10 Things to Do in Pattaya on a Small Budget

Nong Nooch Tropical Garden offers an endless stretch of beautifully landscaped and award-winning flowers, trees, hedgerows and topiaries spread over 240 hectares. The gardens are repeatedly recognised for their design and are continually and immaculately-kept. You'll find hundreds of different species of flowers and plants, and you can even take in cultural events held here regularly. Among the most popular is a semi-regular elephant talent show that's sure to thrill adults and kids of every age.

Whether you're in it for an exciting cultural experience or just a serene space to spend an afternoon, this is a wonderful spot. It's only 25 minutes south of the city centre.

The Pattaya Floating Market, or more formally, Four Regions Floating Market, showcases the varying cultures of the regions of Thailand with dozens of market stalls. The market is split up into the north, northeast, south and central sections, with each section selling goods and foods that represent its namesake region. You'll find arts, crafts, housewares, textiles, handmade clothing, jewellery, accessories and all manner of food and drink to enjoy. Some stalls are static, floating on the water, while others are mobile, floating on boats. Still, others are on the banks on either side.

Exploring this market is a whimsical, unusual and fun way to capture local culture. It's only 10 minutes south of the city centre.

The Sanctuary of Truth is a towering structure rising 105 metres into the sky, made entirely from teak wood, and showcasing intricate architecture with an atmosphere of pure serenity. While many mistake this for a Buddhist temple, it was created by a business owner to serve as a simple place of meditation and reflection. The entire building, inside and out, is covered with intricate carvings, and some say that it will never be finished; work has been ongoing here for years upon years.

Hundreds of thousands of visitors are attracted here every year, and it has the reputation of being one of the most beautiful buildings in the country. It's 16 minutes south of the city centre.

Ban Amphur Beach is a quiet, peaceful stretch of soft white sand and clear turquoise waters on the shores of a historic and quiet fishing village. Here, you can swim, sunbathe, build sandcastles, and just relax without the larger beaches' hustle, bustle, and crowds. When you're done, you can walk the quiet streets of the village to explore astounding seafood restaurants with delicious seasonal dishes served up sea-to-table, most of which are family-owned and operated.

This is a fantastic spot for budget-friendly travels as the hospitality culture hasn't yet caught up with this village, so prices are not elevated. It's only 20 minutes south of Pattaya's city centre.

Big Buddha Temple, also known as What Phra Khao Yai, is a temple set at the top of a long ramp which features an enormous golden Buddha. Among the largest in the region, the statute sits 100 metres above sea level and rises 18 metres in height. When you reach the top of the hill, you'll capture astonishing views of Pattaya and Jomtien Beach below at the base of the statue. You can explore the entire temple complex, housing many other statues and carvings. You can even see Buddhist monks praying and going about their business.

Because this is a functioning temple, visitors are asked to showcase proper respect for local beliefs and traditions. It's in the city centre.

Mike Shopping Mall is among the largest and most popular modern shopping centres in Pattaya, with outstanding prices and five floors of big-name and indie boutique shops. The centre offers everything from genuine designer names to faux copies that make for intriguing souvenirs. It's a fun spot where haggling over the price of items is not only welcome but expected, which is surprising to many westerners. Here you can find clothes, accessories, luggage, handbags, hardware, furniture, electronics, computers and even musical instruments.

The centre is located between central and south Pattaya on Pattaya Beach Road and takes only about 10 minutes to walk to reach it. It's a vibrant and fun shopping experience, and it doesn't cost a thing to browse.

New Naklua Market is a large, bustling traditional market in the heart of Pattaya that showcases a wide range of quality foods and handmade local souvenirs. At the dozens of booths, you'll find vendors selling fruits and veggies, meats, seafood, herbs and spices, and farm-to-table and port-to-table foods. You can also explore handmade arts and crafts dealers, jewellery, accessories, clothing and unique souvenirs. It's a fun spot to come to soak up local culture and look for that hidden treasure to remember your trip.

The centre is vibrant and popular with locals and visitors alike. Haggling is welcome and expected. It's only about 10 minutes south of the city centre.

Chan Ta Then Waterfall at Man Tok, just about 1.5 hours outside of Pattaya, is among the largest waterfalls in the region and offers endless green space and beautiful vistas. The falls cascade over more than a kilometre of area, tumbling over rocks and into serene natural water pools. This is a wildly popular spot for picnics, so much so that you can even hire a picnic mat onsite, so you don't have to carry your own with you.

If you enjoy natural scenery in general and waterfalls in particular, this is a site you'll want to photograph for your social media. It's also in the heart of a wildlife sanctuary with plenty of opportunities to see local fauna.

Pattaya View Point is a popular overlook in the heart of the Pattaya region famed for its sunset panoramas with the city and coastline stretched out far below. If you're in it to capture the kinds of photos that will keep people talking for ages, this viewpoint is situated at the top of Pattaya Hill, right on the South Pattaya and Jomtien border. It's highly popular at both dawn and dusk for the brilliant colours that wash over the landscape at sunrise and sunset.

It's only about 5 kilometres south of the city centre, so it's an easy jaunt to get here. Despite being a popular destination, it's large enough to keep the crowds relatively thin.

The Bhat Bus, or songthaew in other areas of Thailand, is among the cheapest and most fun ways to get around the city reliably. These pick-up trucks are incredibly cheap and are a sort of a cross between bus, rideshare, and jitney. They operate on a schedule and traverse standard routes, so you easily get the hang of the system to catch one when you need it.

Since they aren't buses, they tend to be less crowded and with the vibe of a rideshare, so you can chat with the driver to learn about local culture. Bhat buses run 24 hours a day, so you'll never have to wait very long for a ride.