Walking Street Pattaya: How It's Changed and Is It Worth Visiting?

Walking Street is probably Pattaya's most famous road. I've known it for over 20 years, and it's a very different place now.

How has it changed?

Mainly in who goes there. When I arrived, in my early 20s, I was a regular, I don't mind admitting. It was the centre of the nightlife: lights, crowds and a fantastic atmosphere. I had some very good nights there. Back then it was mostly Western men, like me.

Now the crowd is far more diverse, with visitors from all over Asia and beyond. You see tour groups walking along taking it all in, and even families. They don't necessarily go into the bars or clubs, but there's a lot of activity just strolling up and down, which never really happened before. Back then you were there for one reason: to go into the venues and enjoy yourself.

Is it worth visiting?

Absolutely. What's on offer has changed too. It used to be built around go-go bars and nightclubs, with a few restaurants. Now there's live music and a lot more restaurants, including some very good seafood places. You can have a really good night there without going near the go-go bars it was built around.

Is it safe?

Very. Past midnight there are some drunk people, and occasionally a fight, but considering how many people are out drinking, it's maybe one or two a week. And I've not come across the old rip-offs people warn about.

There's a big security presence: tourist police, regular police, security guards, and doormen on most clubs. As I've written in is Pattaya safe?, Thais are very tolerant of foreigners and rarely get involved unless they're seriously provoked. Unless you go looking for trouble, you won't find it. And if it found you unfairly, with so many guards, doormen and police around, it would be sorted out quickly.

My advice

Go and see it at least once, even if bars aren't your thing. Have dinner, listen to some live music and walk the length of it.

For more, read a night out in Pattaya beyond Walking Street, things to do in Pattaya and why Pattaya's old reputation is out of date.