Pattaya is Thailand's busiest beach resort, with a wide range of accommodation, restaurant and shopping ctres lining Pattaya and Jomtien beaches, as well as a very livery nightlife. It is also one of the country's biggest diving centers, with high quality dive shops taking clients to offshore wrecks and coral beds at the nearby islands. There are close to 20 golf courses throughout the province, and you can also go sailing, windsurfing, go-karting, ride elephant or try all manner of activity on land and sea.

Popular attractions around Pattaya include the offshore islands particularly Larn Island with its clear water and coral beds; Khao Kheo Open Zoo with a wide range of wildlife wandering its 2000 acres; Sri Racha Tiger Farm combines the sights of a tiger-breeding facility, crocodile farm, scorpion farm and daily performance.

To the south is Nong Nooch Village, botanical gardens famous for its orchids and palms, which also put on daily cultural and elephant shows. Wat Yansangawaram is a royal sponsored temple with numerous pavilions of different national designs. Highly popular is the Chinese Pavilion housing antiques and art objects.

Bang Saray, a fishing village with numerous good seafood restaurants around its pier, is the center of the province's sport fishing activities.