Tickets
Hotels
Tours
Insurance
Trains
ThailandWhich zoo to choose: our personal rating
In Pattaya and its surroundings, there really are many places where you can see animals. But not all of them are equally good. We've visited many of them and put together our own rating to make it easier for you to choose.
Our clear favorite is Khao Kheow Zoo. It's a huge safari park where animals live in spacious enclosures, not cramped cages. You can wander around for half a day, hand-feed giraffes, and see the famous baby hippo Moo Deng. In second place — Monster Aquarium: a great alternative if you don't want to drive far, and it's air-conditioned inside, which is a lifesaver in Pattaya's heat.
The other zoos are more specialized. If you want to get up close with tigers — head to Tiger Park Pattaya. For elephant rides — Elephant Village. And for the underwater world — Underwater World.
Our advice: For a standard vacation (10–14 days), visiting 1–2 zoos is more than enough. Don't chase quantity — it's better to spend half a day at one place and enjoy it than to rush through three and get exhausted.
Pattaya Zoo Comparison Table
| Zoo | Adult ticket price | Opening hours | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Khao Kheow | 350 baht (10.61 USD) | 8:00–17:00 | Huge safari park, you can feed animals |
| Monster Aquarium | 300 baht (9.09 USD) | 9:00–18:00 | Indoor aquarium + zoo, air-conditioned |
| Tiger Park Pattaya | from 320 baht (9.7 USD) | 9:00–18:00 | Photos with tigers, contact with predators |
| Elephant Village | from 300 baht (9.09 USD) | 8:00–18:00 | Elephant rides, bathing |
| Underwater World | 550 baht (16.67 USD) | 9:00–18:00 | 105-meter underwater tunnel |
| Tiger Topia Zoo (Sriracha) | 100 baht (entry), 300 baht with show | 9:00–16:00 | Tiger and crocodile shows, photos with predators |
| Siri Park and Zoo | 100 baht (adult), kids under 140 cm free | 9:00–17:00 | Small well-maintained zoo, can feed animals |
Note: Tiger Topia Zoo and Siri Park are located in the Sriracha area (33–37 km from Pattaya). According to reviews, they're smaller in scale and quality, but can be interesting as a budget option if you have a car.
Best places to get to know animals in Pattaya
Khao Kheow Open Zoo — our favorite
A huge open-air safari park where animals live in spacious enclosures, not cramped cages. This place is worth visiting even if you're not particularly into zoos — it's different here.
What we especially love: You can hand-feed giraffes and deer — food is sold on the grounds for 30–50 baht per bundle. You can see the world-famous dwarf hippo Moo Deng — she lives here and has become a real internet star. There are elephant shows and penguin parades — kids absolutely love them.
The grounds are divided into two zones — green (walking) and pink (for those with a car). Without your own transport, you can only explore the green zone, and for the pink zone you'll need a car or bike. The best option for families with kids — plan at least half a day for your visit.
Practical information
🌐 Website: https://khaokheow.zoothailand.org/
🕐 Opening hours: daily from 08:00 to 17:00 (entry until 16:00). There's also an evening safari from 19:00 to 20:00. Shows: elephant bathing — 11:00 and 14:30, penguin parade — 10:00 and 14:00, flying parade — 10:30 and 14:30.
💵 Entry fee / ticket prices: adults — 350 baht (10.61 USD), children (90–140 cm) — 120 baht (3.64 USD), children under 90 cm — free. Vehicle entry: car — 80 baht (2.42 USD), motorcycle — 40 baht (1.21 USD). Online tickets are often cheaper — you can buy them on Trip.com.
🚶 How to get there: located about a 45-minute drive from Pattaya (Khao Kheow Zoo on the map). No public transport — only taxi (500–700 baht one way), rented car/motorcycle, or a tour with transfer.
Our tip: If you're going on your own, bring snacks and water — food inside is pricier, and you'll be walking a lot. Make sure to wear comfortable shoes and a hat.
Monster Aquarium and Zoo
An indoor aquarium and zoo in northern Pattaya — a great alternative to Khao Kheow if you don't want to drive far. And the biggest plus — it's air-conditioned inside, which is a lifesaver in Pattaya's heat.
Under one roof, there are fish tanks, a terrarium, enclosures with birds, predators, monkeys, and a petting zoo with farm animals. You can feed animals (food — 20 baht), have photos taken with birds and reptiles (30–50 baht). Special residents — "monster mutants," like a two-headed turtle. A visit with feeding will take 2–3 hours.
Practical information
🕐 Opening hours: daily from 09:00 to 18:00 (ticket sales until 17:00).
💵 Entry fee / ticket prices: adults — 300 baht (9.09 USD), children (90–139 cm) — 150 baht (4.55 USD), children under 90 cm — free. Online tickets are cheaper — you can buy them on Trip.com.
🚶 How to get there: located in northern Pattaya, in the Naklua area (Monster Aquarium on the map). Only by taxi (Grab, Bolt, Maxim — from 200 baht) or rented transport (free parking).
Tiger Park Pattaya
Tiger Park Pattaya opened in 2017 on Jomtien and became the first tiger farm in the city. It houses over 50 tigers, including Bengal and Golden tigers. Visitors can enter the enclosures and sit next to predators under the supervision of keepers — this isn't a zoo, but a place for those who want to be physically close to big cats.
According to reviews, the park is clean, the tigers are well-groomed, and the staff clearly explain safety rules. You can choose contact with tiger cubs 1–3 months old, 3–6 months old, or with adult tigers. The grounds are compact, 1–3 hours is enough for a visit.
Practical information
🌐 Official website: http://www.tigerpark.com
🕐 Opening hours: daily from 09:00 to 18:00, last entry at 17:30.
💵 Entry fee / ticket prices: entry ticket — 320 baht (9.7 USD); tickets with contact and photos with tigers and cubs — from 600 baht (18.18 USD). You can buy discounted tickets on aggregator sites, e.g. Trip.com — from 240 baht.
🚶 How to get there: located at 349/9 Sukhumvit Rd, Muang Pattaya, Bang Lamung District, Chon Buri 20150 (Tiger Park Pattaya on the map). About 15–20 minutes from central Pattaya by car, easiest by taxi from 150 baht.
Important: This isn't a zoo in the classic sense — there are no big enclosures or walking trails. The main thing is contact with tigers and a photo session. If you're not ready for close interaction with predators, choose a different park.
Pattaya Elephant Village
The oldest elephant sanctuary in Pattaya, founded back in 1973 as a rehabilitation center. People come here not for the show (you've probably seen those elsewhere), but for a half-hour elephant ride through the jungle, feeding the animals bananas, and the chance to participate in elephant bathing.
The grounds are small, and after the main activities, be prepared for people asking for tips at every turn. If your goal is just to watch a show, choose a different park. But for riding and interacting with elephants, this place fully lives up to expectations, especially if you have kids.
Practical information
🕐 Opening hours: daily from 08:00 to 18:00. Elephant rides start several times a day: roughly at 09:00, 10:30, 12:30, and 16:00. It's better to book rides in advance.
💵 Entry fee / ticket prices: entry + show – from 300 baht; entry + ride (45–50 min) – from 600 baht; combo (show + ride + feeding) – from 800 baht; elephant bathing – from 2000 baht. Bananas for feeding – 100 baht. Online tickets are often cheaper. You can buy cheaper tickets on Trip.com.
🚶 How to get there: located about 7 km from the center (Elephant Village on the Pattaya map). Tours with transfer are more convenient and cheaper. Taxi (Grab, Bolt) – 200–300 baht (booking a return ride is tricky, better to arrange with the driver to wait).
Underwater World
An aquarium featuring marine animals of the Gulf of Siam. The aquarium is shaped like a 105-meter tunnel and divided into 4 zones. A great place for kids.
The first zone features beautiful and rare fish species. The second zone — cartilaginous fish, including sharks and rays. The third zone — commercial fish species and turtles. The fourth zone features fish from the Amazon River and the largest fish specimens. At certain times, feeding takes place in each zone, presented as a small show.
Practical information
🌐 Official website: https://underwaterworldpattaya.com/
🕐 Opening hours: daily from 9:00 to 18:00.
💵 Entry fee / ticket prices: adults – 550 baht (16.67 USD), children (91-130 cm) – 350 baht (10.61 USD).
🚶 How to get there: Underwater World is located at 22/22 Moo 11 Sukhumvit Road, 5 kilometers from the city center (Underwater World on the map). To get there on your own, you can take a songthaew to Lotus's South Pattaya and then walk 1 kilometer along Sukhumvit. From Jomtien Beach, you can walk (2 kilometers).
Alternatives: parks that also have animals
If you want to see animals but aren't ready to go to a separate zoo, check out these places — they're part of entertainment complexes and are often included in tour programs:
- Nong Nooch Tropical Garden — a spectacular elephant show (they paint, play football) is included in the ticket price. A great alternative to a separate elephant village trip.
- Million Years Stone Park and Crocodile Farm — you can see crocodiles, tigers, giraffes, and elephants, and the main attraction is the thrilling crocodile show.
Note: If you want to see more of Pattaya's attractions, including these parks, we've gathered them all in one complete guide to Pattaya.
How to choose a zoo: tips
Purpose of visit
Just to see animals — Khao Kheow. Contact with tigers — Tiger Park. Underwater world — Underwater World. Elephant ride — Elephant Village.
Budget
Most budget-friendly — Siri Park (100 baht) and Tiger Topia (entry 100 baht). Most expensive — Underwater World (550 baht) and combo tickets at Elephant Village.
Distance
In the city — Monster Aquarium and Underwater World. Khao Kheow — 45-minute drive, Elephant Village — 15–20 minutes. Tiger Topia and Siri Park — about 35 km.
Weather
On hot days — indoor Monster Aquarium or Underwater World. Khao Kheow has lots of open space, better to go in the morning or evening.
With kids
Best choice — Khao Kheow (can feed, lots of shows) or Monster Aquarium (air-conditioned, petting zoo).
Our final advice
If you only have one day — go to Khao Kheow. If you don't want to go far — Monster Aquarium. These two places will give you the most impressions.
Where to buy cheaper tickets
Tickets to most zoos can be bought cheaper online than at the box office. We usually buy on these platforms — they're reliable and accept Russian cards:
- Trip.com – the biggest tour and ticket database, accepts Russian cards
- Sputnik8 – tours in Russian, verified guides
- Tripster – private and group tours in Russian
- GetYourGuide – international platform with lots of reviews
💡 Tip: Compare offers across different platforms — prices and programs can vary a lot.
Our tip: If you're traveling with a group of 3–4 people, sometimes it's cheaper to take a taxi round-trip with waiting than to buy a tour. Check the price on Grab or Bolt, multiply by 2, and compare with the per-person tour price.