- Found along the vast coastline of Banglamung and split into northern and southern sections, Greater Pattaya includes Chonburi Province, Maklua Beach, Buddha Hill, Dongtan Beach, Jomtien Beach and Pattaya Beach. These beaches, however, have the reputation of not comparing to the beaches that line the rest of Thailand's famous coastline. Jomtien is the nicer of the beaches and is known as one of the more family-friendly areas. Dongtan Beach is known as the gay beach. Many of the beach resorts are located in Pattaya Beach, which is also where much of the nightlife is located.
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The city was first named "Thap Phraya," which is defined as "Army of the Phraya." It was called this to honor the defeat of the Nai Klom army against the Phatthaya.
The city also hosted a large number of U.S. military soldiers during the Vietnam War during periods of respite. The city has grown dramatically in the past two decades into a busy center of tourism. - As the city is located right along the coastline, a wide variety of water sporting activities are front and center. Tourists will find scuba diving, snorkeling, boating and water skiing, among a host of other activities. Visitors also enjoy the extensive golfing, horseback riding, and even some adrenaline-pumping fun like going bungee jumping.
- Currently the population of Pattaya is around 104,315, but that doesn't include the vast array of people who work in the city but are still cataloged in their villages, as well as many expatriates who have called the city home for years. All in all, the population is actually closer to 300,000. The Pattaya City Act, which was enacted in 1976, established a self-governed municipality in Pattaya.
- Pattaya's climate is extremely tropical with wet and dry seasons. The dry season runs from November to February and the wet season runs from March to May.
