Pattaya

What Pattaya is

It is a city, not an island, and it grew up around a specific kind of tourism that is still visible on Walking Street. That reputation is accurate for part of it and misleading about the rest.

The result is an unusually wide range on one bay: party hostels and nightlife at one end, family resorts and water parks at the other, and a large expat and long-stay population in between.

Beaches and islands

The city beach itself is convenient rather than beautiful. The water worth swimming in is offshore.

• Koh Larn — the main island, a short ferry or speedboat hop from Bali Hai pier. Several beaches, and the reason most people are here.
• Jomtien Beach, south of the centre — quieter, wider, and better for families.
• Wong Amat and Naklua, to the north — the calmest and most upmarket stretch.

Beyond the beach

Pattaya has more non-beach attractions than its reputation suggests, and most of them suit families.

• The Sanctuary of Truth — an enormous all-timber temple by the sea, still under construction and genuinely unlike anything else.
• Nong Nooch Tropical Garden — landscaped gardens and cultural shows, a full half-day.
• Khao Chi Chan — the giant laser-etched Buddha image on a cliff face, usually combined with a trip to Silverlake.
• Sriracha Tiger Zoo and the floating market at Pattaya, both common stops on the way to or from Bangkok.

When to go and how to get there

Pattaya sits on the Gulf coast, so its rain pattern differs from Phuket: the wettest months are around September and October, and the best weather is November to February.

From Bangkok it is about two hours by road, which makes it the standard weekend escape and a very easy first stop. U-Tapao (UTP) airport, south of the city, handles a limited number of domestic and regional flights.

Many visitors do Pattaya as an overnight from Bangkok. It works, but the two hours each way eat a lot of a short trip.