be more expensive than Bolt but has better regulations. For example, if there’s an issue with your ride, you can file a complaint through the app and they’ll usually take action. On the other hand, Bolt doesn’t seem to care as much.
That said, we’ve heard that sometimes even a Grab or Bolt driver might ask for more money. If that happens, just pay the agreed rate shown in the app and walk away.
Related article: How to Get Around Easily in Thailand
Beach
While Pattaya is famous for many things, the beach isn’t really one of them. Yes, it’s a beach city, but Pattaya Beach doesn’t quite compare to other beaches in Thailand.
It’s generally safe. You won’t have to worry about rough seas, tsunamis, or jellyfish like in some parts of Phuket. But even though it’s safe, you might not feel like swimming there.
The main issue is water quality. Pattaya has a poor sewage system, and there have been reports of wastewater being released into the sea. So while the beach looks nice, the water may not be ideal for swimming or water sports.
If you’re looking to enjoy clean water and better beach conditions, take a short ferry ride to nearby Koh Larn. The beaches there are much nicer and the water is noticeably cleaner.
Jet Ski Scams
While jet ski scams used to be common in Pattaya, they’re not a major problem anymore. As long as you rent from a reputable shop, you should be fine in most cases. You can find a reputable shop by checking Google Maps and looking for places with good reviews.
Of course, scams can still happen. To protect yourself from a jet ski scam, follow these steps:
- Don’t leave your passport as a deposit
- Take photos of the jet ski from all angles
- Ask about fuel policies in advance
- If there’s a dispute, you can call the Tourist Police at 1155
Crime
Outside of the red-light district, as mentioned earlier, crime in Pattaya is rare, and even rarer when it involves a foreigner. Every time there’s news about crime in Pattaya, it usually comes from the red-light district or involves personal disputes.
Food
Food in Pattaya is generally safe, especially when you eat at a local shop or restaurant. Just make sure the place looks reasonably hygienic.
On the other hand, if you’re eating street food, you’ll want to be a bit more cautious. Here are my personal tips when it comes to eating street food in Thailand:
- Choose something that’s served hot or cooked in front of you
- Avoid anything made with coconut milk — it spoils easily
- Unless the stall looks clean, avoid uncooked food like salad or som tam
- Be extra careful with seafood, as it spoils quickly
When it comes to water, avoid tap water and drink only bottled water. The same rule applies across all parts of Thailand.
Natural Disaster
Natural disasters aren’t something you need to worry much about in Pattaya. There are no earthquakes or tsunamis here like in Phuket.
The most common natural disaster in Pattaya is flooding. Since it’s a beach city with poor city planning and an inadequate drainage system, flooding happens regularly — especially during the rainy season, which typically runs from May to October.
Flood-prone areas in Pattaya include:
- parts of Central Pattaya, particularly around Pattaya Klang and Soi Buakhao
- low-lying areas near the beach and Walking Street.
The good news is that floods usually subside within a few hours once the sea level goes down.
So, if you visit Pattaya during the rainy season and see heavy rains in the forecast, plan your outings carefully and stick to higher ground in areas less prone to flooding.
Emergency Contacts in Pattaya
- Police: 191
- Tourist Police: 1155
- Ambulance: 1669
Hospitals:
- Bangkok Hospital Pattaya: +66 38 259 999
- Pattaya Memorial Hospital: +66 38 488 777
- Pattaya City Hospital: +66 38 103 900
Final Thoughts on Safety in Pattaya
While Pattaya isn’t as safe as other cities in Thailand, it’s still quite safe, especially outside of the red-light district. There are just two main issues, which can be easily avoided:
- When you are on Walking Street, don’t look for trouble.
- Avoid being on the street late at night or very early in the morning.
Also, if you are a female traveling alone or have a female member in your group, you may want to be more careful when walking on Walking Street. You may get approached by other tourists.
Other than that, if it’s outside the Walking Street area, Pattaya is quite safe. As long as you use the same precautions as when traveling to other cities in the world (be aware of your surroundings, research prices first, and be on your guard when a random person approaches you), you will be fine.
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