Attractions
Here are a few things to do in Pattaya / Jomtien Beach Area:
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Jomtien
Only 3 km. down Pattaya Beach, Jomtien Beach is highly recommended to those who seek a quieter resort. The 6-kilometer long, largely straight beach is popular with windsurfers and watersports enthusiasts. It is also quieter and more relaxing than Pattaya Beach. Other facilities are available along the road that runs parallel to the shore.
Pattaya
The half-moon-shaped Pattaya Beach is 4 kilometers long with a road running parallel to the beach. From the mid-section to the southern end of the area, there is a vast array of restaurants, bars, department stores, souvenir stores, as well as other places of entertainment. To the north of the beach are various business shops in a quieter atmosphere.
It’s actually free to stroll along the beaches, but operators will charge you for the services they provide, i.e. the beach chairs & tables. The price is roughly 25-50 per chair, though bargaining is rather customary in Thailand.
Pattaya at Night
The variety of nighttime activities continuing until dawn is so diverse that every person would easily find diversions appealing to individual tastes and moods. Most likely any fantasy can be fulfilled, especially after sunset. After dark, the extension of Beach road in South Pattaya turns into a promenade (disallowed only for walking transport, hence: “Walking Street”), transformed into one of the hottest nightspots. A hunting ground beaming with neon lights and music, where fellow holiday-makers youths & aged alike, find an endless array of dining, shopping or entertainment establishments.
Worthy of notice is the discos in Pattaya. A disco is not just a dance palace, but more of a hi-tech extravaganza filled with flashing lights, trendy music, and fun loving crowds. Pattaya is famous for its incredible nightlife activities, and South Pattaya is the jewel in its crown outshining the rest with an incredible array of things to see and do. One can enjoy Thai-boxing or some glaring erotic shows, a wide variety of fascinating shops, restaurants, bars, clubs, discos and other pleasurable establishments, side-by-side with all kinds of shopping. The only required skill is that of time management, so one can experience all the wonders and be on time for what is next.
Pattaya Elephant Village
Located on Phonpraphanimit Road , which is off of Highway No.3 at Km. 145, the Pattaya Elephant Village showcases daily life of elephants and their masters. It also offers stage shows, which demonstrate how to catch wild elephants, elephants-at-work in the jungle, elephants playing football, a grand war, and elephants’ parades. Elephant rides around the village are recommended. The one-hour-long elephant shows are held at 14.30 hrs. Elephant shows are also operated in other places. Most of them are located on Sukhumvit Road . These include Ban Chang Thai Tel: (038) 70628-91, Utthayan Chang Tel: (038) 716379, Thin Chang Thai Tel: (038) 756516, 756577, Suan Chang Tel: (038) 756517 and Farm Chang Thai Tel: (038) 237825.
Sanctuary of Truth (Prasat Satchatham)
The compound, which covers an area of more than two rais, is situated by the sea at Laem Ratchawet on Na Klua Road, North Pattaya. Within the compound is a gigantic temple-like structure entirely made of wood that is 105 meters high at the highest point which was constructed to withstand wind and sunshine on the seashore. With exquisite architectural features, the sanctuary was conceived out of the vision that human civilization has been achieved and nurtured by religious and philosophical truths.
Open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., admission fee is 500 baht with Dolphin Training Shows at 11.30 a.m. and 3.30 p.m. Tel: 0 3822 5407, or visit www.sanctuaryoftruth.com for more information.
Alangkarn Theatre
Located at Km. 155 marker on Sukhumvit Road Chomthian, Pattaya. With an area of 80 rais, the entire project includes a prototype Hexa Stage Theatre, Cultural Rostrum and a Restaurant. ALANGKARN is aiming towards a new concept of presenting Thai Culture to tourists from all walks of life, instead of the standard Thai traditional dances that could easily be founded elsewhere. For more information, call 0 3825 6000 (Pattaya) or 0 2216 1949 (Bangkok Office).
The Million-Year Stone Park and Crocodile Farm
The Million-Year Stone Park and Crocodile Farm, which is located approximately 9 kilometers from Pattaya City , has beautifully landscaped grounds with elaborate flower and rock gardens. In addition, the farm has hundreds of crocodiles as well as some rare animals, including albino bears and horses. Crocodile shows, magic performances and animal shows run 6 times a day from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. O pen daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., the admission fee is 300 baht. Call (038) 249347-9 or (02) 579 4008, 579 5033 for more information.
Getting there by car: Drive along Highway No. 3 (Sukhumvit) until you come to the Km. 140 marker near Sawangfah Temple , then turn into Chaiyaphonwithi (Route No.3024) and proceed for 5 kilometers.
Underwater World Pattaya
A new tourist attraction in town is the largest and most modern ocean aquarium in Asia , boasting a 100-meter-long, 6.4-centimeter-thick acrylic pedestrian tunnel through an underwater environment filled with dozens of marine species.
Located just 200 meters south of Tesco Lotus in South Pattaya, the new theme park covers a total area of 12-rai and is housed in a structure similar to a large circus tent.
The aquarium itself houses more than 4,000 marine animals, comprising more than 200 different species from the region as well as some rare creatures from overseas. Top in the Visitors must-see list is the rare shovelnose ray, a hybrid between a shark and a stingray.
Admission fee for adults is 500 baht and children is 300 baht. Open from 9.00 a.m. 6.00 p.m. For more information and booking, call (038) 756879, 09-9360272
The Bottle Museum
As the name implies, this is the place where you can find elaborate bottle creations, including the usual vessels. Located at Km. 145, off of Highway No. 3, the museum features the work of the Dutch master Peter Bedelais. O pen daily from 10.a.m. until 10 p.m., admission fee is 100 baht for adults and 50 baht for children. Call (038) 422957.
Koh Larn
Lying about 7.5 kilometers off of Pattaya by a 45-minute ferry or 15 minutes by speed boat ride, the island measures 2 kilometers by 5 kilometers and offers several white sandy beaches, notably Hat Ta Waen, 
Hat Laem Thian and Hat Thong Long, the latter facing coral reefs. Visitors can choose either snorkeling or viewing the coral from glass bottom boats. Ferries to the island leave South Pattaya pier daily from 10.00 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. Cruises by sailing junks, with lunch provided are also available.
Romance of the Three Kingdoms Park
Situated close to the Horseshoe Point, the park contains several beautiful Chinese-style buildings and art objects. Open daily from 8.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. Tel: 0 3842 1428.
Credit : Tourism Authority of Thailand
