Thailand Birthday Trip: Exploring Bangkok and Pattaya – My 2026 Travel Story

A Birthday Tradition and a Dream of Exploring the World

For the past three years, I have made it a tradition to travel somewhere new for my birthday. Every year, I look forward to discovering a different country or city, meeting new people, and experiencing cultures that are different from my own.

For me, travelling is much more than visiting famous attractions or taking beautiful pictures. It is about exploring the unknown, trying new things, discovering different ways of life, and collecting memories along the way.

This year, my travel companion and I decided to celebrate my birthday in Thailand, one of my favourite countries. I had visited Phuket before, but this time we wanted to explore Bangkok and Pattaya.

On October 15, 2026, our new adventure began!

Day 1: Arriving in Thailand and Discovering Pattaya

After a seven-hour flight, we arrived in Bangkok. From there, we booked a Bolt ride to Pattaya. We usually prefer arranging our own transportation and exploring places independently rather than booking guided tours. This gives us more freedom and allows us to discover places at our own pace.

We arrived in Pattaya at around 2 PM. After checking into our hotel and taking a little time to rest, we went out to explore the city.

Pattaya felt lively from the beginning. There was so much happening around us, and we were excited to start discovering it.

In the evening, we visited Walking Street. Honestly, it wasn't quite what I had expected. Compared with Patong in Phuket, I found it less clean, and the atmosphere wasn't really my style. It was an interesting place to see once, but it wasn't somewhere I wanted to spend much time.

Later, we stopped at Lan Zhou Noodles near Pattaya Beach Road. We enjoyed a bowl of noodles, and it turned out to be a lovely food stop after a long day of travelling.

We finished the evening with a traditional Thai massage. It felt wonderful after the flight and all the walking.

Day 2: A Day on Koh Larn Island

The next morning, we headed to Bali Hai Pier to catch a speedboat to Koh Larn Island.

As soon as we arrived, we noticed how many motorbikes there were. We rented one and rode towards Samae Beach, which was one of the highlights of the day.

The beach was beautiful, and we spent time swimming, relaxing, and taking pictures. It was exactly the kind of peaceful break we needed.

We also explored some of the local areas and enjoyed seeing women preparing traditional food and selling it at the market. I always love these little moments when travelling because they give me a glimpse into everyday local life.

We also came across a large temple and enjoyed the atmosphere around it.

On our way back to Pattaya, heavy rain suddenly started. Luckily, it lasted only around fifteen minutes.

That evening, we had dinner at Little Brother Thai Restaurant. I really enjoyed the food and would happily recommend it to anyone visiting Pattaya.

We ended the day with another oil massage. A perfect way to relax after a full day of exploring!

Day 3: Discovering the Sanctuary of Truth

One of the places I was especially excited to visit was the Sanctuary of Truth.

This enormous wooden structure stands beside the sea, and its architecture is truly remarkable. What makes it so special is that almost every part of the building is covered with detailed wooden carvings.

The walls, ceilings, columns, and sculptures are filled with incredible details. The craftsmanship is fascinating, especially when you realise that the work is still ongoing.

Construction began in 1981, and artisans continue carving and restoring different parts of the structure today. Visitors are required to wear helmets in certain areas because of the ongoing work.

The architecture draws inspiration from Buddhist, Hindu, and other Eastern traditions, with themes connected to life, spirituality, and the universe.

The entrance ticket cost us 500 baht per person. Modest clothing is required when visiting.

For me, this was much more than just another tourist attraction. It was a chance to appreciate art, history, culture, and the incredible patience behind such detailed craftsmanship.

I definitely think it is worth visiting when you are in Pattaya.

Afterwards, we went to Pattaya Floating Market. The market opened in 2008 and was created to showcase different aspects of Thai culture and traditional life.

There were local food stalls, handmade decorations, and small shops. We watched local women making decorative items by hand and enjoyed exploring the different areas. We also took a boat ride, which made the experience even more enjoyable.

It was a lovely place to discover some traditional Thai products and food.

In the evening, we visited Soi 6. I personally enjoyed its atmosphere much more than Walking Street. It felt lively and welcoming, with plenty of interesting places to see.

For dinner, we tried Dom Pizza, and the food was great. We also visited PG Massage, which I found clean and comfortable.

Day 4: A Day in Bangkok – Temples, Mangoes and Old Streets

The following day, we decided to spend some time in Bangkok.

One of the first places we visited was Wat Arun, also known as the Temple of Dawn. Located beside the Chao Phraya River, this temple is one of Bangkok's most recognisable landmarks.

Its unique architecture and beautiful decorative details make it a very special place. I loved seeing the temple up close and learning a little more about its history and cultural importance.

After visiting Wat Arun, we discovered a café called Wanjai Cafe House @ Song Wat through Instagram.

We found its location and travelled there by motorbike. The café was in a lively old neighbourhood, surrounded by busy streets and an atmosphere that I really enjoyed.

We ordered mango sticky rice with coconut sauce and a mango shake. I absolutely loved both! If you enjoy mango, this is definitely something you should try in Thailand.

We then walked around the neighbourhood, exploring its old streets and local shops. We also visited Chinatown, where there was so much street food, interesting drinks, and activity everywhere.

It was one of those places where you can simply walk around and enjoy discovering something new at every corner.

Later, we returned to Pattaya and visited Terminal 21.

Although I didn't find it particularly useful for shopping, I enjoyed exploring the mall. One of my favourite parts was the large food court upstairs, where you could find different Thai dishes, desserts, and ice cream at very reasonable prices.

The food court uses a reloadable card system, which makes paying for food quite easy.

We enjoyed trying some local food before finishing the day with another massage.

Day 5: Stepping into the World of Dinosaurs – Nong Nooch Tropical Garden

This was one of the most unforgettable days of our trip!

We took a Bolt ride to Nong Nooch Tropical Garden, a huge tropical garden in Pattaya.

The land was originally purchased in 1954 for agricultural purposes, including growing fruit trees. Over time, it developed into a famous garden and tourist attraction, opening to the public in 1980.

There is so much to explore here that walking around the entire place can be quite difficult. The garden is enormous, so using one of the available transport vehicles is a good idea.

One of the areas I was most excited about was Dinosaur Valley.

There were giant dinosaur sculptures everywhere, and walking among them felt like stepping into another world. The size and details of the sculptures were amazing.

We spent hours exploring the garden, taking pictures, and enjoying the different areas. There were beautiful landscapes everywhere, and I honestly found it difficult to describe just how much there was to see.

We also stopped for some food and juice during our visit.

Our entrance ticket was around 700 baht per person at the time.

I had never experienced a place quite like this before. It was definitely one of the most memorable attractions of our Thailand trip.

Later, the weather changed and it started raining, so we headed back to the hotel. In the evening, we went out to enjoy Pattaya's nightlife.

Day 6: Beach Time, Shopping and a Birthday Memory

After several busy days of exploring, we decided to take things a little easier.

We spent more time at the beach, swimming, relaxing, enjoying drinks, and simply taking in the atmosphere.

We also went looking for a place where we could enjoy shisha. It wasn't easy to find, but after quite a bit of searching, we eventually managed to find one.

Later, we went shopping and looked for souvenirs to take home. We also visited Watsons, where I found some good discounts.

This was also the day we filmed my birthday Reel. I wanted to capture a little memory of this special trip, so I could share it on Instagram.

It was a lovely way to celebrate another birthday in a new country.

Day 7: A Final Look at Bangkok

Sadly, it was already time to leave Thailand.

We woke up early, finished packing, checked out of the hotel at around 8 AM, and took a Bolt ride to the airport in Bangkok.

Since our flight was later that evening, we decided to leave our luggage at the airport's luggage storage and take the metro into the city.

Our first stop was Siam Square.

I immediately loved the atmosphere there. The streets, shops, cafés, and food options made it such an enjoyable area to explore. There was so much happening, and I wished we had more time to discover it.

Honestly, I think Bangkok deserves at least ten days. There are so many neighbourhoods, temples, markets, and hidden places to explore. One day simply wasn't enough.

We also visited Wat Paknam Bhasicharoen, home to a giant Buddha statue that is approximately 69 metres tall.

Seeing such an enormous statue in person was an impressive experience. We spent some time exploring the temple area before having lunch and heading back to the airport.

And just like that, our Thailand adventure came to an end.

Final Thoughts: Thailand, Until We Meet Again

Thailand gave me so many beautiful memories.

Pattaya was different from what I had imagined, and Bangkok made me wish I had planned a much longer stay. I loved discovering new places, trying local food, visiting temples, relaxing on the beaches, and experiencing the energy of everyday life.

One thing I especially remember is how friendly and welcoming many Thai people were. Even late at night, we often saw people smiling, and those little interactions made the trip feel even more special.

Every journey teaches me something new. It gives me the opportunity to see the world from a different perspective, meet people from different backgrounds, and appreciate how many wonderful places are still waiting to be discovered.

I am grateful that I could celebrate another birthday this way, creating new memories in a country I love.

I hope to return to Thailand one day and spend much more time exploring Bangkok and the places we didn't get to visit.

Until the next adventure! 🌍

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