Ready for the adventure of a lifetime? Welcome to Pattaya! Whatever you want, they’ve got it. It’s rare for a city of barely over 100,000 to grab so much international attention but as soon as you arrive you’ll easily see why Pattaya stands out from the crowd.
1. Art in Paradise
This isn’t your grandma’s art gallery. From crazy 3D pop art to breathtaking photography, this is one of the few galleries where anyone (art lover or not!) can easily spend the afternoon wandering around.
2. Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden
This 500-acre garden is another place where you could easily blow an afternoon. Like most things in Thailand, you definitely can’t call it boring. On top of being a gorgeous garden, there are dancers, elephants, restaurants and a wide range of shows that’ll keep you entertained for hours.
3. Jomtien Beach
When you are ready to soak in the sun, there’s no better place to go than Jomtien Beach. The beach chairs are cheap and the drinks are cold. What more could you ask for on a lazy afternoon?
4. Amazon Fishing Park
The fishing excursions that run from Pattaya would cost a fortune in the West. If you’ve always wanted to go on a serious fishing trip or are just looking to try something different, this is the place to do it. As a bonus, you’ll get some good old fashioned fishin’ pics that’ll blow your friends’ minds.
5. Tiffany’s Cabaret Show
No one can talk about Pattaya for long without mentioning transvestites. The city’s long runnest show is enjoying its 40th year as one of the world’s most famous cabaret shows. Despite what you might be picturing, this is actually a family friendly show.
6. Pattaya Floating Market
If you love markets, your heart will skip a beat when you lay eyes on this 100,000 sq.m. shopping spectacular. The Floating Market is separated out into four sections which represent the four major parts of Thailand.
7. Elephant Village Pattaya
Since 1973, the Elephant Village has served as sanctuary for elephants who are sick or injured. Because of the diminishing habitat available to these animals, the sanctuary is a real lifesaver. Visiting the villages give you a chance to support their cause while getting a closeup look at these fascinating animals.
8. Sanctuary of Truth
This amazing structure has been rated the number one attraction on TripAdvisor. The view of the 105m-tall building overlooking the ocean is reason enough to visit and the fascinating tours will keep you there. The Sanctuary features four wings that are dedicated to Thai, Khmer, Chinese and Indian religious iconography so it’s a great place to learn about Asian culture.
9. Big Buddha AKA Khao Phra Tamnak
This giant golden Buddha is close to South Pattaya and well worth the trip. Buddha’s position at the top of the hill provides a phenomenal view so try to visit around sunset to maximise your photo opps.
10. Walking Street
If you only spend a single hour in Pattaya, go to Walking Street. It’s packed with seafood restaurants, live music venues, pubs, clubs, go-go bars, nightclubs and everything else you could want to see and do.
Related: 25 Best Places to visit in Thailand
Photo by Twiggy Tu
