Things To Do in Pattaya

Wat Khao Phra Yai is a small temple complex high above town to the south (go by songtaew toward Jomtien, and then hop off and climb the steep hill). The temple has excellent vistas and a 10m (33-ft.) gold Buddha serenely surveying the western sea.

The Sanctuary of Truth was started in 1981 by a Thai millionaire and remains a work in progress to this day. The structure, made entirely without nails, was originally constructed as a statement-making piece of art about the balance of different cultures. It has four wings in total, and they're dedicated to Thai, Khmer, Chinese, and Indian iconography.

Ko Lan is a popular beach escape only 7km offshore. The island is accessible by speedboat in just 15 minutes (approximately 2,000B chartered near Beach Road) or via a ferry leaving from the South Pattaya Pier (30B; 45-minute ride). Ferries are often very crowded and fill up fast, but they leave 11 times a day; the last boat returns around 6pm. On Ko Lan are five white sand beaches with plenty of places to grab snacks or lunch (they're all indistinguishable from each other so don't be too picky), and water that is much cleaner than nearby Pattaya. Tip: It’s best to early in the morning to claim a quiet spot before the mid-day rush.  

Especially for Kids

Art in Paradise at 78/34 Moo 9 Pattaya Sai 2 (www.artinparadise.co.th; tel. 03842-4500), uses cleverly drawn 3D paintings to create wild optical illusions. If ever there was a place for embracing Asia’s selfie-taking habit, this is it. Tickets are 400B for adults and 200B for children. Hokier still, Ripley’s Believe It or Not, 218 Beach Rd. (www.ripleysthailand.com; tel. 03871-0294) is open daily 11am to 11pm (admission 500B). It’s crammed with exhibits highlighting odd facts from around the globe, alongside an infinity maze, and lots of optical illusions. Great for kids and families looking to escape the heat or an occasional rainy day. Underwater World, 22/22 Moo 11, Sukhumvit Road (www.underwaterworldpattaya.com; tel. 03875-6879) is a large aquarium with touch pools, feeding stations for hungry koi fish, and glass tunnels that pass through tanks filled with sharks and colorful fish. Admission is 500B for adults and 300B for children.

Central Pattaya is predominately a sea of flashing neon and blaring music, even in the smaller sois. Walking Street becomes a pedestrian zone in the evening in South Pattaya, on Beach Roach. Here you will see debauchery at its fullest, with an array of go-go bars, open-air drinking establishments, Thai boxing venues (before you place a bet, the fights are all fixed), and, of course, overpriced tourist restaurants. Regular bars and places with live music can also be found. The energy on the street, whether good or bad, is riotous by evening. In daylight, the passageway is bleak, with bleary-eyed revelers stumbling through seedy storefronts.

Sex for money in Pattaya is an unashamedly direct business. Dubious massage parlors are numerous in northern Pattaya. Hotels insist "visitors" (a euphemism for prostitutes) register their ID with security guards, whereupon the client pays a "joiner fee." Despite its prevalence, prostitution in Thailand is illegal, so be prepared to risk a police raid, or hefty bribe to the local police or mafia, not to mention a call to your embassy. It's not all innocent fun. Stories of laced drinks and aggravated theft (or worse) abound. AIDS and STDs are major concerns. To prove they are cracking down, authorities are particularly happy to splash photos of any foreigners caught with young girls or boys across the international media.

Happily, Pattaya is not entirely sleazy these days. There are still some good bars where you can go to enjoy a drink and listen to live music without being propositioned. Topping the list is the Hops Brewhouse Pattaya (219 Beach Rd.; hopsbrewhouse.co.th; tel. 03871-0650). Designed like a German brewery, this no-strings-attached spacious watering hole brews its own beer and has an in-house band that plays easy-listening tunes. Horizon Bar (at the Hilton Hotel; tel. 03825-3000), a glitzy rooftop 34 floors high that has a buy-one-get-one promotion around sunset and regular DJs.

The town’s camped-up cabaret shows are always good, lighthearted fun. Pattaya’s sensational katoeys (transsexuals) love to don sequined gowns and feather boas and strut their stuff to packed houses nightly. Tiffany’s (464 Moo 9, 2nd Road.; www.tiffany-show.co.th; tel. 03842-1700) has hilarious shows, much like those in other tourist towns in Thailand.