Itineraries for Your Trip to Pattaya
3 Days in Pattaya for First Timers
Full disclosure: Pattaya wasn’t at the top of my list of places to visit in Thailand. Its reputation as the country’s hedonist and overly touristed nightlife hub didn’t feel like the best fit for a solo female backpacker like myself. But on some of my many trips to Bangkok, I found myself escaping to the capital’s closest beach resort, and it turns out there’s plenty to explore beyond the party scene.
With three days in Pattaya, this itinerary will steer you away from the nightlife (there’s a little taste of that, too!) to enjoy a floating market, an island escape, and an elephant sanctuary. Who says Pattaya is just a party town?
If you only have time for one thing, make it a boat cruise to the nearby islands.
If you visit in the hot season (March-April), time your visit for the Songkran water festival to combat the heat.
Take a guided tour to see Pattaya’s many faces. Stroll down Walking Street for a peek at the famous nightlife area without the crowds, take photos at Bali Hai Pier and the Pattaya City sign, and visit the Big Buddha temple. At lunchtime, head to the Pattaya Floating Market and continue to the hand-carved Sanctuary of Truth.
Swap the massage parlors and go-go bars downtown for dinner by the beach. You reach the Tappia Floating Café by boat from the pier; it serves fresh seafood and signature cocktails—go squid fishing off the boat, and the chef will cook your catch.
The jungle-clad island of Koh Larn, or Coral Island, is known for its white sand beaches and clear waters. Zip out on a speedboat and spend the day swimming and snorkeling. There are plenty of water sports to keep you entertained, from sea kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding to jet-skiing and banana boat rides.
Back in Pattaya, get glammed up and head out to the cabaret. Thailand’s transgender cabarets are world-renowned, and Tiffany’s Show is one of the longest-running, with more than 100 performers and a history dating back to 1974.
Leave the beach behind and travel to the heart of the rainforest for a morning tour of an elephant sanctuary. Get a closer look at the mighty animals, learn about the elephants and the sanctuary's work from the trained staff, and bathe alongside the elephants in their natural environment.
Continue the day’s wildlife theme with a visit to Thailand’s first modern aquarium, Underwater World Pattaya. Admire the colorful coral, spot sharks, and manta rays, and learn plenty of marine life facts. Afterward, head down to Pattaya Beach for a final sunset.