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Patong

Patong (หาดป่าตอง Hat Patong) is the largest beach resort on the island of Phuket. Patong is a party capital of Asia, with famous nightlife and a great beach. This article also includes Kalim, a series of small beaches just north of Patong.

Understand
Mostly made up of hotels, world-class restaurants, nightclubs and various tourist attractions, this is a hedonists' heaven, with numerous entertainment complexes and countless bars clustered together in and around Bangla Rd and Beach Rd. The town has a very obvious female, transgender, and male sex industry to cater to every taste, however to only view it as this is a mistake, it offers so much more, for families and couples too.

Massage parlors of the erotic and therapeutic (nuat Thai) genre provide less alcohol- and drug-infested venues for punters and wellness seekers. One can even find masseuses practicing this medical art atop bamboo mats on the beach sands (100 baht and up).

Prices are higher than in Phuket Town, but there's more budget accommodation here than at the more southerly beaches.

This may not be a good destination for the average backpacker, except in the rainy season when prices are far lower. However backpackers are not Patong's target market. It is fairly and squarely aimed at holidaymakers, and does it rather well.

Rooming houses ("mansions") a few blocks inland provide nice, clean air-con rooms and suites as cheaply as 300 baht/day (less without air-con), or 3,000-10,000 baht/month. However Patong has every type of accommodation imaginable, from home stays to palaces.

Beach Rd and its immediate surroundings were hit hard by the tsunami of 26 December 2004. The entire region is seismically active, with earthquakes and tsunami: see under Thailand. Local memory of the tragedy remains strong but the damage has been repaired, and the only reminders are the evacuation route road-signs and the inevitable catchpenny merchandising.

Orientation
Patong's three main axes are the aptly named Beach Road (Thanon Thawiwong) and Rat-U-Thit 200 Pi Rd (the last bit means "200 years" and is pronounced song roi bee) running parallel a few hundred metres inland, bisected at the midpoint by the world famous Soi Bangla. (For the sake of brevity, in this article it is called "Rat-U-Thit Rd". Running parallel to Beach Rd and Rat-U-Thit Rd about half a kilometre inland is Nanai Rd which is the residential expatriate area and has many cheaper guesthouses and hotels. The restaurants here tend to be cheaper as well, with beers to be found for 60 baht a bottle generally.

Between Nanai Rd and Rat-U-Thit is the bypass road. This road runs behind the huge Jungceylon shopping centre and past the local fresh fish and vegetable market, Baanzan (well worth a visit).

By plane
Phuket International Airport is 35 km north of Patong. Limousines from the airport to Patong are a steep 600 baht (45 minutes). Meter-taxis start at 400 baht (from the meter-taxi stand at the airport. Ignore the touts and turn right as you exit the terminal). Shared minibuses are 180 baht. Tickets can be obtained immediately outside the terminal. The minibus will stop halfway to Patong to ask where you are staying and to sell you overpriced hotels and tours. A cheaper, but more time consuming, option is to take the comfortable air-con airport shuttle bus to Phuket Town (85 baht, 1 hour), and switch there to a local bus to Patong. See "By bus". Alternatively, if you know the right road, you can get off the bus after you pass the Big C shopping centre on the right (the airport bus goes to the left there, and the road to Kathu and then Patong is to the right at the same intersection), then catch a local bus to Patong there. Local buses to Patong are clearly marked in English and Thai.

By bus
Airport Bus Express: Travels between airport & Patong, service also include Kata and Karon. The fare to Patong is 150 baht and to Kata and Karon is 200 baht. Tickets can be bought from the driver. The first bus will be outside the old main passenger terminal at Phuket International Airport at about 07:30 so to serve passengers arriving on the early flights. The bus will be parked at bus stop at the northern end of the terminal. Just follow the signs; as you exit the terminal, turn left and walk to the end of the building – bus will be there. Buses are cream-coloured with blue stripes. There is another bus service called “Airport Bus” that uses orange buses. These buses go to Phuket Town. If you take this bus, you will need to catch another bus in Phuket Town to take you to Patong. Please note that the bus will depart once it is full. Don’t worry, though, buses depart Phuket Airport every hour. If you are in a hurry, it may be best to take a taxi from the airport. Same advise to people who are carrying a lot of luggage with them. If there are not enough passengers to justify using full-size bus, they use a minivan instead. They have three minivans that are used during the “low season” (May-October) to help reduce the cost of fuel for buses. The first bus will leave the airport at about 08:00 and last bus departs at 20:00. When you get on the bus, you must tell the driver where your hotel is. The driver will drop you off at your hotel if possible. However, if your hotel is on a steep hill that bus will not be able to climb, you can travel in one of minivans for convenience and safety. Don’t worry, the fare is the same. Passengers can get off the bus (or minivan) at several locations en route to Patong, Kata and Karon. However, the bus or van will not pick up any passengers en route. The drop-off locations include Phuket International Airport, Muangmai, Thalang, Heroines Monument, Boat Lagoon, Tesco (bypass road), the See Kor Intersection (near the Caltex petrol station) in Kathu, and at Jungceylon in Patong (bus stops on Phang Muang Sai Kor Rd). In Patong, they use Jungceylon as main “terminal” for buses returning to Phuket Airport. If you want to use service from Kata or Karon, please call them and we can pick you up. Likewise, if you are staying in Patong, just call them and they will pick you up if possible. Their website is no longer operating and company does not have a contact email address, so it is best to contact directly for the latest information. For more details or to book tickets in advance, or call at 076-328291 or 084-0652122. The main office is near the Bangkok Bank branch on Phang Muang Sai Kor Rd in Patong, near Nanai Soi 8, but many foreigners have trouble finding the office.

Regular buses connect to Phuket Town (25 baht, 30-45 minutes) every 30 minutes or so between 07:00 and 18:00. The route starts from the southern end of the beach, after which the bus crawls north along the coast road, stopping to pick up passengers, before finally heading off across the hills, and going via Kathu, then passing near Big C before entering the Phuket Town.

In Phuket Town, those buses are usually waiting for passengers near the local market (1-1.5 km west from the Phuket bus station), however, some huge (almost bus-sized) songthaews marked "Phuket - Patong" were seen near Phuket bus station too. If you're coming by public bus from other areas in Thailand (like Bangkok or Surat Thani), as well as if using the airport bus, you will end up in this bus station. Local motorbike taxi drivers can and will offer fares like 40 baht to the market or 250 baht straight to Phuket - just walk (there's a city map in the terminal), bargain hard, or just wait for an arriving songthaew; even if he's not going to Patong, he will drop you to the bus station for no more than 20 baht, or probably 10 if there's more than 2-3 of you.

To get to the market from where the large songthaews go, turn right into Phang Nga Rd on leaving the bus station and walk to where the road ends. Turn left then right at the roundabout immediately after. Walk along this road and you will see them several hundred metres along. Choose the one to the beach you want.

The ones returning from Patong will arrive here, but if enough persons want to go to the bus station, they are charged an extra 10 baht each and were dropped off there.

By hire car or van
"Limousine" usually refers to a larger sedan, such as a Toyota Camry, with leather seats, etc. They cost around 600-700 baht to go to Kata Beach. Considering the drive is about an hour long, this is one of the best options to get to Kata Beach.

Get around
Patong can (just about) be covered on foot, but there are plenty of taxis and motorbikes to get you around. The cost of these is one of the main down sides to Patong as they are unregulated and charge what they please.

Phuket has two types of taxi - millions (or so it seems) of small songthaew-style minivans (usually bright red, occasionally bright yellow), and very few conventional sedan-style taxis (yellow and red, with a "Taxi-Meter" sign on top).

The minivans have no meter, and their drivers are notoriously mercenary, so always agree a price beforehand and do bargain hard. Short hops typically cost 200 baht since the one-way street system was inaugurated.

For longer distances the metered taxis are generally cheaper.

Motorbike taxi rides within Patong start around 40 baht, though for any unwalkable distance you might find it hard to get a ride for less than 100 baht.

See
There are many sorts of beaches on Phuket. If one wants unspoiled and natural then Patong is not your kind of place, but there are many unspoiled beaches in the north and south of this beautiful island. Patong is for those of you who like a developed resort with a vibrant nightlife.

Buy
One of Patong's main attractions, besides the nightlife, is shopping. Patong Beach transforms into a large night bazaar every evening, when all the main roads become clogged with stalls selling handicrafts, silk scarves, sarongs and a variety of beach clothes, leisure wear, leather goods and luggage, CDs, etc. Bargain hard for anything you buy from these stalls, as everything is negotiable in Patong and starting prices are often ridiculously high. Get a local to help you haggle rather than complain about it. Save yourself to bargain and overpay. Shopping at shopping malls in Phuket is a lot safer and cost effective. Price of a pair of sunglasses for example will be the same price as stalls on beach road (non-bargain).

Fake goods from the many stalls are all over the place. Quality is normally poor. It is a criminal offence in Thailand to buy or sell pirated goods. Although no cases involving tourists have been reported, the risk does exist that goods that violate intellectual property rights may be liable to confiscation at the airport.

Eat
Patong offers an amazingly cosmopolitan array of eating options, including Arabic, French, German, Indian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Scandinavian, and pretty much any country that sends tourists here. Prices are, however, generally inflated (at least by Thai standards). You can expect to pay about 150 baht for basic meals like fried rice unless you really hunt around. Seafood is priced by weight and is not cheap either. If you're looking for a good food court, visit Jungceylon (See Buy).

Drink

Patong's nightlife spills out in all directions but the centre of the maelstrom is Bangla Rd and its four sois: Crocodile, Eric, Gonzo, and Seadragon, packed with a frenetic mix of pubs, beer bars, and go-go bars. Soi Crocodile is also known as Soi Katoey, a reference to its many transsexuals. There are also a couple of good nightclubs with dance floors, unusual in Thailand otherwise.

Drink prices in Patong can vary, sometimes wildly, between bars, even those right next to each other offering nearly identical atmosphere and patronage. Be on the look-out for drink specials, and do not be afraid to ask for a drink menu if it is not readily available.

Sleep
Accommodation is rather expensive during the peak season with simple air-con rooms ranging from 500-1,500 baht; fan rooms start around 300 baht but availability is limited. In the low season, air-con rooms are easily found from around 300 baht and up. You can usually get a better deal for the more expensive rooms by using one of the local travel shops. It pays to haggle with them.

Budget

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Go next

 * Kamala — next beach to the north
 * Karon — next beach to the south
 * Khao Lak — diving centre and Patong's antithesis, 100 km north
 * Ko Phi Phi — a popular day trip via tour packages
 * Phuket Town

title: Patong


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Patras

Patras (Modern Greek: Πάτρα, Greek pronunciation: [ˈpatra], Classical Greek and Katharevousa: Πάτραι (pl.)) is the third largest city of Greece, after Athens and Thessaloniki. It is the capital of the Prefecture of Achaea on the Peloponnese and the western gateway into the country, thanks to numerous ferry connections with Italy.

By plane
For regular flights, Patras is served by Athens International Airport, 250 km to the east.

By boat
Patras is linked by ferry to the Italian ports of (south to north) Brindisi, Bari, Ancona and Venice, with numerous sailings daily year-round. Service to Trieste has been discontinued.

For the ferry frοm Ancona to Patras you will, e.g., pay for a single person about €40 winter/€100 summer. Local ferry services offer daily sailings from Patras to the Ionian Islands. Corfu is served by the international ferries on their way to and from Italy.

By car
Patras, located in the northeastern corner of the Peloponnese is connected to Athens by road via Corinth on the 8a National Road (corresponding to the E65 and E94 European Routes. To the south, Patras is connected by road to Amalias, Pyrgos and Olympia and further to Kalamata. The construction of a new bridge linking Rion (on the Peloponnese) to Antirrion (on the Central Greek mainland) has been in operation since 2004 and carries the E55 European route, linking Patras with points in Central Greece and Epirus (and onward to Albania) including the port of Igoumenitsa.

By train
A new railway Athens Airport - Patras line is under construction and operational until Aigio. From Athens you can take the suburban railway to Kiato and change there for the rail replacement bus to Patras. The trip is comfortable and fast, with the advantage that you don't need to go to the Intercity Bus Station in Athens which is located far from the city center and is not connected with the metro network.

By bus
Near to the port and main train station at the corner of Zaimi Str. and Othonos Amalias Str. lies the known as KTEL. KTEL buses connect Athens and other towns in Achaea with Patras.

Get around
The moovit app has accurate information and itineraries regarding urban (and some suburban) transport in Patras.

By bus
There is a city bus service in Patras consisting of 10 different lines connecting most of the city and also offering connections to places outside of Patras such as the Rio Hospital, the University of Patras, the Rio Docks (useful as many intercity buses from Athens stop there) and several villages. Tickets are available at many shops and kiosks throughout the city. There are also ticket offices of the bus company in the city center and at various other points such as the hospital and the university. Tickets for trips inside the city (Zone A) cost 1.20€, with trips outside the city costing 1.60€. Tickets purchased inside the bus cost 2.00€ and payment can be made by both cash and card. Most lines offer good service and you will most times find a seat. Lines 2 and 6 serving the two universities can get very crowded at times where classes are taking place. Generally prefer the Ktel or train wherever services are available and not the city bus because they are slow and expensive.

By rail
There is a suburban railway service connecting various places in the wider Patras region, with the 32.9km long line stretching from Agios Vasileios to Kato Achaia. It operates on the metric-gauge tracks of the now closed (since 2011) Peloponnese Railway which had been operating since the late 1800s. There is a train every one hour, with timetables available on the Hellenic Train website. The Agios Vasileios and Aktaion stations are served by bus, changing at Kastellokampos and the route Kaminia-Kato Achaia is served by bus, changing at Kaminia. There is also a bus shuttle that connects the railway to the University of Patras and the Rio Hospital at Kastellokampos station. There is almost no wait for these shuttle buses as itineraries are made so that the arrival of the train and bus coincide. Trains have air conditioning and offer a much more comfortable and faster trip than buses. Ticket prices range from 1.40-3.00€ depending on the number of zones you cross. Tickets can be purchased at the Kato Achaia, Agios Andreas, Patra and Rio stations as well as some other shops near the train stops.

By taxi
Taxis can be found in many cabstands around the city. The taxis are of maroon colour and the costs of moving start from €3.70 for urban routes and reaches €8 - 15 around for Rio, Ag. Vasilios, Vrachneika etc. If you call radiotaxi there is a €2 surcharge. For Taxi Express Patras 2610 450000 .

See

Notable sights include:

Do
The wide array of special events, exhibits, festivals, and various ongoing presentations, continue to delight large numbers of travelers annually, all of which have been designed to show the city of Patras at its best. For those who have never experienced the city, it is one of the best examples of a true Greek city. In addition to its tourist industry, Patras relies heavily on agriculture, its prolific wine country, and its busy shipping industry. However, it is also renowned for its colorful Carnival Season and how it has preserved the performances of ancient Greek theatre, held every year in February–March. Being the city's flagship during the last 170 years, it is without any doubt the greatest local celebration and has long been widely acknowledged in Greece and abroad.

Rooting in ancient Greece, Patras' carnival (as every other Greek carnival) is connected to the worship of Dionysus, god of wine and celebration. The carnival events, starting on 17 January every year and lasting until Ash Monday, are either programmed by the Municipal Committee of Carnival Events, or planned by the citizens and supported by the spontaneity, the inspiration and the creative ability of the inhabitants of Patras themselves. Patras' carnival draws its invigorating energy from the great numbers of participants (more than 30,000), which makes it the most famous in Greece.

Additionally, Patras hosts the Panachaiki soccer team which hosts games at the Pampeloponnisiako Stadium, so natives as well as visitors can stop by and catch a game. If you're interested in going for a stroll along the water, one can venture over to the Molos port walk where there are benches to sit and enjoy the scenery and a cafe at the end of the port where you can sit and wait for your boat enjoying the water.

Buy
The city of Patras has a lot of vintage shops, most in the town hall. They are a litle bit more on the "expensive but good quality" side. You can find all the brands; Patras' biggest mall is Notos Galleries.

Drink
Patras is well known for the wines produced by the Achaia Clauss wine factory and especially for a variety called Mavrodafni. Visitors should also taste the local liqueur called Tentoura which is usually served as a digestive.

Some of the best places to get a drink, especially in the warm summer months is on the beach road in Rio. This strip of land is lined with bars and cafeterias catering to mostly Greeks. The clubs can get pretty packed, and usually European style music is played rather than Greek. Enjoy the views of the ocean and the Rio-Antirrio Bridge which is magnificently lit up on the weekends.

The city can provide a big variety of coffee shops, especially in Agiou Nikolaou Str. (Saint Nikolaos Str.), Radinou Str., Marine (area called "Pelekaneika" in Iroon Politechniou Str.), Plateia Vasileiou Georgiou (King Georgios Square), Gerokostopoulou Str., Ipsila Alonia Square (Plateia Ypsilon Alonion), "Veso Mare" in Akti Dimeon Blvd, Koukouli area near Technological Institute of Patras etc.

Nightlife

 * Distinto at Rio.
 * Radinou Street is a tiny alley that houses some small café and pubs, it's empty during the day but gets packed during the night. There's no much difference between the one pub from the other, the loud beat will hit you anyway as they come from every small spot, just stand between two pub and you will here in stereo a mix of two different tracks
 * Radinou Street is a tiny alley that houses some small café and pubs, it's empty during the day but gets packed during the night. There's no much difference between the one pub from the other, the loud beat will hit you anyway as they come from every small spot, just stand between two pub and you will here in stereo a mix of two different tracks

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Patras


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Pattadakal

Pattadakal is a city in Karnataka. The town lies on the banks of the Malaprabha River in Bagalkot district of North Karnataka region. The group of 8th-century CE monuments in Pattadakal are the culmination of the earliest experiments in the vesara style of Hindu temple architecture. They were designated a World Heritage Site in 1987. The town displays both Dravidian (Southern) and the Nagara (Northern, Indo-Aryan) styles of temple architecture.

Understand
This used to be the site where coronations of Chalukyan kings were performed. The sculpture and architecture here represents the epitome of temple building by the Chalukyans, which began in Aihole. There are no places to stay in either Pattadakal or Aihole and it is best to pack food to take along. Use Badami as a base, and drive out for a day trip to see Aihole, which is further out, and Pattadakal.

By car
It is 22 km from Badami and about 10 km from Aihole.

By bus
The nearest town to Patadakallu is Badami. Badami is connected by bus services provided by North Western Karnataka Road Trransport Corporation (NWKRTC), a Karnataka state government undertaking. NWKRTC provides bus services regularly and daily to different cities like Hubballi (Hubli), Bengaluru (Bangalore), Bagalkote, Vijayapura (Bijapur), Gadag and Hospete (Hospet). From Badami one can take auto to reach Pattadakal or local bus.

By train
The nearest railway station to Pattadakal is Badami. Indian Railways run trains from Bengaluru and Hubballi (Hubli) to Bagalkot and Solapur. Some of these trains do stop at Badami and most at Bagalkot which is at 45 km from Pattadakallu. There is train from Mumbai CSMT (11139/ 11140) to Gadag  through Pune and Solapur which stops at Bagalkot and runs six days a week.

By plane
Hubballi (Hubli) airport (aerodrome) is the nearest about 140 km away.

Get around
The group of temples (monuments) are next to each other. There is an entry fee to temple complex charged by Archeological Survey of India (ASI) which looks after these ancient temples. Entry fee are different for Indian citizens and foreign nationals. Photography and videography fee are charged extra. Parking fee is also levied at some places.

See

Buy
Souvenirs sold at shops.

Eat
Pack food for the trip as there are no good restaurants in and around Pattadakal. There are local village women who sell Jolada rotti (Jowar or Sorghum bread), Chutney and Palya (cooked vegetable). Also there are some shacks which sell tea and other eatables.

Drink
Buttermilk especially after meals and during hot days, to keep hydrated. Tea laced with milk is another favourite of local people.

Sleep
There are decent hotels at Badami and Bagalkote to stay according to one's budget. Clark's Inn, Mayura Chalukya are prominent hotels in Badami. There are Sangam Deluxe, Mookambika Deluxe, Royal Deluxe lodges at Badami.

Stay safe
Summer months of March, April and May will be very hot in this region. Drink water or buttermilk in plenty to replenish your fluids. BSNL (Cellone) mobile signals are available at these places. Do not write, damage on structures of these temples. There is an information desk at the entrance of the temple and guides are available on payment. Do carry battery backup and torch (flashlight) as electricity supply can be irregular sometimes. Do not travel in the night as some interior roads may be isolated and dark. Public transport is comparatively safe.

Go next

 * Aihole
 * Badami
 * Dharwad
 * Hampi
 * Udupi
 * Mangalore

title: Pattadakal


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Pattani

Pattani (ปัตตานี), also spelled Patani in Malay, is the capital of a province of the same name on the Southern Gulf Coast. The population of the city is a little over 40,000 and is a mix of Malay, Thai and Chinese ethnic groups and Muslim and Buddhist religions. The majority of the population are Malay-Muslim, with Thai-Buddhists and Chinese forming large minority groups.

Understand
For several years, Southern Thailand has been experiencing violence linked to a complex and long-running conflict. Foreign governments frequently issue travel warnings for the region, and parts of the area can indeed be quite unsafe. Independent research into the situation is therefore an absolute necessity before heading to the region.

Pattani provides a wonderful example of how people can continue to live their lives under difficult conditions. If only because of this, Pattani would be well worth a visit. But of course seeing life under conflict is not the only reason to visit. The city has a unique and vibrant culture, and the wider region has beautiful and interesting nature spots (including the beaches of Pattani Bay, which are not safe to visit). If not for the on-going violence, the entire region could be quite attractive for tourists. But the conflict is there, and so the tourists aren't. This means that you will get a lot of attention, especially if you don't look Southeast Asian. Children are likely to stare and point, adults will smile to you and even greet you on the street. It's possible to get tired of this, but take it as it is: people are simply happy to have you there.

If you stay safe from attacks, the way are most likely to notice the security situation is the heavy military and police presence. Sandbag bunkers (often "disguised" to look like wooden sheds) are located at sensitive points in the city, as are security cameras. Military vehicles tour the city constantly, including Hummvees. This is not likely to affect you in any significant way while you're in the city, but when travelling between towns there are checkpoints with regular intervals. It's quite possible that you will be asked for ID, so carrying your passport at all times is recommended.

History
Pattani has its origins in the ancient Hindu Malay kingdom of Langkasuka. Later it became the center of an eponymous kingdom, the Kingdom of Pattani. This kingdom was for long a protectorate of Siam, but since 1902 the entire region has been directly ruled from Bangkok.

Pattani was one of the first regions in Southeast Asia to adopt Islam, starting in the 14th century. It later became a centre for Islamic scholarship, and a centre of worship for a much wider region.

Orientation
The Pattani River runs through the city, crossed by several bridges, finding its way into the Pattani Bay. The river itself is home to many colourful fishing boats, fishing being an important part of the economy of the city.

On the west side the most important roads are Makrut Rd and Nongjik Rd running east-west, and Charoenpradit Rd and Decha Rd which run south-north. Where Charoenpradit Rd and Nongjik Rd meet, there is a roundabout with a clock tower. On the east side Yarang Rd, Panare Rd, and Pattani Pirhom Rd all run north-south, with several streets crossing between them.

The Prince of Songkhla University is on the west side of town, by the northern section of Charoenpradit Rd. Most government buildings are found close to the west bank of the river. To the east of the river is the old commercial hub of the town, containing several markets and shopping streets. Pattani Central Mosque is also in the east part of town, by Yarang Rd.

By car
Pattani is about 1,055 km from Bangkok. Visitors can use Hwy 35 (Thonburi-Pak Tho) for about 90 km, then turn left to Hwy 4 to Chumphon for about 460 km. After that, use Hwy 41 or 42 passing Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Songkhla, and Pak-nam Thepa to Pattani. The total distance is around 505 km.

By plane
There is no direct flight to Pattani. Visitors need to travel to Hat Yai airport which is served by Thai Airways, AirAsia, Nok Air and OrientThai from Bangkok. There are also flights from Singapore (Scoot), Kuala Lumpur (AirAsia) and Chiang Mai (AirAsia). Thai Airways provides a round-trip shuttle bus (Hat Yai-Pattani) twice daily free-of-charge for passengers who make the reservation in advance. It is also possible to first take the bus from the airport into downtown Hat Yai, find your way to Hat Yai bus station (a tuk-tuk should be able to get you there) and from there catch a minibus that will take you to the door of a hotel of your choice. This takes about an hour and a half. Flight information can be requested at Tel: 1566, 0 2280 0060, 0 2628 2000 or at Pattani Office Tel: 0 7333 5938.

It is also possible to get in by flying to Narathiwat with Air Asia and then taking a bus or taxi to Pattani.

By train
There is no train station in the city of Pattani, but the Southern Line service of the Thai State Railways has two stops around 30 km from the city.

 * Pattani station, so called on official train timetables, is in fact a very small train station located in Khok Pho district, Pattani province. From there, buses and taxis are available to the city of Pattani, a distance of 29 km.
 * Yala station is the next stop on the line, in the neighboring city of Yala, 35 km from Pattani city. This is a much larger station. Exiting the train station, turn right and walk to the end of that street. If you then go just around the corner you will see red buses that take you to Pattani for 23 baht. You can of course also take a taxi from outside the train station.

It's a long train ride from Bangkok to Pattani, and only serviced by overnight trains with comfortable sleeper carriages. Special express trains leave Bangkok at 15:10 and 22:50, arriving in Pattani (Khok Pho) station at 08:56 and 14:03 respectively and Yala about half an hour later. On the way back trains leave Yala at 14:55 and 16:09. There are also various slower trains, leaving from either Bangkok or other (nearer) train stations. For more information about times check with Thai State Railways.

By bus
To/from Bangkok: Air-con buses by The Transport Co. Ltd (บริษัท ขนส่ง จำกัด (บขส.), bor-kor-sor) run between Bangkok southern bus terminal (สายใต้, sai-tai) and Pattani bus terminal daily. The distance is ~1061 km and normally takes 14 hours.

 * 40 seats Class 1 C bus (ม1ข) costs 763 baht, departs from Bangkok at 18:30 and Pattani at 14:30, and 16:00.

There are service of regular and air-conditioned buses of Transport Co., Ltd. The buses leave from the Southern Bus Terminal to Pattani every day. Departure times from Bangkok for air-conditioned buses which varies in 3 types are as follows:

VIP bus – 17:30.

 * Standard 1 bus – 10:00, 18:00.
 * Standard 2 bus – 18:30.

For more details, contact Tel: 0 2435 1119 and 0 2434 5557-8.

Get around
The preferred way of getting around for locals is by motorcycle. The easiest way to get around, for tourists, is to do the same. Motorcycle taxis are available around the city. Just look out for the men in green vests, either driving around trying to find somebody to pick up or waiting at specific locations. For example, you can be pretty sure to find a driver or two outside most hotels, outside the hospital, by the market and so on. You can expect a ride to cost between 10-40 baht, depending on distance.

Tuk-tuks of the four-wheeled variety are also common. Taking a tuk-tuk is more expensive than taking a motorcycle taxi, but also more comfortable, especially if you have luggage.

Pattani is not a very large city, and most distances can easily be covered by foot. Walking right across town might take about 45 minutes. Indeed, walking may be the best way to orient yourself and understand the city. However you must realize that walking is not a very common means of transportation in Pattani and the pavement is used for pretty much everything other than walking. You will be weaving your way between stalls, tables, motorcycles, and even people's pot-plants - and you will regularly have to walk on the road.

See

 * Matsayit Klang - built in the early 1960s, this traditional green-hued structure is probably south Thailand's most significant mosque
 * San Jao Leng Ju Khieng Shrine
 * Wat Changhai
 * Wat Saikow
 * Wat Si Mahapo

Do

 * Chak Phra Festival (ประเพณีชักพระ) This annual festival commemorates the return of Buddha from heaven. Buddhists accompany a decorated boat procession from all temples. Activities include dancing and offering food to Buddhist monks at the district office for five days and nights.
 * Chao Mae Lim Ko Niao Fair (งานสมโภชเจ้าแม่ลิ้มกอเหนี่ยว) This fair is celebrated annually 15 days after Chinese New Year. Highlighting the event is the procession to carry the wooden sculpture of Chao Mae Lim Ko Niao, a goddess which is respected by the citizens of Chinese ethnicity in Pattani. This annual fair features extraordinary arts of endurance such as fire walking. Before joining the festival, for seven days participants need to be vegetarians.
 * Sport Fishing in Sai Buri (งานแข่งขันกีฬาตกปลาสายบุรี) A competition is annually held on the second weekend of May at Hat Wasukri, Amphoe Sai Buri.

Buy
Pattani is definitely not a place that tourists flock to for its shopping potential. Souvenir shops are non-existent (not surprising, seeing as there are almost no tourists to shop in them anyway), and the town has very little in the way of shops selling either local handicrafts or fashion.

For your day-to-day needs while staying there, however, you should have no problems finding what you want. All sorts of shops line pretty much every major street in Pattani. 7-Eleven is ubiquitous and can be a good place for the essentials, but it will be slightly cheaper (and more fun) to shop at the many smaller, mainly Chinese-run, convenience stores scattered around town. Fresh fruit can be found at stalls around town, with several of them on both Makrut Rd. and Nongjik Rd.

The streets immediately to the east of the river are especially good for shopping. There are several bookstores, which generally stock either or both The Nation and Bangkok Post but relatively little else in English. Chinese stores, many selling a wide assortment of seemingly random stuff, line a section of Pattani Phirom Rd.

Several markets can be found around Pattani. The largest one is on Yarang Rd. on the way out of town towards Yala.

There's a Big C on the outskirts of town to the west, on the road to Hat Yai.

Eat
As with most places in Thailand, food is very easy to find in Pattani. Although perhaps not known as a culinary destination, the region has an interesting blend of Thai and Malay cooking.

Small family-run restaurants are all over town, as are street vendors and food stalls, far too many to list here. Very few of these will have a menu in English or English-speaking staff, so it may be good to equip yourself with the names of some dishes (or at least the words for noddles or rice) in Thai or Malay/Yawi. They will, however, probably have staff who are delighted to receive foreign guests and willing to do their best to give you what you want. One sure method is to point at pictures that can often be found on menu's, or walk to the kitchen (which will be in open view by the street) and point at some dish that has already been prepared.

The CS Pattani Hotel and My Gardens Hotel both have hotel restaurants and the one in CS Pattani is known as one of the best in the city. The area outside CS Pattani also has several small restaurants and cafés worth a look. There is a night market (head east from the southernmost bridge, close to Santisuk Hotel), where you can get local types of fast food prepared before your eyes.

In 2010, the Halal Science Center at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok published a book called Unique Melayu-Thai Foods in Southern Border Cuisine. The book contains recipes of local food from the provinces of Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat, Songkhla and Satun, as well as information about the restaurants from which the recipes are gathered. Although most of the book is in Thai, recipes and locations of restaurants are translated into English. This book is well worth a buy for anybody interested in local food, and should be found in bookstores around town.

Drink
Pattani has a Muslim majority, and many restaurants and coffee shops will not sell alcohol. Thai or Chinese-run restaurants usually will, but not those owned by Malay Muslims. The Muslim population is quite tolerant and people are not likely to react angrily if you ask for a glass of beer with your food, but being aware of the cultural setting can help avoid embarrassing situations. For example, if you see a sign in Chinese it's likely that the restaurant or café will serve alcohol, while if the place is decorated with Islamic art you should not expect it to.

There are a number of coffee and teashops in town. Coffee is usually not very good in Pattani and instant coffee seems to be the norm, although there are some exceptions. Tea can be more interesting, with Malay varieties available along with the types available elsewhere in the world. If you buy coffee, you will often also get a pot of very bland tea to drink when you've finished your coffee.

Cope
When you arrive you will find that your Thai SIM card no longer works. This is due to the ongoing security situation. The SIM must be re-activated. To do this you must fill out a simple form, which includes your passport number, and it costs 50 baht. Most phone shops around town can do this. Foreign SIMs cannot be used, but it is easy to buy a prepaid number in the phone shops.

Stay safe
In 2004, long-simmering resentment in the southern-most Muslim-majority provinces burst into widespread violence in Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala Provinces. The main target of bomb attacks are where people congregate: public markets, hotels, entertainment venues, and shopping areas. Tourists were not targetted however some were killed as by-standers to a bombing attack, which led to foreign governments warning their citizens about travelling to these provinces. The violence was at its worst beterrn 2004-2015 and has now almost ceased. Despite still being under a state of emergency, as of 2022 these provinces are no longer a danger zone and tourists need take no special precautions travelling here. Soldiers will be seen at roadblocks, on trains and other important sites, but they will not cause you any trouble.

Go next

 * Yala and Narathiwat can both be reached by buses leaving from Ruedi Rd. (Rte 42), costing 23 and 60 baht respectively. The bus to Yala takes about an hour and to Narathiwat two hours and the leave once or twice an hour. They can be recognised by their colours, the one to Narathiwat is blue and the one to Yala red. You can get on or off anywhere you like on the way, but be sure to say where you intend to get off when you pay the fare as shorter distances will of course cost less. Another way to reach these neighboring cities is by taxi, which is more expensive, but a lot quicker.
 * Krue-Se Mosque is a historic 16th century Mosque about 5 km outside the city itself. It is in use for the five regular daily prayer-times, but not for Friday prayers. The mosque was renovated in the 1980s, and again after the Thai military stormed it in 2004 and killed 32 suspected insurgents inside. This incident caused a lot of controversy and is considered an important moment in the current conflict. Krue-Se Mosque can be reached by songthaew (a pick-up truck with covered back) leaving from Ruedi Rd., close to the busses to Yala and Narathiwat. Take the dark-green songthaew that goes to Yaring and tell the driver you want to get off at Krue-Se.
 * Hat Yai and Songkhla Province may be reached by minibuses that can be booked to pick you up at any hotel in town and cost 100 baht.
 * Songthaews run to all of the neighbouring districts, but before heading out please make sure that the district you wish to visit is relatively safe. The risk of violence varies widely between districts.
 * Further afield: Buses to other parts of the country can be found at the long-distance bus station a few kilometres outside of town. It's probably best to ask a tuk-tuk or motorbike taxi to take you there, or to ask the hotel to book a taxi. There is a very small train station in Pattani Province, in Amphoe Khok Pho. Train timetables appear to call this station Pattani, but if you are in the city of Pattani may be easier to go to Yala and take the train there.

title: Pattani