Pattaya attractions
Even though most tourists flock to Pattaya for parties, naughty nightlife and countless activities, this exciting, thriving city is also home to a few decent attractions. If you have just about had enough with lounging around on the beach, visiting Pattaya’s many interesting venues is very rewarding and guarantees an eye-opening experience.
Pattaya might not boast refined cultural gems or the splendour of many historical monuments, but a wide range of attractions will definitely make your trip worthwhile. The city is dotted with some unique temples, several interesting museums, a zoo, an aquarium and some charming theme parks. Pattaya is also very children-friendly, with a wonderful array of places that offer ultimate kiddie fun. Who says only adults can have a blast in Pattaya?
Here’s the lowdown on Pattaya’s attractions, giving you a rough idea on where to go and what’s on offer. For more detailed information and specific locations, consult a good city map.
Pattaya beaches
Beaches are scattered around Pattaya. The most popular one is Pattaya Beach, which features plenty of water activities and is nice and central. A promenade lines the crescent shaped beach for several miles, which is ideal for jogging or roller blading. Around a headland to the south, Jomtien Beach is quieter and more peaceful, with a sandy beach and better quality water. There are also several nice private, smaller beaches dotted around the Naklua headland to the north, usually the domain of guests of the exclusive hotels here but open to all. All beaches in Pattaya offer a wide range of water sports and good facilities.
Open: always
Admission: free
Koh Larn
A pristine, secluded island boasting crystal clear waters and white sandy beaches. Located only a short ferry ride from the heart of Pattaya, Koh Larn, also known as Coral Island, is popular for snorkelling and diving as well as for its rich flora and fauna. There are many lovely, tranquil beaches on Koh Larn and beach-hopping is a good way to explore the island. Getting around is easy by taxi or motorbike taxi. Some of the beaches do get busy though and are hardly undeveloped.
Open: always
Admission: free
Million Years Stone Park and Pattaya Crocodile Farm
Perfect for a family day out, featuring an array of jaw-dropping gardens with fascinating collections of plants, flowers and rocks. There’s also a fantastic zoo, home to rare species like albino bears and other animals including elephants, horses, tigers, lions and crocodiles. The animal shows are impressive and not to be missed.
Open: daily, 09.00 to 18.30
Admission: 650 baht
Pattaya Park Beach Resort and Water Park
Known as the landmark of Pattaya, this large resort hotel in Jomtien is home to a 240-metre high tower with three revolving restaurants. Enjoy breathtaking views from the restaurants or cable jump from a 170-metre high slide. Cable cars are also available for those who are not daredevils. Adjacent to the hotel is the famous Pattaya Water Park, with gigantic slides, a Jacuzzi, large pool for kids and whirlpools. This is the most convenient of the park's attractions in Pattaya to get to.
Open: daily, 11.00 to 22.00
Admission: 100 baht (adults), 50 baht (children)
Elephant Village
This fun village is definitely a must, especially if you are travelling with children. Spectacular shows are on daily, wowing the audience with the smart training methods and remarkable ancient ceremonial re-enactments. Elephant rides are also available, both around the village and for longer treks.
Open: daily, 08.30 to 18.00
Admission: free; elephant shows: 500 baht; elephant trekking: 1,000 to 2,000 baht.
Underwater World Pattaya
The most equipped and largest ocean aquarium in Thailand, Underwater World Pattaya will delight both adults and kids alike with an array of fish tanks and its 100-metre-long, 6.4-centimetre-thick Plexiglas tunnel. The journey to the bottom of the sea starts from the sandy beaches and shallow rock pools at the water’s edge, from where you will be taken to witness beautiful corals and wonderful underwater creatures.
Open: daily, from 9.00 to 18.00
Admission: 500 baht (adults), 300 baht (children)
Bottle Art Museum
This is an unusual and interesting museum, displaying an array of glass bottles containing miniature replicas of world famous places including temples, churches, monuments and palaces.
Open: daily, 9.00 to 20.00
Admission: 100 baht (adults), 50 baht (children)
Sanctuary of Truth
The centrepiece here is a remarkable temple covering a large area in Naklua soi 12 which was constructed according to ancient, authentic Thai ingenuity. Every area of the building is covered with beautiful wooden carved sculpture to reflect the ancient vision of earth, knowledge and eastern philosophy. If the concepts sound way too ideal for you, the awesome sight of the building should be enough to have you reaching for your camera.
Open: daily, 09.00 to 18.00
Admission: 500 baht
Sriracha Tiger Zoo
Only a 30-minute drive from Pattaya, this fascinating tiger zoo is home to more than 200 Bengal tigers and over 100,000 crocodiles. There are a number of activities and shows for you and your family to enjoy. Expect to see something extraordinary like women wresting with crocodiles or elephants playing basketball. Other animals include ostriches, Peruvian guinea pigs, wallabies and camels.
Open: daily, 08.00 to 18.00
Admission: 300 baht (adults), 150 baht (children)
Mini Siam
A favourite attraction among tourists featuring over 100 magnificent mini-sized models of some of the most famous places in the world on a scale of 1:25. Expect to see miniature replicas of the Eiffel Tower, Temple of the Emerald Buddha, Statue of Liberty and many other monuments. It’s fun for families, but might seem a bit cheesy if you’ve seen similar parks in Europe.
Open: daily, 09.00 to 22.00
Admission: 200 baht
Suan Nong Nooch Tropical Garden
This huge garden is an ideal place to relax and unwind among beautiful flowers, plants and charming waterfalls. There is a lake where you can canoe and feed the fish and the orchid nurseries are fascinating especially for plant lovers. Thai traditional dancing performances, cockfighting shows and marital arts are on show daily.
Open: daily, 08.00 to 18.00
Admission: 300 baht (adults), 150 baht (children)
Yannasangwararam Temple
Under HM the King’s patronage, this exquisite temple boasts beautiful modern Thai architecture and a peaceful atmosphere. Located about 20kms to the south of Pattaya, this park-like large temple is home to a pagoda which contains Buddha relics. Many magnificent buildings and monuments dot the area including Anekkuson Sala (Wihan Sian), which combines the architectural styles of Buddhist, Taoist and Confucian beliefs and houses priceless antiques from China, Taiwan and Hong Kong.
Open: always
Admission: free
Alangkarn
This spectacular state-of-the-art theatre combines a 70-metre long show-stage, gigantic movie screens, a 30-metre water track for performances on water and advanced sound systems, which together produce one-of-a-kind cultural shows for audiences. Expect to witness a series of impressive cultural and musical shows by over 150 skilled performers. The theatre seats up to 2,000 visitors.
Open: daily, 17.30 to 23.00
Admission: 800 and 1,000 baht including dinner
Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum
A cousin of those found in the US, this museum will excite your children with a variety of bizarre displays and themed galleries including something peculiar like a mask made from human skin and an African voodoo doll as well as other puzzling, mind-blowing facts and tidbits from around the world.
Open: daily, 10.00 to 23.00
Admission: 380 baht (adults), 270 baht (children)
