District guide to Pattaya
By Dave Rudd
Tourists flock to Pattaya's gorgeous beaches
The ever-burgeoning hot tourist resort of Pattaya is still one of the main draws to Thailand for all types of visitor. Most are single males looking to enjoy the beach and the beer bars along the infamous Walking Street in South Pattaya, while families and couples tend to head for the quieter clime of Jomtien to the south.
There is also the popular northern area of Pattaya, known as Naklua, which has the highest quality hotels and resorts and is a definite notch up from the Pattaya norm. Naklua is most popular with Nordic folks and is even quieter than Jomtien, yet is within easy reach of South Pattaya for those who fancy a night on the tiles.
While most of the attention in Pattaya is on the beaches and nightlife, there is a fair amount to do within the district as a whole. Consider the out-of-the-way beaches, a number of quality golf courses and one or two fun attractions the whole family can enjoy. More on Pattaya beaches.
A bit about Pattaya’s quirky districts and confusing road system:
Downtown Pattaya
The downtown area of Pattaya goes from the main beach all the way to Sukhumvit Road and encompasses the north-south First, Second, and Third Roads. First Road, more commonly referred to as Beach Road, is the street that runs right along the main beach, Pattaya Beach. These major roads are connected west-east by North Pattaya, Central Pattaya, and South Pattaya roads; North Pattaya Road being the main one carrying Bangkok traffic via Sukhumvit Road.
The southern end of Beach Road, beyond South Pattaya Road, is known as Walking Street and is closed to traffic from 18:00. This is Pattaya’s main red light district, with wall to wall bars, women and foreign tourists. It is also known for its shopping during the day, as is nearby Second Road (between streets, or sois, 1 and 4). Walking Street has a pier known as Bali Hai Pier, which replaced the Old Pier.
Pattaya sub-districts
There are various coastal districts to Pattaya that go from the north down to the south covering the coast; namely North Pattaya, Central Pattaya, and South Pattaya. It’s important to realise that these sub-districts refer to the beach areas and not the district of Pattaya as a whole.
Pattaya is home to the naughtiest nightlife in Thailand
In essence, North and South Pattaya are the main central part, with Naklua (the German-centric bit) and laid-back Jomtien lying farther north and south respectively. North Pattaya is therefore the northern end of Pattaya Beach and extending in towards North Pattaya Road.
South Pattaya is the bottom end of Pattaya Beach and is also where Walking Street is and runs inland to South Pattaya Road, while Central Pattaya is the middle of Pattaya Beach and running inland to Central Pattaya Road. The actual centre of Pattaya is much farther inland.
As for the other beach extremities, the sub-district of Naklua is slightly north of North Pattaya and is known for its quieter disposition and the beautiful Sanctuary of Truth temple. At the other end, beyond South Pattaya, is Buddha Hill on a headland and then Jomtien farther south again.
Greater Pattaya
Greater Pattaya takes in the majority of the Banglamung coast, which is a part of the province of Chonburi. The compass points of Greater Pattaya are, in fact, the correct points when talking about north and south. The northern section of which includes the main areas of Pattaya, from the main Pattaya Beach all the way up to Naklua Beach, and Buddha Hill headland. The southern section of Greater Pattaya is a lot smaller, encompassing Jomtien Beach and Dongtan Beach.
Another major destination within Greater Pattaya is the nearby island of Koh Larn, which is just a short boat ride from Pattaya. It couldn’t be more different from Pattaya’s bustling beach and offers plenty of respite on its picturesque shores and cool interior. Sunbathing, swimming, snorkelling and wandering about the island’s interior are the main pastimes.
Getting about Pattaya district
Most visitors to Pattaya simply flit between one beach and the next, and the red songthaew pick-up trucks that are ubiquitous to Pattaya are ideal for getting about. Beach Road (First Road) and Second Road are one-way systems that join up via smaller sois to create a loop. Do if you want to head north, you’ll need to take a songthaew on the Second Road, while Beach Road songthaews always go south. A ride on a songthaew is typically 10 baht.
Pattaya also has a public bus system, though this is only really of use if you plan on heading up into the town proper. Bangkok meter taxis also operate around Pattaya, while motorcycle taxis are on-hand for quicker transport. Cars and motorbikes can also be hired for getting around Pattaya District at large and it is worth picking up the free ‘Official Map of Pattaya’ if you plan on getting about extensively. For more on Pattaya transport.
blog comments powered by Disqus