Your Travel Guide to Thailand
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All you need to know to visit Pattaya
Central Thailand
140 km from Bangkok
Province of Chonburi
Thai prononciation : Pattaya
Travel guide to go and visit Pattaya
Pattaya's reputation as the number one hub of sex tourism in Thailand remains even if there was attempts to make that tourism coexist with family tourism. It didn't sucvceed. Gogo bars and other establishments to facilitate meetings or provide other sexy services are everywhere and not only in the famous Walking Street. Beaches of Pattaya are not that exceptional and consists in a forest of umbrellas and lounge chairs. In short, if you are not fans of sassy nightlife, Pattaya is not for you ! Or prefer Jomtien, na Jomtien or Naklua to South Pattaya. The more you get closer to Na Jomntien , the more umbrellas density decreases. Koh Larn, the beautiful island near Pattay can also be a good option especially during week days when Bangkok residents who come to spend the weekend are gone. PAttaya doesn't have a lot of traditional tourists attractions. The most famous ones are probably the Big Buddha on the hill between South Pattaya and Jomtien Beach, Sanctuary of Truth fully carved and the floating market and its huts of bamboo and wood.Russian tourists are very numerous in Pattaya for several years and many free brochures, even shops and massage parlors magazines sign are only written in russian. If you are with your children, avoid Thanon Hat Pattaya in the evening as well as the Walking Street you will avoid embarrassing questions from your kids...
To see all optiosn to get around in Pattaya, read our dedicated paragrpah about getting around in Pattaya.
Accommodations in Pattaya
When we speak of Pattaya, you should know that there are many areas, more or less lively. Optionsto sleep in Pattaya are very numerous. This is South Pattaya with its sulphurous Walking Street that attracts the most tourists and is the busiest district. It contains the largest number of hotels and guesthouses. The tourist density in Jomtien, a little further in the South is also very important. The Russian community there is a large and small accommodation with cheap rates are less numerous. They are mostly concentrated near Thap Phraya Road. The more you go to Na Jomtien, the less umbrellas on the beach and accommodation are numerous. In the North, Naklua is much quieter. There is less accommodation. In North Pattaya, the cheapest guesthouses are located in Soi 3 and its surroundings.Find accommodation in Pattaya
My recommandations
Practical information about Pattaya
Note that here Songkran festival, the celebration where people splash water on each other to celebrate the Thai new year, lasts a week instead of three days like in the rest of the country. During this period (starting April 13), you can not go out in the street without risking being completly wet. So dress accordingly.Pattaya has its own television channel: TV Pattaya. There are many buses from Bangkok to go to Pattaya (you can book your tickets online HERE)
How to go to Pattaya ?
To go to Pattaya, the most convenient way is to take the bus. From Bangkok there are buses at least every hour and the journey only takes two hours. You can take the bus at Ekkamai Bus Terminal or Mochit Bus Terminal (you can book your tickets online HERE). Pattaya has its own airport, in Utapao. Flights from Koh Samui and Phuket go to Pattaya. And there are only one or two trains a day stopping there.How to get around in Pattaya ?
Surprisingly, there are almost no tuk-tuk in Pattaya. Taximeters circulating in Pattaya usually come from Bangkok and are very reluctant to use their meter. Motorcycle taxis are much more numerous and cheaper but less safe. The most common transport to get around in Pattaya remains the songthaews also called "baths buses". They usually run on defined routes and cost 10 THB for a short ride. White songthaews go to Si Racha or Sattahip. The dark blue ones mainly run between Jomtien and Naklua.
Pattaya city also has a bus service on 3 routes identified by 3 colors: green, red and yellow. All routes start at South Pattaya Big C. A trip costs about 20 baht. Maps are available from the bus drivers and in most Pattaya hotels and resorts.
Renting a car in Pattaya costs from 800 to 1500 THB per day depending on the model, renting a scooter from 150 THB (often a 1000 THB bail is required). Inspect your vehicle and take pictures to avoid any problems when you give it back. And if some rental companies ask you to leave your passport, just refuse, it is illegal and could cause you problems. You are supposed to be constantly in possession of your passport. You can also use GRAB app (similar to UBER but UBER does not operate in Southestern Asia any more) to order a transportation.
Festivals in Pattaya ?
Here is a list of the main festivals taking place every year in Pattaya. I mention their dates as soon as they are official on Thai Festivals page.
Wonderfruit Festival
This festival generally takes place in the month of Several times a year
Pattaya International Music Festival
This festival generally takes place in the month of March
Pattaya Seafood Festival
This festival generally takes place in the month of May
Pattaya Bikini Beach Race
This festival generally takes place in the month of October
Pattaya International Fireworks Festival
This festival generally takes place in the month of novembre
Pattaya traditional boats race
This festival generally takes place in the month of November
Pattaya New Year Countdown Celebrations Festival
This festival generally takes place in the month of December
Plus d'infos sur Pattaya New Year Countdown Celebrations Festival
Must-visits in Pattaya
Sanctuary of Truth
ปราสาทสัจธรรม
Pattaya Big Buddha
วัดพระใหญ่
Koh Larn island
เกาะล้านOther places to see in Pattaya
Wang Sam Sien
on the hill between South Pattaya and Jomtien, just before the Big Buddha, this small Chinese temple is especially interesting for its wall where you can read short stories and Chinese legends
Pattaya Floating Market
built from scratch, this floating market is certainly artificial, but still a nice place to shop, stroll and eat especially if you have not yet had the opportunity to see this type of market. The choice of wooden and bamboo houses and boardwalks gives it an appreciable semblance of authenticity even if the place is still far from a real traditional Thai floating market.
Khao Chi Chan
mountain a few dozen kilometers from Pattaya with a large Buddha image drawn on one of its walls. It is located in the district of Sathahip.
Koh Si Chang island
Located opposite the town of Si Racha, a little north of Pattaya, Koh Sichang island is quite rocky with only two sandy beaches but between its viewpoints and landscape, its temples, its seafood restaurants and the location of a royal residence which was dismantled and rebuilt in Bangkok, it is an island very popular with Thais who come in large numbers on weekends and public holidays. It is a short trip from Bangkok.
Weather & climate in Pattaya
Pattaya has a tropical humid and dry climate. There are three seasons in Pattaya : a warm and dry season (December to February), the best time, a hot and humid season (March and April) and a warm and rainy season (May to November).The best moment to come to Pattaya is from November to April and especially from December to February. September and October are the rainiest months.
How to ask in Thai to go to Pattaya ?
I want to go to Pattaya / Yak paï ti Pattaya.Where is Pattaya ? / Pattaya you ti naï ?
All COVID-19 restrictions for coming to Thailand lifted from October 1 !
We have been waiting for it for months, hoping it will happen on July 1, but it will finally be October 1, 2022, when Thailand will lift the last COVID restrictions to enter the country. From this date, it will no longer be necessary to show...
