About Chonburi Province
Chonburi province encompasses Pattaya and the broader Eastern Seaboard region — Thailand's industrial powerhouse and one of its most visited coastal areas. Beyond Pattaya (covered as a separate destination), the province contains the attractive cliff-top town of Si Racha, the island of Koh Sichang with its royal palace ruins, and the coastal stretch of Bang Saen which functions as Bangkok's closest proper beach. Chonburi is also home to Thailand's largest Ang Sila shellfish market and several important Chinese-Thai temples that draw pilgrims during Chinese New Year.
Top Highlights
Si Racha
attractive hillside town famous for Sriracha hot sauce origin and seafood
Koh Sichang
island with a royal palace, Chinese temple, and calm beaches, day trip from Si Racha
Bang Saen beach
nearest beach to Bangkok (90 km), popular with Thai families at weekends
Ang Sila
seaside village famous for shellfish farming and mortar-and-pestle manufacturing
Getting There
Chonburi is on the Bangkok–Pattaya motorway (Highway 7). Buses from Bangkok's Eastern Bus Terminal (Ekkamai) to Pattaya via Chonburi take 2–2.5 hours. Si Racha is about 1 hour 40 minutes from Bangkok. The new high-speed rail link (when operational) will connect Bangkok to Pattaya in under an hour.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Senior Travel Writer · Bangkok · 12+ years in Thailand
James has lived in Bangkok since 2014 and has visited all 77 Thai provinces. He specialises in destination guides, itinerary planning, and transport logistics. Before moving to Thailand, he worked as a travel journalist in Hong Kong and Singapore. He speaks conversational Thai and is a certified PADI divemaster.
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