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Pattaya Guide – Places to Visit in Pattaya
Time hung heavy on our hands. We were at the Chennai International Airport and still had almost 7 hours for the early morning connecting flight to Bangkok. We had landed from Bangalore late in the evening and the layover time we had was just not enough for us to get to the city and back. We decided to do the most with the time that we had. Sleep was of course out of the question as our minds were alert with no hint of sleep. We spent the time going over the itinerary of our Bangkok Pattaya tour, also the places to visit in Pattaya and which Pattaya attractions to focus on that we had finalized. Having got that done, we worked on some important emails that needed an immediate response, thankful to our Airtel 4G connectivity that ensured our digital office was up and running whatever the location and whatever the time. Having cleared the pending work we had steaming hot cups of filter coffee and found that we still had almost 3 hours to spend. We spent the time binge-watching our favourite web series on Netflix with the seamless connectivity that our Airtel connection provided. Soon our flight was announced and we were off on yet another adventure, a new voyage of discovery. There is much more to Pattaya than the Walking street, there are many places to visit in Pattaya with kids and family too. Read on to check out our Pattaya Guide.
About Pattaya
Our trip to Thailand included both Bangkok and Pattaya. After a few days in Bangkok, we had planned to spend a couple of days in Pattaya. Pattaya is a seaside town which was a sleepy little fishing village with beautiful beaches before it caught the imagination of tourists from all over the world. Today Pattaya is known for its vibrant and colourful nightlife and this is what draws millions of tourists like bees to honey. But there is so much more to Pattaya than just the attractions of the night clubs and bars of Walking Street. This Pattaya travel blog talks about these other things that make Pattaya an attractive destination.
Pattaya Guide
How To Get To Pattaya
Bangkok to Pattaya distance is about 150 kilometres and buses take about 2.5 to 3 hours to cover the distance. If you thinking of flying to Pattaya, there is a Pattaya airport called U-Tapao airport located about 30 kilometres from the city. This airport, however, has limited connectivity and it makes more sense to travel by road from Bangkok. It is quite convenient to take the Bangkok bus to Pattaya. We had booked our Bangkok to Pattaya bus online and so boarded the bus from the Eastern Bus Terminal which is located near Ekkamai BTS Station. Air-conditioned buses are available from Bangkok to Pattaya every half an hour or so. Buses are available from the Northern Bus Terminal referred to as Mochit and the Southern Bus Terminal referred to as Sai Tai Mai also. One can also hire a taxi to travel from Bangkok to Pattaya. Buses for Pattaya are available from the Bangkok airports also.
- Pattaya is about 150 kilometres from Bangkok
- Best way to reach Pattaya is to fly to Bangkok and take a bus from there
Does the magic of Pattaya beckon you? If you are thinking of a trip to Pattaya then, you can book flights right here through TripAdvisor or Agoda or CheapAir or Cleartrip or Makemytrip or Priceline.
Places To Visit In Pattaya – Pattaya sightseeing
Coral Island (Koh Larn)
The boat swerved violently in the waves and off were racing towards the Coral island leaving the shores of Pattaya behind. When you are in Pattaya you must visit the beaches in Pattaya and the nearby islands which have some really gorgeous beaches and crystal clear water. We decided on visiting the Koh Larn island also known as the Coral Island. This is the largest of the islands of the coast of Pattaya and also the only one that is inhabited. There are six beaches on the island and one can get around the island using motorbike taxis. One can choose to just frolic and relax on the beach or indulge in water sports at the Coral Island Pattaya. The island does have accommodation and also a clutch of small restaurants. We had lunch at a small restaurant that served vegetarian Indian meals.
Pattaya Beach
Pattaya Beach is in the form of a crescent and stretches to about 4 kilometres. It is nice to walk on the beach in the evenings and see the boats bobbing in the waters or see the lights of Pattaya slowly come on. Of course, most of the restaurants, bars, and night clubs are located along the stretch of the beach.
Pattaya Floating Market
The Pattaya Floating Market is a delightful medley of boat shops and waterfront shops selling souvenirs, handicrafts, and of course lots and lots of food. The market itself stretches over a huge area and is divided into four sections. Each section represents the different regions of Thailand and showcases the best from the respective regions.
Art In Paradise – Places to Visit In Pattaya With Kids
This is one of the best places to visit in Pattaya with kids. It is a three-dimensional picture museum that promises loads of fun and quirky photo opportunities. There are different themed zones that are sure to enthral everyone. These include Diorama, Aqua, Safari, Classic Art, Thai, Egypt, Ayutthaya, Dinosaur, and Fantasy. A visit to the Art In Paradise is like visiting a dreamland.
Ripleys Believe It Or Not – Places to Visit In Pattaya With Kids
Yet another of the places to visit in Pattaya especially when you are with kids is Ripleys Believe It or Not. This famous Odditorium will at the same time amaze, scare, and shock you out of your wits. There are about 300 unique oddities waiting to enthral you. There is also a section called Ripley’s Haunted Adventure which takes you inside a spine chilling haunted house. One can also be amazed by 9 different cinematic effects at the Ripley’s Moving Theatre 9DX. Visiting Ripleys is always fun anywhere in the world, this was our second Ripley after the one in Resorts World Genting, Malaysia.
Pattaya Sign – Pattaya Attractions
When in Pattaya, one has to see and photograph the iconic Pattaya sign. This erupts in vibrant colours as darkness descends and dominates the city skyline. The Pattaya Sign is best viewed from a boat in the midst of the sea.
Pattaya Things To Do – Pattaya Guide
There are plenty of options available in Pattaya and one can indulge in various activities in Pattaya that suit one’s budget and liking.
Parasailing
There are so many places to see in Pattaya as well as things to do at Pattaya that there never will be a dull moment. Parasailing is a popular activity. A boat takes you to a platform in the middle of the sea from where you take off and land harnessed to the parasail. It is a thrilling experience to float above the sea and look at the Pattaya skyline from high up. Parasailing is a thrilling activity and we loved doing it in Pattaya as much as we did in Kota Kinabalu in Sabah, Malaysia.
Island Hopping
If you love the sea, beaches, and islands, then the best thing to do in Pattaya is to hire a boat and go island hopping. There are many islands near Pattaya that can be visited in a day including Koh Larn, Ko Khram, Ko Sak, Ko Phai, and others.
Water Sports
Thrilling water activities including scuba diving, snorkelling, and Jet Skiing can be indulged in at Pattaya as well as some of the islands in the vicinity.
Where To Stay In Pattaya
Pattaya offers a range of accommodation options from hostels to hotels to luxury resorts. One can choose to stay at one of the beach hotels in Pattaya or one of the beach resorts in Pattaya. Many of the Pattaya beach hotels are located on the beach road in Pattaya. We chose to stay at the Ibis Pattaya, which was at a walkable distance from the beach.
You can book your stay at the Ibis or any other hotel of your choice in Pattaya right here through TripAdvisor or Cleartrip or Agoda or Makemytrip or Priceline and get awesome deals and savings.
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Pattaya Tours & Activities
You can book Pattaya attractions tours online or book some of the best and most recommended Pattaya tours. You can now book tours in Pattaya as well as activities in Pattaya right here.
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Pattaya FAQ – Pattaya Guide
♦ What to see in Pattaya?
Some of the best Pattaya tourist attractions include the Coral Island Thailand Pattaya, Pattaya Beach, and other islands off the Pattaya coast.
♦ Which is the best beach in Pattaya?
There are many beaches in and around Pattaya. Some of the beaches are great for activities while others are good just for peaceful relaxation. Some of the best beaches are Jomtien Beach, Pattaya Beach, and Koh Larn beach.
♦ Is a Pattaya trip with kids and family advisable?
Yes, a Pattaya tour can be a nice family getaway, there are many Pattaya tourist places that are perfect to visit with family and kids.
♦ What are the things to do in Pattaya Thailand with kids?
There are many kid-friendly Pattaya places to visit on a Pattaya city tour. Some of these have been covered in this Pattaya guide.
We hope you liked our Pattaya blog and it answers some of the questions that you may have had about what to do in Pattaya, attractions in Pattaya, etc. Do connect with us for any details or inputs. We always value your thoughts.
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I have heard good and bad reviews of Pattaya, but none discussed how it would be if you brought a family. Additionally, the parasailing and beaches look fun and the idea of a beach getaway during a trip to Bangkok is novel as well. Thank you for places to stay recommendations.
I wasn’t really familiar with Pattaya before your post but the beach is truly beautiful there! I would also love to see Coral Island it look so picturesque. The floating market is so cool — do you go from shop to shop by boat or is it possible to walk around on docks and just climb aboard the boat shops?
Pattaya and the nearby islands indeed have some really gorgeous beaches and crystal clear water. I am reminded of my visit there. Missed visiting the floating market but had gala time in Ripley’s museum. I am dreaming to get back to see the other sights.
Pattaya definitely isn’t one of the places that comes in mind when it comes to family travel, hah. I visited solo and had a great time and I met a lot of other solo travelers as well and didn’t see any families around. However, I’m glad to see you had a great time and your experience is a proof that families can indeed, have a good time in Pattaya.
I’ll be honest, I always avoided Pattaya because I didn’t like the seedy atmosphere there. That said, it’s good to know there are several places to get away from that and explore. I’m not an adventurer sadly, but would love to be brave enough one day to try parasailing. I bet the views are wonderful!
I have never been to Thailand so everything there sounds fascinating. This is very crisp and effective travel guide. I’ll defintiely refer to it while planning my trip there. Coral islands are so enticing.
It’s been a long time since I’ve been to Thailand and I’m thinking it’s about time to go back! Pattaya looks beautiful and the clear blue waters are definitely inviting. I’ve been parasailing too and would LOVE to do it again! Coral Island looks like a photographer’s dream and the floating market really looks like something special!
We visited Pattaya on our first visit to Thailand over 20 years ago. Our friends picked the destination (we’re not really beach resort people) and that’s where they picked. For me, it was too much party central, tonnes of leery bars and drinking games and the sex trade in full swing. We did enjoy the food markets and some great food though I don’t think we went to the floating market. It looks like it’s not active amongst local traders now, but one for tourism instead?
I’ve only been to Bangkok and it’s such a shame I didn’t know much about Pattaya back then. Beaches look fantastic and Coral Island must be a true gem. Also, the floating market is definitely something I would love to experience.
Nice list of places in Pattaya.