Do

Beaches

Pattaya's main beaches are popular and busy places. For the thrill-seekers, activities include banana-boat rides, jet-skiing, water-skiing, parasailing, windsurfing, and the like; and anyone who just wants to enjoy a simple swim or a good splash around with a frisbee or rented inner tube will always find themselves with plenty of company. However, while in and beyond the surf, a wary eye does need to be kept on the more frenetic elements of the passing traffic.

For those more interested in inactivities there are acres of sand jam-packed with recliners and umbrellas (usually with an "in-house" supply of drinks), serviced by an army of laid-back but tenacious hawkers offering anything and everything from food (especially seafood, fruit, ice cream) to massage, manicure/pedicure, tattoos, lottery tickets, newspapers, herbs, flowers, gems, perfumes, sunglasses, CDs, watches, lighters, clothes, toys, souvenirs, handycrafts (it's a bit like TV shopping - as soon as you've declined one offer, it's time to consider another) and so on. Eventually you buy a very dark pair of sunglasses, and after that you just pretend to be asleep.

Naklua's beaches are generally the cleanest and most suitable for quiet relaxation. To the far north, Naklua Beach is the main strip, with the smaller Crescent Moon Beach and Palm Beach to the south, and beyond them Wong Amat Beach (accessed via Naklua, but located at the northern end of Pattaya Bay).
Pattaya Beach (Hat Pattaya) is around 3 km long and bordered by Beach Road. Due to its central location and extreme proximity to several hundred hotels, and because it's a relatively narrow strip of sand, it's crowded at the best of times (and even more so at high tide). Hefty fines for littering help keep the sand neat and tidy, however the sea is not so clean around here.
Beyond the southern tip of Pattaya Bay (Ao Pattaya), around the Buddha Hill headland that separates central Pattaya from Jomtien, are several smaller beaches.

Dongtan Beach, at the northern end of Jomtien Bay, has a traffic-free promenade, and the area in front of the Avalon Beach Resort is popular with gay visitors.

Entertainment Pattaya

see also the Drink (nightlife) section

Cinemas in Thailand tend to be severely air conditioned - bring a long sleeve shirt, or jacket, or both! Otherwise, the two large mall cinemas in Pattaya are mostly up to Western standards. Some (but by no means all) Thai-language films are subtitled in English (check the billing at the theatre) and some films will have both subtitled and non-subtitled showings.

Cinema patrons must stand during the King's anthem; singing along is generally frowned upon.

SF Multiplex - Central Festival (Big-C) - tel. +66-38361500 (current movie showtimes) has six theatres with ticket prices around 90 baht, slightly more at weekends. The unripe mango for sale here are generally quite tasty.
SF Multiplex - Royal Garden Plaza - tel. +66-38428057 (current movie showtimes) has two theatres, with prices 10-20 baht lower than the Central Festival location.
Video games are a popular pastime in Thailand, and PlayStation shops and computer game shops can be seen all over Pattaya. The usual rate is 20 baht/hour, making for pretty cheap entertainment, but expect things to get very crowded and loud in the hours after school lets out. There's a big shop on Soi Chaiyaphum (right off Soi Buakhao across from Soi Diana Inn) that's open 24/7 and has more comfortable chairs.

There are a couple of arcades in town - one is behind the cinema at Central Festival (Big-C), the other is in the Tesco Lotus complex on North Pattaya Road (but neither is worth getting excited about) - and touch-screen amusement machines are scattered throughout the shopping malls.

Songkran Pattaya

Songkran is the Thai New Year, celebrated primarily by everyone throwing prodigious quantities of water at anything that moves. Pattaya officially celebrates Songkran on later dates (April 18-19) than most of the rest of the country (April 13-15) - but in reality the fun just starts early and keeps on going that much longer. During this period many hotels and guesthouses have high occupancy levels, and public transport services (especially buses to/from Bangkok) are very busy, with more frequent than normal departures but also with appreciable delays due to the general mayhem on the roads.

Songkran in Pattaya follows the same overall pattern as seen elsewhere in Thailand, but is especially vigorous in areas such as Soi 7 and Soi 8. Expect to get very wet indeed and you're unlikely to be disappointed - regardless of where you go or what you actually plan to do. Although things calm down considerably after dusk, it's still worth keeping anything that could easily be damaged (especially cameras, mobile telephones, passports etc) in plastic bags.

As is the case throughout Thailand, Songkran is a particularly dangerous time on the roads, and especially for motorcyclists and moto-taxi passengers. It's also a bad time to get caught without protection for your luggage while travelling in a songthaew, so if arriving or departing during this period, either plan ahead (bin-liners are invaluable) or else take a taxi instead.

Learn Pattaya

Language and Thai Cultural School, 571/1 Pattaya-Naklua Road (right on the crest of the hill) tel. +66-38421919 [12] open Mon-Fri 08:00-16:00, Sat 08:00-18:00. Teaches languages (Thai, English, German - rates depend on group size), Thai cookery (10 hours - 3900 baht + ingredients), fruit carving (10 hours - 3900 baht + materials, Ministry of Education certification available after 30 hours), Thai massage (10 hours - 3900 baht), and yoga/meditation (5 hours - 1900 baht).

Sports Pattaya

Pattaya can provide for an entire holiday of sports and activities.

Pattaya Sports Club [13] (tel. +66-38361167) is primarily an organisation for local sportsmen/women and has good online resources for those seeking to play golf or other sports while in the area.

aerobics Pattaya :
A free open-air aerobics class is held alongside the beach next to the junction of Beach Road and Soi Yodsak (Soi 6) daily at 18:00.
Aqua-aerobics exercise classes are held at the Dusit Resort Sports & Fitness Club - tel. +66-38425611 ext.226

Badminton Pattaya :
Ambassador City Sports Centre, 21/10 Moo 2 Sukhumvit Road - tel. +66-38231501 /4
Pattaya Badminton Club, 390/10 Moo 10 Soi 17 (near Third Road, South Pattaya) tel. +66-38425397 / +66-38429532

Billiards Pattaya/ pool / snooker:
Every second or third bar in Pattaya has a pool table - that's a heck of a lot of tables - and there are numerous inter-bar/club pool leagues. Places to try if you're looking for a really good table include:
Bowling Plus, Second Road (at the junction with Soi Regent Marina) has 6 pool tables plus 2 full-size snooker tables; air-con, open daily 10:00-02:00, 120 baht/table/hour.
Hot Tuna Pool Club, Walking Street (opposite Tony's Entertainment Complex) has 5 pool tables in an open-fronted non-aircon bar setting and charges 20 baht/table/game; open daily 18:00-04:00.
There are three full-size tables at the very back of the cluster of outdoor beer bars on Soi Made In Thailand (next to the Made In Thailand Night Plazar, on Second Road) - 20 baht/table/game or 60 baht/table/hour.

Bridge Pattaya :
Pattaya Bridge Club, tel. +66-38423108 /9 [14] meets at the Mercure Hotel, Soi 15, on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 13:00.
bungee jumping:
Bungee Jump, 248/10 Moo 12 Thepprasit Road; tel. +66-38300608 - open 08:00-18:00.
Jungle Bungy Jump (15 minutes from town centre) tel. +66-78336655 [15]. Located in a beautiful tropical setting, 165 feet (50 metres) over a jungle lagoon. Will provide collect/return transport anywhere in Pattaya; open 09:00-18:00.

Cycling Pattaya :
buy - budget (from around 2000 baht for something basic but usable): see the Buy | Supermarkets section
buy - mid-range: LA Bicycle, 300/31-32 Moo 12 Thepprasit Road; tel. +66-38300606 / 953 - open 09:00-20:00.
buy - splurge: S.V. Bike Shop, 62/1-3 Thepprasit Road Soi 8; tel. +66-38300378 - open Mon-Sat 08:00-19:00 (2006 model Trek 4300 = 13500 baht; this costs around 10000 baht in Bangkok).

Fishing Pattaya:
Deep Sea Fishing excursions by Nature Service Tour (tel. +66-38427660) leave Bali Hai Pier on Saturdays, Tuesdays and Thursdays at 09:00, and return at 17:30. The 1220 baht/person price includes breakfast, lunch, a visit to a nearby island beach and swimming opportunities.
North Pattaya Fishing Park (pictures) also known as "Soi 3 Fishing Park" charges 100 baht/house rod, bait 20 baht/packet - and serves food and drink and has live music after dark.

Flying, paragliding & skydiving Pattaya :
Chonburi Flying Club [16] (CMT) airstrip is 5 km east of Bang Phra, on the Chonburi-Pattaya bypass road (Highway #7).
Eastern Flying Club [17] airstrip is 5 km east of Pattaya, off Sukhumvit Road Soi 87.
Pattaya Airpark [18] airstrip is 20 km south of Pattaya, adjacent to the Phoenix Golf Club.
Thai Flying Club [19] is based at Bang Phra Airport, just north of Si Racha, about 30 minutes drive from Pattaya. Their website is a good resource for further information on recreational aviation in Thailand.

Golf Pattaya :
The Mini Golf Pub (Thappraya Road; on the left just past the flyover when headed to Jomtien) - 18 holes, refreshments available; 100 baht/person, open 10:00-23:00. Their cat sometimes acts as a self-propelled obstacle (no extra charge).
Pattaya City Golf [20] (at the Nova Lodge Hotel on Beach Road, next to the junction with Pattaya Central Road) - 18 holes, plus chipping, driving and putting areas for the more serious golfer; refreshments served at the waterfront bar; 140 baht/person, open 09:00-01:00. Caddy service available!
driving ranges:
Diana Driving Range, Diana Garden Resort, 209/112 Moo 6, North Pattaya Road (open daily 06:30-23:00) tel. +66-38415212 /23
Harold's Golf Driving Range & Pro Golf Shop, Pratumnak Soi 4 [21] tel. +66-38250658
Green Way Driving Range, Sukhumvit Road - tel. +66-38232083
Pattaya Driving Range, Third Road - tel. +66-38370462 /3
Pride Driving Range, Sukhumvit Road (previously "Dono" - directly opposite Pattaya Central Road) tel. +66-38488349
Tommy Driving Range, Thepprasit Road - tel. +66-38251564
golf clubs:
Bangpra International Golf Club - tel. +66-38341149 /50
Burapha Golf Club [22] tel. +66-38345151 /2 / +66-38345611 /13
The Century Golf & Country Club (Rayong) - tel. +66-38602889 / +66-38603999
Chonburi Century Country Club - tel. +66-22606000
Eastern Star Resort Country Club - tel. +66-38630410 /17
Great Lake Golf & Country Club - tel. +66-13211913
Khao Kheaw Country Club [23] tel. +66-38298224
Laemchabang International Country Club [24] tel. +66-38372273
Legacy Crystal Bay Golf Club [25] tel. +66-38349370 /80
Legacy Mountain Shadow Golf Club [26] tel. +66-38393001 /8
Noble Place Golf Resort & Country Club [27] tel. +66-14849066 / +66-14849069
Pattaya Country Club & Resort [28] tel. +66-12112491 / +66-12120278
Phoenix Golf & Country Club - tel. +66-38239391 /8
Plutaluang Navy Golf Course [29] tel. +66-38431189
Rayong Green Valley Country Club - tel. +66-38603000 /5
Royal Lakeside Golf Club & Resort - tel. +66-38573275 /9
Siam Country Club Golf Course - tel. +66-38249381 /6
Soi Dao Highland Golf Course - tel. +66-39322831 /2
Sriracha Golf Club [30] tel. +66-38338375 /8
St. Andrews 2000 Golf Club - tel. +66-38893807 /8
Treasure Hill Golf & Country Club - tel. +66-38420766

Gyms Pattaya :
Central Pattaya Gym, Pratamnak Road (next to Central Pattaya Hotel) tel. +66-38364573 /80. A small non-aircon weights-orientated gym, open daily 08:00-23:00; 60 baht/day, 250 baht/week, 700 baht/month (includes limited free use of swimming pool), 7000 baht/year (includes unlimited free use of swimming pool).
Sitpholek World Class Fitness Centre, 217/10 Sukhumvit Road (north Pattaya); tel. +66-99345001 (English) / +66-95055840 (Thai) / sitpholek_frank@hotmail.com - attached to a Muay Thai (Thai boxing) centre, friendly and helpful staff, air-con. Open daily 09:00-00:00; 120 baht/day, 400 baht/week, 600 baht/fortnight, 1000 baht/month, 1750 baht/2m, 2000 baht/3m, 4500 baht/6m, 8000 baht/year - or any 10 days for 750 baht (no expiry date).
Tony's Gym & Muay Thai Academy, Third Road (340/6 - two blocks north of the junction with Pattaya South Road); tel. +66-38414058 /9. Modern air-con gym oriented more towards the body-building brigade, also offers spa/sauna/steam room & "Japanese style" massage as well as Muay Thai training facilities. Open 24/7; prices 150 baht/visit, 790 baht/week, 1290 baht/2w, 1490 baht/3w, 1590 baht/month, 3990 baht/3m, 5990 baht/year, 18000 baht/life - or 1200 baht for 10 visits within one 30 day period. see also the "Muay Thai" section (below)
Tony's Tennis Club & Fitness Center, Third Road (313/5 Moo 10 - just south of the junction with Pattaya South Road); tel. +66-38488548 /9. Modern air-con gym and general keep-fit facility, also offers aerobics, yoga, tennis, swimming pool, spa/sauna/steam room & "Japanese style" massage, as well as tennis facilities. Personal trainers also available, from 500 baht/hour. Open 24/7, except for the swimming pool which is closed 23:00-06:00. Prices - gym: 180 baht/visit, 2000 baht/2w, 2200 baht/3w, 2400 baht/month, 6000 baht/3m, 7500 baht/6m, 12000 baht/year, 29900 baht/life - or 1600 baht for 10 visits within one 30 day period; aerobics: 950 baht/month; swimming: 180 baht/adult, 99 baht/child, swimming lessons 2200 baht/10hrs, 4000 baht/20hrs. see also the "Tennis" section (below)

Horse riding Pattaya :
Horseshoe Point, 100 Moo 9, Tambon Pong; tel. +66-38735050 [31]. One of South-East Asia's largest and most respected riding schools, catering to all experience levels and offering private lessons for 1600 baht/hour (discounts available for groups of 5+ and multi-lesson packages).
Horse back riding, Highway #36 (near Bira International Circuit - about 18 km from Pattaya) [32] willinetzer@yahoo.com tel. +66-13020814
Pattaya Riding Club, 111/1 Moo 12 Thepprasit Road; tel. +66-38255888

Hot air balloon flights :
Funk's Ballonfahrten [33] offers a 4-5 hour experience including collection at around 05:00, refreshments, one hour baloon flight, champagne breakfast, certificate, and transport back to your hotel around 11:00 for 8500 baht. Daily from November through March.

Jet-skiing Pattaya rentals are available along all the popular beaches, with rates starting around 600 baht for 30 minutes. A common scam involves some operators attempting to collect surcharges for supposed damage - call the Tourist Police (1155) if necessary.

Motorsport Pattaya:
Bira International Circuit (tel. +66-22803547 / +66-25221731 /8) is about 15 km from Pattaya on the Pattaya-Rayong Road (Highway #36) and hosts 2 and 4 wheel race events at weekends. Highside Tours offers one day (16000) and three day (60000 baht) motorcycle track-day packages at Bira - see their website for details.
A.N. ATVs & Motocross, Thepprasit Road (near Pattaya Kart Speedway); tel. +66-46778452 / +66-52227882. Small off-road circuit, open daily 09:00-18:00 (not floodlit).
K.R. Go-Kart, 62/125 Moo 12 Thepprasit Road; tel. +66-38300347 /9. Large tarmac circuit, refreshments available; open Mon-Fri 10:00-19:30, Sat/Sun & public holidays 09:00-20:00 (floodlit).
Pattaya Kart Speedway, 248/2 Moo 12 Thepprasit Road; tel. +66-38422044 [34]. "Beginner", "Professional", and "off-road" tracks; open daily 09:30-18:30 (not floodlit).
Siam Karting Circuit, 387 Moo 6 Sukhumvit Road (near Mini Siam) tel. +66-38727410 open daily 09:00-21:00.

Muay Thai Pattaya :
Thai boxing matches can be seen at numerous locations, including several of the beer bar complexes off Beach Road and one complex on Walking Street.
Pattaya Kombat Village (Muay Thai Training School), Darapan 3 93/123 Moo 12, Soi 8 Khoatalo Nongprue Banglamung; tel. +66-95433450 [35]. Certified courses, for everyone to learn and practice Thai boxing.
Sitpholek Boxing Centre, 217/10 Sukhumvit Road (north Pattaya); tel. +66-99345001 (English) / +66-95055840 (Thai) / sitpholek_frank@hotmail.com Mon-Sat 14:00-20:00 (the attached gym is open 09:00-00:00 seven days a week). 270 baht/day, 1100 baht/week, 2000 baht/fortnight, 3500 baht/month - or 2250 baht for any 10 days (no expiry date).
Tony's Gym & Muay Thai Academy, Third Road (see "gyms" section, above, for details) is open 14:30-20:30. Two prices for everything - the lower price if you're already paying to use the attached gym, otherwise the higher price: 180/280 baht/day, 950/1400 baht /week, 1500/2400 baht/fortnight, 2000/1490 baht/3w, 2800/3900 baht/month - or 1500/2300 baht for 10 visits (no expiry date).

Paintballing Pattaya :
Paintball Park, 248/10 Moo 12 Thepprasit Road; tel. +66-38300608 - open 08:00-18:00

Parasailing / parascending Pattaya :
Speedboat-towed parachute rides are available along the main beaches, and in Pattaya Bay from several large floating platforms with speedboats ferrying customers out from the shore - typically about 500 baht per flight.

Rugby Pattaya :
Pattaya Panthers Rugby club - c/o Jameson's The Irish Pub, 80/146 Moo 9 Soi Sukrudee (Soi A.R.) - tel. +66-38415304 /8

Running in Pattaya :
jogging (and even walking) around Pattaya can be a potentially hazardous affair: crazy drivers, traffic fumes, non-existent sidewalks or loose pavements, low-hanging electric wires and awnings, and dogs are just a few of the obstacles you'll encounter. Your best bet might be Naklua - less crowded beaches, wider streets, less traffic and even a few trees - but take care at night as it's poorly lit. There's a new walkway around the ocean side of the Dusit Resort that connects the north and south beaches; or for a few football-pitch sized laps on grass, try the "Sky World Fun Park" behind the Inter Snooker Club on the Pattaya-Naklua Road (right on the crest of the hill).
Pattaya Hash House Harriers (tel. +66-38410265 / +66-38420071) meet every Monday at 15:00 at the Scandinavia Bar & Restaurant on Beach Road (between Soi 13 and Soi Yamoto (Soi 13/1)); weekly run sets off every Monday at 16:00 from The Hare House, Soi Post Office (Soi 13/2).
Pattaya Marathon websites: www.pattaya-marathon.com & www.thailandmarathon.org

Sailing Pattaya :
Gulf Charters Thailand tel. +66-38237752 fax. +66-38237751 [36] manages a fleet of ten 32 foot to 70 foot catamaran and keelboat sailing yachts based at Ocean Marina (near Pattaya) and at Ko Chang. Bookings accepted direct and via travel agencies.
Ocean Marina Yacht Club, 274/1-9 Moo 4 Sukhumvit Road (Sattahip); tel. +66-237310 /23 fax. +66-38237325 [37]
Royal Varuna Yacht Club, 286 Moo 12 Pratamnak Road; tel. +66-38250116 / +66-38306290 fax. +66-38250115 [38]

Scuba dive training and trips for a wide range of ability levels and interests, certified by a number of different organisations, including both NAUI and PADI, are available through numerous dive shops. Dive sites
Adventure Divers and Watersports (Adventure Scuba) [39] tel. +66-38710899 (Soi Yamato (Soi 13/1)) / +66-38364453 (Tappraya Road)
Aquanauts [40] tel. +66-38361724 (Soi Yodsak (Soi 6)) / tel. +66-38710727 (Soi Pattayaland 1 (Soi 13/3))
Aqua Relax - tel. +66-38710900 (Soi Post Office (Soi 13/2))
Asian Sport asport@loxinfo.co.th tel. +66-38373700 /1 (Sukhumvit Road)
Dave's Divers Den - tel. +66-38420411 (Central Pattaya Road)
Dive South East Asia [41] tel. +66-38362300 (Nova Lodge Hotel, Central Road)
Mermaids Scuba Diving Centre [42] tel. +66-38232219 / 220 (Jomtien Beach Road)
Neptune Dive Centre [43] tel. +66-38710131 (Pratamnak Road)
Paradise Scuba Divers [44] tel+fax. +66-38710567 (Soi 10) / tel+fax. +66-38303333 (Jomtien)
P J Scuba [45] tel. +66-18644490 (Jomtien Beach Road)
Scuba Tek Dive Center rickr@loxinfo.co.th tel. +66-38361616 (Second Road)
Seaduction Dive Center andycrosby@hotmail.com tel. +66-60765668 (Bali Hai Pier)
Seafari Dive Center [46] tel. +66-38429060 (Soi 5)
Siam Divers [47] tel. +66-38710329 (Beach Road)

Shooting Pattaya :
Pattaya Shooting Club and Fishing Park, 1/6 Moo 4 Soi Wat Huay-Yai, Sukhumvit Road (10 minutes from town centre) tel. +66-38255488.
Tiffany's Shooting Range, 464 Moo 9, Second Road (Tiffany's Show building, ground floor) tel. +66-38421700 /5 fax. +66-38421711 tiffany@tiffany-show.co.th. The only indoor shooting range in Pattaya - 19 lanes, minimum age 18, open daily 09:00-21:00.
Ko Laan has an outdoor shooting range located just north of Naban Pier that's open daily 07:30-17:00, with prices from 400 baht for six rounds with a handgun - see the Beaches | Islands section

Squash Pattaya :
Ambassador City Sports Centre, 21/10 Moo 2 Sukhumvit Road - tel. +66-38231501 /4

Sports clubs Pattaya :
Bamrung Sport Club (Huai Sak Nok reservoir, off Sukhumvit Road - tel. +66-38249841) provides facilities for canoeing and kayaking, horse riding, paragliding, sailing (including catamarans), and windsurfing.

Swimming Pattaya :
Honey Inn (Soi Honey Inn, off Second Road) has a fairly quiet pool which is open 24/7. There's also a bar, a pool table, and an assortment of sun loungers. Non-guests: 50 baht/day.
Mike Shopping Mall (see Malls) has a large rooftop pool - take the elevator or stairs up to the 10th floor (the escalators don't go that far). There's a very small snacks counter and a good view of most of Pattaya Bay. Get there early to grab one of the sun loungers, and don't forget your swimming costume (shorts are not permitted). Open 11:00-19:00, 80 baht/adult, 60 baht/child, or 1600 baht for a one month pass.

Tennis Pattaya :
Pattaya Tennis Association [48]
Tony's Tennis Club & Fitness Center, Third Road (see "gyms" section, above, for details) is open 24/7 and charges 120/220 baht/daytime, 210/310 baht/nighttime (the lower price if you're already paying to use the attached gym/pool/etc, otherwise the higher price); 50 baht for racket hire, 100 baht for locker/towel rental.

Water skiing & wakeboarding :
Air-Time Watersports Camp, Dok Krai Lakeside Resort, Dok Krai Reservoir (Rayong); tel. +66-18616736
Lakeland Water Cable Ski (Highway #3 - tel. +66-38232690 /2) about 5 km from Pattaya has cable ski facilities on a large freshwater lake. Open daily 10:00-21:00.
Club Taco Water Cable Ski, Located on Kilometer 14 on BangNa road, Club Taco provides equipment and a lake to experience water activities on. Open 12-dark Mon-Fri, 10-Dark weekend, 200 baht-hour, 300 baht-2 hou, 400 baht-3 hour, 500 baht-all day.

Windsurfing & kitesurfing :
Club Loong Chat Watersport Club (on the beach by the Pinnacle Hotel)
Cuttlebone Kiteboarding School