Visiting Rayong: 10 Best Things to Do & Places to Visit

Located about an hour away from Pattaya City, Rayong offers a great alternative for those looking to avoid the tourist crowds.

With an abundance of things to do, from exploring the rich mangrove forests along the coastline to enjoying some of the best white sandy beaches in Eastern Thailand, here are the 10 best things to do in Rayong for solo travelers:

Table of Contents

• Rayong Things to do Itinerary Map
• Where to Stay in Rayong?
• 10 Best Things to Do in Rayong
  • Explore Rayong's Old Town
  • Walk Around the Incredible Mangrove Forest at Sky View Tower and Mangrove Research Center
  • Relax at Mae Ram Phueng Beach
  • Check Out the View from Khao Laem Ya Viewpoint
  • Visit Rayong Aquarium
  • Enjoy the Secluded Laem Mae Phim Beach
  • Get a glimpse of the Old Days at Kru Kang House Museum
  • Stroll Around Ruksame Bridge
  • Check Out Thung Prong Thong
  • Spend A Night on Ko Samet
• What to Eat and Drink in Rayong
  • Eat Seafood at the famous Laem Charoen Restaurant
  • Have Traditional Breakfast at Prasertgij Restaurant
  • Have Coffee by the River at Slurp Coffee Specialist
• Thailand Travel Video
• Further Reading for Eastern Thailand

Show More

rayong-best-things-to-do

No time to read?

Save this page on Pinterest for later Save to Pinterest

Rayong Things to do Itinerary Map

Quick Summary

♥️ Must Visit:	Check Out the View from Khao Laem Ya Viewpoint
🏛️ Best Museum:	Get a glimpse of the Old Days at Kru Kang House Museum
🛌 Place to Stay:	Star Convention Hotel (Star Hotel)

10 Best Things to Do in Rayong

1. Explore Rayong's Old Town (Yomjinda Rd.)

Rayong's Old Town is the oldest part of Rayong, running along Yomjinda Rd., which happens to be the first road ever built in the province. The town dates back over 100 years, with construction beginning during the reign of King Rama V. To provide some context, King Rama V reigned during the colonization period of Asia. Yes, it's that old!

Due to their age, many of the old wooden buildings in Rayong's Old Town still stand to this day. Some are still used as storefronts to sell local products, just as they were decades ago, while others have been renovated and transformed into cafes or museums that you can enjoy.

You can spend an hour or two exploring every corner of the old town and checking out places like Chao Mae Tubtim Shrine, an old Chinese shrine, and Satudom House, a heritage museum preserving the lives of the people here.

You can also find a nice cafe by the river and immerse yourself in the old town's vibe. One of my favorite cafes here is Slurp Coffee Specialist, a riverside cafe with open-air seating where you can enjoy a cup of coffee with your favorite book while enjoying a view of the river. They have a parking lot on the opposite side of the road, so you can easily drive to the cafe and park there.

Due to it being the first road and all, there is not a whole lot of space to park your vehicle in the old town. You can either park at the entrance of the old town or do as I did and park inside Chao Mae Tubtim Shrine. You will find a handful of parking spots here where you can park for free.

The old town is part of Rayong's rich history, and it is all preserved in this little old town right at the heart of the province; there is no better place to start your journey in Rayong than here.

Where to Stay in Rayong?

Budget

Star 3 Residence

$ | Double Room

See Availability

👍 Top Pick

Mid-Range

Star Convention Hotel (Star Hotel)

$$ | Double Room

See Availability

High-End

Novotel Rayong Star Convention Centre

$$$ | King Room

See Availability

View More Hotels

2. Walk Around the Incredible Mangrove Forest at Sky View Tower and Mangrove Research Center

One of my favorite things to do in the vicinity of Rayong's Town is to go for a stroll around Sky View Tower and Mangrove Research Center, a rich mangrove forest located right by Rayong River, only a few kilometers away from the city center.

The parking spot and the entrance to the mangrove forest are located right by Phra Chedi Klang Nam, a striking white stupa, and you can begin exploring the mangrove forest from there. What's incredibly cool about this mangrove forest is its extensive network of walking paths that will take you around the forest in all directions.

Some paths will take you deep into the forest and allow you to immerse yourself in the rich nature of Rayong, while others will take you along the river where you can leisurely stroll and enjoy the view at the same time.

In the middle of the forest, you will also find a Sky View Tower where you can climb up and admire the view of the mangrove forest from above. It is a popular place for locals to come in the morning and jog along its many walking paths, so I highly recommend checking out the place first thing in the morning when you are in Rayong.

The mangrove forest at Phra Chedi Klang Nam is open from 6:15 AM to 6:35 PM every day, and there is no entrance fee. If you love nature and want to escape the hustle and bustle of Rayong's town, make sure to check out the mangrove forest around Phra Chedi Klang Nam.

3. Relax at Mae Ram Phueng Beach

Mae Ram Phueng Beach is, hands down, my favorite beach in Rayong. It is located about 20 kilometers east of Rayong Town, and it has some of the prettiest white sandy beaches you will find here, making it a perfect place to visit if you are looking to spend a few hours at the beach.

At the beach, you will find an array of typical Thai street vendors, as well as a few restaurants dotting the 8+ km-long strip, where you can have lunch and spend the afternoon relaxing by the beach.

Since the place is not crowded at all, you won't find any sunbeds or umbrellas to rent in most sections of the beach. However, there are plenty of shades around, so there is no need to worry about that. If you are looking for a nice, quiet beach to enjoy in Rayong, be sure to check out Mae Ram Phueng Beach.

4. Check Out the View from Khao Laem Ya Viewpoint ♥️ Must Visit

Another fun activity you can do in Rayong is to visit Khao Laem Ya–Mu Ko Samet National Park and hike along its coastline to the Khao Laem Ya Viewpoint, where you will be rewarded with an incredible view of the ocean with Ko Samet in the background.

Once you enter the national park, you will have to park your car at the top of the cape and then make your way down to the coast. The walk down should take no more than 5 minutes, but walking back up will be quite challenging, so be sure to prepare yourself.

After descending to the coastline, you can start making your way to Khao Laem Ya Viewpoint along the elevated wooden plank walking path that hugs the cape. As you proceed along the coastline, you will have the entire view of the coast and Ko Samet right in front of you the whole time.

There is also a skyway built right off the coast of Khao Laem Ya that gives you the impression of floating as you walk across it. It's an awesome place to take some photos before reaching Khao Laem Ya Viewpoint. Once at the viewpoint, you will have a 180° view of the coast and the mountain behind you - a rewarding sight after a great hike.

The entire walk from the parking lot to the viewpoint should take no more than 20 minutes. It's an easy walk that anyone can do, but keep in mind that the majority of the trail is exposed to the sun, and you will have to ascend back up to the parking lot, so be sure to bring some water with you.

Khao Laem Ya–Mu Ko Samet National Park is open from 8 AM to 6 PM every day, and the entrance fee is 100 THB per person. It is one of my favorite things to do in Rayong, so be sure not to miss it!

5. Visit Rayong Aquarium

If you want to see some of the rare marine life often found in Thailand and learn more about it, I highly recommend you check out Rayong Aquarium, located in Ban Phe, about 30 minutes away from Rayong's town.

The Aquarium is built as an educational exhibit on the fishing industry and to learn more about the variety of diverse marine life found in the Gulf of Thailand. The place is open from 10 AM to 4 PM from Wednesday to Sunday, and the entrance fee is 30 THB, which is dirt cheap, so be sure to check it out.

6. Enjoy the Secluded Laem Mae Phim Beach

As you travel along Rayong's coastline, you will stumble upon Laem Mae Phim Beach, which is another great beach to visit if you are looking for a more secluded beach area to enjoy.

The beach is a perfect place to swim as the waves are not as large as in other parts of Rayong. During low tide, you will have even more beach area than Mae Ram Phueng Beach. There are also plenty of restaurants around the area where you can enjoy dinner and watch the sunset.

If you are already exploring this part of Rayong and looking for a beach to relax at, be sure to check out Laem Mae Phim Beach.

7. Get a glimpse of the Old Days at Kru Kang House Museum 🏛️ Best Museum

Not too far from Laem Mae Phim Beach, you will find a little antique museum called Kru Kang House Museum, where you will find all kinds of antique and vintage items from Thailand that you can no longer find nowadays.

From an array of old wooden clocks and furniture to an extensive collection of old street vendor carts and cars, you will be able to get a glimpse of what life was like for Thai people back in the day.

If you are in this part of Rayong and looking for a cool museum to check out, be sure to drop by Kru Kang House Museum. The museum is open from 8 AM to 4 PM every day, and the entrance fee is 100 THB per person.

8. Stroll Around Ruksame Bridge

Just north of Kru Kang House Museum, you will find Ruksame Bridge and its small, charming riverside community. Here, you can stroll around on its wooden plank walkways and explore the mangrove forest in the area.

The community is known for its picturesque suspension bridge that connects to the thick mangrove forest across the river. There, you will find a traditional fisherman's boat where you can go inside and explore.

I was the only person around when I was there, which made the whole experience even more memorable. It should take you about 30 minutes to walk around the community and the mangrove forest. There is no entrance fee, so explore away!

9. Check Out Thung Prong Thong (Golden Meadow)

Another place to visit while you are out here is Thung Prong Thong. It is a mangrove forest, more popular than the one at Ruksame Bridge, known for its golden meadow-like scenery, unlike any other mangrove forest you've seen before.

Since the place is quite popular among locals, there is a parking fee of about 20 THB. From there, you can either walk to the fishing community where the trail to Thung Prong Thong begins or take a local motorbike for a fee. However, it should take you no more than 3 minutes to walk, so there's no need to take the motor-taxi.

It should take you about 30 minutes to explore the mangrove forest as well as the golden meadow. Be sure to go all the way to the bird-watching tower where you can climb to the top and admire the view from above. The path continues even further, taking you all the way to the HTMS Prasae Memorial, a retired warship memorial, but it will take you about 40 minutes one-way, so make sure you are prepared for it.

The place is open from 6 AM to 6 PM every day, and although there is no entrance fee, you will have to pay 20 THB to park your car at the designated parking lot. It's definitely worth a visit if you are already exploring this part of Rayong.

10. Spend A Night on Ko Samet

Last but not least, if you are looking for an island experience in Rayong, the best place to be is Ko Samet, a small island just off the coast of Rayong, and you can get there from Nuanthip Pier.

On the island, you will find many beautiful beaches Sai Kaew Beach, Prao Beach, and Ao Wai with crystal clear water you can swim in. There are also many beachside hotels where you can spend overnight and get direct access to the beach anytime you want.

Ko Samet is an awesome island-getaway spot in Rayong, and if you are looking for one, this is the best place to be. You can check out the ferry schedule and book the ferry ticket here. It should take about 50 minutes and cost 100 THB for a ferry and 25 minutes and cost 200 THB on a speed boat.

What to Eat and Drink in Rayong

1. Eat Seafood at the famous Laem Charoen Restaurant

One of the most famous seafood restaurants that you can find in most shopping malls around Thailand is Laem Charoen Restaurant. It is a high-end seafood restaurant that has been serving a wide range of seafood dishes for many decades. The original restaurant, where it all began, is located at Laem Charoen Beach in Rayong.

It would be a shame to visit Rayong without checking out the original Laem Charoen Restaurant and trying some of its fresh seafood dishes right by Laem Charoen Beach, which is likely the inspiration for the restaurant's name.

The restaurant is pretty big, with numerous outdoor seating areas right by the river. Here, you can try a variety of seafood dishes while enjoying the view of the traditional fishing boats that made all of this possible.

The restaurant is not cheap, though, but you are really getting your money's worth here with fresh seafood in large portions. So, if you are looking to get a proper seafood treat in Rayong, be sure to check out Laem Charoen Restaurant. The place is open from 10 AM to 9:30 PM every day.

2. Have Traditional Breakfast at Prasertgij Restaurant

Prasertgij Restaurant is my go-to place for breakfast. This family-run restaurant has been in operation for decades, and they serve the same Thai traditional breakfast dishes like Khai Krata, pork congee, Pa Tong Go (fried dough), Thai iced coffee, and more.

They are all delicious and quite affordable, so if you are looking for a place to have breakfast in Rayong's Town, be sure to check out Prasertgij Restaurant. The restaurant is open from 6 AM to 2 PM every day.

3. Have Coffee by the River at Slurp Coffee Specialist

One of my favorite cafes in Rayong's Old Town is Slurp Coffee Specialist, a small cafe located right by the river in the heart of Rayong's Old Town. It offers plenty of outdoor seating where you can enjoy a cup of coffee with your favorite book and savor the river scenery in peace.

There is also plenty of parking space across the cafe, a convenience not easily found in Rayong's Old Town. The coffee is excellent, and they also offer pastries like croissants to enjoy with your coffee.

If you are looking for a relaxing cafe in Rayong, make sure to check out Slurp Coffee Specialist. The cafe is open every day from 7 AM to 5 PM, except on Tuesdays.