Pattaya Holidays

Pattaya: all the fun, city vibes of Bangkok with some added beach thrown in for good measure.

Destination highlights

The ultimate beach hol 🤝 city break in one
Home to attractions like the 'Sanctuary of Truth' Museum and Nong Nooch Botanical Gardens - which, by the way, are as quirky and fun to look at as they are to say
Tons of courses where you can get your golf on ⛳
Always-on nightlife - from cabaret shows to beach clubs and cocktail bars🍹

What are the best beaches in Pattaya?

Pattaya Beach - duh. No prizes for guessing why we picked this one. This is the liveliest beach in the area, packed with watersports and beach bars serving up all the Thai classics
Jomtien Beach - this place still offers watersports and waterfront dining spots (seafood-lovers, this is your place), but the overall atmosphere is much more chilled, with palm trees towering overhead for 10/10 tropical vibes
Cosy Beach - clue's in the name with this one. It's small, it's cute and it's a total vibe if you're looking for a hidden gem with bars and restaurants dotted about. It's a great shout for the kiddos, too.
Naklua Beach - if touristy spots aren't your bag, this beach is the perfect escape. It's more popular with locals (especially the local fishermen) than tourists, and it's more about the classic sand and sea combo than activities and watersports
Wong Amat Beach - this one's a tourist's fave but for the opposite reasons to what you'd think. It's actually known for being quiet and calm, so it's a great option if you'd rather stay clear of the hustle and bustle and the buzzing bars

What are the top hotels in Pattaya?

Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya - you're not even ready for this waterpark-turned-hotel-turned-activity-course. It's got everything from lazy rivers and aerial courses to cocktail bars and a Family Club Lounge with games, bean bags and snacks. Count. Us. In.
Mytt Beach Hotel - five stars, and this place deserves every single one of 'em - thanks to the Insta-worthy bars, boujee rooms with all the gear, and the swanky infinity pool decked out with inflatables and neon lights - 'cause why not?
Sea Sand Sun Resort & Villas - if this place was any more on the beach, it'd be in the sea. Thankfully that's not the case, so you can enjoy the fancy villas (*with* Jacuzzis), restaurants and spa facilities in peace. Not to mention the mahoosive lagoon pool that's just BEGGING to be dunked into.
Mera Mare - the pool at this hotel is open 'til 9PM, which means late-night swims are always on the cards, and so are breakfast pastries, cocktails and the most aesthetic ice cream cones your Instagram feed has ever seen.
Cape Dara Resort Pattaya - walking to the bar is so out of the question here, because there's one plonked right in the middle of the pool, so you can swim up for your daily cocktail fix. It's also right along the beach and has fancy rooms and suites to pick from, as well as a fully decked-out playroom for the kids.

Popular Pattaya hotels

Weather in Pattaya

JAN

26^°C

FEB

27^°C

MAR

28^°C

APR

29^°C

MAY

28^°C

JUN

28^°C

JUL

27^°C

AUG

27^°C

SEP

26^°C

OCT

26^°C

NOV

26^°C

DEC

26^°C

Pattaya's got that whole tropical climate thing going on, and it's a total vibe if you like the heat. Seriously, thermals and chunky knits have no place here. May to October is when monsoon season pays its dues, so you might want to avoid that if you don't fancy Mother Nature raining on your parasol. Don't worry, though - the rest of the year stays dry with milder temperatures towards the end of the year, and the hottest vibes at the start of the year up until monsoon season, with temperatures hotter than a spicy salsa 🌶️

FAQs

The local currency in Pattaya is the Thai Baht, and there are about 44 Thai Baht for every pound, so don't be alarmed if you see some price tags floating around during your travels for thousands of Bahts. It's not as spenny as it sounds!

Thai is the official language spoken in Pattaya, but it's said that English is the 'unofficial' second language - so don't worry too much about brushing up on your Thai before your trip. Although, it never hurts, so here's a (very) mini lesson from yours truly:

First thing's first - there's a little rule when it comes to speaking Thai, where if you're male you end sentences with khrup or krap (don't comment), and if you're female you end sentences with ka or kap.

That being said, here are a few phrases to get you started:

Sawadee khrup/ka - hello

Chai (khrup/ka) - yes

Mai (khrup/ka) - no

Khop khun (khrup/ka) - thank you

It takes around 13 hours to fly directly to Pattaya from the UK, but don't worry your little compression socks - long-haul flights are always decked out with all the bells and whistles, from in-flight entertainment so you can binge your favourite shows, to all the food and drink so you can step off with a full tum.

You'll usually fly to Bangkok Airport to get to Pattaya, which is a 1-hour and 30-minute transfer ride away. But hey, that's only half the time it'd take to watch Oppenheimer from start to finish!

The local time in Pattaya is 6 hours ahead of the UK, so if you've got any questions about the near future, hit them up, 'cause they've seen it. Just kidding. Apparently it doesn't work like that.

Hit the slides at Ramayana Waterpark

According to their website, this is the best waterpark in Thailand. We're not sure if that's 100% factually correct, but we do know that anywhere that has 21 waterslides, 50 activities to choose from, two huge splash zones and a lazy river is gonna go down an absolute treat with the kids. Parent points through the roof.

Eat your art out at Art in Paradise

Regular art galleries? We don't know her. This place is a 3D art museum which, yes, is as epic as it sounds. Instead of that classic framed-on-the-wall stuff, this place is decked out with huge murals and optical illusions so you can literally be in the art and get some snazzy pics along the way, with themes including jungle, underwater and fantasy.

See where the night takes you at Walking Street

If quiet nights in are your idea of a snooze fest, then Walking Street is where you'll want to head after sundown in Pattaya. It's the main strip lined with music venues, nightclubs, go-go bars and more. Whatever you're into, this place knows how to have a good time, so grab your dancing shoes and get ready for some good times that you might just about remember the next day.

Snap some pics from Pattaya Viewpoint

Type 'Pattaya' in on Google or Insta, and chances are you'll see a load of pics pop up of a big, sweeping bay. Well, this viewpoint - also known as Khao Pattaya Viewpoint - is the best place in the area to get a view of that bay. Just a heads up, though - this is a popular spot and tours stop by on the reg, so you won't be soaking up the views on your lonesome.

Whatever floats your market

Four Regions Floating Market is the world's biggest man-made floating market, and it's considered Thailand's best floating market - but we haven't been to many, so we'll let you be the judge of that one. This is the place for some serious shopping shenanigans, with stalls along the water selling souvenirs, handmade gifts and fresh fruit and veg. You can even hop in a boat to take the scenic route, if you fancy going all in. Definitely beats a trip to the corner shop for a late-night milk run.

Go big (and definitely not home) at Mini Siam

If you fancy channelling your inner King Kong for the day (minus the scary roaring and skyscraper-smashing), then Mini Siam is the place to do it. It's a miniature park packed with pint-sized replicas of landmarks from around the globe - from an Eiffel Tower you could (just about) fit in your house, to a Statue of Liberty you don't need to sail to and a Roman Colosseum that you can do a lap of in 10 seconds flat. Around the world in 80 days? More like 8 minutes.

What events can I go to in Pattaya?
There's always something going on in Pattaya, from light festivals to firework shows and bed races (hey, no judging here). The point is, whatever your bag, there's definitely gonna be something for you at this place. Mark your calendar:
- Pattaya International Bed Race (January) - honestly, we can't think of a better way to kick off the new year. Head to Beach Road if you want to see locals perform their own take on the Great Knaresborough tradition, running like the wind in silly costumes and pushing weirdly wonderful decorated beds down the street. All for charity, of course.
- Pattaya International Music Festival (March) - one of the biggest international music festivals in Asia, bringing together Thai and Asian artists for concerts that start in the early evening and go on until midnight.
- Pattaya Marathon (July) - excessive exercise on our jollies isn't usually our thing, but something about running a marathon in Thailand is just so much more appealing than running one in Manchester. Just imagine telling your colleagues back home. 'Fun fact' ice breaker sorted for life.
- Pattaya International Fireworks Festival (November) - Katy Perry once sang 'baby, you're a firework,' and this festival LISTENED. This firework display is one for the books (and the Insta feed), with bursts of colour, parades, traditional dance shows and exhibitions.
- Loy Krathong, Festival of Light (November) - locals gather at Beach Road to float handmade lanterns and decorated baskets along the water, in celebration of the full moon.
- Wonderfruit Music and Arts Festival (November - December) - a 3-day festival celebrating all things music and art - with food stalls, dance stages for busting some moves, and workshops for you and the kiddos.
Where's the best nightlife in Pattaya?
Your nights in Pattaya can be as chilled or crazy as you want them to be. From go-go bars and live DJ sets to entertainment that's a bit more on the adults-only side, there's never a dull 'round these parts. Especially if you head to one of these spots:
- Club Insomnia - the name probably sums this one up pretty well (there's zero chance of you sleeping with those thumping beats going on). It's a tad on the cosy side, but it's a nightclub nonetheless, with pool tables, live DJs and free-flowing drinks.
- Hot Tuna Bar - doesn't sound the most appealing, but this little bar along Walking Street is a humble little hotspot for rock-loving Thais. Psst: if the risque dance scene and go-go girls aren't really your thing, then you can relax because there's none of that here.
- Sugar Shack Bar - think of this as your trip to the local pub. It's got TV screens showing the latest sports, jukeboxes and good beer. Like home from home, right?
- Lucifer Disco - name's a little sketchy, but if you're looking for a boomin' atmosphere with live DJ sets, all the lights and reasonably-priced booze, this is the spot.
- The Cave - Google this place and you'll understand where it gets its name from. Dark and dingy atmosphere aside though, this bar is an absolute must-visit for all the rock fans out there, with the house band banging out everything from 60s hits to current bops every night. Warning: may contain excessive amounts of black leather and shaggy hair.
What's the food like in Pattaya?
Pattaya is the fishing village of Thailand, so we're not giving any prizes away for guessing what ingredient a lot of the local dishes showcase 🐟 There's a little bit of everything to tickle your taste buds here, but if you want to keep it authentic, these street food staples should 100% be on your radar:
- Khao Gaeng - literally translating to 'rice and curry' or 'rice with topping,' this is a street food icon in Thailand, consisting of curried rice topped with meat, veggies and even egg in some cases.
- Moo Ping - the name says 'beef' but the dish says 'pork'. Marinated in a sweet, sticky sauce and served on a skewer with a side of rice. Bosh.
- Som Tam - if we say 'papaya salad,' you're probably on board, but when we tell you it's made with fresh chilli, beans, tomatoes, roasted peanuts, dried seafood and a sour fish sauce dressing, you're probably a bit less on board. All we can say is...the locals love it, so don't knock it 'til you try it! (And let us know what it's like.)
- Satay - an absolute classic - you've probably seen this one on the menu for your local Chinese, but the Thais know what they're doing with it, serving skewered meat or seafood in a sticky peanut sauce that's to die for.
- Pad Thai - because who would we be if we didn't give this one a mention? It's Thai-style fried noodles, made with rice noodles (the thin, translucent ones), meat or seafood and scrambled egg.

Places to visit

Sanctuary of Truth Museum
It's pretty hard to miss this ma-HOO-sive wooden structure along the beachfront - it's over 100m tall (which is tall, FYI) and it's literally the biggest wooden castle in the world. We're not sure how many entrants there were for that category, but we're pretty sure it's still a big deal. And when we say this place is made entirely of wood, we mean every last little nook and cranny. Literally, there are no metal nails or screws here. We don't really understand the physics of it all, we just know it's an absolute beaut. It's full to the brim with intricate carvings for you to gawp at, and you can follow the stairwells and explore the different floors to see what all the fuss is about.
Nong Nooch Tropical Garden
We know, we know - 'tropical garden' might sound a bit like a yawn fest for the kiddos, but hear us out when we say that this place is no ordinary bit of grass and foliage. It's actually a whopping botanical park (the biggest in South East Asia, we'll have you know), and it's split into different zones so you can do a bit of everything. It's got landscaped mazes that look like something from Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland, a palm tree collection with over 1,100 different species, and a wildlife area where the peacocks, goats, turtles and deer roam about. This place is so big, it even hosts seminars for students and has its own school of landscape design. Wowzarooney. Oh, and there's a restaurant and caf where you can stop for a bite. Perfect day out? We just found it.
Big Buddha Temple
This big, golden beauty is perched in the hillside overlooking Pattaya, and it's all the rage with the locals. First and foremost, it's a place of worship, so it's respectful to swap the shorts and tee for something a bit more reserved here. Even if you're not the religious type, though, this place is still somewhere you're gonna want to see - because where else can you find a huge golden Buddha towering over the town? Being honest, it's a *bit* of a trek to get to, but it's totally free to enter and opening hours are super chill (6am 'til 7pm), so you can head on up whenever suits.

We'd recommend checking with your healthcare provider for all up-to-date vaccination advice before booking your holiday.

At the moment, there is no tourist tax in Pattaya.

Pattaya Holidays

Destination highlights

What are the best beaches in Pattaya?

What are the top hotels in Pattaya?

Popular Pattaya hotels

Weather in Pattaya

JAN

FEB

MAR

APR

MAY

JUN

JUL

AUG

SEP

OCT

NOV

DEC

View destination on a map

FAQs

What currency do they use in Pattaya?

What language do they speak in Pattaya?

How long does it take to fly to Pattaya?

What's the time difference between the UK and Pattaya?

Hit the slides at Ramayana Waterpark

Eat your art out at Art in Paradise

See where the night takes you at Walking Street

Snap some pics from Pattaya Viewpoint

Whatever floats your market

Go big (and definitely not home) at Mini Siam

What events can I go to in Pattaya?

Where's the best nightlife in Pattaya?

What's the food like in Pattaya?

Places to visit

Sanctuary of Truth Museum

Nong Nooch Tropical Garden

Big Buddha Temple

Key facts about Pattaya

Flight Time

13hrs

Time Difference

+6 hrs

Currence

Thai Baht

Language

Thai

Do I need any vaccinations to visit Pattaya?

Do I need to pay tax on my holiday to Pattaya?