Top 10 Things to Do in Pattaya

The 10 best attractions in Pattaya is just a sample of the amazing variety you can find in the area. These are the absolute must-see features which every itinerary for every visitor should include. Many of the items on our list are unique in Thailand while some are unequalled in the entire world.

Admirallica Cruise is your new excuse to get silly on the high seas of Pattaya. Board what is Thailand’s first and only pirate ship and enjoy a full day’s cruise around Pattaya Bay every Saturday. The action-packed pirate tour includes breakfast, a buffet lunch and speedboat detours to Koh Rin, Koh Ped and Monkey Island where you’ll enjoy a host of swashbuckling games and activities such as snorkeling, swimming and fishing. There’s even time for a disco foam party in the afternoon as the mighty galleon sets sail back to the shores of Pattaya.


1. Walking StreetSouth Pattaya

Walking StreetSouth Pattaya

The sights and sounds of Walking Street are quite unlike anything else in Thailand. Other towns and cities try to claim to have their own version, but nothing comes close to matching the 500 metres of fun which is found at the end of Pattaya’s Beach Road. Taking its name from the fact that it is closed to vehicle traffic after 18:00, almost every building on both sides of the road – as well as many in the side streets around it – is a nightclub, beer bar, restaurant or go-go bar to the extent that the road is almost completely deserted during daylight hours as virtually everything is shut. At night, however, the road comes alive with neon lights, thumping music from different genres, food vendors, street performances and party animals from around the world. Opening Hours: Closed to road traffic 18:00 - 02:00. Bar opening times vary. Location: South Pattaya.


2. Sanctuary of Truth Banglamung

Sanctuary of Truth Banglamung

 

This one-of-a-kind teak structure is a truly awe-inspiring sanctuary to a philosophical truth, which tells of the importance religion, philosophy and art has played in human development and the folly of neglecting morality and spiritual contentment in the pursuit of materialism. It is a beautiful and humbling demonstration of human endeavour and skill, particularly when you realise that none of the wood being used has been treated or chemically protected. This means that, as one section is completed, another has succumbed to the tropical conditions and must be replaced. Opening Hours: 08:00 – 18:00. Location: 206/2 Soi Naklua 12, Naklua.


3. Cabaret Shows

Cabaret Shows Pattaya

There are other cities with famous cabaret shows, but only Pattaya’s takes such great pride in the fact that every single one of the showgirls is, in fact, a show-guy! Otherwise known as the “ladyboy shows”, for obvious reasons, they are so popular that Pattaya has four different venues and hundreds of dancers. Based in grandiose buildings, the performances exemplify extravagance, glitz and glamour, with ornate costumes, elaborate choreography and huge song and dance routines. The shows and individual acts depict elements of Thai and various Asian cultures.


4. Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden @Na Jomtien

Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden

  The 2.4sq.kms of Nong Nooch are full to bursting with some of the most remarkable flowers, displays and landscaped gardens in Thailand, if not the world. The team behind them have repeatedly won international awards for their designs, which include 17th-century-French-style gardens, a recreation of Stonehenge, creative topiary displays and gardens created exclusively with cacti, bonsais and tropical palms. It is also the home of over 670 native and hybrid species of orchid, an excellent elephant talent show and regular displays of classic Thai dancing, boxing and drumming. Opening Hours: 08:00 – 18:00. Location: 34/1 Sukhumvit Road, Na Jomtien.



5. Pattaya Floating Market @Jomtien

Pattaya Floating Market @Jomtien

  Correctly known as the “Four Regions Floating Market”, the sub-sections of this 100,000sqm development represent the four major areas of Thailand – the north, northeast, central and south. This representation comes in the form of shops and stalls selling souvenirs, fruits, food, art, handicrafts, postcards and clothing as well as regular cultural shows and demonstrations. Some of the 114 vendors do indeed float, selling their wares from traditional boats and canoes. The rest are built into a sturdy stilted village, with covered walkways and stout bridges connecting them. Opening Hours: 10:00 – 23:00. Location: 451/304 Sukhumvit Road, Jomtien.



6. Art in Paradise North Pattaya

Art in Paradise @North Pattaya

  Art in Paradise takes the traditional assumptions of what an art gallery should be and completely ignores them. Instead, the art is brought to life and the visitors can become part of it through the use of optical illusions and playing with perspective. Stand in the right position and take a picture from the right angle – all of which are clearly marked out for you – and it looks like you are flying a magic carpet in the desert, crossing a rickety bridge in the jungle, swimming with dolphins in the ocean or putting the finishing touches to famous masterpieces. Opening Hours: 09:00 – 21:00 Location: 78/34 Moo 9, Pattaya Second Road Soi 1, North Pattaya


7. Ripley’s Believe It Or Not South Pattaya

Ripley’s Believe It Or Not @South Pattaya

  Ripley’s Believe It or Not! contains over 300 exhibits which will boggle the mind. Telling only true stories and facts, the surprising and shocking displays prove that the truth really is stranger than fiction. Alongside this museum of the marvellous are several fun rides, a waxworks museum, a 12D Moving Theatre and the extremely popular Sky Rider – the yellow and white balloon which can be seen rising above Pattaya Beach, offering unique views of the city and the surrounding area. Opening Hours: 06:00 – 23:00 Location: 3rd floor, Royal Garden Plaza, Beach Road, South Pattaya



8. Wat Phra Khao Yai (“Big Buddha Hill”) South Pattaya

Wat Phra Khao Yai (“Big Buddha Hill”) @South Pattaya

    The so-called “Big Buddha” certainly deserves its name, being the biggest in the region at 18 metres in height. Positioned nearly 100 metres above sea level, it watches over Pattaya and Jomtien Beaches from its position on the hill dividing the two. The temple complex around the highly detailed golden seated Buddha creates a reflective mood in its many visitors thanks to its many bells, burning incense, numerous smaller statues and impressive views over the area. Not just tourist attraction, the site is an active temple, with locals frequently visiting to pray. Opening Hours: 06:30 – 17:00. Location: Phratamnak Hill


9. Flight of the Gibbon Chonburi

Wat Phra Khao Yai (“Big Buddha Hill”)  @South Pattaya

  Located in the protected rainforests of Chompoo Wildlife Sanctuary, this 3km zipline course allows you to experience life in the Thai jungle canopy, rushing from tree to tree. The course is made up of a sequence of lines between 24 treetop platforms, one of which is over 300m long. There are also two hanging sky bridges and two rappel descents to add to the adventure. There is an educational aspect to the experience, too, as guides will show the fascinating and beautiful wildlife and plants along the route. Opening Hours: 06:00 – final booking. Location: Khao Kheow Open Zoo, 235 Bang Phra, Sriracha.



10. Khao Chi Chan (“Buddha Mountain”) Na Jomtien

Khao Chi Chan @Na Jomtien

     The largest stone engraving of Buddha in the world looking down on you from the side of limestone hill is a very humbling experience. Etched with a laser into the side of what used to be a resource for the construction industry, the 109-metre-high image was then marked out in gold. It was completed in 1996 to mark the 50th anniversary of His Majesty the King of Thailand’s accession to the throne and has since become a popular attraction for Thais and foreign visitors alike. It serves as the focal point to a number of other attractions in the immediate area, such as its reservoir and scenic beauty, commonly known as Silverlake. Opening Hours: 08:00 – 17:00. Location: Na Jomtie


More Pattaya Info