Pattaya Beach (no relation to the mainland city of the same name) is the curving south-coast beach where most boats from Pak Bara and Langkawi tie up at the offshore floating pier. The sand is fine and white, the water is the standard Tarutao turquoise, and a row of bars, restaurants, and dive shops line the back of the beach where the road from Walking Street arrives.
This is where the party is at night — fire-juggling shows, beach DJs in season, and longtails ferrying guests back to the Sunrise side until late. By day it doubles as the main jumping-off point for snorkel and island-hopping tours. The eastern end, away from the pier, is quieter and the sand is at its best there. Outside the high season the noise drops away almost completely and Pattaya becomes another good simple beach.