The plan for when the beach is off
Every Pattaya holiday has one: the afternoon when a storm rolls in or the sun is simply too much. Art in Paradise is one of the easiest answers in town. It is a 3D illusion art museum, where huge paintings on the walls and floors are made to be stepped into. Stand on the marked spot, strike a pose, and the camera turns it into, say, you hanging off a waterfall or being chased by a dinosaur. The rooms are grouped by theme, so you move from one painted world to the next.
It works for almost any group: couples, teenagers who are bored of the pool, grandparents who like to watch, and small children who will happily do the same pose twenty times. It is all indoors, so nobody gets wet or sunburnt. It also suits the first afternoon of a holiday, when everyone is tired from travelling and wants something easy before dinner.
How to get better photos inside
The fun of the museum is in the pictures, so a little preparation goes a long way.
- Charge your phone fully, and bring a power bank if you have one
- Wear bright, plain clothes; they stand out against the busy paintings
- Look for the camera markers on the floor, they show where to shoot from
- Go with at least one person happy to be the photographer
Ask the staff if you are unsure about a pose, as some of the effects only work from one exact angle. Take your time. If another group is posing at a scene you like, move on and come back to it. The best shots usually come once everyone stops being shy and really commits to the pose.
A short ride, with room to add more
Art in Paradise is in Pattaya itself, so the Van Pattaya to Art in Paradise ride is a short hop across town from most hotels, and from Jomtien not much longer. On a rainy day the main benefit is simple: you go from the hotel lobby to the museum entrance without waiting for a songthaew in the downpour. Songthaews are cheap, but they are open at the sides, and in a tropical storm that matters. The fixed price for the whole vehicle is confirmed in chat before the trip, and you pay the driver in cash after the ride.
A couple can take a sedan; a family or group of friends fits better in the Toyota Commuter van, nine seats with room for shopping bags later. If you want to turn it into an afternoon with a mall, a show or dinner afterwards, put the stops together on our day trip planner. Waiting time and extra stops are priced in chat before you go, so a van Pattaya to Art in Paradise can easily become the whole rainy day sorted.