With a reputation as Thailand’s ‘Pearl of the Orient’ and one of Asia’s top party destinations, Pattaya is consistently ranked as one of the world’s most exciting destinations. While it might be best known for its wild nightlife, there’s so much more to this laidback seaside town than just that!
Explore the local culture and history, go on road trips and visit the highlights of this popular destination, so without further ado, here’s everything you need to know about Pattaya.
Where Is Pattaya
Pattaya is a town on the east coast of Thailand, just a 2 hour drive from Bangkok. It’s known as the “Pearl of the East” and has a reputation as a kind of “Las Vegas of Asia”. It’s known for its beaches and bars but it’s also an oriental city filled with traditional buildings and a bustling nightlife scene.
It’s not a particularly scenic or tranquil place to visit but it’s undeniably very popular and with so many things to see and do there, it’s worth exploring as an alternative to other Thai beach destinations.
What’s The History Of Pattaya
Pattaya is one of Thailand’s oldest cities and has been continuously inhabited since 300 BC. It was an important port city during the Ayutthaya period and during the Second World War, was the last major port city held by the Japanese.
After the 2nd World War, it was designated as a ‘special economic zone’ and became a popular destination for Europeans and Americans during the Vietnam War as it was a stop off point for the American military. The town started to get a reputation for being a kind of ‘Sin City’ for westerners because of this as the US soldiers would spend most of their time meeting the local women as they were unable to get back to America for long periods of time.
It’s not the kind of place anyone would recommend as a first choice destination in Thailand but millions of young and older visitors go there for the beach, bars and outdoor party scene which can be found in several parts of the city.
If you go at the right time of year, you can experience the famous rainy season, which is marked by beautiful rainbows over the sea while sitting on the beach and unfortunately, regular flooding in the city centre which becomes a giant swimming pool washing away anything within it’s grasp including vehicles.
What To See In Pattaya
There are plenty of sights in Pattaya worth seeing and they’re not all related to just the nightlife. You can explore the city’s traditional neighbourhoods, visit the many beaches and explore the cities thousands of cafes, bars and restaurants, many overlooking the sea.
There are also lots of things to do in Pattaya as the city is very easy to navigate. If you have your own transport, then getting around is very easy although you need to stay alert because the traffic can be chaotic. If you don’t have your own mode of transport, there are plenty of taxi’s, baht buses and bike rental shops to choose from or you can always do what most people do and just walk.
Central Pattaya is fairly compact and walkable but obviously if you want to go farther afield, then a taxi or baht bus would be the way to go.
Shopping In Pattaya
Pattaya is famous for its multiple beaches but it’s also one of the best places to shop for traditional Thai crafts. A lot of the items you’ll see on sale in the city have been made locally and shops, malls and markets are filled with sellers selling the traditional items that make up the city’s unique culture.
With so much choice you need to make sure you are buying original hand made items or you might just end up wasting money on tacky tourist gifts or counterfeit goods.
Pattaya is also a good place to buy cheap electronics and i guarantee you’ll pay a lot less than you will in Europe or the U.S but again tread carefully as a lot of electrical items are made with cheap parts that are not meant to last.
Eating In Pattaya
There are many great restaurants in Pattaya so you should make it a priority to try some of the city’s famous dishes like crab with egg, prawn omelette or grilled fish with lemongrass. You can also try some of the city’s best-tasting street food which is often eaten by locals and tourists alike.
There are many delicious dishes in Pattaya that are definitely worth trying and you can easily find them on the menus of most of the local restaurants. Thai’s love spices, the hotter the better it seems, so if you’re not into spices, make sure to tell the restaurant owner not to use them when you order your meal or you will be in for a very big ‘HOT’ surprise. I should know, believe me!!
So, Why Is Pattaya Such A Popular Destination
Pattaya is a laidback town with everything you could want in a coastal destination. There are stunning beaches and clear waters, good restaurants, bars, hotels and a wild nightlife. It’s also a great place to unwind after a long flight and relax on the sand with a book or your own private area on any of the multiple beaches. There are also thousands of accommodation options from hotels to apartments to houses and much more, many at a very cheap price.
It’s undeniably an interesting and a fun destination for a trip to Asia, even as a short break as there plenty of things to do in Pattaya but in my opinion, it’s also an underrated place full of culture and tradition. When the word ‘Pattaya’ is mentioned to many people around the world, the first thing that comes into their minds is the nightlife and the girls but Pattaya is way more than that.
It’s a busy, vibrant, interesting, cheap coastal city with lots to do for all ages, so why not give it a go and see for yourself, i guarantee, you won’t be disappointed.