A Travel Price Comparison for Thailand Similan Islands vs. Pattaya for Scuba Diving & Snorkeling, Beaches, Couples, and Food

Should you visit Similan Islands or Pattaya?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Similan Islands and Pattaya can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Similan Islands

Similan Islands is a spectacular, idyllic, and remote island chain. Many visitors also come to Similan Islands because of it's amazing beauty. Visitors also love the hiking, food, and scuba diving and snorkeling. See Similan Islands travel costs.

Pattaya

Pattaya is a active, vibrant, and high energy resort city. Visitors also love the food, scuba diving and snorkeling, and beaches. See Pattaya travel costs.

Similan Islands and Pattaya: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Similan Islands or Pattaya?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Pattaya than Similan Islands, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Pattaya is better known for its museums and attractions, food, nightlife, resorts, and shopping, while Similan Islands is more popular for its scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, hiking, and impressive beauty. Pattaya is more touristy than Similan Islands and is known for its beautiful beaches, plethora of amusement parks, and its party town reputation. Also, Pattaya is famous for the Sanctuary of Truth. Similan Islands is well known for its world class diving and remote setting.

How is Similan Islands different from Pattaya?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Pattaya and Similan Islands. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Similan Islands or Pattaya?

Pattaya is a resort city with good options for its museums and history. However, Similan Islands does not have museums and landmarks.

Pattaya offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. There are several cultural attractions near town such as the Sanctuary of Truth, Wat Yansangwararam, and Wat Phra Yai (the Big Buddha).

Similan Islands does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in Similan Islands or Pattaya? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Pattaya is an excellent place to visit for its restaurants. Also, Similan Islands is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

Pattaya has a huge number of terrific restaurants. Street food is what this city is all about. You'll find streets lined with restaurants, but you'll also find snacks and other culinary treats at every corner. Khao Gaeng (curried rice with meat or vegetables), Kai Jeow (omelet over rice), and Moo Ping (grilled pork) are among the favorites.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Similan Islands area. Most people visit the islands as part of an organized tour, which usually provides meals as part of the package.

Is Similan Islands or Pattaya Better for Nightlife?

Pattaya is an amazing resort city to visit for nightlife and partying. However, Similan Islands is lacking in options for its evening party scene.

Pattaya has a colorful and one-of-a-kind nightlife scene. Despite a promotional campaign to promote family vacations, this city still holds tight to its party hard reputation. You'll find live bands, international DJs, and rooftop parties any night of the week.

Things get quiet in the evenings in Similan Islands. Peace and tranquility is what makes these islands special, and you'll find very limited amenities and no nightlife on the islands.

Is Similan Islands or Pattaya Better for Resorts?

Pattaya is an excellent place to visit for its luxury resorts. However, Similan Islands is not a resort destination.

In Pattaya, you'll find some of the region's top resorts. If you're looking for built-up, all-the-frills, beach resorts, then this is your place. It's a touristy beach city with hotels are resorts that line the waterfront.

Similan Islands is not a resort destination.

Is Similan Islands or Pattaya Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Similan Islands is terrific for its diving and snorkeling. Also, Pattaya is not as popular, but is still a nice resort city for snorkeling and scuba diving.

Similan Islands is a world class destination for scuba diving and snorkeling. These islands offer one of the world's most famous and impressive diving spots. World class divers travel great distances to experience the undersea world here. There are liveaboard boat trips that range in length from 4 to 6 nights and leave from either Khao Lak or Phuket. These trips will take you to the many great dive spots in the area. Do take note that the islands close every year from May until October.

Grab a mask and fins and explore the underwater scenery in Pattaya. There are snorkeling and dive excursions that leave from town, or you could throw on a mask and snorkel and look for marine life right off the beach.

Is Similan Islands or Pattaya Better for Beaches?

Similan Islands is terrific for the beach. Also, Pattaya is not as popular, but is still a nice resort city for the beach.

Similan Islands is considered to be a world-class beach destination. The world class beaches have white sand and stunningly blue waters. The setting is challenging enough to reach that you'll likely have few people to share the beaches with. The undersea world is also among the best and most vibrant around.

Many people visit Pattaya for it's beautiful beaches. There are countless white sand beaches in the area that range from party-focused, to romantic, to family-friendly. The blue waters and silky sand have long made this one of the most popular beach areas in Thailand.

Is Similan Islands or Pattaya Better for Hiking?

Similan Islands is a island chain with good options for hiking. However, Pattaya is not a hiking destination.

Plenty of visitors go hiking around Similan Islands. There are hikes through the jungle and to various viewpoints on several of the islands.

Pattaya is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Similan Islands or Pattaya?

Pattaya is an excellent place to visit for its shopping opportunities. However, Similan Islands is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Pattaya is well-known for its shopping. The city is filled with markets, malls, bazaars, and street vendors that sells everything from clothes and bathing suits, to Thai crafts or local foods.

Similan Islands is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Similan Islands or Pattaya More Beautiful?

Similan Islands is terrific for its scenery and beauty. However, Pattaya is not a destination known for its beauty.

Many visitors also come to Similan Islands because of it's amazing beauty. The remote setting makes this one of the few truly pristine places left to explore. In addition to the white sand and blue water, the undersea world here is spectacular.

Pattaya is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Similan Islands or Pattaya Better for Families?

Pattaya is an excellent place to visit for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Similan Islands is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.

Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Pattaya is very family-friendly. Kids will love the amusement parks, water parks, and cultural parks. Highlights for families include Columbia Pictures Aquaverse, Ramayana Water Park, and Mini Siam. For something totally unique, check out the ice sculptures at Frost Magical Ice of Siam and for something cultural and fun you can head to Legend Siam Pattaya. Despite local efforts to promote family-friendly activities, it's important to remember that the city does still has a party town reputation. There are areas that you should avoid with kids.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Similan Islands. It's a remote setting, but it's spectacularly beautiful with great snorkeling and sandy beaches that kids and adults alike will enjoy.

Is Similan Islands or Pattaya Better for Couples?

Similan Islands is terrific for its romantic activities. Also, Pattaya is not as popular, but is still a nice resort city for couples.

Similan Islands is a great island chain for couples, as it has plenty to offer. Couples who want to escape the tourist crowds will appreciate this remote and beautiful beach setting. The blue water and sandy beaches make for a true paradise.

Pattaya is a good island chain for couples to visit. There are many beach-oriented activities around town like boat rides and water sports. You could also enjoy a spa day or simply lounge on the beach and soak up the sun for the day.

Is Similan Islands or Pattaya Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Pattaya is a resort city with good options for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Similan Islands is lacking in options for backpackers.

Pattaya is a good resort city to visit for backpackers. While it used to be a party town, these days Pattaya is more of a family destination that's filled with amusement parks and family-friendly resorts. Backpackers will still find hostels and budget accommodation, but that backpacker atmosphere isn't what it used to be.

Similan Islands is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. It's remote setting makes it challenging to reach on a budget, but if you're willing to devote a day or more to travel, then you'll be well rewarded.

Is Similan Islands or Pattaya Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Pattaya is a resort city with good options for times when you don't have a car. However, Similan Islands is lacking in options for its public transit.

Pattaya has some public transit options. The baht bus (songthaew) is the cheapest way to get around town. These are colorful pickup trucks with seats in the back. There are also motorbike taxis as well as regular taxis.

Public transit is generally limited in Similan Islands. The national park operates boats between the islands. You can also charter private longtail boats, however these must be secured in advance and availability is not guaranteed.

Is Similan Islands or Pattaya a more walkable city?

Similan Islands is a island chain with good options for its high level of walkability. However, Pattaya is not known for its ease of walking around.

Similan Islands is a somewhat walkable place. There are footpaths that connect the points of interest on some of the islands.

Pattaya is generally not very walkable. There's a walking street, as well as several walkable areas, but the city is relatively large and you'll likely want to catch a ride most places.

For even more information, also check out Is Similan Islands Worth Visiting? and Is Pattaya Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Pattaya or Similan Islands?

How long in Similan Islands or Pattaya?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Similan Islands and Pattaya. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Similan Islands than in Pattaya. Usually, 4-7 days is a good amount of time for Similan Islands, and 2-3 days is enough time in Pattaya.

Families should spend more time in Pattaya than Similan Islands. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Pattaya, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Similan Islands than Pattaya. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Similan Islands that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Pattaya than Similan Islands if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Pattaya.

One day in Similan Islands or Pattaya?

In Similan Islands, you'll find food and scuba diving and snorkeling. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. This island chain offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

The colorful destination of Pattaya offers food and scuba diving and snorkeling. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. It's no surprise that nightlife is why people visit. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

A weekend in Similan Islands or Pattaya?

In Similan Islands, you'll find scuba diving and snorkeling and food. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. Most people come for the beaches. Since there is so much to do in the area, a weekend is probably not enough for all of it.

The resort city of Pattaya offers scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. A weekend here is typical. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities.

Five days in Similan Islands or Pattaya?

Similan Islands is a great place to explore. It is common to spend five days here. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. Five days is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Similan Islands has to offer. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

Pattaya is a great place to explore. People often spend their time relaxing at one of the resorts. It's no surprise that nightlife is why people visit. This resort city offers something for everyone. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

A week in Similan Islands or Pattaya?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Similan Islands. In Similan Islands, you'll find scuba diving and snorkeling and food. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one week here.

Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Pattaya. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Thailand, The Best Nightlife Tours in Thailand, The Best Yoga Tours and Retreats in Thailand, and The Best Honeymoon Tours in Thailand.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Similan Islands and Pattaya, we can see that Similan Islands is more expensive. And not only is Pattaya much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Pattaya would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Pattaya and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Similan Islands would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Similan Islands than you might in Pattaya.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Similan Islands Expensive? and Is Pattaya Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Similan Islands or Pattaya?

Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.

Should I visit Similan Islands or Pattaya in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Similan Islands and Pattaya. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Similan Islands year-round. Pattaya attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

Also, June to September is the rainy season in Similan Islands. Similan Islands gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Similan Islands usually receives more rain than Pattaya. Similan Islands gets 284 mm (11.2 in) of rain, while Pattaya receives 88 mm (3.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.

In Similan Islands, it's very sunny this time of the year. Similan Islands usually receives more sunshine than Pattaya during summer. Similan Islands gets 206 hours of sunny skies, while Pattaya receives 176 hours of full sun in the summer.

Similan Islands is around the same temperature as Pattaya in the summer. The daily temperature in Similan Islands averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and Pattaya fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).

Should I visit Similan Islands or Pattaya in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Similan Islands as well as Pattaya. Similan Islands attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Pattaya throughout the year.

Also, October to May in Similan Islands is the dry season. Also, December to April in Pattaya is the dry season. June to October in Pattaya is the rainy season. It's quite rainy in Pattaya. Similan Islands receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Similan Islands usually gets more rain in October than Pattaya. Similan Islands gets 351 mm (13.8 in) of rain, while Pattaya receives 258 mm (10.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Pattaya. In the autumn, Similan Islands often gets less sunshine than Pattaya. Similan Islands gets 181 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Pattaya receives 206 hours of full sun.

In the autumn, Similan Islands is around the same temperature as Pattaya. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Similan Islands in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Pattaya averages at about 28°C (82°F).

Should I visit Similan Islands or Pattaya in the Winter?

Both Pattaya and Similan Islands are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Similan Islands throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Pattaya because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In January, Similan Islands usually receives more rain than Pattaya. Similan Islands gets 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Pattaya receives 23 mm (0.9 in) of rain each month for the winter.

It's quite sunny in Pattaya. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Similan Islands. Similan Islands usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Pattaya during winter. Similan Islands gets 287 hours of sunny skies, while Pattaya receives 276 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Similan Islands is generally around the same temperature as Pattaya. Daily temperatures in Similan Islands average around 27°C (80°F), and Pattaya fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).

Should I visit Similan Islands or Pattaya in the Spring?

Both Pattaya and Similan Islands during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Similan Islands because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Pattaya year-round.

October to May is the dry season in Similan Islands. June to September is the rainy season in Similan Islands. December to April is the dry season in Pattaya. June to October is the rainy season in Pattaya. It rains a lot this time of the year in Similan Islands. Similan Islands usually gets more rain in April than Pattaya. Similan Islands gets 157 mm (6.2 in) of rain, while Pattaya receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

In Pattaya, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Similan Islands. In the spring, Similan Islands often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Pattaya. Similan Islands gets 249 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Pattaya receives 262 hours of full sun.

Similan Islands is around the same temperature as Pattaya in the spring. The daily temperature in Similan Islands averages around 29°C (83°F) in April, and Pattaya fluctuates around 30°C (86°F).

Typical Weather for Pattaya and Similan Islands