Joanna James
From exploring ancient Thai traditions to experiencing modern adventure, Pattaya located on Thailand's eastern seaboard has a lot to offer. Planning a visit to one of Thailand's most visited tourist hotspots? Then read on to discover its hidden attractions.
Pristine and decidedly free of high-rise buildings and the incessant hustle and bustle of civilisation, Coral Island also known as Larn Island or Koh Laan is a little slice of paradise; situated just 7.5 kilometres west of its bustling counterpart – Pattaya Beach. Coral Island offers a welcome and peaceful respite to those not keen on experiencing Pattaya's offering of the more famous albeit overcrowded and overdeveloped beaches. It is an ideal attraction to visit in the morning and to spend a couple of idyllic hours sunbathing with an occasional dip in the refreshing waters of the Indian Ocean. To reach the attraction simply catch a ferry to Koh Laan or get yourself a ride on a speed board.
The Nong Nooch Garden is an exquisite landscape park that makes for a fantastic day trip. With a theme park vibe, it provides daily cultural performances and dining options, in addition to paths for a peaceful stroll through its verdant botanical gardens. Discover more than ten stunning gardens featuring an array of plants and landscapes from all over the world, including a European Renaissance Garden and an enchanting French garden from the 17th century. The park can also be reached easily from many a resort in Pattaya including the likes of Avani Pattaya Resort.
Located in the Lamung District of Thailand, the Teddy bear Museum is a fun yet less explored attraction in Pattaya. The very first museum of its kind in all of Southeast Asia, Teddy Bear Island as it is also known houses over 2,000 cuddly teddy bears and dolls. The museum is open to visitors daily from 9 am to 10 pm at the night. Entry for adults is priced at 500 Baht while children can enter the museum for a ticket priced at 300 Baht.
Among other Pattaya things to do is to check out Soi Buakhao – a much less explored street that boarder Central Pattaya Road and South Pattaya Road. The quitter sister of the famed Walking Street of Pattaya, So Buakhao is home to some fantastic food joints and shopping spots worth exploring.
Another beautiful yet relatively undiscovered gem of a beach, Wongamat Beach also located in the Chonburi Province takes the shape of a crescent-shaped bay. With seemingly endless clean shores and scenic vistas of the Indian Ocean, Wongamat Beach is ideal to visit especially if you have kids in tow. While the beach is relatively free of large crowds, one can still hire beach loungers and check out an offering of some great bars and restaurants bordering the beach for some delicious food and a fun time!
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
