Pattaya is about 150 kilometers southeast of Bangkok, situated on the eastern coast of the Gulf of Siam. Around two hours by road from Bangkok, Pattaya stretches for some 15kms. The main attractions here are the beautiful palm-fringed, white sand beaches that offer a magnificent view of coral islands on the horizon.
Pattaya is Thailand’s largest resort and shares its coast line with traditional fishing villages, other resorts such as Bang Saen and Rayong, the towns of Chonburi and Sriracha, and the naval base of Sattahip. Dubbed as the “Queen of Asia's Resorts ", this tropical city has the distinction of being both a beach destination and a thriving cosmopolitan city.
Visitors here can windsurf, water ski, swim, sunbath, snorkel, parasail, or take a short boat trip to the beautiful Ko Lan or coral islands. While golf enthusiasts also have the opportunity to visit the beautiful and challenging golf courses of the Siam Country Club and the Bangphra Golf International Courses, both of which are within 30 minutes from Pattaya.
Pattaya offers something for everyone and has all the ingredients for a truly memorable vacation. This city is divided into four districts;
- Naklua – North Pattaya
- Central Pattaya
- South Pattaya &
- Jomtien Beach
Naklua – North Pattaya
Naklua means “salt fields”, and is the main occupation of this area before the advent of tourism. Northern Pattaya is a more traditional area with old wooden houses and narrow streets, traditional noodle shops and working fishing boats. A walk through the streets of Nakula is a great way to shop for handicrafts and domestic goods.
Central Pattaya
Central Pattaya is also known as Pattaya Klang, and is a more developed area of the city. Here you will find quite a few open-air bars, go-go bars and plenty of tailoring shops. The Pattaya police station and the Immigration office are located here, as is two main shopping malls of Pattaya; the Royal Garden Plaza and Mike’s Place.
South Pattaya
Curving sharply off from Beach Road is South Pattaya Road. The traffic is not allowed here, and this area is known as Walking Street. A relatively recent development, this pedestrian zone allows visitors to browse the endless shops offering 24-hour tailoring services, sports goods, jewelry and souvenirs. There are plenty of bars and seafood restaurants out here that offer a fabulous variety of seafood. However, South Pattaya houses the more infamous side of this city.
Jomtien Beach
This district is a 6 km stretch of beach, cut off from the rest of Pattaya by a big hill. Drive over the hill, past the big Buddha and the Royal Cliff Hotel, and enjoy a relatively quiet day at the beach away from the hustle and bustle of the main city area.
Pattaya's main road is called Beach Road. It is a one-way road from north to south, along the beach. At the south end of the road, the beach ends and shops, restaurants and night spots line the street. After 6 p.m. this road is a pedestrian zone. Parallel to Beach Road is Second Road, Third Road, and then Sukhumvit Highway, which goes north to Bangkok or south to Utapao Airport.
There are three main roads running east and west. Starting at Beach Road, and running through Second Road and Third Road, and terminating at Sukhumvit Highway are North Pattaya Road, Central Pattaya Road, and South Pattaya Road. Connecting Beach Road to Second Road are narrow streets called sois, which are numbered 1, 2, 3, and so on, from north to south.
Reaching Pattaya
Pattaya can be reached by buses leaving both Northern and Southern bus terminals in Bangkok. However, the easiest way reach Pattaya is by utilizing the transport service offered in the arrival area at the airport. There are also many travel and transport companies that offer shared mini-bus or a private car service directly to Pattaya.
Getting around Pattaya
Getting around Pattaya is easy, since it is a relatively small city in terms of size. The most common mode of transportation is a Songtaew, Songtao, or as they are more commonly referred to as, ‘Baht buses’. Baht buses are converted pick up trucks with wooden benches that cruise all roads day and night. The charge is nominal, but it is best to use coins and small denomination notes as drivers do not keep change. The fares vary with each zone of the city, however the basic fare around Beach Road is Bt 5, Bt 10 to Naklua and Bt 30 to Jomtien. Drivers usually ask for Bt 40 to travel to the Royal Cliff Beach Resort.
Common fares – approx.
Pattaya city to Jomtien Beach – Bt. 20
Pattaya city to Naklua – Bt. 20
Pattaya city to bus station – Bt. 20
Jomtien beach to Bus station – Bt. 30
Jomtien Beach to Pattaya Center – Bt. 20
Jomtien Beach to Big C – Bt. 20
All other smaller distances – Bt. 10
If you ask the driver to take you directly to a destination, this bus becomes a taxi and the fare has to be pre-negotiated. Also be prepared to spend Bt. 40-60 at night on a bus trip
Bus Service – January 2005
Route 1 – Yellow Bus. This bus starts from Kratinglai 3-way intersection to Wat Intanararam and to Jomtien Beach, stopping at Thappraya Road, Pratamnak Road, Dolphin Roundabout, Naklua market, Banglamung district office and then goes back to the Kratinglai 3-way intersection. 6 buses are on this route.
Route 2 – Green Bus. Trip starts from North Pattaya bus station, North Pattaya Road, down Sukhumvit Road to Jomtien Beach, Thappraya Road, Pattaya Third Road and along North Pattaya bus station. 5 buses are on this route.
Route 3 – Red Bus. Begins from Soi Potisan (Naklua) along Sukhumvit Road, South Pattaya Road, Chaiyamongkhol Temple, down to Pattaya Second Road and Pattaya Naklua Road to Soi Potisan. 7 buses are on this route.
The bus service runs from 6 a.m. to midnight daily. Ticket prices are: One way - 30 baht for the entire length of route; One day ticket - 90 baht; Three day ticket - 180 baht; Monthly ticket - 900 baht.
Another way to get around Pattaya is by either hiring/renting a car, jeep or motorcycle.
There are plenty of car-rental agencies, and you can negotiate the price with most. Bicycles can be hired from beachside vendors at Bt100 a day, or Bt20 an hour. But if you prefer to drive, you can check out Avis, based at the Dusit Resort, in North Pattaya, or the Budget Car and Truck Rental, or VIA Rent-a Car as well.
