For many years Pattaya, Thailand, has long been considered as being a bachelor’s paradise, however, contrary to popular belief it is one of the most family-friendly destinations in all of Thailand.
Certainly, this stunning coastal city has a vibrant nightlife with many nightclubs and bars to keep the adults thoroughly entertained, but you’ll be amazed to see just how many awesome child-friendly activities and excursions there are to unearth.
In this article, we’re going to look at some of the best things to do for families in Pattaya. Whether you are planning your next family vacation or you’d like to know if relocating is a viable option for you and your children, this is the article for you. Let’s get stuck in!
It’s a small world – Mini Siam 
Mini Siam is an interactive park that is filled with all manner of little replica models of some of the world’s most famous landmarks. This is an insta worthy spot where you and your children can tower over everything from the Roman Colosseum to Sydney’s Opera House without having to leave Thailand!
Monkey around – Flight of the Gibbon Chonburi 
Your children can unleash their inner primate while soaring through the canopy of a lush Thai rainforest. This is an eco-adventure of a lifetime and an all-around perfect day out!
Animal magnetism – Khao Kheow Open Zoo Pattaya 
Rent a car and drive through 400 acres of open animal habitat where you can get up close and personal with over 300 different species! The best part is that you can make various stops on your way around to feed a variety of different creatures from the majestic tiger to the lanky giraffe!
This is an excellent opportunity to teach your children more about wildlife while supporting the zoo in its scientific research and the preservation of endangered species.
Take the plunge – Underwater World Pattaya
If you fancy taking a break from all of the sunbathing on the beach and plunging into the deep blue sea, you’ll love what Underwater World Pattaya has to offer! This gives you and your family an opportunity to step into another world and discover the unimaginable beauty of Thailand’s marine life.
From black-tipped reef sharks and eagle rays to jellyfish and nurse sharks, you can stroll through the underwater tunnels and marvel at a wealth of weird and wonderful aquatic species.
Walking through a dream – Art in Paradise 
Art in Paradise is a sprawling art gallery that features roughly 100 3D masterpieces painted on the walls and floors and ceilings. The best part? You don’t have to worry about your children touching something they’re not supposed to! Everything is interactive and you’ll have plenty of opportunity to take some once-in-a-lifetime photos of you and your favourite people in some hilarious and awe-inspiring shots.
Where magic comes to life – Tuxedo Illusion Hall
The Tuxedo Illusion Hall is a magic show that is perfect for kids and adults alike. There’s a dedicated magician with a host of wonderful assistants creating all manner of tricks and illusions to wow you! This is an excellent distraction and an effective way to inspire your little one’s imagination.
Snuggle city – Teddy Bear Museum 
Can you believe that one of the largest museums in all of Thailand is not filled with ancient relics and lost artifacts, but teddy bears! Split into 12 different zones, you and your children can explore everything from the Ancient Incan Empire, the fossil zone, and even an underwater paradise – all of which are stuffed with cuddly teddy bears.
On your marks, get set! – Pattaya Kart Speedway 
You and your children can put all of those hours of playing Mario Kart to good use and test your skills for real. The Pattaya Kart Speedway is the perfect spot to enjoy some go-kart racing – it’s guaranteed fun for everyone.
Health & safety is at the forefront of their priorities so you can rest assured that your kids will be perfectly safe, whether they’re very young or in their teens.
Shock horror – Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum 
If you have older children who like all things odd and spooky, Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum is almost certainly worth a visit!
You can stroll through over 7 exciting attractions with more than 300 weird and wonderful exhibits featuring everything from a genuine, real-life shrunken head to ancient torture devices.
Your skin will crawl as you’re shocked and awed. It’s safe to say that you and your family will remember this day for many years to come.
Fetch me my noble steed – Horseshoe Point
Have your children often expressed their dream of being able to ride a horse one day? If so then Horseshoe point is the place for you and your family to visit in Pattaya. This gorgeous riding school offers equestrian training, and horse trail riding, and they even put on some amazing horse riding shows as well.
To make it even better, you can stay at the neighbouring (no pun intended) Horseshoe Point; a luxury resort that is ideal for families who love ATV riding, water balloons, playing pool, table tennis, swimming, and so much more.
Not just any typical garden – Nong Nooch Tropical Garden
No trip to Pattaya would truly be complete without paying a visit to the awesome Nong Nooch Tropical Garden. Spanning over a 2.4 sq-km park, this intricately landscaped paradise is superb for those who are looking for an all-day trip that’s packed with things to see and do.
To make it even more exciting, you can even rent bikes at the entrance so you and your family can cover more ground without knackering yourselves out too early.
Go nuts – Harbor Land Pattaya 
If you want to thoroughly exhaust your children so you can enjoy a nice quiet evening with your partner, Harbor Land Pattaya is the place to take them.
It’s located in the Harbor Shopping centre and takes the title of being the largest indoor playground in all of Asia!
Your kids can try everything from climbing walls and swinging from jungle gym ropes, to dressing up to playing arcade games and plunging down slides.
Ahoy there! – The Admirallica, a Pirate Cruise
What are pirates called pirates? ‘Cause they arrrrrgh! If you and your children relish the thought of taking to the high seas and living the life of a scallywag in the 17th century, then The Admirallica is the perfect place to live out this fantasy.
This unique day trip includes breakfast, buffet lunch, snorkeling, swimming, disco foam parties, sword fighting, and so much more!
It’s wooly, wooly fun – Pattaya Sheep Farm 
If you want to get up, close, and personal with animals that won’t bite your hand off, then the Pattaya Sheep Farm might be the preferred alternative. There are dozens and dozens of sheep and lambs that you and your little ones can freely interact with, including a selection of ponies, piglets, and birds.
Once you’ve worked up an appetite you can enjoy a delicious gourmet meal at the Barn Steakhouse.
A splash of animation – Cartoon Network Amazone 
Did you know that Pattaya is some of the world’s first and only Cartoon Network-themed water parks?! You better believe it! This unique and wonderful park is home to all of your favourite cartoon characters from Dexter and the Powerpuff Girls to Jake from Adventure Time. It will be a splash hit with the kids…
A slice of heaven – Pizza Plaza Pattaya 
No more arguing over what toppings to have on your pizza; at Pizza Plaza Pattaya, your kids can make their very own pizzas in an interactive, DIY pizza buffet. You’ll even have your very own clay-fired ovens on your table.
Unleash your inner chef and get your children inspired about how to prepare and cook their own food safely and responsibly (while having a truckload of fun).
We could harp on for days and never run out of activities to talk about
These are just a handful of the incredible things to see and do in Pattaya. In truth, we could go on for days about all of the family-friendly activities available, so, your best bet is to simply get those flights booked and pop over to Pattaya and discover them first-hand for yourselves.
Is Pattaya a suitable place for families with children to live?
If you are still uncertain about whether or not Pattaya is a suitable place to live, rest assured that you will be pleasantly surprised by the infrastructure.
Not only is Pattaya home to a wealth of world-class international schools, but the healthcare facilities and dental clinics here are exceptional as well.
Further to that, you have a multitude of tropical beaches and lush, tropical rainforests to explore, so you’ll never feel stagnant or as though your children aren’t being given enough opportunity to lead thoroughly exciting and fulfilling lives.
As for accommodation, you’ll be positively spoiled for choice. For smaller families that don’t require too much space, there are many stunning condos for sale in Pattaya – each with its own shared facilities, such as swimming pools and fitness studios.
If you aren’t looking to stay permanently, you can easily find property for rent in Pattaya as an alternative – everything from condos and apartments to houses and luxury villas.
All in all, Pattaya is an amazing, family-friendly location and the government is going to great lengths to invest in its infrastructure to make it even more accommodating than it already is.
