Pattaya

Understand

Orientation

Pattaya's downtown area is easy to get around. Running north-south, a few hundred metres apart, are Beach Rd (Thanon Hat Pattaya, sometimes also referred to as First Rd) which borders the main beach (Hat Pattaya), Pattaya Second Rd and Pattaya Third Rd (with the smaller but busy Soi Buakhao in between), and the main Sukhumvit Road coastal highway. Beach Rd is one-way (southbound), likewise Second Rd (northbound) -- this is the main circuit of the songthaews that cruise downtown. These are connected by the three major east–west aligned roads: North Pattaya Rd (Thanon Pattaya Nua), Central Pattaya Rd (Thanon Pattaya Klang) and South Pattaya Rd (Thanon Pattaya Tai). North Pattaya Rd is a dual carriageway and carries the highest volume of traffic to and from Sukhumvit Rd. Also connecting Beach Rd and Second Ro are a large number of smaller streets or "sois". The main sois are numbered from 1 to 16, from north to south. Sois 1-6 are between north Pattaya Rd and central Pattaya Rd; sois 7-13 are between Central Pattaya Rd and South Pattaya Rd (including the "Pattayaland" sois, immediately north of south Pattaya Rd); sois 14-16 are south of south Pattaya Rd. Most of these east–west sois are (in theory at least) one-way. Beach Rd, Second Rd, and north Pattaya Rd (plus Naklua Rd to the north) all meet at the Dolphin Roundabout landmark. Second Rd south of South Pattaya Rd becomes Pratamnak Rd, which shares a junction with both the southern end of Third Rd and the northern end of the main road to Jomtien, Tappraya Rd. Beach Rd south of south Pattaya Rd is closed to vehicles in the evenings (18:00-02:00) and is called Walking Street; it's the main tourist area, both for nightlife and shopping. Other major tourism areas include the section of Second Rd between sois 1–4, and the sois immediately north of south Pattaya Rd. At the south end of Walking Street is the New Pier, usually called Bali Hai Pier (sometimes "Pattaya Pier" or "South Pier"). The Old Pier, close to the junction of Beach Rd and south Pattaya Rd, is still shown on most maps but was dismantled and removed at the beginning of 2006.

Sub-districts

Pattaya's coastal side is divided longitudinally into six contiguous sub-districts. Each one is named after the section of beach or headland at its seaboard. In the middle are the three Pattaya Bay sub-districts, which share the main baht bus route (so most places are within 5 minutes/10 baht of most other places, at any hour) and have much else in common, and hence in combination make up the main quasi-downtown zone:

North Pattaya (Pattaya

Getting there

By car Pattaya is 150 km from Bangkok and can be reached in a comfortable 2 hr drive. There are two convenient ways to get there:

Via the Bangkok-Chonburi-Pattaya Motorway (Hwy 7). The motorway is linked with Bangkok's Outer Ring Rd, (Hwy 9) and there is also another entrance at Si Nakharin and Rama IX junction. Via Bang Na-Trat Hwy 34. From Bang Na, Bang Phli, cross the Bang Pakong River to Chonburi and take Chonburi's bypass to meet Sukhumvit Rd, (Hwy 3, passing Bang Saen Beach, Bang Phra to Pattaya.

By plane 1 U-Tapao-Rayong-Pattaya International Airport (UTP IATA, often known somewhat inaccurately as "Pattaya Airport"), Western Rayong (just off the main Sattahip-Chanthaburi (Sukhumvit) Highway, 30 km south of Pattaya), ☏ +66 38 245295. Primarily a military facility, it's the closest airport fielding commercial passenger flights, but only to a handful of destinations. There are no commercial passenger flights connecting U-Tapao directly with Bangkok. Bangkok Airways flies to/from Ko Samui (USM IATA) and Phuket (HKT IATA). Flights from Pattaya to Ko Samui are usually slightly less expensive than BKK to Ko Samui ones. Air Asia offer direct flights to Chiang Mai, Hat Yai, Phuket and Udon Thani in Thailand and Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. Thai Lion Air also flies from Chiang Mai and That VietJet Air flies from Ho Chi Minh City. There are many seasonal charter flights from various Russian cities as well. Ground transportation: The easiest way to transfer between U-Tapao and Pattaya is by direct door-to-door minibus. Three different companies operate on this route and deliver passengers to their hotels, including Bangkok Air's and Air Asia's minibuses. Pre-booking is not required and buses can be found at the front doors of the airport. However, pre-booking surface transport might be essential, as competitively priced door-to-door transfer services may not be available on arrival. Driving time is normally about 30-50 minutes. 150 baht at the front doors. If you don't get one to where you specifically want to go, note that it may drop you at the North Bus Station (which is still a far distance from the Beach strip). The Songathaew drivers know this, and will always ask for another 150 baht from the North Bus Station to the Beach/Walking Street (it should be 10 baht, though). If speed and convenience don't matter, the ad hoc option is to hop on virtually any bus on Sukhumvit Rd. Going south, if it's a bus that terminates at Sattahip you'll have to swap buses or finish the journey by songthaew; if it's going further east (e.g., Rayong, Chanthaburi or Trat

Getting around

By songthaew

Apart from a handful of privately operated examples, Pattaya has no tuk-tuks and most ad hoc local transport is undertaken by a flotilla of over 700 dark blue coloured songthaews - pickup trucks used as buses (hence the local term "Bahtbus"). The Bahtbus fare is the same for trips within Pattaya for locals and foreigners, and is usually 10 baht. Having the correct change is by no means essential, but does keep the potential hassle factor to a minimum. Some drivers will short-change you on a 20 baht note if you don't act like you know what you're doing, but most will return the correct amount. Avoid asking for a particular destination (or talking to the driver at all) when riding a songthaew, as many drivers will charge you a lot of money (100-200 baht, as it's considered a private journey). If you know the direction of where you're going, it's recommended you just wave at the truck to stop, get on the back, and ride the songthaew without talking to the driver. That way you will just pay the normal fare per person no matter how far you go. Flat fares only apply when operating as a bus. Beware of the driver of an otherwise empty songthaew, especially one that's parked at the roadside, who might presume (or decide on your behalf) that you want to charter him as a taxi, in which case expect a much higher fare, depending on your negotiating skills. Taxis in Pattaya do not use meters at all. The busiest route is the beach circuit: from the junction of Second Rd and South Pattaya Rd, north along Second Rd to the Dolphin Circle roundabout; then south along the full length of Beach Rd; then briefly east along South Pattaya Rd to complete the loop. Frequency is virtually non-stop, and even at the most unlikely hours, average waiting time is literally no more than a minute, often only a few seconds during daytime hours. Routes sometimes vary. For example, with a left turn (from Beach Rd or Second Rd) into Central Pattaya Rd; or no left turn at the Dolphin Circle roundabout (where Second Rd, Beach Rd and North Pattaya Rd meet) and going straight on to Naklua (or even a right turn towards the bus station and Sukhumvit). The only way to know the route for sure is to ask (but don't let the driver mistake your asking as a charter request). Sometimes the driver will just decide to turn down a random soi for no apparent reason, or because he's just been hired as a taxi, but you'll still be expected to pay the normal fare if you've ridden for more than a soi or two. It's also easy to catch songthaews along South Pattaya Rd, Central Pattaya Rd, and North Pat

See

Many attractions marketed as being in Pattaya are actually located in Jomtien, Sattahip and Si Racha.

Animals, zoos and aquariums 1 The Million-Year Stone Park and Crocodile Farm (อุทยานหินล้านปีและฟาร์มจระเข้พัทยา), Chaiyaphonwithi Rd (15 minute drive from central Pattaya), ☏ +66 38 249347(-9). 08:30-18:30. Features an exotic zoo and crocodiles, fire-swallowing and magic shows, as well as the garden and stone park. Its grounds are landscaped with flowering and rock gardens. Hundreds of crocodiles as well as some rare animals, including albino bears and horses, are kept. There are crocodile shows, magic performances and animal shows 7 times a day from 09:00-17:00. (updated Feb 2024) 2 Pattaya Elephant Village (หมู่บ้านช้างพัทยา), 54/1 Moo 2, Tambon Nong Prue, ☏ +66 38 249145(-7). This elephant camp focuses on the daily lives of elephants and their keepers and also offers stage shows demonstrating how to catch wild elephants, elephants-at-work in the jungle, elephants playing football, and a grand war elephants parade. The shows are held daily at 14:30 and last one hour.

Museums 3 Teddy Bear Museum, 436/49 Moo 9 Soi 1, Beach Road (Corner of Beach Road and Soi 1), ☏ +66 38 411285. 09:00-20:30. 300-500 baht. (updated Feb 2017)

Sacred places 4 Ban Sukhawadee (บ้านสุขาวดี), 219 Moo 2, Sukhumvit Rd, ☏ +66 38 223536(-9). M-F 08:30–18:00, Sa-Su, hols 08:00-18:00. This is the residence of Dr. Panya Chotithewan. Visitors can enter the house to pay respect to the Bodhisattva Kwan Yin, to see the spacious conference room and the roof. 5 Buddha Hill (เขาพระตำหนัก หรือ เขาพระบาท Khao Phra Tam Nak) (between Thap Praya Rd and Phratamnak Rd; 5-10 mins by songthaew). Buddha Hill is one of the highest points in Pattaya. At the summit is the biggest Buddha statue in Pattaya, and nearby is a beautiful Chinese-style sacred area dedicated to Confucius and Lao-zi. The next hill, just across Phra Tam Nak Rd, has the best Pattaya Bay coastline viewpoint and is also worth a visit, especially for sunsets. The locals come here to pay homage to Wat Khao Phra Bat atop the hill and the monument of Kromluang Chomphonkhetudomsak, who is regarded as the founding father of the modern Thai navy. (updated Feb 2024) 6 Chaloemphrakiat Park (สวนเฉลิมพระเกียรติ). A park at the foot of Khao Pattaya. With an area of 6 acres, the park was dedicated to commemorate His Majesty the King's sixtieth birthday on 5 Dec 1988. The gardens of the park boast a wide variety of flowering plants and offer a scenic view of Pattaya. There are also multi-purpose grounds and winding trails for walking or

Do

Beaches The 3 km long 1 Pattaya Beach runs alongside the city. The beach is full of life with hotels, restaurants, shopping malls all along the road facing the beach. The street south of Beach Rd, Walking St, comes alive with rock music as the night sets in. People throng the street to experience the night life, which is unique in all respects. There are hundreds of beer bars, go-go bars, discothèques around the area. Muay Thai, or Thai Boxing, in open arenas in some of the beer bars adds to the carnival atmosphere. Jomtien Beach, more popular with families, is in the southern part of the urban area, and separated from Pattaya Bay by Buddha hill. Jomtien, a paradise for water sports enthusiasts, is calmer and more serene compared with Pattaya. Jomtien is also popular for its amusement park and tower, to keep children entertained. The 1 km long, Wong Phrachan Beach, at the north end of Pattaya Beach is a favourite among swimmers.

There are acres of sand jam-packed with deck chairs (recliners) and umbrellas (usually with an "in-house" supply of drinks), serviced by an army of laid-back but tenacious hawkers offering anything and everything from food (especially seafood, fruit, ice cream) to massage, manicure/pedicure, tattoos, lottery tickets, newspapers, herbs, flowers, gems, perfumes, sunglasses, CDs, watches, lighters, clothes, toys, souvenirs, handicrafts and so on. Eventually you buy a pair of very dark sunglasses and just pretend to be asleep. Pattaya Beach is almost 3 km long and bordered by Beach Rd. Due to its central location and proximity to several hundred hotels, and because it's a relatively narrow strip of sand, it's crowded at the best of times (and even more so at high tide). Hefty fines for littering help keep the sand neat and tidy, however the sea is not so clean. The north end of Pattaya Bay is occupied by 2 Wong Amat Beach, which is accessed from Naklua; and beyond the southern end, around the Buddha Hill headland that separates Pattaya Bay from Jomtien, are several more smaller beaches. Naklua Bay is immediately north of Pattaya Bay, with Rachvate Cape separating the two. 3 Naklua Beach, to the far north, is the main strip, with the smaller 4 Crescent Moon Beach and then 5 Palm Beach further south. Beyond them is Wong Amat Beach which occupies the northern end of Pattaya Bay, but is accessed from Naklua. All are generally cleaner and more suitable for quiet relaxation than Pattaya Beach. 6 Wong Phra Chan Beach (หาดวงพระจันทร์). This small tranquil 1 kilometre beach is on the north side of Pattaya Bay. The serene atmosphere here is

Buy

There are numerous malls, supermarkets, bazaar-style markets, and thousands of other shops. Sadly, you'll be seeing a lot of the same stuff over and over again — there's no endless variety in Pattaya. Also, Pattaya is not a good place to go shopping for hi-tech products, such as cameras and computers—expect to see prices around 50% higher than the best prices advertised in the West. Also beware of buying fake branded and designer goods, since these could be confiscated by customs officers at the airport. Foreign currency can easily be exchanged for Thai baht at the many exchange booths which can be found in all areas popular with tourists — there are even mobile exchanges/ATMs in specially adapted minivans that are set up as and when and where the need arises. Note that the majority of exchange booths will buy foreign currency but will not sell it — if you need to obtain US dollars, for example if you're going to Cambodia, use one of the larger branches of a major bank, such as the Bangkok Bank branch on Second Rd (almost opposite Soi 6). ATMs are widely available around the city, however, the vast majority of them now charge a steep 220 baht fee for using foreign cards, on top of what your home bank normally charges. The only exception was until 2014, Aeon bank but they now charge too. Their ATMs are located at the ground floor of Big C near KFC, Central Pattaya Rd (around 400m up from the Second Rd crossing), near Homework Furniture Mall entrance (just behind Big C on South Pattaya/Sukhumvit Rd intersection, accessible songthaews parked near Second Rd intersection), and in Lotus at South Pattaya. Also at Lotus on North Pattaya Rd on the ground floor.

Books 1 Canterbury Tales Cafe, Guesthouse & Bookshop, 383, 111 Soi Chaiapoon, ☏ +66 86 575 4966. Daily 08:00-20:00. Probably Pattaya's largest second hand bookshop. It's run by an Englishman called Dave. Also has a cafe restaurant and rooms. The cafe at the front is a popular meeting place with expats, mostly from UK, US and Australia. SE-ED. This store has several branches, at Big C, South Pattaya Rd; Carrefour, Central Pattaya Rd; Tesco-Lotus, North Pattaya Rd; Tesco-Lotus, Sukhumvit Rd.

Malls 2 Central Festival, ☏ +66 38 930 999. Daily 11:00-23:00. One of the largest malls in Asia. It is the best shopping mall in the region and now attracts customers from all over, adding to the traffic chaos of Beach Rd. Fashion, electronics, health & beauty, kids activities and food are all here. With the obligatory cinema complex and bowling alley on the top floor, this mega-mall is styled on the big Bangkok

Eat

There are many restaurants, food carts, food courts, food markets, motorcycle-sidecar hotdog and meatball vendors, fruit sellers both mobile and stationary, even a roaming coffee peddling tuk-tuk. OK, so the germ theory of disease doesn't yet seem to be widely accepted but don't let that stop you from ordering the sushi. Many (although not all) non-Thai-cuisine restaurants also have at least a limited menu of Thai favourites as well. Chonburi Province has a lot of fresh seafood and dried fruits. As there are a lot of people from the Isaan region living and working in Pattaya, there is an abundance of northeastern favourites such as spicy papaya salad (som tam) and spicy-sour chopped pork salad (larb).

Street food

Near the beach around the Pattaya Walking Street 1 Several outdoor food stalls. along Soi 15 (just off Walking Street). Foreigner friendly and cheap prices (e.g., fried rice, 50 baht; chicken, rice and soup, 30 baht).

Budget

Near the beach around the Pattaya Walking street 2 Fra Pattaya, 597/9 S Pattaya Rd. Unassuming setting yet absolutely excellent food. Good place for Thai food. Completely local. It's like market area ambience. A real Sino Thai restaurant where you can enjoy a lacquered duck. (updated Aug 2022) 3 King Kebab, Pattayasainueang, Chon Buri 20150, Thailand. Perfect for eating kebabs. It's good for a quick bite to eat on the go. Kebab really good served in this little place. The owner is very courteous, the prompt service. Good before clubbing and afterwards. (updated Aug 2022)

Near the beach around the Royal Garden Plaza shopping mall 4 Baywatch Restaurant, 290/51 Beach Rd. Don't let its unassuming appearance fool you. This hole-in-the-wall has great food. The American breakfast is a great deal. Bacon, eggs, taters, toast, coffee, and fresh squeezed juice. Their cheeseburgers are beyond anything. On the other side, asking for anything special or substitutions like "can I have rice instead of potatoes?" will met with a curt "no!". Still delicious. (updated Aug 2022) 5 Das-Berliner Bistro, 219 Beach Rd. Hidden German gem in the center of Pattaya. Great Food and Service. Delicious food and Helmut is a very nice owner. Feel the German ‘roots’. (updated Aug 2022)

Near the beach around the Central Festival Pattaya shopping mall 6 Food Court of the Central Festival shopping mall. There are low-priced restaurants. (updated Feb 2020) 7 Sailor Bar and Restaurant (about 30 m up Soi 8 from Beach Rd). Daily 07:30-03:00. Good restaurant and bar, notable for its 65 baht breakfasts. Nice environment. There is Thai food and Eu

Drink & nightlife

Pattaya is internationally known for its nightlife—you might want to think twice before heading into the insanity that's called Pattaya. Obviously famous as a sex tourist destination, you don't necessarily have to partake in order to experience Pattaya's nightlife. More and more visitors come over just to see what the fuss is about. There are ample opportunities to dance, drink, and observe humanity even if paid sex is not of interest. Steer clear of the staid hotel bars and head into the warrens of central Pattaya, where nightclubs, transvestite cabarets, coffee shops, karaoke bars, open-air bars and restaurants with live music and entertainment compete for attention. Most of these establishments are located along Pattaya Beach Road, Pattaya 2 Road, and in South Pattaya, which is also the city's major shopping area.

Beer and go-go bars

Pattaya is especially famous for its beer bars, staffed by "bar girls" who are "for hire" to the tourists and ex-pats who drink there. Popular beer bar pastimes include pool, connect-four and shut-the-box. Open-air beer bars can be found all over Pattaya, with the biggest and best known concentrations being along and around Soi 7/Soi 8 and Walking Street, at numerous points on Second Road, Beach Road, Soi Buakhao, and in smaller numbers just about everywhere else, including along the southern end of Naklua Road. Although the staff of a typical beer bar will usually include many working girls, customers who have no wish to pay a "bar fine" and take a lady are welcomed and indeed make up the majority of the clientèle. Indoor beer bars can also be found all over Pattaya, the most notorious areas being Soi Yodsak (Soi 6) and parts of Soi Post Office (Soi 13/2). While some of these bars are much more "bar fine" oriented, in most cases customers who simply want to drink are welcome. Go-go bars differ from beer bars as they have bikini-clad girls dancing around chrome poles on stages. The main concentrations are along Walking Street and Soi L.K. Metro (see below), with more dotted around the most popular beer bar areas. Sightseeing tourists are welcome in go-go bars, however, cameras are not. Signs prohibiting photography are widespread, and a minority of venues require patrons to deposit their cameras with security staff as they enter. This rule is enforced: if caught snapping shots, you'll be lucky if you're only thrown out and not beaten up. The official closing time in "entertainment zones" is 01:00, although in practice usually somewhere between 01:00 and 03:00, depending on location—however, "closing" is defined as swi

Sleep

Pattaya has an extensive selection of inexpensive mid-range accommodation, and a good variety of more upmarket options. Standard room (double bed, air-con, cable TV, refrigerator, hot shower) rates are invariably per room, not per person. Soi Buakhao has many relatively cheap guest houses and is popular with long-stay visitors, with other budget places along Soi LK Metro and Soi Honey Inn. Very few of these can be booked online, or appear on hotel booking sites. The cheaper places are often above bars or massage shops, and may therefore be noisy at night. There's generally no need to book in advance. Like all resort areas in Thailand, hotel pricing is seasonal. High season dates vary from hotel to hotel, but typically prices go up considerably during the Christmas-New Year's period (which coincides neatly with the season of best weather), and are lower between February and October/November. In addition to higher rates during the holiday period, guests staying over Christmas and New Year's Eve will often be required to pay for compulsory "gala dinners" which can substantially increase the cost of the room. Some hotels insist that March is also covered by 'high season' prices — presumably because professional Western visitors are usually free to visit during a long Easter holiday break from work, and are happy to do so despite the worsening weather. With the exception of large resorts or international chains such as the Hard Rock and Marriott, the lowest rates available from abroad are typically those available from the hotels directly. Except for the least expensive, many will handle reservations via email or a web form. Many will expect a deposit, especially during high season, usually by credit card or bank transfer. For visitors who want to sleep soundly, a box of high-grade foam earplugs is a wise investment when staying at many Pattaya hotels. Also be aware that many hotels in Pattaya allow smoking in all rooms. This is nearly universal in the budget range. With the exception of those operated under the auspices of large international chains, those hotels that have dedicated non-smoking rooms will typically only have a few of them. If you are intolerant of tobacco smoke, make sure to inquire directly with the hotels about their policies and the availability of non-smoking rooms.

Budget Cali-Cafe Pattaya Quality Rooms, 15/225-226 Moo 5, Soi Khoa Noi (Wat Boonsampan Rd), ☏ +66 84 7834664. Affordable suite-quality rooms. All suite rooms have 42" LCD TV, safes, refrigerators, kitchens, Wi-Fi, wired (30 Mb fibre) Internet, and laundry. Long- or short-

Go next

Nearby destinations suitable for day trips include:

Bang Saen - see what Thais do at the beach Chonburi - one of the local festivals like the Buffalo Race may justify a day trip Jomtien - officially a part of Pattaya, this beach front is more mellow and popular among families and expats Ko Laan - small island close to Pattaya Ko Sak - small island just north of Ko Laan Ko Samet - quiet white beaches Ko Si Chang - small nearby island, not focused on beach life Laem Chabang Rayong - some of the best beaches on the eastern coast Sattahip - hosts many attractions that are marketed to tourists as being in Pattaya Si Racha - open-air zoos, a large butterfly garden and many golf courses Trat near Cambodia coastal border and gateway to Ko Chang, Thailand's second largest island.