Things to do
Temples, gardens & days out
Pattaya, Thailand · By TimPaemi
Your Pattaya.
Start exploring.
Beach days, Thai food, island trips and nights out. Find the places and practical details to make it your kind of trip.
What would you like to explore?
Choose a starting point. Follow it to places, neighbourhoods and guides that help you plan.
Eat & drink
Thai food, restaurants & cafés
Beaches & islands
Find your stretch of coast
Nightlife
Live music, rooftops & clubs
Places to stay
Hotels & beach resorts
Neighbourhoods
Choose your part of the city
First time in Pattaya?
Get the essentials in place, then enjoy choosing the rest.
01 · Arrive
Getting to Pattaya
Airport buses, transfers, arrival points and the last leg to your hotel.
02 · Stay
Choose your base
Compare the neighbourhoods by beach access, nightlife and transport.
03 · When
When to visit
Understand the seasons and leave room for weather in your plans.
04 · Plan
Your first three days
City sights, an island day and the coast, with space between stops.
Make a day of it
A carved wooden museum, tropical gardens or an island crossing. Open a guide for what to expect and how to get there.
Culture & architecture · Naklua
Sanctuary of Truth
A wooden museum beside the sea. Plan the guided visit, clothing and day or evening tour.
Island guide · Koh Larn
A day on Koh Larn
Choose your arrival pier and beach, then work out the crossing and the journey home.
Gardens & a day out · South of Pattaya
Nong Nooch gardens
Formal gardens, botanical collections and Dinosaur Valley. Choose the zones for your day.
Temple & views · Pratumnak
Big Buddha & the viewpoint
Two separate hill stops: Wat Phra Yai and the Pattaya viewpoint. Plan the route between them.
Shopping & food · North Pattaya
Terminal 21 Pattaya
Travel-themed floors, the Pier 21 food court and a cinema for an indoor break.
Outdoor landmark · South of Pattaya
Buddha Mountain
The golden Buddha image on a limestone cliff. See how this stop fits a day south of the city.
Find your part of Pattaya
The bay, the southern beach or the northern coast: where you stay changes how the whole trip feels.
In the middle of it
Central Pattaya
Beach Road, shopping and busy evenings. Compare the exact street when quiet nights matter.
Life along the beach
Jomtien
A long beachfront south of the centre. Choose your stretch and allow for trips farther north.
The northern coast
Naklua
Seafood markets and the Sanctuary of Truth. Check the hotel pin and the route to the beach.
Between city & Jomtien
Pratumnak
Hill sights, smaller coves and residential streets. Gradients and transport shape the choice.
Food & drink
Leave room for
something good.
Start with the Thai dishes, then explore seafood, cafés and restaurants around your plans. The next meal can be part of the day out.
What to eat in Pattaya →Put your plans on the map
See how the neighbourhoods and landmarks fit together before filling the day.
See how Pattaya fits together
Explore the coastline and area guides on an interactive street map.
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Places & area guides
15 guides-
Area guide
Naklua
The northern shoreline, seafood markets and wooden museum.
Approximate area centre -
Area guide
North Pattaya
The northern end of the central city and its shopping district.
Approximate area centre -
Area guide
Soi Buakhao
An inland district of food, markets and evening venues.
Approximate area centre -
Area guide
South Pattaya
The southern city, Walking Street and the approach to Bali Hai.
Approximate area centre -
Area guide
Bang Saray
A coastal village and fishing waterfront south of Pattaya.
Approximate area centre -
Things to do
Sanctuary of Truth
A carved wooden museum on the Naklua headland. Compare day and evening visits.
Museum location · operator-linked map -
Beach guide
Pattaya Beach
The city waterfront, promenade and beach beside central Pattaya.
Beach guide · access details inside -
Beach guide
Jomtien Beach
A longer stretch of sand south of the city, with several access points.
Beach guide · access details inside -
Beach guide
Cosy Beach
A small cove below Pratumnak, reached by stairs from the road above.
Beach guide · access details inside -
Beach guide
Tawaen Beach
A beach on Koh Larn. Plan the ferry and onward island journey.
Beach guide · access details inside
No match here. Try a shorter name or choose Everything.
Area pins mark approximate centres, not boundaries or entrances. Open the beach guides for access details.
Open the full mapA little knowledge, a better trip
Useful reading for the moments between booking the flight and heading out the door.
After dark
Walking Street, explained
Understand the street, the different venues and the ride home before planning an evening.
Keep a plan B
A rainy day in Pattaya
Indoor attractions, shopping and food. Group your stops so you spend less time crossing town.
Eat your way around
Get to know Thai food
Dishes, shared meals and useful ordering ideas for your time in Pattaya.
How long have you got?
Start with a route, then make it your own.
The people behind Pattaya Insider
Tim & Paemi
We’re a married couple in Pattaya, and the people behind this publication. This guide brings together places, planning information and source notes to help you explore the city.
Meet us & see how we publish →