Coastal Chaos and Hidden Gems: Our Pattaya Day 1 Diary
Welcome to the start of our Thailand adventure! We kicked things off with Thai Airways, the national carrier, which set a great tone for the trip. However, as any seasoned traveler knows, the road to paradise often has a few bumps (and interesting smells) along the way. Know more at our Thailand: Pattaya Day 1 itinerary.
Navigating the Journey from Suvarnabhumi to Pattaya
After clearing customs at Suvarnabhumi Airport, we opted for the public bus to reach our first destination. Honestly? I wish I hadn’t. By the time we rolled into the North Pattaya area at 7:30 AM, we were dropped off on what felt like a busy expressway. It wasn’t exactly the “welcome to the beach” vibe we expected.
Pro-Tip: We had pre-purchased a SIM card via Klook and picked it up at the airport. This was a lifesaver. We used the Grab app to summon a large sedan. While a motorbike taxi offered us a lift, our heavy suitcases made the spacious car a much better choice for the 20-minute drive to our accommodation.
Checking into Swasdee Sea View
We stayed at the Swasdee Sea View, located conveniently close to the shoreline. Since early check-in wasn’t an option, we did a quick wardrobe change, left our bags in the lobby, and headed out to kickstart our Thailand: Pattaya Day 1 itinerary.
A Quick Note on the Air: When we first arrived in the city, there was a particularly pungent odor near the drains. We noticed locals had covered the street grates with cloth to dampen the scent—definitely an “authentic” introduction to the local infrastructure!
Exploring 3D Art and Local Transport
Our first official stop was Art in Paradise Pattaya. This 3D art museum is incredibly fun and provides some hilarious photo opportunities. To get there, we hopped on the famous Baht Buses (songthaews), which only cost 10 THB per person.
Money Matters: We had already exchanged our currency at the airport, which made these small transactions seamless. Afterward, we headed to Central Pattaya to browse the markets and handle some logistics—specifically wiring money for a future white-water rafting excursion in Phuket.
The Big Buddha and the Best Coconut Ice Cream
After a delicious late lunch and a quick power nap, we hailed a taxi for 120 THB to visit the majestic Wat Phra Yai (Big Buddha Statue). The site is stunning and offers a peaceful atmosphere high above the city.
Instead of haggling for a ride back, we decided to trek back to the hotel on foot. This turned out to be the best decision of the day! We stumbled upon a three-wheeled motorcycle vendor selling authentic coconut ice cream. Unlike the touristy versions that just use vanilla scoops with toppings, this was made from coconut. The flavor and aroma were incredible—a true highlight of our first day.
Evening Lights at Pattaya Walking Street
You can’t complete a Pattaya Day 1 itinerary without witnessing the neon chaos of Walking Street. It is every bit as vibrant and loud as the stories suggest. We ended our night at a street food stall, enjoying a great meal and a local flavor of Fanta we’d never seen before.
It was a long, fragrant, and exciting start to the trip. Stay tuned, because Day 2 has even more surprises in store!
In the mean time you can check our preparation guide to Thailand.