Thailand Guidebook > Provinces > Eastern Thailand

An internationally well-known seaside resort, Pattaya is a vibrant city night and day. Its population is a colorful potpourri of mixed nationalities from near and far. A vast range of tourism-related activities await the pleasure of visitors, from relaxing on the beach, actively taking part in land and sea-based sports to visiting the scores of attractions in and around Pattaya.

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The half-moon-shaped Pattaya Beach is about 4 kilometres long with a road running parallel to the beach from mid-section to the southern end of the area are a vast array of restaurants, bars, department stores, souvenir stores, as well as other places of entertainment. To the north of the beach are various mini-resorts and hotels in a more quiet atmosphere. For local transportation, the songthaew mini-buses ply the routes along the Beach Road and Pattaya ll Road.

Off-shore are several popular small isles where visitors can enjoy scuba-diving to view underwater corals. Tour counters within hotels can make the necessary arrangement. Alternatively, boats can be rented on Beach Road or at the South Pattaya landing. Several types of vessels are available.

Ko Lan is an island some 7.5 kilometres from Pattaya. The 2 km. x 5 km. land area offers several white, sandy beaches such as Hat Ta Waen to the north. This is where most of the tour boats make anchor to take advantage of the foodshops and stalls along the shore. Hat Laem Thian and Hat Samae are located to the south west while Hat Ta Phan is to the west of the island. Facing Hat Ta Phan are coral ranges. To the south are some hotels and is another site to view coral reefs. Visitors can choose glass-bottom boats and surface-diving.

Some 8 kilometres off Pattaya Beach is Ko Khrok, an isle almost totally surrounded by rock formations. A gap of 100 metres to the east is a stretch of sandy beach from which visitors can go and enjoy viewing underwater coral reefs.

Some six hundred metres metres further from Pattaya is Ko Sak, a small island shaped like an upturned horse-shoe. There are two connecting beaches to the north and south. Along the south shore are ranges of corals.

Two hours, 23 kilometers from Pattaya are the Ko Phai lslands, the largest of Which is Ko Phai. Others include Ko Manwichai, Ko Luam and Ko Klungbadan. The area is under the supervision of the Royal Thai Navy. However, visitors are allowed to swim, relax or go diving but only during daytime. Overnight stays are not permitted.

A low hill to the south of Pattaya Bench is Khao Pattaya or Khao Phra Bat. A road leads up to the hilltop. At the foot the hill is a Health Park which attracts joggers and ordinary tourists wishing to get a view of Pattaya City.

Hat Jomtien is a km.- long beach and only 4 kilometres from Pattaya. A beach road runs parallel to the shore along which are hotels and other accommodation facilities. Less noisy than Pattaya, it is popular as a site for relaxation, swimming and water sports.

The Million-Year Stone Park and Crocodile Farm, located some 9 kilometres from Pattaya City. Its grounds are beautifully 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. It is open daily from 08.00-18.00 hrs. Tel: (038) 249347-9

Mini Siam, located at Km. 143 on Highway No. 3, is a wonderland of miniature replicas of such outstanding architectural works as the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, Democracy Monument, Bridge over the River Kwai, Prasat Hin Phimai, etc. Europe is also represented by landmarks such as the Tower Bridge, Eifel Tower and Tower of Pisa. Open daily from 9.00 a.m. until 10.00 p.m. Tel (038) 421628

Located on Phonprapha Nimit Riad which is off Highway No. 3 at Km. 145, the Pattaya Elephant Village stage shows demonstrating how to catch wild elephants, elephants-at-work in the jungle, elephants playing football and a grand war elephants parade. Elephant rides around the village. The one-hour-long elephant show is held at 14.30 hrs. Contact the counter in Tropicana Hotel, (038) 428648, 429145-7.

The Bottle Museum is located at Km. 145 of Highway No. 3. As its name implies, it specialises in glass bottles containing elaborately crafted creations, including the usual vessels. The exhibits are the works of the Dutch master Peter Bedelais. Open daily from 10.00 a.m. until 10.00 p.m. Tel: (038) 422957.

The Ripley's Entertainment Centre, located within the Royal Garden Plaza, is made up of various components.

The Ripley's believe It or Not Odditorium has a large collection of stories of oddities from every corner of the globe. The Motion Master Moving Theatre offer hi-tech screening of motions and movement as experienced in real life. Open daily from 10.00-23.00 hrs. Tel:(038)710294-8.

There are two Cabaret shows in Pattaya:-

Alcazar on Pattaya ll Road with there shows daily at 18.00,20.00 and 21.30 hrs. Extra show on Saturday at 23.00 hrs. Tel; [038] 410225.

Tiffany Show on Pattaya ll Road with three shows daily at 19.00, 20.30 and 22.00 hrs. Tel: [038] 429642, 421700-5.

Located in Soi Chaiyaphruk off Highway No.3 at Km. 151, the Monkey Training Centre displays the intelligence of monkeys trained to climb and to undertake other activities.There is also cock fighting, which is a traditional pastime of rural Thailand. A snake show is also staged. There are five shows daily.Tel: [038] 756367.

A little under 3 kilometres on Phonprapha Nimit Road off Sukhumvit is a canine training facility. The World Dog Centre has more than 250 different species of dogs and stages daily shows by well-trained police dogs four times daily. Tel; [038] 731275-6

The Pattaya Park at Jomtien features a large water park with giant slides and a tower to enjoy the view of Pattaya. There is also a revolving restaurant. Tel: [038] 251201-8.

Built in 1975, Wat Yansanwararam covers an extensive ground and surrounded by scenic hilly landscape. The complex is made up of various buildings including an International Pavilion on the pond-side. A special attraction is likeness of Buddha Image cast on the Khao Chichan cliff by laser beams. Near the temple is a Chinese-style structure built by Thais of Chinese descendants. Within the beautiful structure are housed Chinese antiquities and an exhibition of Chinese religious belief. The temple is located south of Pattaya along Highway No. 3 where at km.160 a left turn leads to the site.

About 18 kilometres south of Pattaya, with a left turn from Sukhumwit Road at km. 163, is Suan Nong Nooch a sprawling recreation park in typical Thai setting. Groups of traditional Thai houses and gardens of different flowering plants are dotted around the beautifully landscaped site. There are daily cultural and elephant shows attracting crowds of delighted visitors. Tel:(038) 706358-62.

Bang Saray is a fishing village some 16 kilometres south of Pattaya, with a right turn at Km. 164 South of Bang Saray is a deep bay suitable for angling. To the north are accommodation and dinning facilities along the beach.

Another village offering good fishing opportunities is Samae San, located some 17 kilometres further from the Sattahip deep-water port. There are bungalow-type accommodations and tourists can charter boats to visit Ko Samae San and Ko Rat or to view corals at Ko Kham. All of these small islands are under the jurisdiction of the navy and overnight stays are not permitted.

SPORT CENTRES:

The Bira International Circuit, about 15 kilometres from Pattaya on the Pattaya-Rayong Road (Highway No. 36), organises motor and/or motorcycle races regularly over the weekends. For more information, call 971-6450, 522-1731-8.

The Pattaya Cart Speedway is a small racing track about 5 kilometres south of Pattaya on Thep Prasit Road. Open for both professional and amateur drivers, it is open daily from 10.00 a.m.-7.00 p.m. Tell: (038) 422044.

The Lakeland Water Cable Ski, at Km. 150.5 on Highway No.3, is about 5 kilometres from Pattaya. Cable Ski equipment are available for use at its large fresh-water lake. Open daily 10.00 a.m.-9.00 p.m. Tel: (038) 232690-2

On the bank of the Huai Sak Nok reservoir off Sukhumvit Highway at Km. 150, the Bamrung Sailing & Paramotor Centre offers instructions and facilities for water sports such as wind-surfing, Sailing, para-motor and para-gliding. There are also facilities for horse-riding and canoeing, catamaraning and kayaking.

The Pattaya Horse-Riding Training Centre, at Km. 11 on Highway No. 36, has horses for hire. Tel:(038) 251984. Five kilometres on Phonprapha Nimit Road off Highway No. 3 at Km. 145, the Panarak Park is a nature-based recreation facility. With fishing gears for rent, visitors can relax in a game of fishing. Tel: (038) 249156 or 5210763.

The Wan Lai Fair, is organised simultaneously with the Pattaya Festival in mid-April. There is a colorful Float Parade, native and water sports contests and a sand-castle building competition. What is probably the most impressive activity for foreign visitors is the water-throwing joined in by both Thais and foreigners.

The Pattaya Marathon, Organized July each year, is the fun-run type of activity attracting hundreds of domestic and international runners.

COPYRIGHT: Information on this page is used with permission from the Tourist Authority of Thailand. Additional information from brochures produced locally and notes made by Panrit Daoruang and Richard Barrow. All photographs on this web site are the property of Panrit Daoruang.