Pattaya: For the First-time Visitor

Sandipan Bose
Apr 27, 2017
3 min read

Do you love to party ? Do you like a busy and bustling city setting ? Do you want everything in one place ? Then, Pattaya is just for you !!

Pattaya has a worldwide reputation… some of which it even deserves. A couple of hours drive from Bangkok will land you to this happening beach destination. Taxis are a bit expensive option and most tourists reach Pattaya by bus. Busses are available from various locations in Bangkok, departing at frequent intervals, which are cheap, comfortable & quite fast.

Being happy with your accommodation is a great way to start a holiday ! Fortunately, there’s a huge choice of luxurious hotels & budget hostels, with plenty in between, in this tourist destination that will cater to every taste. For the people who love to party, southern part of the city, close to Walking Street, should be the obvious choice while North Pattaya is relatively family-friendly. Jomtien area is also family-friendly,

with its tamer nightlife, long beach, quieter roads and fun waterparks.

When staying in Pattaya, there are two busy roads that you will quickly become familiar with: the south-flowing Pattaya Beach Road and Pattaya Second Road which runs parallel to the beach but carrying traffic northwards. Together they form the main baht bus circuit which makes it so easy for tourists to travel around the area. Baht bus is one of the most commonly used and economic public transports in Pattaya. Another super-fast mode of communication within Pattaya are Bike Taxis whose riders will take you anywhere in town for around 40 to 70 baht. There are so many taxi bikes in Pattaya that finding one usually only takes a minute or two as you can either flag a passing one down or find one of the countless taxi-bike stands scattered throughout the city. Do remember to negotiate the fare before riding and always wear a helmet. If you are comfortable using them then getting around becomes an absolute breeze.

Eating out in Pattaya is a treat. There’s everything from every country and it’s all quite cheap. You can eat American, French, Russian, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Full English Breakfast, Italian, Belgian, Dutch, German, Indian, the list is endless. However, Thai food is wonderful.....everything from mild Chinese based noodles to hot and spicy food....seafood, barbeque, Tom Yam soups to Pad Thais. There are the small Thai restaurants and street stalls dotted all over Pattaya city where a bowl of noodles can be as little as 35 baht.

For shopping fanatics and bargain hunters, Pattaya offers some of the best shopping outside Bangkok, and it is actually more accessible being a much smaller area. The best shopping options in Pattaya create a varied list of malls, markets, stalls, night bazaars and even a Floating market – Central Festival, Royal Garden Plaza, Mike Shopping mall & Pattaya Night Bazaar to name a few. One can find open-air street side shops almost everywhere in Pattaya, but the beach road and second road are the main shopping roads. Be prepared to bargain hard, but with a smile.

To keep you busy round the clock, Pattaya is a diverse city with unique attractions, a renowned nightlife, great restaurants, interesting shopping opportunities and gorgeous beaches. You need to prioritize from the long list, which attractions you should visit. I would suggest you to go for an off shore day trip to Koh Larn, the Coral island, which has much nicer beaches than in Pattaya and plenty of water sports options. On the mainland, you may visit The Sanctuary of Truth, Nong Nooch Tropical Gardens, Mini Siam, Sri Racha Tiger Zoo, Under Water World, Ripley’s Believe It Or Not, and so on.

No trip to Pattaya would be complete without at least one night of partying ! Before you head out to experience the crazy night life, you must catch one of the world famous ladyboy cabaret shows at Tiffany or Alcazar and visit the Night Bazaar. No need to hurry since the bars and pubs, present in every nook and lane of Pattaya, remains open till early morning. Enjoy the city’s best nightclubs, dozens of racy go-go bars and hundreds of choices of fun beer bars & restaurants along the famous Walking Street. It is the biggest and busiest party hotspot in the whole of Thailand.