Pattaya is a resort city located on the Gulf of Thailand’s eastern coast, in the Chonburi Province. It was a fairly small fishing village until the Vietnam War, when U.S. soldiers fighting in the Vietnam War began to travel to Pattaya for R&R. Today, the Greater Pattaya area occupies most of the coastline in the district of Bangalamung.

Pattaya Beach

The main beach is simply called Pattaya Beach, and lies parallel to the city centre. It runs from Pattaya Nuea in the north to Walking Street in the south, a distance of about 2.7 km.

The beach used to be 35 meters wide, but began suffering from erosion and a restoration project had to be launched in 2018 to help protect it. At some parts, the beach is just a few metres wide because of erosion.

Islands

There are several islands located off Pattaya, including the three near islands Ko Lan, Ko Sak and Ko Krok which are found around 7 km from the shore.

If we travel further west from the near islands, we reach the far islands Ko Phai, Ko Man Wichai, Ko Hu Chang and Ko Klung Badan.

South of the Ko Phai group is the island Ko Rin.

Short info about Pattaya

Coordinates	12°56′N 100°53′E
Time zone	UTC +7
Postcode	20150
Area code	(+66) 38
ISO 3166-2 code	TH-S

Golf

19 golf courses are located within 40 minutes by car from Pattaya.

Thepprasit Market

The largest and busies market in Pattaya is called Thepprasit and is found on Thepprasit Road. This weekend evening market is open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. It is chiefly famous for its food – both ingredients and ready-made meals – and you can buy a lot of Thai specialities here, such as fried insects and scorpions.

Wat Yanasangwararam Woramahawihan

This is a fairly new Buddhist temple, built in 1976.

Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden

This 500 acre (2 square kilometre) tropical botanical garden is found roughly 15 km south of Pattaya. Among other things, it contains an orchid nursery. Animals live here too, including elephants.

Khao Pratamnak

Khao Pratamnak (Khao Phra Bat) is a hill situated between southern Pattaya and Jomtien Beach. From this hill, you can enjoy a great panoramic view of the city and the crescent bay.

The temple Wat Khao Phra Bat sits on top of the hill.

Submarine trips

The Vimantaitalay tourist submarine offers underwater trips where you can see marine life a few kilometres offshore from Pattaya.

Underwater World

Underwater World is an huge aquarium filled with marine species from the Gulf of Thailand.

Cartoon Network Amazone

This large Cartoon Network-themed water park was opened in 2014.

Examples of amenities:

• Various pools, including a wave pool and surfing simulator
• Water slides
• Tipping buckets
• Food court with Thai and foreign food (including Japanese and Italian)
• Rentable huts around the park
• Small stores and gift shops

RamaYana

This 45 acre water park opened in 2016. Its theme is Ancient Asian City.

Examples of amenities:

• Double wave pool with a 150 metre wide beach
• Relaxation pools
• Activity pools
• More than 20 water slides
• 2 dedicated children’s zones
• 600 meter long lazy river
• Floating market
• Maze
• Restaurant
• Sun lounges
• Food delivery to the sun lounges
• Fish Spa & Massage Services

This waterpark is located 20 km south of Pattaya city, not far from Khao Chi Chan (Buddha Mountain) and the Silverlake vineyard.

Mini Siam

Mini Siam is a miniature model village celebrating the Thai heritage. It is filled with miniature replicas of famous Thai monuments and historical sites.

Other examples of popular tourist destinations in and near Pattaya

• Sri Racha Tiger Zoo
• The Elephant Village
• The Million Years Stone Park
• Pattaya Crocodile Farm
• Siriporn Orchid Farm
• Silverlake Winery
• The Bottle Art Museum
• Thai Alangkarn Theater Pattaya

Nightlife

Pattaya sports an eclectic nightlife, with many different types of entertainment, and it offers everything from laid-back beach bars to dazzling discotheques.

Among other things, Pattaya is home to one of Thailand’s main gay entertainment district; an area of nightlife establishments found around Boyztown, the Jomtien Complex and Sunee Plaza. Pattahya is also renowned for its flamboyant kathoey cabaret shows with transexual, transgendered and transvestite performers.

Festivals and events

Examples of festivals and events celebrated in Pattaya:

• The Chinese New Year, celebrated in late January or early February. Pattaya’s large Thai-Chinese community arranges lion dances, dragon parades, fireworks, etc.
• Burapa Pattaya Bike Week in February. This is Thailand’s largest motorcycle event, and it attracts large crowds of domestic and foreign motorcycle enthusiasts.
• Pattaya International Music Festival in March. Stages are set up along Beach Road and Bali Hai Pier. Both Thai and foreign musicians perform.
• In Pattaya, the Songkran festival in April is called Wan Lai, and is much bigger than in most other cities.
• The Top of the Gulf Regatta is week-long event that runs from late April to early May.
• The Miss Tiffany Universe is a beauty pageant for transexuals and transgendered persons. It takes place in mid-May and the final evening is broadcast live on Thai TV, attracting millions of viewers.
• Pattaya Marathon is held in July. Several race categories are available.
• Pattaya Classical Guitar Festival is held on the last weekend of October.
• Loi Krathong is a light festival where you float krahtongs (candle-lit floats made from banana leaves) on the water and release khom loi (small candle-fired hot air balloons) into the sky. It is held during the full-moon night of the 12th month in the Thai lunar calendar, which usually means that it takes place in November.

Sex trade

Prostitution is illegal in Thailand, including Pattaya, but the city nevertheless has a thriving sex trade industry for which it has become quite famous (or infamous). Many establishments in Pattaya are involved in the sex trade industry, including massage parlours, hourly hotels, gogo bars, host bars, and saunas. The Walking Street has especially strong ties to the sex trade.