Lined up with exotic beaches and coral islands like Pattaya Beach, Hat Jomtien, Hat Wong Phrachan, Ko Lan, Ko Sak, Ko Phai, Pattaya boasts the unique distinction of a beach resort with a city status. Whereas most other beach resorts rely simply on natural surroundings for their charm, Pattaya makes an all-out attempt to provide the best of everything in an exhaustive mix of facilities.
Pattaya Thailand Attractions
Underwater World Pattaya
Located on Sukhumvit Road, Tambon Nong Prue, this aquarium offers an insight into the area’s rich marine life. Underwater World Pattaya is a modern aquarium with a 100-metre state-of-the-art acrylic tunnel where visitors can walk through an underwater environment filled with dozens of marine species including the rare shovel-nosed ray, a hybrid between a shark and a stingray, providing visitors with the unique experience of viewing the displays at close quarters through crystal-clear water. The aquarium plans to have a variety of dolphin shows in the near future.
Tel: 0 3875 6979
Thunder Rock Dinosaur Park
Located on Sukhumvit Road, 4 km. from South Pattaya, this place brings you face-to-face with life-size replicas of the creatures that lived two hundred million years ago including a Tyrannosaurus Rex, a Velociraptor and a Petinosaurus. Come and wander through the Dinosaur Age, imagining the Earth when it was inhabited by the fierce predator T-Rex. Open daily 10.00 a.m.– .00 p.m. Tel: 0 3870 6055 or mobile phone 0 1576 0035
Khao Chi Chan Carved Buddha Mountain
The cliff face inlaid with gold leaf in the outline of a sitting Sukhothai-Lanna Buddha is dedicated to the commemoration of His Majesty the King’s Golden Jubilee, the 50th anniversary of his accession to the throne. This 130-metre-high Buddha’s royally-bestowed name is Phra Phuttha Maha Wachira Utta Mopat Satsada, which means His Lord Buddha is virtuous and glorious as Maha Wachira (the Great Wisdom). The surroundings are a wide variety of flowering plants and a number of pavilions for meditation and rest. Directly in front of the cliff face are shrines, elaborate gardens and a number of terraced pools stocked with lotus flowers.
Khao Phra Tamnak
This small hill, also known as Khao Phra Bat whose peak can be accessed by an asphalt road, affords panoramic views of Pattaya City and Pattaya Bay. Khao Phra Tamnak has been developed and is currently the site of the So To Ro 5 radio station, where there is a monument to Kromluang Chumphon, known as the 'Father of the Royal Thai Navy'. A Buddha image is enshrined on the hilltop.
Chaloem Phra Kiat Park
Located on Phra Tamnak Road at the foot of Khao Pattaya, the small park is dedicated to the commemoration of His Majesty the King’s sixtieth birthday on 5 December, 1987. The gardens boast a wide variety of flowering plants, while the park also includes jogging trails and exercise facilities.
The Million-Years Stone Park and Pattaya Crocodile Farm
This place is a popular attraction for Thai and foreign tourists. Covering an area of close to 40 acres, the compound comprises rock gardens and a botanical garden of rare plants and beautiful landscapes. Top sights include fossilised plants over a million years in age and a 200-year-old Thai style bonsai, plus dwarf horses, ostriches, crocodile pools and a collection of rare animals such as albino bears. Crocodile round-ups, magic and animal performances are the major attractions. Open daily 8.00 a.m. - 6.30 p.m., with six crocodile shows from 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. Tel. 0 3824 9347-9
Royal Theatre
Also at the Royal Garden Plaza, this theatre offers high-tech screenings of motion and movement experienced in real life. Open daily 11.00 a.m. - 11.00 p.m. Tel: 0 3842 8057
Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum
The museum, at the Royal Garden Plaza, Pattaya Beach, houses a collection of more than 300 strange and amazing things from around the world. Open daily 11.00 a.m. - 11.00 p.m. Tel: 0 3871 0294-6, 0 3841 2120-2 Website: www.ripleys.com
Pattaya Thailand Local Product
Shopping
South Pattaya is the major shopping area, along with Pattaya II Road. The best buys include souvenirs, gems and jewellery, silk, cotton, handicrafts and tailor-made clothing.
Pattaya Thailand Activities
Sporting Opportunities:
Golf
There are several excellent golf courses in the Pattaya area. Read the e-brochure for the details of the best golf courses.
Squash
Squash can be played at major hotels where facilities are also available for visitors’ convenience.
Dusit Resort Pattaya Tel: 0 3842 5611-7 Website: www.pattaya.dusit.com
Ambassador City Jomtien Hotel Tel: 0-3825-5501-40 Ext: 115-6 Website: www.amtel.co.th/pattaya/index.html
Badminton
The Pattaya Badminton Court on Soi 17 is open 24 hours a day.
Bowling
Pattaya has three bowling alleys of international standard.
Pattaya Bowlon Pattaya II Road in North Pattaya. Open daily 10.00 a.m. - 2.00 a.m. Tel: 0 3842 9466
Wave Bowl on the first floor of Jomtien Palm Beach Hotel and Resort on Jomtien Beach Road Tel: 0 3823 1350-67 Website: www.jomtien-palmbeach.com
P.S. Bowlon the 3rd floor of P.S. Plaza in Central Pattaya. Open daily 11.00 a.m.-2.00 a.m.
Tel: 0 3842 0965-6 Website: www.psbowling.com/bowlcenter_eng.html
Jogging
There is a jogging track at Suan Chaloem Phra Kiat. Jogging is also pleasant along the promenade facing Pattaya Bay.
Go-Karts
Go-Karts are available at the 400 - and 700-metre tracks on Thepprasit Road. Motor Racing The Bira International Circuit on Highway No. 34 and Highway No. 36 (Pattaya-Rayong) 15 km. away from Pattaya town periodically holds international motor and motorcycle races.
Shooting
An air-conditioned handgun and rifle range is located at Tiffany’s on Pattaya II Road. Open daily 9.00 a.m. - 10.00 p.m. Tel. 0 3842 1700-5, 0 3842 9642
Horse Riding
Available at Jojo Horse Club at Marina Inn Hotel Tel: 0 3822 5149, open daily 7.00 a.m.-7.00 p.m., and Horseshoe Point Resort, located 10 km. from Pattaya, open daily 8.30 a.m.- .00 p.m.
Tel. 0 3 3 5050
Paintball Game
Paintball is a challenging game of skill and strategy normally played outdoors in a woodland setting. Available at Paint Ball Park on Thepprasit Road. Open daily .00 a.m. - .00 p.m. Tel: 0 3830 0608 Website: www.paintballpark-pattaya.com
Bungee Jumping
The Pattaya Bungee Jump has been running for 9 years and during that time many hundreds of jumpers have experienced the adrenaline rush only bungee jumping can provide. Also available at Paint Ball Park on Thepprasit Road. Open daily 10.00 a.m. - 6.30 p.m. Tel. 0 3830 0608
Water Sports
Windsurfing
Best at Hat Jomtien where training is available for beginners. October through June are the best months, with ideal water and wind conditions for windsurfing.
Sailing
Sailing is a year-round sport in Pattaya’s waters and the most popular craft to rent are Lasers, Prindles and Hobie Cats. For more information, visitors should contact their hotel travel desk or the Royal Varuna Yacht Club. Tel. 0 3825 0116, 0 3830 6290 Website: www.royal-varuna-club.com
Water Skiing
The most popular venues are the northern and southern parts of Pattaya Beach, Jomtien Beach and Ko Lan, while freshwater skiing is available at Lakeland Cable Ski at the 150.5 km. marker on Sukhumvit Road. Open daily 10.00 a.m. - 7.00 p.m. Tel: 0 3823 2690-2
Game Fishing
Expeditions are organised by many operators, with the waters around Ko Manwichai, Ko Rin and Ko Khram popular for the pursuit of marlin, king mackerel and barracuda.
Parasailing
This sport is widely available throughout the resort.
Scuba Diving and Snorkelling
Both sports are popular around Pattaya’s offshore islands. The resort has several dive shops and beginners can take PADI open water certification courses.
Nightlife
Major hotels operate gourmet restaurants, cocktail lounges, discotheques and nightclubs and such establishments are well suited to family entertainment. Nightlife beyond Pattaya’s hotels is more liberated, with discotheques, transvestite cabarets, nightclubs, karaoke bars and open-air bars. Most of these attractions are located along Pattaya Beach Road, Pattaya II Road and in South Pattaya. Pattaya is famous for its transvestite cabarets: Alcazar and Tiffany both on Pattaya Road.
AlcazarTel: 0 3841 0225, 0 3841 0224-7
Tiffany Tel: 0 3842 9642