Pattaya Holidays

As a coastal resort, one of the most popular things to do in Pattaya is head to the beach. Crescent-shaped Pattaya Beach is the liveliest option – and, at four kilometres long, there’s plenty of room for visitors. Besides swimming and sunbathing, it offers parasailing, jet skiing and even banana boat rides. Jomtien Beach, to the south, is cleaner and more subdued, but still a hotspot for watersports. But if you’re after the kind of pristine beaches common in the south of Thailand, you’ll need to hop on a boat and head to either Koh Larn (Coral Island) or Koh Phai (Bamboo Island). Both are excellent snorkelling and diving destinations.

It’s not all about sun, sea and sand though. Other things to do in Pattaya include marvelling at the enormous golden Buddha at Wat Phra Yai – known in English as Big Buddha Temple – or taking a spill on the slides at Ramayana Water Park. And definitely don’t miss the intricately-carved Sanctuary of Truth – an ornate teak building which stands as a monument to Thai craftsmanship.

After beaches, nightlife’s what Pattaya’s most renowned for. Much like Khao San Road in Bangkok and Bangla Road in Phuket, the city’s Walking Street draws hoards of revellers every night once the sun goes down. The thoroughfare closes to vehicles at 7pm and over the following few hours it really comes to life. Neon lights illuminate what is often quite a bawdy spectacle. Street performers parade the length of Walking Street, and music blares from the venues on either side. These range from pubs and restaurants to go-go bars and venues hosting ping-pong shows. There are also nightclubs with packed dance floors, and places to watch kathoey, or ladyboy, cabaret shows.

Away from Walking Street, there are a number of night markets where you can pick up all manner of souvenirs. Or for something altogether more sophisticated, take in the view from one of Pattaya’s many rooftop bars.

Golf’s not an activity that immediately springs to mind when you think of Thailand. But the country’s golfing history actually dates back to the reign of King Rama V, with the first golf course being built in Hua Hin in 1923. There are now approximately 250 golf courses across the country. And with over 20 courses in the area, Pattaya’s the most popular golfing destination in Thailand – and one of the best in Asia.

A number of Pattaya golf courses have been designed by famous players. Laem Chabang International Country Club has a championship course designed by Jack Nicklaus, while Nick Faldo designed the 18-hole, par-72 course at King Naga Golf Club. The Siam Country Club is one of the best places to play in the region. It’s actually three courses in one – there’s the Old Course, the Plantation Course, and the picturesque Waterside Course. Although playing golf in Thailand is generally cheaper than in Europe or the US, it’s still one of the more expensive activities on offer in Pattaya.

The best time to visit Pattaya depends on your priorities. Like most of Thailand, it stays warm all year round – temperatures rarely drop below mid-twenties – but it has distinct wet and dry seasons. If your main concern is the weather, you should book a Pattaya holiday between November and February. This time of year sees average highs of 31°C and very little rain, so it’s great if you fancy some winter sun. But be aware this is also peak tourist season. So prices are high, accommodation gets booked up and beaches are crowded.

Come March, temperatures start to creep up and humidity increases, and it can be unpleasantly hot and sticky until the wet season arrives in June. Although there’s a high probability of thunderstorms from June to August, you may still have good weather. The downpours will be intense but brief, so there’ll still be plenty of sunshine. And with visitor numbers lower than in peak season, there are great deals to be had as well. September and October, however, are extremely wet, so holidays to Pattaya are best avoided at this time.