Pattaya Beach is the city's four-kilometre curving centrepiece, a palm-lined crescent backed by the busy promenade of Beach Road. Daytime is the family-friendly window: the sand fills with loungers and umbrellas, and the calm Gulf water is the launch point for parasailing, jet skis, banana-boat rides and short speedboat hops to the islands from Bali Hai Pier at the southern end. A shaded walking path runs the length of the beachfront, and the vast Central Festival mall sits right behind it for air-conditioned shopping and dining. Families generally prefer the northern stretch and neighbouring Wong Amat Beach, which are more relaxed than the centre. It is worth knowing that the parallel Walking Street, one block back near the southern end, is Pattaya's famous after-dark entertainment strip and is adult-oriented at night, so most families keep to the beach and promenade by day and to the malls and restaurants in the evening. The seafront is at its liveliest and prettiest around sunset.
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