Pattaya is Thailand's original beach resort, 147km southeast of Bangkok on the Gulf of Thailand. It has an enormous amount of infrastructure built up around tourism — sprawling beach road, shopping malls, seafood restaurants, bars — and a reputation it has been working hard to move past. The city is brash and busy, and it delivers what it promises: reliable beaches, good food at every price point, and easy transport to offshore islands and the surrounding Chonburi province.
Jomtien Beach, south of the main strip, is quieter and better for swimming. Ko Larn, a small island 45 minutes by speedboat, has cleaner water and good snorkelling. The Sanctuary of Truth — a massive hand-carved teakwood temple under construction since 1981 — is one of the more unusual sights in Thailand. Nong Nooch Tropical Garden, 15km south, is known for its elephant shows, Thai dance performances, and botanical collections.
Pattaya works best as a base for exploring eastern Thailand or as a long weekend from Bangkok. The city itself is not pretty, but the food is excellent, the water is warm, and getting there and around is straightforward.