Most day trips from Pattaya head out to sea, to Koh Larn and its beaches. Nong Nooch Garden goes the other way: a privately owned botanical garden of more than 1,700 rai (about 2.7 square kilometres) on Sukhumvit Road, roughly 20 km south of central Pattaya, open daily from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. It mixes a serious plant collection with clipped French parterres, a Stonehenge replica and hundreds of life-size dinosaurs.
It is big, hot and more theme park than quiet garden: the garden says more than 5,000 people visit each day. Plan it well and it is one of the best half days in the Pattaya area, with or without children. This guide covers what to see, tickets and hours, whether it is worth the money, getting there and when to go.
At a Glance
- Where: Km 163, Sukhumvit Road, Na Jomtien, Sattahip district, about 20 km south of central Pattaya
- Getting there: About 30 minutes by Grab, taxi or car from central Pattaya; many tours include pick-up
- Opening hours: Daily 8:00 am to 6:00 pm, no closing days (as of October 2026)
- Entry fee: Around 600 THB for foreign adults, garden only; shows and the sightseeing bus cost extra (as of October 2026, confirm when booking)
- Time needed: Half a day (4 to 5 hours)
- Good for: Families, garden lovers, photographers and a break from the beach
In This Guide
- What Nong Nooch Garden Is
- The Gardens Worth Seeing
- Dinosaur Valley and the Garden in the Sky
- Shows, Animals and Getting Around
- Tickets and Opening Hours
- Is It Worth It? The Honest Answer
- Getting There
- Best Time to Visit
- Tips for a Better Visit
- Where to Stay Near Nong Nooch
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Sources
What Nong Nooch Garden Is
Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden (สวนนงนุชพัทยา) is a family-run garden that opened to the public in 1980. According to the garden’s own history (nongnoochpattaya.com), Pisit and Nongnooch Tansacha bought the land in 1954 to grow mangoes, oranges and coconuts. After a trip abroad to see famous gardens, Nongnooch turned the orchard into an ornamental garden instead. Her son, Kampon Tansacha, has run it since 1983.
Nong Nooch is a real botanical garden behind the photo spots. The garden says it has collected more than 18,000 plants, with major collections of palms, cycads, hoyas, heliconias and bougainvillea, and Wikipedia notes its Cycad Gene Bank, an important conservation collection for this ancient plant group (Wikipedia). Most visitors never notice that side, but plant lovers will.
The Gardens Worth Seeing
The best gardens at Nong Nooch are the formal ones near the centre, all within walking distance of each other. Give them the first hour of your visit, while the light is soft and the paths are quieter.
French Gardens
The two French Gardens opened in 1998 and were inspired by the gardens of Versailles. Rows of clipped topiary, flower beds and white pagoda models stretch towards the hills, and the view over them from the raised walkway is one of the best photos in the garden.
Stonehenge Garden
The Stonehenge Garden, built in 2000, is a replica of the stone circle set among swirling hedges. The stones came from Prachinburi province, and the scene, with tropical palms and a wooded hill behind, is Nong Nooch at its most surreal.
Cactus and Succulent Gardens
The Cactus Garden sits near the main entrance in a tall glasshouse, with golden barrel cacti, agaves and other succulents set among rocks.
Smaller themed areas include an orchid garden, a butterfly garden, a bromeliad nursery and an Italian garden with marble statues, the first garden Nongnooch Tansacha created.
Dinosaur Valley and the Garden in the Sky
Dinosaur Valley is the part of Nong Nooch children remember. It opened on 10 April 2017 on 25 rai around the second French Garden, and the garden now counts 814 dinosaur models of over 230 species (official site). Some are huge, many roar, and the models keep multiplying.
The whole thing started with one Triceratops placed by the Cactus Garden in 2016. Visitors photographed it more than the cacti, so the owner ordered a whole valley. A skywalk now links the area to the Thai Pavilion, the cactus terrace and the Stone Forest, and air-conditioned buildings nearby have cafés, food, souvenirs and a children’s playground.
The Garden in the Sky covers about 10 rai on two levels, with ferns, orchids, bromeliads, bonsai and cycads hanging from the roof (official site). A mist system keeps it cool, and an elevator means wheelchair users can reach the upper floor.
Shows, Animals and Getting Around
Nong Nooch runs a Thai cultural show every day, with classical dance and martial arts on an elaborate stage, and an elephant show twice a day in which elephants paint, play football and dance. Ticket sellers offer the shows as a package with entry, so check what your ticket includes.
The elephant show is the part of Nong Nooch that divides visitors. If you would rather not watch elephants perform tricks, buy the garden-only ticket; you will not miss any of the gardens.
Other things to look out for: two lakes with around 50 arapaima, giant Amazon fish of 1.5 to 2.5 metres that you can watch being fed, a Persian cat café and several coffee shops. The garden is too large to walk end to end in the heat, so most visitors use the sightseeing bus (an add-on) or hire a golf cart with a driver who doubles as a guide and photographer.
Tickets and Opening Hours
Nong Nooch Garden is open every day from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm, with no closing days, according to the garden’s own website (as of October 2026). Thailand uses two-tier pricing here, so foreign visitors pay more than Thai nationals.
| Ticket | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Foreign adult, garden | About 600 THB | Confirm when booking |
| Thai adult, garden | About 300 THB | Thai nationals |
| Shows, bus, lunch | Extra | Sold as packages |
The official ticket shop is on nongnoochpattaya.com. Online tickets are valid for 5 days from the booking date, which helps if the weather turns. The garden has warned about a fake copy of its website taking payments (official notice), so book only on nongnoochpattaya.com, at the gate, or through a reseller you already trust.
Is It Worth It? The Honest Answer
Nong Nooch is worth it if you like gardens, have children, or want a day away from the beach. The formal gardens and Dinosaur Valley are well kept, and nothing else near Pattaya looks like them. Few attractions in Thailand suit three generations so well.
It is less worth it if you dislike crowds or the heat. The main areas can be busy with tour groups, much of the garden is in full sun, and some areas feel more like a photo set than a garden. With a garden-only ticket, an early start and the sightseeing bus, most of those problems go away.
If you have one cultural day in Pattaya, compare it with the carved wooden Sanctuary of Truth; our Sanctuary of Truth visitor guide covers that one. For a lighter half day closer to town, the Pattaya Floating Market is about 10 minutes from Jomtien.
Getting There
Nong Nooch is at kilometre 163 on Sukhumvit Road in Na Jomtien, Sattahip district, south of Jomtien on the way to Sattahip. It is about 30 minutes by car from central Pattaya and roughly 20 minutes from Jomtien Beach, depending on traffic.
- By Grab, Bolt or taxi: the simplest option. Ask for Suan Nong Nooch (สวนนงนุช). For the ride back, booking through an app saves bargaining at the gate.
- By car or scooter: the garden has a large car park. Sukhumvit Road is a busy highway, so it is an easier drive by car than by scooter.
- On a tour: many packages include hotel pick-up in Pattaya and Jomtien, entry and a show; compare the package price with booking each part yourself.
Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit Nong Nooch is a weekday at opening time, 8:00 am, from November to February. Early mornings are cooler and usually calmer, and the low sun is kinder for photos. After about 3:00 pm the heat eases again, but you will have less time to see everything.
November to February is Pattaya’s driest season, with only 12 to 57 mm of rain a month (WMO climate normals via Wikipedia). September and October are the wettest months, with 214 to 225 mm. The gardens are greener then, and the 5-day ticket lets you pick a dry morning.
Tips for a Better Visit
A visit to Nong Nooch goes best with an early start, a route planned around the heat and comfortable shoes. These five tips cover most of it.
- Bring a hat, sunscreen and water: most paths are in full sun.
- See the French Gardens and Stonehenge first, then Dinosaur Valley, and save the mist-cooled Garden in the Sky for the hottest part of the day.
- Wear comfortable shoes. Even with the bus you will walk a lot.
- Check the show times when you arrive and plan the gardens around them.
- Allow at least four hours; a full day is easy if you are into plants.
Where to Stay Near Nong Nooch
Stay in Pattaya or Jomtien rather than at the garden: Nong Nooch is a half-day trip, and the beaches, restaurants and night markets are in town. Jomtien is the closer of the two; our Jomtien Beach guide covers what it is like to stay there.
This is where we at Silqhaus come into the picture. Silqhaus, a Phuket and Pattaya holiday-rental company, has The Base, a condo in Pattaya, and Zire Wongamat, a beachfront condo with sea views on Wongamat Beach in north Pattaya. Both are run by our own local team, and you can message them directly from day one. Booking direct is at least 10% cheaper than the same home on Airbnb, Booking.com or Vrbo.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nong Nooch Garden worth visiting?
Yes, for families, garden lovers and anyone wanting a break from the beach. Nong Nooch is large, well kept and unlike anything else near Pattaya, but it is hot and busy, so go early on a weekday.
How much is the Nong Nooch Garden entrance fee?
A garden-only ticket for a foreign adult costs around 600 THB and around 300 THB for Thai adults (as of October 2026). Shows, the sightseeing bus and lunch cost extra; confirm current prices on the official booking page.
What are Nong Nooch Garden’s opening hours?
Nong Nooch Garden is open every day from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm, with no closing days (as of October 2026).
How far is Nong Nooch Garden from Pattaya?
Nong Nooch is at kilometre 163 on Sukhumvit Road, about 20 km south of central Pattaya. That is roughly 30 minutes by car, or about 20 minutes from Jomtien.
How long do you need at Nong Nooch Garden?
Plan four to five hours to see the main gardens, Dinosaur Valley and one show. Plant lovers can easily spend a full day.
Nong Nooch is not a quiet botanical garden, and it does not try to be. What it does is put one of Southeast Asia’s great plant collections behind Versailles hedges, a stone circle and a valley of dinosaurs, 30 minutes from the beach. Go early, take the bus, and save the afternoon for Jomtien. For more ideas, see our round-up of things to do in Pattaya.
Sources
- Nong Nooch Pattaya Garden: history (official)
- Nong Nooch Pattaya Garden: Dinosaur Valley and opening hours (official)
- Nong Nooch Pattaya Garden: Garden in the Sky (official)
- Nong Nooch Pattaya Garden: warning about a fake website (official)
- Wikipedia: Nong Nooch Tropical Garden (gardens, cycads, prices)
- Wikipedia: Pattaya (climate normals 1991–2020)
- Cover photo: Photo: Christoph Jackel (WMDE), CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
