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Siam Bayshore Pattaya, Pattaya

Things to do guide

The best things to do in Pattaya

Updated 7 October 2026 · 17 things to do

Pictured: Siam Bayshore Pattaya

Pattaya has a reputation, and it has spent years trying to outgrow it. The neon and the bars are still there if you want them. But the city on the Gulf of Thailand, under two hours from Bangkok, is now just as much a place of family resorts, water parks, golf courses and smart seafood restaurants, with one of the most extraordinary wooden buildings in Asia standing on its northern shore.

It works best if you treat the city as a base and keep moving. Take the ferry to the white beaches of Koh Larn, spend an afternoon in the gardens to the south, eat grilled prawns by the water in Naklua, and save Beach Road for a stroll at sunset.

Don't miss

  1. 1Sanctuary of Truth
  2. 2Koh Larn
  3. 3Wat Phra Yai (Big Buddha Hill)
  4. 4Nong Nooch Tropical Garden
  5. 5Jomtien Beach

The big sights

  1. Sanctuary of Truth

    Landmark

    The carved wooden Sanctuary of Truth in Pattaya
    Photo: Rolf Heinrich, Köln, CC BY 3.0

    On a headland in Naklua stands a vast temple-like hall built entirely of wood, without metal nails, and covered on every surface with hand-carved gods, dancers, elephants and mythical beasts drawn from Thai, Khmer, Chinese and Indian tradition. Work began in 1981 and has never stopped: carvers are still chiselling away as you walk round.

    It is neither a temple nor a museum but one man's vision of ancient wisdom, and whatever you make of the philosophy, the craftsmanship is astonishing.

    Tip: Dress modestly, with shoulders and knees covered. You will be given a hard hat, as it is a working building site.

  2. Wat Phra Yai (Big Buddha Hill)

    Landmark

    The golden Big Buddha at Wat Phra Yai on Pratumnak Hill
    Photo: Ruslik0, CC BY-SA 4.0

    A golden seated Buddha, 18 metres tall, looks out over the city from the top of Pratumnak Hill between Pattaya and Jomtien. A staircase flanked by seven-headed naga serpents leads up to it, and smaller Buddhas for each day of the week sit around the base. It is a working temple, with incense, bells and locals making merit.

  3. Pattaya Viewpoint

    Landmark

    A short way from the Big Buddha, on the same hill, a viewing platform gives the classic postcard view of Pattaya: the whole crescent of the bay, the towers behind it and the islands offshore. Come at sunset, when the lights come on along Beach Road, and combine it with the temple.

  4. Nong Nooch Tropical Garden

    Nature

    Landscaped gardens at Nong Nooch Tropical Garden
    Photo: VN.NguyenDucDuy, CC BY-SA 4.0

    A huge botanical park about half an hour south of the city, with themed gardens on a grand scale: a formal French parterre, a Stonehenge replica, cactus and orchid collections and one of the world's most important collections of palms and cycads. Raised walkways give views across the whole thing. Allow half a day.

  5. Khao Chi Chan (Buddha Mountain)

    Landmark

    The golden Buddha outline on the cliff at Khao Chi Chan
    Photo: Niceley, CC BY-SA 4.0

    A seated Buddha more than 100 metres high, outlined in gold on the sheer face of a limestone cliff near Nong Nooch. It was created in 1996 to mark the golden jubilee of King Bhumibol. There is a quiet lotus-pond park at its foot, and it pairs naturally with the gardens and the Silverlake vineyard nearby.

Beaches and islands

  1. Koh Larn

    Beach

    The best beaches in Pattaya are not in Pattaya. Koh Larn, known as Coral Island, lies a short ferry ride offshore, with white sand and clear, pale-green water that the mainland cannot match. Tawaen is the main beach, busy and lined with restaurants; Samae and Tien are prettier, and Nual is quieter. Motorbike taxis and open trucks run between them.

    Tip: Take the public ferry from Bali Hai Pier in the morning and check the time of the last boat back.

  2. Pattaya Beach and Beach Road

    Beach

    Trees along Pattaya Beach
    Photo: Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0

    The city's main beach curves for a couple of miles around the bay, backed by a palm-shaded promenade. It is a beach for strolling, people-watching and jet-skis more than for swimming. Beach Road behind it is the spine of town, lined with shopping malls, hotels and bars, and it comes alive from late afternoon.

  3. Jomtien Beach

    Beach

    Jomtien Beach
    Photo: Slyronit, CC BY-SA 4.0

    South of Pratumnak Hill, Jomtien is longer, wider and a good deal calmer than Pattaya Beach. Deckchairs under umbrellas line the sand, vendors bring round grilled seafood and cold coconuts, and the northern end is popular for windsurfing and kitesurfing. Families and long-stay visitors tend to prefer it.

  4. Wong Amat Beach

    Beach

    Wong Amat Beach in Naklua
    Photo: Георгий Долгопский, CC BY-SA 4.0

    A quieter strip of soft sand in Naklua, at the northern end of the bay, overlooked by high-end resorts and apartment towers. The water is cleaner than in the centre and the mood is far more relaxed. The Sanctuary of Truth is just along the shore.

Days out with the family

  1. Ramayana Water Park

    Water park

    One of the largest water parks in Thailand, set among hills and lakes south of the city near Silverlake vineyard. It has more than twenty slides, from gentle to stomach-dropping, plus a lazy river, a wave pool and separate play zones for small children. It is far enough out to need a taxi or a booked transfer.

  2. Pattaya Floating Market

    Market

    Wooden walkways and boats at Pattaya Floating Market
    Photo: Jonashtand, CC BY-SA 4.0

    A purpose-built market on the main road towards Jomtien, with wooden houses on stilts linked by walkways and bridges, divided into zones for the four regions of Thailand. It is made for visitors, not a working market, but it is a pleasant way to sample regional snacks, buy handicrafts and take a boat ride.

  3. Art in Paradise

    Museum

    A gallery of large trick-of-the-eye paintings that you step into and photograph: cross a rickety rope bridge, surf a wave, hold up a collapsing temple. It is silly, air-conditioned and popular with children and anyone with a phone. A good standby for a rainy afternoon or the hottest part of the day.

Eat, shop and go out

  1. Seafood in Naklua

    Food

    Naklua, the old fishing quarter north of the centre, is where Pattaya goes to eat. At Lan Pho market, by the water, you choose crabs, prawns, squid and shellfish straight off the stalls and have them steamed or grilled on the spot, then eat in the park next door. Seafront restaurants along the same coast do it with tablecloths.

  2. Thepprasit Night Market

    Market

    A big, busy weekend market on Thepprasit Road, between Pattaya and Jomtien. Half of it is clothes, phone cases and bargains; the other half is food, with rows of stalls selling grilled skewers, pad thai, mango sticky rice, fruit shakes and things on sticks you may not be able to identify. Go hungry.

  3. Walking Street

    Nightlife

    Neon signs on Walking Street in Pattaya at night
    Photo: Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0

    Pattaya's notorious nightlife strip runs along the seafront at the southern end of Beach Road and is closed to traffic each evening. It is a blaze of neon, music, bars, clubs and seafood restaurants on piers over the water. It is very much adult entertainment after dark, and not for everyone, but an early-evening walk through is part of seeing the city.

Day trips

  1. Koh Samet

    Day trip

    A sandy beach on Koh Samet
    Photo: Ken Eckert, CC BY-SA 4.0

    A small island in a national park about an hour and a half down the coast, reached by boat from Ban Phe pier. Its east coast is a string of powdery white beaches and rocky coves, and it enjoys drier weather than much of Thailand. It can be done in a long day from Pattaya, though a night there is better.

  2. Koh Si Chang

    Day trip

    The view over Koh Si Chang from its Chinese temple
    Photo: Ruslik0, CC BY-SA 4.0

    A quiet, rocky island off Si Racha, north of Pattaya, with almost no beach scene and plenty of local life. Visitors come for the remains of a royal summer palace built by King Chulalongkorn, a hilltop Chinese temple with wide sea views, and a slow day pottering about by tuk-tuk.

Where to stay in Pattaya

Not sure which area suits you? Read our guide: Where to stay in Pattaya →

Getting around

Songthaews, the dark blue pick-up trucks with benches in the back, loop around Beach Road and Second Road and run to Jomtien and Naklua: flag one down, hop on and press the buzzer to get off. Ride-hailing apps and motorbike taxis fill the gaps. For Nong Nooch, the water parks and Khao Chi Chan you will need a taxi or a tour.

When to go

The cool, dry months from November to February are the most comfortable and the busiest. March to May is very hot. The rainy season runs roughly from June to October, usually as heavy showers with sunshine in between; Pattaya tends to be drier than much of the country. Songkran, the Thai new year water festival in April, is celebrated here with particular enthusiasm.

Questions about visiting Pattaya

What is Pattaya best known for?
Its beaches, nightlife and closeness to Bangkok. It is also known for the Sanctuary of Truth, the island of Koh Larn, Nong Nooch Tropical Garden and a wide choice of family attractions and golf courses.
What is there to do in Pattaya with kids?
Plenty: Ramayana Water Park, a day on the beaches of Koh Larn, the gardens at Nong Nooch, Art in Paradise and the Pattaya Floating Market. Jomtien is the most family-friendly beach.
How many days do you need in Pattaya?
Three or four days covers the main sights, a day on Koh Larn and some time by the pool. Many visitors add it to the start or end of a trip to Bangkok.
Can you swim at Pattaya Beach?
You can, but the water in the bay is not the clearest. For better swimming head to Jomtien or Wong Amat, or take the ferry to Koh Larn.
Is Pattaya worth visiting?
Yes, if you want an easy beach break near Bangkok with lots to do. Choose your area with care: Naklua, Pratumnak and Jomtien are much calmer than the centre.

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