Information & travel guide

What to Do

Pattaya, a former fishing village and favourite haunt of American GI's during the 1960's, has come a long way in the last few years. While still retaining an element of unrestrained hedonism, the old and outdated image of girly-bars and raucous nightlife, is changing. Families, groups and business travellers are being lured with with extensive sports facilities, daytrips, island tours, wildlife and amusement parks, offbeat museums and lush botanical gardens, providing a variety of leisure attractions and entertainment for everyone.

What to Do

Situated on a bay, with a curving coastline that comes alive at night with twinkling lights of hotels and condominiums and the neon signs of bars, shops, restaurants, and businesses, Pattaya offers lots to do.

Tours, excursions to islands, fishing, sports activities, odd museums, windsurfing, bowling, snooker, golf, shopping or simply enjoying the beach. It's a tough choice!!

Central Pattaya, crowded with hotels, tour operators, gem stores, money changers, restaurants, pharmacies, bars, fast-foot joints, souvenir shops, clothing stores and tailor shops, and even computer and software stores, is the main action area. South Pattaya still retains nightlife which drew early visitors, while quieter Jomtien is the magnet for watersports enthusiasts.

Sports & Recreation

Definitely a haven for watersports lovers. Scuba diving, parasailing, fishing, sailing, windsurfing, banana boat riding, jet skiing, they're all here. You can learn to sail, hire snorkelling equipment or take a scuba course and go diving around some of Pattaya's offshore islands. Jomtien beach close by, is Thailand's No. 1 windsurfing spot.

If you prefer to be on land, facilities for other indoor sports such as snooker and bowling are all within easy reach. Almost all the large hotels (Amari, Dusit, Montien, Siam Bayshore, etc.) have immaculate tennis courts and fitness centres which will allow visitors to use them.

Not content? Then there's horse-riding, cable skiing, bungee jumping, paintball and even motor racing! Test your skills at the Bira International Racing track, ideal for formula 3 racing.

For golfing enthusiasts, world-class golf courses are within easy reach. The Siam Country Club, one of the best golf courses in the Kingdom, is just 10 kilometres from the Beach Road.

Day trips and Excursions

For a day away from the beach, a trip to the orchid farm, an elephant kraal, a visit to Ripley's and the Bottle Museum, are all interesting trips. Take a day out and go snorkelling around one of the offshore islands like Koh Larn. Numerous tour operators on the Beach Road area (main road and the inner streets) offer packages. (See attractions)

Nightlife

Most of Pattaya's 4 kilometre beach road contains one long entertainment district, but it is in South Pattaya where you can still find a glimmer of Pattaya's legendary afterdark reputation. Stalls and vendors, bars, loud music, go-go clubs and one of the biggest entertainment venues in town, Tony’s Entertainment Complex, is located here.

Pattaya however, isn't just go go bars and loud music, there are trendy restaurants, piano bars, karaoke and the famed flamboyant transvestite cabaret shows. For more information check out our Pattaya nightlife.

Shopping

Pattaya has some surprisingly fashionable boutiques and shops selling clothes, silk, coral and shells, paintings, handicrafts, gemstones, jewellry and souvenirs. These shops are located mostly around the main street of South Pattaya and inside the upmarket hotels. Prices are fair and all visitors are eagerly welcome. Traditional Thai massage, cabaret shows, shopping (many shops specializes in exporting Oriental style furniture and home decor items) on the attractions list.

Where to Stay

A number of very elegant hotels have been built in the last few years. Recently, a Hard Rock Hotel opened, joining the new Marriott near the town centre. Pattaya offers 5 star treatment at many of the superior and first class hotels. For more info, please click here

How to get there

Hire a car and drive from Bangkok (it takes around two and half hours.)
Air-conditioned buses run regularly from Bangkok.

Getting around

Travelling around Pattaya is easy. Lots of minibuses run around the Beach Road and Pattaya 2nd Road in a circuit. Fares are 5 Baht per person per ride. These cabs stop quickly at the wave of a hand. One hops on and may often share the cab with other riders. It costs only about a dollar to get from one end of town to the other.

If you want to explore Pattaya’s surrounding countryside and beaches you can hire motorcycles, jeeps or cars. Shop around for the best deals and make sure you have insurance. Please note, despite advice to the contrary, there is no insurance when riding a motorcycle in Thailand.