Tours in Pattaya

Start at the end of Walking Street, where the road gives out and Bali Hai Pier pokes into the bay. Fishing boats and ferries share the water, and the smell is diesel, grilled squid and sea air. Behind you is the part of Pattaya everyone has heard of. Ahead of you is the Gulf of Thailand, which most people forget to look at.

Pattaya is easier to understand once you stop treating it as one place. Beach Road runs along the front, with shops, cafes and a steady stream of people walking the sand side in the evening. Walking Street is loud and built for nightfall, so it feels like a different town by day. Jomtien Beach, a little way south, is slower and more of a place to sit. Khao Pattaya Viewpoint is a short climb up a hill and gives you the whole curve of the bay at once, which is the best way to see how the city fits together.

The temples are where a day here gets interesting. Wat Phra Yai, the Big Buddha on Pratumnak Hill, is a huge seated figure you can see from a long way off, and up close the steps and the quiet around it come as a surprise after the seafront. The Sanctuary of Truth sits on the headland by Wongamat, a towering hall carved from wood, covered in figures and patterns. Give it time, because there is more to see the longer you stand there. Khao Chi Chan, the Buddha etched into a cliff face, is another stop worth making if you have the day for it.

The floating market is a good break from the temples. It is laid out over water, with stalls, boats and plenty of food, and it is easy to wander without a plan. Art in Paradise is the light-hearted option, a gallery of three-dimensional paintings you step into for photos. The tour below ties the main landmarks together in a single day. If something else is on your list, ask, and a local guide can build a day around it.