10 Exciting Things to Do in Pattaya, Thailand

(SPOT.ph) About a decade ago, if you we're asked where you're vacationing and you replied Pattaya in Thailand, you’d have probably been met with raised eyebrows. Since it first came into popular consciousness in the 1960s, the beach town has endured a bit of a reputation alongside an enduring popularity. The past 10 years or so, however, have seen the city transform into a more wholesome, family-friendly destination while still keeping its famous nightlife culture largely intact. 

Thanks to the efforts of the Tourism Authority of Thailand and local officials, Pattaya has reinvented itself as a destination for all kinds of travelers, whether you’re coming with your kids or you’re going on a honeymoon, whether you’re in it for its pulsating nightlife or its calming waves, there’s a bit of everything.

Plus, it has the welcome bonus of being only 150 kilometers southeast of Bangkok, making it a mere two-hour drive away from the capital. So, if you’ve set your eyes on seeing the sea in Pattaya after a few days in landlocked Bangkok, we have here 10 things you can do in this city of bars and beaches. 

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Here are 10 exciting things to do in Pattaya, Thailand: 

Hit the beaches of Pattaya

One doesn't go to Pattaya without seeking out its famous beaches. The government has put in a lot of effort to clean up not only the city’s image, but also its coastline over the past years. So despite being overcrowded with tourists, you can still expect clean shores to welcome you with open arms. 

Pattaya Beach is the best known of the city’s beaches, with its three-kilometer-long stretch dotted with innumerable establishments from hotels to restaurants, bars to cafés. You can easily spend a whole day swimming, chilling out, and people-watching by the shore. 

To the south of the city is Jomtien, a gay-friendly beach; while Hat Dongtan has a family-oriented scene. If you’ve got some time to spare, about 20 kilometers south of Pattaya is Bang Sare and its less crowded beach strip.

Now, if you’re up for something more luxurious, you can charter your own private yacht and sail to some of Pattaya’s more secluded outlying islands like Hai Sai Kaew, a beach that’s about an hour away by yacht from the mainland. 

Ocean Marina Yacht Club is at 167/5 Moo 4 Na Jomtien Satthahip, Chonburi, Thailand. 

Meditate on life’s greatest questions at the Sanctuary of Truth

Rising above the sea like a fortress is this awe-inspiring monument. Made entirely of intricately carved wood with not a single metal nail, the Sanctuary of Truth affords visitors the chance to meditate on the “Seven Truths of Life.” These are answers to some of life’s greatest questions and mysteries such as “Who are we?” and “What is the purpose of life?” 

Built 43 years ago with four wings each dedicated to Thai, Khmer, Chinese, and Indian religious iconography, the construction—just like Barcelona’s La Sagrada Familia—continues to this day. Because of this, it houses about 200 carvers from all over the world, including the Philippines. 

The Sanctuary of Truth is at Na Kluea, Bang Lamung, Chonburi, Thailand. It is open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tickets are at THB 500 (P810). 

Watch the sunset while sipping on a cocktail  at The Sky Gallery

Perched on Pratamnak Hill and overlooking Pattaya Bay and Koh Larn, The Sky Gallery is a chic indoor-outdoor restaurant that offers some of the most dramatic sunset views in Pattaya. Come before dusk, order a cocktail, and sip on it as you wait for the sun to dip over the horizon. Make sure to reserve a seat as the place tends to fill up easily.  

You’ll be pleased to know that the restaurant doesn’t just have great views, but also has an extensive menu that features Thai and international fares. The Sky Gallery is known for its craft coffee, especially its lattes (from THB 115 to THB 145), as well as its cocktails (all at THB 255/glass). Their deep-fried sea bass with a spicy dip and mixed Thai herbs (THB 485), which you eat like a samgyup roll, deep-fried crabmeat omelet (THB 255), and Sky Honey Toast (THB 275) are must-tries.  

The Sky Gallery is at 400/488 Moo 12 Pratamnak Hill, Nongprue, Banglamung, Chonburi, Thailand. It is open daily from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Table reservation is required from Monday to Friday, while walk-ins are allowed from Saturday to Sunday and national holidays. 

Satisfy your sweet tooth  at The Chocolate Factory Pattaya

A stone’s throw away from The Sky Gallery is the sprawling two-storey restaurant/café/chocolatier, famous in the city for its wide selection of chocolate-based products and souvenirs. The Chocolate Factory Pattaya is a walk into heaven’s doors for chocolate lovers with its shelves upon shelves of bars, brownies, cookies, and mixes of a dizzying variety of concoctions. They also offer chocolate-making sessions daily if you want to make your own treats at home. 

They also serve signature desserts such as their “I Love Chocolate Cake” and mixed fruit shortcake. We recommend bringing home their decadent soft chocolate chip cookies (THB135) and white chocolate macadamia and milk chocolate macadamia (THB220/jar) for pasalubong. 

The Chocolate Factory Pattaya is at 400/626 Moo 12, Soi Ratchawarun, Nongprue Subdistrict, Banglamung District, Pattaya, Chon Buri, Thailand. It is open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. 

Have a taste of Pattaya’s famous red-light district

While Pattaya has transformed into a more family-friendly destination, its popularity for nightlife still stands with hundreds of bars and clubs scattered around the city. Walking Street, which has the greatest concentration of bars in the city, is the place to be if you want an exciting night out. Head out to Soi 6 for some of the best-known beer bars in the area. 

Though the city’s red-light districts are relatively safe, it’s best to leave valuables in your room and be extra mindful of your belongings. 

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Spend a day at the Nong Nooch Botanical Garden

Equal parts delightful and strange, the 500-acre Nong Nooch Botanical Garden isn’t exactly what you’d expect a garden to be. Sure it has an impressive collection of plants from over 18,000 species, but it also houses a mind-boggling hodgepodge of life-sized statues of animals and dinosaurs. Nong Nooch Botanical Garden is home to over a thousand dino statues from 420 species, the tallest stands at a magnificent 18 meters high. It’s like Jurassic Park came to (still) life. 

This rather odd cornucopia of flowers, pottery, live elephants, and dinosaurs is the brainchild of Kampon Tansacha, son of the eponymous owner, who made it his life’s mission to educate kids on the importance of loving and respecting nature. No wonder the park is not only a tourist draw, it’s also a popular field trip location for young students.  

Nong Nooch Tropical Garden and Cultural Village is at 34 Na Chom Thian, Sattahip District, Chonburi, Thailand. Admission is THB 500 (P812) for adults and THB 400 (P650) for children. Overnight rates start at THB 2,800 (P4,500) for two, inclusive of accommodation, breakfast, and entrance to the garden. 

Have a relaxing stay at a space-themed hotel

A space-inspired waterpark? Doesn’t sound like a perfect match, but the pairing surprisingly works. Should you come to visit Pattaya with your family, especially with little kids in tow, you may want to consider checking in at the spanking new Grande Centre Point Space Pattaya. Checking into Thailand’s first space-themed hotel gives guests access not just to luxurious rooms but also their Space Water Park. 

The 12,000-square-meter amenity that’s exclusive to guests is divided into four themed zones. There’s the Mountain Zone and its lazy river, cave pool, and jungle jacuzzi. Then there’s the Flying Rock Zone which has giant slides and a playground. The Space Pirate Beach, on the other hand, features an artificial white sand beach with waves. Lastly, there’s Planet Zone, which has a mini golf, a planet pool, and an amphitheater. 

Grande Centre Point Space Pattaya is at 888 M.5 Na Kluea, Bang Lamung, Pattaya, Chonburi, Thailand. Rates start at THB 5,200 (P8,400). 

Go on a global food trip without having to leave Thailand 

Almost all places in Thailand, which is one of the world’s finest food destinations, give travelers an opportunity to sample its storied cuisine. Pattaya is no exception. Aside from Thai food, the city has a wealth of restaurants that offer a wide range of cuisines, thanks to its being popular among tourists and expatriates. Craving German or Mongolian, Japanese or even Scandinavian? There's bound to be a resto to sate your hunger. 

Much like big sister Bangkok, you won’t risk going hungry with cheap hawker staples like pad thai and mango sticky rice sold on almost all the main streets of Pattaya. Wait for dusk to settle in and you’ll see vendors setting up shop in no time. 

For some of the freshest seafood in town, you can head out to the cozy Shell Tangkay restaurant which comes with a pleasant beachside view. Make sure to order their stir-fried garlic crawfish, tom yum goong, and oyster omelet. Their oh-so-yummy seafood fried rice will put your appetite on overdrive. 

609 Kitchen, the in-house restaurant of  Renaissance Pattaya Resort and Spa, serves a sumptuous medley of Thai and international dishes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Must-try are their yum talay (spicy seafood salad), tom kha kai (chicken in coconut milk soup), and pa-naeng pla (sea bass in curry sauce). Oh lest we forget, their dishes are Instagrammable, too.

Shell Tangkay is at 95 Moo 5, Pattaya-Na Kluea Road, Bang Lamung, Chonburi, Thailand. It is open daily from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.  

609 Kitchen is at 9 Moo 3 Na Chom Thian, Sattahip District, Chonburi, Thailand. It is open daily from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. 

Sample great Italian food

It may seem weird that a list of Pattaya recommendations will dare include an Italian restaurant. But trust us, Prego Pattaya is worth a visit. Known not just in Pattaya but in the whole country, the restaurant prides itself in its Tuscan-inspired menu curated by chef and owner Marco Boscaini.

You should not miss any of their brick-oven pizzas (from THB 290 to THB 390), antipasto (THB 690), spaghetti aglio olio (THB 290/small, THB 340/regular), filetto di manzo or grilled Australian beef tenderloin (THB 990), and gelati or homemade ice cream (THB 90).  

Taking pride of place in their menu is their risotto, considered one of the best in the world. Don't pass up on the opportunity to try their risotto con luganiga or risotto with Italian sausages (THB 390/small, THB 440/large).  

Prego Pattaya is at 240 Beach Rd, Pattaya City, Amphoe Bang Lamung, Chonburi, Thailand. It is open daily from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. 

Burn some Bahts away

If you have some spare Baht to burn from your stay in Bangkok, worry not as Pattaya has an exciting shopping scene to match that of the Thai capital. It has several shopping centers such as the huge Terminal 21 mall and the Central Marina arcade that are only a few minutes away on foot from Pattaya Beach and some of the city’s best hotels.

There’s also a night market which has stalls aplenty selling everything from elephant trousers to sugared tamarind. Don’t be surprised if you’d see shops selling cannabis paraphernalia for all the world to gawk at as the medical use of marijuana was decriminalized in Thailand on June 9, 2022.

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How to Get There 

AirAsia flies from Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport to Bangkok’s Don Mueang Airport 11 times a week—every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday. 

From Bangkok, you can take a train to Pattaya from Hua Lamphong station (from THB 31, four hours). You can also take a bus from the city’s Eastern Bus Terminal (from THB 108, two hours), Northern Bus Terminal at Mo Chit (THB 117, 2.5 hours), or Southern Bus Terminal (from THB 119, 2.5 hours). You can likewise take a minivan at any of the said terminals (from THB 150 to THB 160, 2.5 hours).