Walking Street, Pattaya

Walking Street is in South Pattaya, running down to Bali Hai Pier at the sea end of the city. The district covers the street and the bars, gogos and clubs along it and in the lanes off it. It becomes pedestrian-only in the evening, which is how it got its name.

Loud, bright and crowded. Neon signs, touts, music from every door and a stream of tourists make it the most intense night in Pattaya. Gogo bars and big clubs line the street, and the crowd is a mix of single men, couples and sightseers. It is the priciest part of town, so keep a tight hold on your plans.

Walking Street itself is the hub. It is Pattaya's biggest red-light street, with 46 gogo bars listed alongside 19 nightclubs, and the district page treats the whole strip as one area. Soi 6 and LK Metro are elsewhere in Pattaya, so they have separate district pages.

Gogo bars and clubs lead. Of 131 places, 55 are bars, 46 are gogo bars, 19 are nightclubs, 5 are massage shops, 3 are beer bars and 2 are malls, plus Walking Street itself. It has the largest concentration of gogo bars of any district on our list.

Walking Street is bigger, brighter and more expensive, with more touts and tourists, while LK Metro is a single L-shaped soi favored by regulars and generally friendlier on the wallet. Walking Street has the clubs and the most gogo bars. Many visitors start at LK Metro and save Walking Street for one big night.

Stay near the street if the big clubs and gogo bars are your main plan, since it saves a ride home late. Start along the bar end before the street fills, then work your way down. Hotels around here can be noisy, so ask for a room away from the street and check the guest policy.

Songthaews along Second Road and Beach Road drop you close to the entrance, and Grab or Bolt cars can drop off nearby. The street itself is pedestrian-only in the evening, so you walk it end to end. After a late night, a ride from the entrance is easier than hunting for a songthaew.

Touts and padded bills. Check every bill before you pay, ignore anyone pushing upstairs shows, and keep valuables in a front pocket in the crowd. Drinks here cost the most in town, so agree the rate of a drink before you order. Photograph a jet ski from every side at the pier before riding.