Pattaya

A mere two-hour drive from Bangkok, Pattaya is the perfect place to spend a weekend out of the city, or a week or so chilling out. One of Thailand's liveliest beach resorts, around six million holidaymakers descend here every year. Why? Located on the Gulf of Siam, it probably has something to do with its four-kilometre crescent sweeping seashore, coupled with a gratifying blend of water sports, value-for-money beachside resorts, and eclectic entertainment.

Justly famous for its night-time party antics, it's less known for its more salubrious features: world-class golf courses, shopping malls, gourmet restaurants and, surprisingly, many family-friendly attractions. Whether a family seeking a giant swimming pool, an aspiring windsurfer, or a pair of newlyweds looking to cuddle up in the seclusion of a luxury seaview suite, Pattaya has something to appeal to everyone.

As shown in our extensive Patttaya Area Guides, Pattaya City is much more than merely Pattaya Beach. Nearby are two other popular beach areas, Jomtien and Naklua. While close by (literally a matter of minutes by car or taxi), both are far removed in terms of pace of live and the amount of action. Take Jomtien, with its long straight beach, excellent water sports and quiet, down-to-earth atmosphere. This is a great area for families or those wanting resorts that, while themselves overflowing in peace and tranquility, are not too far away from the opposite. Likewise, Naklua and its beach-straddling resorts are great places to find solitude, sun and sea, yet only minutes from Pattaya's party crowds. Read more in our Area Guides section.

From five-star resort hideaways that cocoon you in a tropical oasis, to no-frill high-rises that don't dent your wallet, Pattaya has a hotel to suit everyone. Discover the best of them in our Pattaya Hotels Section, alongside some great deals offering unrivalled value for money. You can find lists of the hotels we sell either by name or location. If you're planning a last-minute trip, you can also find some great offers on latestays.com.

Where to stay in Pattaya? Its three main areas - Pattaya Beach, Jomtien Beach and Naklua - each have their own distinct character and charms. Each also has hordes of hotels catering to pretty much every budget and taste. So, how to choose? Featuring short, informative descriptions of each area and a handful of highly recommended hotels offering great luxury at affordable prices, our Editors Guide - Where to Stay section is how. It supplies exactly the information you need to help you find your place in the sun.

White sandy strips bustling with sun-drenched activities, Pattaya's beaches are a joy. Sit back and relax under an umbrella. Buy exotic snacks and souvenirs from roaming beach vendors. Slave over your tan. Or do the opposite of lazy. Hit the water for a swim or windsurf. Mount a jetski or oversize banana. Get a true birds-eye view across the city with a parasail. Each of Pattaya city's three main beaches gives you some of the above. However, whether it be a quiet sense of space, or nearby parades of shops, Pattaya Beach, Jomtien Beach and Naklua Beach, all have their own distinct charms and allures.

Discover more in our Pattaya Beaches Guide.

Trips over the sparkling, aqua-blue waters of the Gulf of Thailand. Meets and greets with friendly Thai elephants. The colossal glories of Old Siam in miniature. Fabulous ladyboy cabarets filled with glitzy sets and glamorous 'girls'. Pattaya's tours span the full gamut of tourist passions, whether back-to-nature, adventure, culture, history, or just plain fun. Available in short, half-day bursts or daylong adventures, and with everything from pick-ups to drop-offs back at your hotel taken care of, they're the best way to explore the highlights of Pattaya.

Read this Pattaya Tours section for details about each one and how to book.

Pattaya, like the rest of the country, is serious about its food. Tasty local dishes, seafood and snacks can be found everywhere from the finest gourmet restaurant in, say, a five-star resort, to the lowliest of street-side shacks. And there's more, a lot more. Fast-food is never far away, and the variety of foreign cuisines available as diverse as its visitors.  The city's expatriate crowd has opened restaurants galore serving far-flung foods, among them Chinese, Japanese, French, Italian, German, Scandanvian and British. Prices too will astound. In the most expensive joint you could dine al fresco for 5,000 baht, or at the cheapest, do it for under 50!

Read more in our Pattaya Dining section.

Pattaya offers countless things to see and do, a long list of activities and attractions that promise to keep young and old alike entertained during their stay. Start by heading to the beach! Jomtien Beach, just around the headland from Pattaya Beach, is Thailand's best spot for windsurfing. Learn to sail or parasail. Ride a boat, go snorkeling around offshore islands.

Away from the beach, other athletic pursuits certain to ramp up adrenalin levels include go-carting, golf and water-parks. And - with attractions like elephant villages, panoramic viewpoints, orchid farms and quirky museums up its proverbial sleeve - Pattaya is just as fun for those wishing to play the humble sightseer. Have a look at our comprehensive What to See and Do in Pattaya guide for more.

Girls, bars and loud stereos all compete for the attention of tourists in raucous Walking Street, the neon-drenched epicentre of Pattaya's notorious nightlife. Nowadays, however, Pattaya has more going for it than just raunchy party zones. Jazz clubs, authentic pubs, hip discos and fabulous ladyboy shows are welcome additions to the infamous go-go scene, expanding the city's after-dark appeal beyond pleasures of the flesh. Some with hip funky names like Mantra and forward-looking interiors are even something sophisticated.

Read more in our exhaustive Pattaya Nightlife section.