Things to do in Pattaya
And where to stay, the best time to visit, what a day costs, and the traps to skip.
Best time to visit Pattaya
• a note or something on ✦ an occasion worth the trip
Cool dry season, best weather, calmest seas, clearest diving and best golf. Peak prices and crowds.
Hot season, 33 to 36 degrees, prices easing except Songkran in mid April. Golf before 8am.
Rainy season with short heavy showers, lowest hotel and golf prices and thinnest crowds. Late September and October have heaviest rain and flood risk.
What's on
- Pattaya International Fireworks Festival late November
Two nights over Beach Road bay, world class free display. Book a sea view room early.
- Loy Krathong November full moon
Float offerings on the water with hotel and beach ceremonies, the prettiest night of the Thai year.
- Wonderfruit Festival December
Major music, arts and wellness festival at Siam Country Club fields that fills Pattaya hotels.
- Songkran and Wan Lai 13-19 April
Thai New Year water festival, extended in Pattaya to about 19 April with Beach Road closed and water fights.
- Pattaya Marathon usually July
Major night and early morning road race with road closures and spectator buzz.
- Vegetarian Festival September-October
Nationwide festival bringing excellent street food stalls around markets and temples.
Worth the trip for
Best things to do in Pattaya
The Sanctuary of Truth
Vast all wood temple museum in Naklua with hand carved Hindu Buddhist art and included guided tours.
Tien Beach
Prettiest and less crowded Koh Larn beach with clear water and space to relax away from day trip crowds.
Samae Beach
Quieter western Koh Larn beach with good swimming, snorkelling and the island sunset side.
Tawaen Beach
Easiest access Koh Larn beach with most restaurants and watersports, and also the busiest crowds.
Nong Nooch Tropical Garden
Huge botanical garden south of Pattaya with formal gardens, cycads, cultural shows and Dinosaur Valley.
Tiffany's Show
Original Thai transgender cabaret since 1974 with big cast production numbers in its own theatre.
Wat Phra Yai
Free hilltop temple with an 18 metre golden Big Buddha reached by a naga flanked staircase.
Khao Pattaya View Point
Free panorama over Pattaya Bay, Bali Hai Pier and Koh Larn, best at sunset for orientation and photos.
Where to stay in Pattaya
Wong Amat / Naklua
quiet luxury, families and couples, best all round base
Calmer and cleaner mainland beach, Sanctuary of Truth nearby, and songthaews to Central in 10 minutes.
Pratumnak Hill
couples, longer stays and repeat visitors
Wooded hill with Cozy Beach, Big Buddha and sunset restaurants, 5 to 10 minutes to Pattaya or Jomtien.
Jomtien / Na Jomtien
beach value, families and long stays
Long wider beach, calmer water and lower prices than Central, with space and sleep over centrality.
Central Pattaya
nightlife visitors who want maximum walkability
Mall, restaurants and baht bus loop at your door, but the worst beach, most noise and most hassle.
Think twice about
- South Pattaya / Walking Street immediate sois
All night club noise until 4am, dense touting and solicitation, and rough morning street conditions. Visit at night, sleep elsewhere.
- Soi 6 and Soi Buakhao immediate blocks
Dense short time and beer bar corridors. Hotels are cheap for that reason and families and couples often move within a day.
- Beach Road beach side after dark
Late night solicitation strip with recurring pickpocketing and distraction theft, especially around drunk lone walkers. Use Second Road instead.
- Far East / Darkside east of Sukhumvit
Residential expat area of villages and lakes. Cheap rent but you spend the savings on transport to every sight.
Best restaurants in Pattaya
Mum Aroi
Famous Naklua seafood restaurant where locals order from live tanks, best for steamed fish and crab.
Café des Amis
Fine dining benchmark with French European cooking, Beef Wellington and a candlelit garden room.
The Glass House Boho
Beach house restaurant under pines on Na Jomtien sand for Thai seafood, fusion dishes and sunset.
Horizon Rooftop Restaurant & Bar
34th floor open air terrace over the bay for modern grill dinner or sunset drinks and small plates.
Lan Pho Seafood Market
Working wet market where you buy seafood by weight and pay grill stalls a small fee to cook it.
Leng Kee
24 hour style Chinese Thai institution for late night congee, stir fries and roast meats at local prices.
La Bocca Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria
Jomtien Italian fixture with pizzas and handmade pastas in a family run room, easy for groups.
Pupen Seafood
Rustic seaside seafood at the far end of Jomtien with grilled prawns and generous portions, best before sunset.
Outdoor things to do in Pattaya
Siam Country Club Old Course
Bucket list Honda LPGA Thailand course, tree lined and strategic, the premium round to splurge on.
Chee Chan Golf Resort
Dramatic newer course under the Khao Chi Chan Buddha cliff, praised for conditioning and scenery.
Siam Country Club Plantation
Hardest Siam course, elevated and exposed, best for low handicappers wanting a serious test.
Siam Country Club Waterside
More playable Siam resort course with water in play, better for mixed ability groups and society days.
Laem Chabang International Country Club
Jack Nicklaus 27 hole course with Mountain, Lake and Valley nines and strong all round value.
Burapha Golf Club
36 hole value championship golf with American Wood and British Link nines that locals play weekly.
Phoenix Gold Golf and Country Club
Renovated 27 hole course with wider fairways, suited to higher handicappers and group trips.
Ramayana Water Park
Thailand largest water park by area with thrill slides, lazy river, wave pool and a big kids zone.
Best hotels in Pattaya
InterContinental Pattaya Resort
Low rise lagoon pool garden resort on a private feeling cove below Pratumnak, the couples luxury pick.
Hilton Pattaya
Best address in Central above Central Festival with modern rooms and the Horizon rooftop bay view.
Dusit Thani Pattaya
Grand Thai luxury on the headland between Pattaya Bay and Wong Amat with gardens, pools and tennis.
Pullman Pattaya Hotel G
Directly on Wong Amat Beach with beach club energy, best luxury pick for groups wanting a hotel scene.
Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort
Lost World themed mega resort with water park, lazy river and kids club, top family luxury choice.
Renaissance Pattaya Resort & Spa
Newer design forward luxury resort on the southern shore for a Jomtien focused resort weekend.
Holiday Inn Pattaya
Reliable international standard family stay at the quiet north end of Beach Road.
Cosy Beach Hotel
Pratumnak value staple with sea view rooms above Cozy Beach and a quiet hill setting.
Is Pattaya expensive? What a day costs
| Budget | THB 1,500 a person |
|---|---|
| Classic | THB 3,000 a person |
| Splurge | THB 8,000 a person |
A day of food, drink, sights and getting around, before the room
What to book ahead
- Nong Nooch Tropical Garden: a few days ahead
- Tiffany's Show: a few days ahead
- Siam Country Club Old Course: weeks ahead
- Chee Chan Golf Resort: weeks ahead
- Siam Country Club Plantation: weeks ahead
- Siam Country Club Waterside: weeks ahead
- Laem Chabang International Country Club: a few days ahead
- Burapha Golf Club: a few days ahead
- Book Siam Old Course and Chee Chan tee times weeks ahead in November to February.
- Book Cafe des Amis days ahead in high season and Tiffany VIP seats for Friday and Saturday.
- Book headline family hotels, catamaran days and skydive slots ahead in peak season.
Is Pattaya safe?
- Roads are the real danger. Cross as if vehicles will not stop and never ride a motorbike taxi without a helmet.
- Keep drinks in sight, agree every price before every service, and use Tourist Police on 1155 for disputes.
- Avoid walking Pratumnak lanes and Beach Road beach side alone late at night. Use Grab or taxis door to door.
Pattaya travel tips: tourist traps to skip
- Do not hire jet skis from beach operators. The damage scam demands cash for pre existing damage on return.
- Never accept a tout invitation upstairs to a free or cheap show. Agreed prices mutate upstairs into extortionate bills.
- In bars keep your own tally, check the bill pot after every round and never run a tab secured by your card.
Getting around Pattaya: public transport and more
- Songthaews cost 10 baht per person on set loops. Only board trucks already moving on route or you may be treated as a private charter.
- Grab and Bolt solve most transport arguments with fixed app prices and door to door cars.
- Buses from Bangkok Ekkamai and Suvarnabhumi run every 30 to 60 minutes. Private airport cars suit groups of 3 or more.
Who Pattaya suits
| Solo travellers | Good |
|---|---|
| Groups of friends | Great |
| Couples | Good |
| Bachelor parties | Great |
| Families | Great |
| Bachelorette parties | Good |
Make Pattaya your trip
Swearby drafts the days from places people swear by. Swap any stop, then invite the crew by text, even friends without the app. Vote on dates, track costs as you go, and everyone gets one number at the end.
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