Pattaya is 147 kilometres southeast of Bangkok, and faces the Thai Gulf. It is Asia's premier beach resort, and caters with equal appeal to families, couples and single visitors. One of the largest centres of tourism in Thailand, with some 5 million visitors arriving in 2004. Tourists visit for many reasons including luxury hotels, excellent shopping beautiful beaches, reasonable prices, friendly people. Others come for the world renowned night life and prostitution.
Its long curving beach is one of its attraction, stretching to the south, the hill rises and extends well into the sea. There is a good panoramic view of beautiful Pattaya bay from the hill top temple
All major water sports are on offer from many outlets along the beach. There is windsurfing, jet and water-skiing, scuba diving readily available. You can also charter deep sea fishing from one of several places near the pier. There are three bowling centres, go karts, bungee jumping, several golf courses, and even an International Formula 3 Racing circuit.
For the shoppers, there is fashionable boutiques and shops of ready made garments, handicrafts, silk, paintings, gemstones, jewellery and trinkets which are centred in the main street of Central and South Pattaya.
Muay Thai Thai Boxing matches aimed at the tourists and can be seen at many of the open air beer bar complexes.
Sunni Plaza, The Boyztown, and Jomtien Complex areas are famous for their many cabarets, gay nightclubs, and go-go clubs. Pattaya is known for its cabaret revues featuring kathoeys male to female transsexuals, with Tiffany's and Alcazar being the largest and most elaborate.
The night life caters primarily for the foreigners, some of this is unrelated to prostitution, the central Pattaya Beach Area is known as a destination for sex tourism. The city has hundreds of night-clubs, discotheques, beer bars, go go bars. Virtually all of these are venues for in some form. Most notably, nightclubs and discos are venues for freelancers. There are also several large massage parlors. Since the social order crackdown of 2004, there are very few sex shows. Go go dancers may be seen fully nude, topless or in bikinis on different days or weeks.
The Nongnooch Tropical Garden are a tourist attraction in natural surroundings. Nongnooch Village gardens with flowering plants orchids and orchids, mangoes and other types of flora. There is also a Thai Cultural Centre show casing the art of Thai performing art, martial arts, folk sports, zoo and performances by elephants. Thai style teak wood houses are also available for rent
