Pattaya Thailand: The Ultimate Guide 🏖️
Pattaya is a seaside town in Thailand, often overlooked for its beauty. Sure, it’s known as one of the major players in the Thailand red light scene, but there is so much more to Pattaya than just finding the next place to party. We explored Pattaya to find all of the very best spots. Whether you’re looking for a spiritual experience, the best sunset views, or even somewhere to get into nature, we’ve got you covered.
The Sanctuary of Truth
📍 206 Soi Na Kluea 12, Muang Pattaya, Bang Lamung District, Chon Buri 20150
Nestled against the shores of the Pattaya coast, you’ll find the truly breathtaking Sanctuary of Truth. Although it’s solely wooden frame (yes, really!) would have you thinking that the temple had been here for decades, appearances can be deceiving. Businessman Lek Viriyaphan began work on the Sanctuary of Truth in 1981, and the construction continues on today. The details in this building are immense. It’s a tough decision on whether you should crane your neck upwards to admire the detailed ceilings, or simply lean in and take a closer look at the hand carved wooden figures that decorate the walls.
Our biggest tips for visiting the Sanctuary of Truth? Arrive early. Things get busy - fast. Oh, and it’s really, really hot. You travel down to the temple as part of a group, so the earlier, the better. We can even take it one step further and tell you how to skip the line. We bought our tickets on Klook. We got a cheaper rate (400 baht as opposed to 500 baht) and got straight to the front of the queue.
Use our Klook link for Sanctuary of Truth KLOOK Discount!
Visit a rooftop pool
📍 390 หมู่ที่ 9 Pattaya Sai Song Rd, ตำบล หนองปรือ Bang Lamung District, Chon Buri 20150
The Pattaya Beach view is incredibly underrated, and one way to truly take in it's awe and beauty is to get up really high. You’ve got a premium selection of hotels lining the beach, and many allow non-guests in the pool - providing they buy drinks, of course. The views are stunning no matter the time of day, but try to time it for sunset. You won’t regret it.
Our favourite is the Siam @ Siam Design hotel. We paid 300 baht (US$8.59) each to use the pool and that went towards food and drinks. We bought a delicious passion fruit cocktail and bucket of beers for around 800 baht. There are two pools, each on different floors, and the upper one even hosts a DJ most days. We love staying at this hotel when we get the chance to too.
Runway Street Food Market
📍 WVRQ+X5F, Pattaya Sai Song Rd, Pattaya City, Bang Lamung District, Chon Buri 20150
If you’re visiting Thailand, there’s a pretty good chance that you’re looking to sample some local street food. Well, we’re here to tell you that Runway Street food market is where you need to go. Not only does it have its very own full sized airplane, a 747, I believe, but it also has a delicious selection of local delights. You can find stalls of popular Thai favourites, such a mango sticky rice here, as well as things you might not necessarily expect, like fresh sushi. You can have the full tourist experience and sample crispy toasted insects or go high end and gobble down some premium seared meat. The fruit stand that backs onto the road is excellent too. A great place to stop in to pick up fresh Thai fruit.
Castello Di Bellagio
📍 9 Na Chom Thian, Sattahip District, Chon Buri 20250
This is not what you’d except to find just a couple of hours outside of Bangkok or, well, nowhere really, aside from wider Italy. Castello Di Bellagio is an Italian style manor set upon a magnificent grounds. It overlooks a series of on theme buildings, including what looks like a miniature colosseum. This place will have you completely forget where you are, as you dine on Italian food or simply enjoy a coffee on the impressive terrace.
Pippa Rooftop Bar
📍 19th Fl MYTT Hotel 10 Moo 9 North, Pattaya 3 Alley, Bang Lamung District, Chon Buri 20150
Pippa is an upmarket dining experience set in the rooftop of the dazzlingly beautiful Mytt Hotel. The overall design features dashes of green and a selection of plants, looking both appealing as well as somehow making you feel even more at home. The staff were excellent, the food was delicious (and so well presented) and the overall ambience was flawless. We really loved it.
Pattaya Walking Street
Here it is, Walking Street. The very place that gives Pattaya it’s seedy reputation. During the day, you almost wouldn’t even expect it. But after 7:00pm, the road diverts to pedestrians only, and everything changes. The night rolls on, the fluorescent lights are turned up, and you are lured down the street almost in a trance. Sign boards boasting drink specials are thrust in your face, while your head turns from side to side, trying to process all the information, which is, understandably, not doable. Pattaya Walking Street is a completely unique experience, perhaps only drawing contrasts to Bangla Road, Patong, in Phuket. It’s worth a visit, just at least so you can say that you’ve done it. Plus, when you reach the end, you’re almost completely face to face with the Hollywood-style Pattaya sign.
Nong Nooch Botanical Gardens
📍 34 Na Chom Thian, Sattahip District, Chon Buri 20250
If you’re looking for nature or just to check out some dinosaurs (yes, really) then boy, have we found the place for you. Nong Nooch is an ENORMOUS green space in the heart of Pattaya, boasting a beautiful selection of trees and plants from around the world. They take things a little further than your usual botanical gardens by having an entire section dedicated to all things Jurassic. You don’t always except to come face to face with a velociraptor when you’re a-strollin’ through the sunflowers, but hey, it’s Pattaya. Who knows what’s going to happen?
Laser Buddha Sattahip
📍 Wat Khao Chichan, Bang Sare, Sattahip District, Chon Buri 20250
Painstakingly carved into a cliff face, this laser-cut Buddha is 130 metres tall and it's metallic details completely light up with gold during the sunset. You spot this carving on the drive up, and it only gets more impressive the closer you get. Also known as Khao Chi Chan, the visiting hours are between 8:00am - 6:00pm.