Pattaya Guide

LIST OF PATTAYA TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

Pattaya is a city that is located on the east coast of the gulf of Thailand, It takes about 1.5 hours by taxi from the new airport Suvarnnabarmi (pronounced soo wan a poom).

It lies in a beautiful picturesque bay and is about 170 kilometers south east of the capital city Bangkok.

It started life as a fishing village in the 1960's and since then has grown to what it is today - regarded as the fun city of Asia, Tourists and holidaymakers flock there every year to relax on the beaches and enjoy an exotic holiday.

Pattaya is a paradise from which the memories will stay with you long after you return home.

It attracts people from all over the world regardless of where you are from - it is a paradise for all. Here you can find endless activities day and night, dusk till dawn.

With family friendly leisure activities, thousands of restaurants, curious attractions, and more shopping malls than you could believe, Pattaya is a lively city without doubt. It is a multi-cultural destination that also makes it popular for a weekend excursion.

ACTIVITIES IN PATTAYA

In Pattaya you can enjoy the following activities, bungee-jumping, jet skiing, deep-sea, shore, and freshwater fishing, scuba diving, bowling, running, tennis, sailing, swimming in the pool or the sea, golf, motor racing, polo, gyms, Para-sailing, elephant back riding, and fitness training.

Other activities include shopping, cycling, cooking courses, snooker, shooting, archery, yoga, kick boxing, relaxation spas, Tai chi, meditation, beauty and tropical gardens and walking by the sea. ..Phew!.

The tourist resort of Pattaya by the sea, offers an exciting selection of unique water sport activities including Para sailing Jet skis, and Banana Rides. It is also the oldest scuba diving center in this part of Asia.

With all year-round diving with good visibility, and a sea temperature of around 28C, which encourages a rich variety of marine life and coral.

Going away from the beaches and the ocean there are other exciting opportunities on offer such as the Bira International Racing Circuit, which hosts the Pattaya Kart Speedway.

There are international motor and motorcycle races and a 50 meter bungee-jump with international jump-masters in Jomtien. Fortunately you will find a bar close by for recovering from the rush afterwards.

Other attractions include going to see elephants, tigers, crocodiles, orchids or handicrafts, Or visit one of the larger WATS (Buddhist temples) in the countryside or take a ferry or speedboat to one of the many islands.

Koh Larn is the largest island off Pattaya. Various attractions near the city can also make a good day out. Bangkok is only two and a half hours away by bus (from the Northern bus station or the bus station at Jomtien) or taxi and many visitors who are staying a week or two on package-type holidays go there for the day or overnight.

Nong Nooch Gardens is a spectacular display of tropical plants and flowers covering a vast area. With an artificial waterfall and canoeing lake, Sri Racha Tiger zoo is about half an hour outside Pattaya and, in addition to tigers and a tiger show, has many other animals as well.

Thai traditional dance shows and elephant rides make this attraction a favorite day out for many people.

DAYTRIPS IN PATTAYA

There are a large number of possibilities open to you if you wish to have a morning, afternoon or whole day out of Pattaya. For golfers and divers this is easy.

The proliferation of golf courses and diving sites in the area ensure that you can literally walk out of your hotel, be picked up, and taken to whichever course or site you have booked.

By contrast, you could go to see tigers, crocodiles, elephants, orchids or handicrafts, visit one of the larger WATS (Buddhist temples) in the countryside or take a ferry or speedboat to Koh Larn, the large island off Pattaya.

Various attractions near the city can also make a good day out. Bangkok is only two and a half hours away by bus (from the Northern bus station) or taxi and many visitors who are staying a week or two on package-type holidays go there for the day or overnight.

Sri Racha Tiger zoo is about half an hour outside Pattaya and, in addition to tigers and a tiger show, has many other animals. Nong Nooch Gardens is a spectacular display of tropical plants and flowers covering a vast area.

With an artificial waterfall and canoeing lake, Thai traditional dance shows and elephant rides, this attraction is a favorite day out for many people.

ENTERTAINMENT IN PATTAYA

Bars, clubs, cabaret shows, and a go go bars thrive in Pattaya, It is THE main reason that visitors come to the city. Unlike the rest of the country, the industry thrives in Pattaya as long as everyone sticks to the rules.

Prostitution is illegal in Thailand but they have a system called (bar fines) usually about 300 THB. It can vary depending on where you are. Think of it as the fee for taking the girl out of the bar!.

There are plenty of bars to choose from in Pattaya although Walking Street has the largest selection. There are more on the lanes leading off Beach Road, as well as a few in Jomtien and North Pattaya.

The atmosphere in the bars of Pattaya is very relaxed and the girls are fun, friendly, and willing to go home with you for a reasonable fee. If you are new to Pattaya, you need not feel embarrassed.

You can pop into a bar and quietly sit watching sport on the TV or the girls dancing. Go Go bars in Pattaya have many pretty women to guide you in and most bars do not charge for entry.

SHOPPING IN PATTAYA

Pattaya has a fabulous range of shops and markets catering for all tastes. From the very expensive to the incredibly cheap (particularly by Western standards), you can find it all here. While the quality of some of the goods can vary greatly from stall to stall and shop to shop, even those who usually hate shopping will find a bargain here.

It is difficult to leave Pattaya without some extra luggage, whether you are looking for local handicrafts, precious gems or a fake Rolex to show off at home. Remember, however, that you get what you pay for and the quality of goods here is far lower than you would expect at home.

Money-back guarantee is a vague concept, so check the goods thoroughly first and avoid buying the cheapest models. Running the entire block between Beach Road and Second Road are Mikes Shopping Mall and Royal Garden Plaza, which both have free toilets and air-conditioning.

Here you will find a mixture of traditional craft wear, fashionable labels, clothes shops, an English bookshop, internet café, camera stores, endless mobile phone vendors, and even a Boots pharmacy.

Whatever you are shopping for, Thailand is very cheap, and this includes clothing, electronic goods, and general household items, which is why the shopping malls are tourist attractions themselves.

Big C is a large mall opposite Soi 3 on Second Road and consists of four air-conditioned floors with a Multi-screen cinema, large supermarket downstairs and a large retail area with everything from the latest TV's to some very reasonably priced designer clothing.

The rest of the complex is full of small and large shops and stalls full of clothes, cameras, mobile phones, handicrafts of all types, printers, pictures, good restaurants and pretty much everything ‘buy-able’.

If you thought of overhauling your business wardrobe, then Thailand is your answer, and you can get a tailor-made suit made up in less than 24 hours for knockdown prices. While the quality does vary, some of the best (and more expensive) tailors can be found in Walking Street, and there are some very good tailors on Beach Road and Second Road, South Pattaya.

They can make almost any style and offer a wide range of fabrics to choose from. Tailors here usually promote a set which includes three suits, and a couple of tailored silk shirts, plus ties thrown in for as little as $250.

Thai silk is not only good quality but comparatively cheap. Thais are superb artisans, and this applies to clothes as much as the more traditional skills.

SIGHTSEEING IN PATTAYA

Pattaya sights are mainly modern, much reflecting the town itself. Sights often double-up as activities but there is still an array of interesting things to see, especially if you are willing to travel a little.

The beaches, several impressive temples, and entertainment venues all combine to make Pattaya sightseeing a worthy activity.

Pattaya has many contemporary attractions to keep travelers amused. Some popular outings would include Underwater World, the Museum of Bottle Art showing miniature art such as Dutch windmills and Thai temples, all inside the confines of glass bottles and the entertaining Ripley’s Believe it or Not museum, which is home to exhibits from the traditional to the bizarre.

For more traditional cultural sightseeing in Pattaya, travel to Nong Nooch Village where you’ll be met by traditional dancers, pleasant natural scenery and playful elephants who’ll be willing to let you enjoy the thrill of a ride. The orchid garden here is reputed to be the largest in the world, so if you like flowers, it may be worth the trip for this alone.

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