Pattaya is located on the east coast of the Gulf of Thailand, about 147 km southeast of Bangkok. From a fishing village in the 1960s, Pattaya has developed into one of Southeast Asia's most popular holiday destinations and in recent years has become the center of Thailand's main holiday and recreation areas; Pattaya is often referred to as the "Riviera of Thailand" (in 2005, more than 35,000 hotel rooms were available).

The name Pattaya originates from the march of Phraya Tak (later known as King Taksin the Great) and his followers from Ayutthaya to Chanthaburi, shortly before the fall of the Ayutthaya kingdom to the Burmese invaders in 1767. When Phraya Tak's army reached the area of ​​present-day Pattaya, it encountered the troops of Nai Klom, who intended to intercept them. During the encounter between the two commanders, Nai Klom was so impressed by Phraya Tak's dignified demeanor and the strict discipline of his army that he surrendered without a fight. The site of the confrontation was later called Thap Phraya, meaning "Army of Phraya." From this, the name later evolved into Phatthaya, meaning "wind that blows from southwest to northeast at the beginning of the rainy season." Today, the name is simply spelled Pattaya.

For centuries, Pattaya was a small fishing village, almost completely cut off from the outside world. When 100 American soldiers from the Vietnam War came to Pattaya for rest and recuperation in April 1961, the transformation of the sleepy fishing village into Thailand's leading and most successful beach resort began. Fishing boats were converted into tourist boats, luxury hotels and bungalows replaced the fishermen's huts on the beach, and beachgoers from all over the world flocked to the tranquil, powder-white beaches. Numerous nightlife districts and entertainment venues sprang up and enjoy great popularity with international tourists.

Today, Pattaya boasts world-class beach resorts, excellent restaurants, diverse shopping opportunities, and a world-renowned nightlife. The city has over 260 hotels, ranging from simple guesthouses to luxurious retreats, as well as thousands of shops, restaurants, and bars. Furthermore, there is a wide array of sports and leisure activities, including beautiful beaches, golf courses, tennis courts, go-kart tracks, and much more. During the day, you can ride elephants, automatic minibikes, motorbikes, or even colorful jeep convertibles. Others go diving and surfing, deep-sea fishing, speedboat or scooter rides, waterskiing, parasailing, or enjoy air sports such as ultralight flying and powered paragliding. In the evenings, restaurants, bars, theaters, cabaret shows, nightclubs, bowling alleys, billiard and snooker clubs, exotic and erotic shows, discos, saunas, and massage parlors beckon. Incredible shopping opportunities are available around the clock. Pattaya attracts more than one million pleasure-seeking visitors annually.

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Sights in Pattaya

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Khao Chee Chan Buddha Mountain is open from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Please dress appropriately and strictly adhere to the rules. Also, please maintain a safe distance from the Buddha statue to avoid accidents.

If you'd like to visit Koh Lan, you can do so as part of a day trip. Minibuses and motorbike taxis operate on the island. For those who prefer a more adventurous experience, you can also rent a motorbike and explore the island on your own.

Pattaya offers countless accommodation options, from large hotels and resorts to guesthouses and holiday apartments. Most of these accommodations are located directly on the beach.

In Pattaya there are many opportunities to pursue activities such as water sports, sunbathing, go-karting, bungee jumping, horse riding, golf, diving, cabaret shows and much more.

At night, Pattaya Road is full of diverse entertainment options. You can always find something to eat and drink here, or simply a place to relax.

Getting there: A Thai International Airways bus runs from Don Mueang Airport in Bangkok. Tickets are available directly outside the customs hall. Limousine services offer transfers to and from the international airport for 1500 Baht each way. The transfer time from the airport is 2 to 2.5 hours, depending on traffic.

A shuttle bus runs from Suvarnabhumi Airport to the bus station. From there, an air-conditioned bus departs for Pattaya; the fare is 150 baht each way. The journey takes approximately 1.5 hours.

Air-conditioned buses depart from Bangkok to Pattaya every 20 minutes. The buses are clearly signposted in English. You can board at the Ekamai bus station on Sukhumvit Road (Ekamai BTS station); a one-way ticket costs approximately 120 THB. Alternatively, you can take a bus from the northern bus station (Mo Chit); a one-way ticket costs approximately 130 THB. A taxi from a hotel in central Bangkok to Pattaya costs 1500–2000 THB plus tolls. Some travel agencies offer daily minibus transfers to Pattaya for 450 THB.

A train (from Hualamphong station) departs daily from Bangkok at 7:10 am and arrives in Pattaya at 10:45 am; from Pattaya the train continues at 2:50 pm and reaches Bangkok at 6:35 pm.

From Chiang Mai, Koh Samui and Phuket you can fly to U-Tapao Airport, which is 30 km southeast of the city and can be reached from Pattaya in 45 minutes by taxi.