If you’ve based your travel itinerary around Central Thailand, Pattaya is a well-loved coastal destination that’s not far from Bangkok, and provides an epic beachside holiday! Travelers craving some TLSea in this part of the Land of Smiles can spend endless days working on their tan, building sandcastles, jet skiing and snorkeling around its beaches. Plus, there are plenty of nearby islands to visit for a day trip or to spend the night in tropical island paradise. Explore Buddhist treasures, stop by interesting museums, have all the fun at one of the many theme parks, or try out adventurous outdoor activities, like skydiving… Apart from salty days, there are loads more things to do in Pattaya for a culturally-enriching experience. Favored by locals craving a weekend away from the hustle and bustle, arrive to play, eat and shop til you drop, and Pattaya is just two hours from Bangkok. A true architectural masterpiece, you could easily spend a couple of hours getting lost inside the walls of the Sanctuary of Truth – the world’s biggest wooden castle!

Apart from appreciating the unique architecture, there are a bunch of activities to do here.

Around every turn, corner and rooftop point marvel at the most stunning design that speaks of the era of the Ayutthaya Kingdom, as well as both Buddhism and Hinduism. The museum space has seven different themes running throughout, known as the seven “truths.” For example, the first truth is centered around “Who are we? Where are we from? The intricate features everywhere, from pillars to walls, are super intriguing and absolutely everything is carved out of wood… ” and pillar carvings depict the four natural elements: earth, wind, fire and water. On the other hand, the fourth truth is about “Samples of Civilization” and illustrates different eastern civilizations that are no longer part of our world. Watch the artists and sculptors in action doing wood carving, using a hammer and chisel to create works of art. Apart from appreciating the unique architecture, there are a bunch of activities to do here. Enjoy a ride on the river on an ancient dredger (a wooden gondola boat), visit the museum park’s viewpoints and take a stroll through Himmapan Forest Park (located before the castle’s entry point).

Treat yourself to a relaxing foot massage at the Massage Place after all the walking around, and if you are here with the kids, stop for a pic at Sajja Vimana Studio to pretend like you’re floating on clouds. A fine representation of Thai craftsmanship, the castle museum should not be missed. Open since 2008, oftentimes travelers come to Pattaya just for an excursion to the river market. Among all of the floating markets in Southeast Asia, the Pattaya Floating Market is one of the most famous, and hundreds of tourists flock to this shopping event on the waters. What makes it so special is the set up where you are able to get a real sense of daily life and see how the locals live on the waters, including how communities are set up and the types of activities that comprise their daily routines. Arriving at Pattaya Floating Market you will see vendors lined up on the sides of the waterways selling a variety of different goods out of traditional wooden boats.

You can choose to walk on land and shop from the boat side, or one of the best ways to experience the market is to hire a boat yourself, or join a tour, and explore and shop on the river, joining the festivities the authentic way. Purchase fresh produce, handicrafts, souvenirs and other items from four major Thai provinces and there are also some activities and shows to catch down here. It’s not just nature enthusiasts that will find themselves impressed by the grandeur of the Nong Nooch Tropical Garden and this large-scale park is filled with things to do other than just exploring the massive green grounds. Celebrating Thai culture, it’s one of the largest botanical gardens in Southeast Asia and is divided up into smaller zones that each has its own theme. Watch a sea boxing show or a traditional Thai dance performance, or go ziplining. Enjoy the next few hours (you’ll need a minimum of around three to four hours here) meandering through the orchid garden, bonsai garden or the garden filled with cacti of all sorts.

The kids will love the Butterfly Garden littered with animated and colorful statues and sculptures.

There’s a hibiscus, ivy, cycad, lotus and palm garden too – and that doesn’t even cover half of the 40 different types of gardens to explore. Pretend like you’re on a tropical island inside the Caribbean Forest Park or travel to Europe through mazes of perfectly manicured bushes and hedges at the French Garden zone. The kids will love the Butterfly Garden littered with animated and colorful statues and sculptures. Feel as if you’re in the prehistoric ages as you walk between over 400 life-size figures of carnivores and herbivores that once roamed the earth. It’s deemed the world’s largest “dinosaur learning center” and for good reason. Couples, are you listening? Speaking of… for something to really make the little one’s eyes pop, head on over to Dinosaur Valley. At Silverlake Vineyard enjoy an afternoon of wine tasting, great food and perfect photo moments. Arriving at the vineyard, take a tour of the wine farm, learning about the production process from growing the grapes to manufacturing the wine.