Overview

Hua Hin offers the perfect blend of sea and sand, Thai royal heritage, Buddhist temples and fun in the sun. The modern side of Hua Hin is growing fast, as it's considered one of Thailand's preferred beach destinations, especially with Scandinavians. But thankfully it hasn't lost its original classic charm, best experienced in neighbouring fishing villages and at interesting historic sites.

Khao Chong Krachok

This hilltop Buddhist temple at the northern end of Hua Hin is known locally as ‘Mirror Mount.' You'll need to manage the 395 steps to get to the temple at the top, but the effort will be well worth it. This monastery is one of the most revered in the region, and as a bonus it's also inhabited by bands of cute but mischievous monkeys. The mix of stunning panoramic views, monkeys and the temple make it a great destination.

Khao Hin Thoen Stone Park

A major aspect to visiting Hua Hin is the bounty of natural sites within easy striking distance of the city. One of the most spectacular is the Stone Park just to the west of town. Like a valley that had dozens of massive boulders strewn around by an irate giant, visitors take paths that wind through the stones up to a mountain peak that offers arguably the finest views of the Gulf of Thailand in the region.

Klaikangwon Palace

This iconic palace, known as ‘Far from Worries,' presents a rare chance to peek inside the regal life of Thailand's monarchy. It was built in the 1920s during the reign of King Rama VII as his summer palace, and has a distinctly Spanish villa style to it. Thailand's present king and queen still come here each year for their summer retreat, but visitors can stroll the beautiful gardens and enjoy the architecture and amazing sea views.

Khao Wang

If you need a deeper immersion in Thai culture, head north to Phetchaburi town, where you can explore the palace of King Mongkut (Rama IV), which he built in 1860. Dominating the three hills overlooking Phetchaburi, visitors can wander the palace, its grounds and the fantastic museum that presents a great collection of artefacts.

Wat Khao Takiap

One of Hua Hin's most popular working Buddhist temples can be found at Ao Takiap, which translates into ‘Chopsticks Bay.' Although the temple itself is not as elaborate as some of Thailand's other temples, the authenticity of its daily worship makes it a valuable glimpse into the social role of Buddhism in local Hua Hin life. As a bonus, there are amazing views from the top, especially at sunrise.

Marukhathaiyawan Palace

The ‘Palace of Love and Hope,' as it's also known, is another architectural gem worth a visit if you want a closer look at the life Thailand's monarchy has enjoyed in Hua Hin since the 1920s. This grand palace, built largely from impressive timbers of golden teak wood, was the summer home of King Rama VI. Naturally, the views from the beautiful grounds make this a lovely place to spend an afternoon.

Overview

The beach undoubtedly dominates the outdoor recreation scene in Hua Hin, but if you get tired of the sand and sea there are plenty of inland options waiting. Water sports are popular on the main beach, particularly the fun banana boat rides. Golfing is another major sport around Hua Hin, which boasts some of Thailand's best courses. Elephant rides and Thai cooking classes offer another aspect to Thailand's unique cultural activities.

Beaches

Hua Hin has a main beach right in the heart of town that stretches for nearly four kilometres along the Gulf of Thailand. The sheer size of the main beach ensures it never feels too crowded, and its white sand is some of the finest in the country. Near the major hotels, visitors can rent beach chair and umbrellas, but if you want more privacy or a touch of local flavour, head further south to the pine tree-lined Suan Son Beach, which is popular with local Thais.

Banana boat rides

If you enjoy a bit of an adrenalin rush without too much danger, then you won't want to miss taking a ride on one of Hua Hin's banana boats. These inflatable boats that resemble bananas are pulled along by a speedboat that tries to make the ride as bumpy, twisty and fun as possible. It's really great fun, especially if you're with a group of friends. Operators are located all along Hua Hin Beach.

Elephant rides

Riding an elephant is a rare experience for most Westerners, but in Hua Hin there's an excellent place called Elephant Village where you can take a ride atop one of these wonderful creatures. The rides trek through the jungle past a Buddhist temple and up a mountain, where the views are stupendous. At the camp you can also watch an elephant show demonstrating the surprising level of intelligence of these gentle creatures.

Go-karting

This fun sport can be enjoyed by the young and the old alike. Hua Hin's go-karting track is very popular with both tourists and locals, featuring a 750m-long twisting track with decent views as a backdrop. Go-karts are available for all abilities, ages and driving desires. There are even night rides under floodlights, a restaurant and a beer garden.

Thai cooking classes

Cooking many of Thailand's tastiest dishes isn't as hard as you think. By taking a local cooking class you can learn everything from ingredient selection at the local market to the techniques to make that curry sing. There are many cooking schools to choose from in Hua Hin, and you'll get to enjoy your creations at the end of class.

Sasi Dinner Theatre

Thailand's traditional dance and music is a real highlight of any trip to the kingdom. Hua Hin has an excellent venue that showcases these classic performances along with a great Thai dinner at the Sasi Dinner Theatre. There are other shows in Hua Hin, but this one near the Hyatt Regency is one of the best.

Golf

Golf is a huge sport among Thais who have the leisure time to enjoy it, and Hua Hin is regarded as a hub of Thai golfing. The Royal Hua Hin Golf Course was the first to open in the kingdom way back in the 1920s, and it remains one of the most challenging and scenic courses in the country. There are other courses in the area, but the Royal Course is where most visitors choose to swing first.

Water sports

Hua Hin is the main centre of beach and water sport activity in this region of the Gulf of Thailand. Water sports are a great way to add movement to an otherwise languid afternoon lying on the sand. Most hotels offer advanced sports like scuba diving, jet-skiing, waterskiing and parasailing, but there are also private operators along the beach that rent basic gear for fun in the water.

Dining and shopping

Hua Hin is the hub for tasty dining options along this stretch of the Gulf of Thailand. The fact that the royal family has been spending their summers here for nearly a century has helped a diverse and high-quality restaurant scene develop over the years, especially after tourists began to discover the beauty of the area. This translates into a wealth of dining choices for visitors, from classic Thai restaurants to impressive international cuisine, and of course plenty of fresh seafood.

The best seafood restaurants are clustered around the town's fishing pier, and in the neighbouring fishing village of Khao Takiab. Excellent Thai food at reasonable prices can be found in the market area and along the town's single main road, Damnoenkasem. For a fancier meal, try the restaurants located in Hua Hin's top hotels. After dark, check out the Night Market on Dechanuchit Road for classic Thai snacks from street vendors.

Since Hua Hin is such a popular tourist destination, there is naturally a strong shopping scene in the city. The problem is that most of the items on sale can be found in most other towns in Thailand so there is little in the way of unique handicrafts or artwork to discover in Hua Hin.

The Day Market along Damnoenkasem Road is a good place to browse for batik sarongs, seashell crafts and other trinkets. After dark, the Night Market on Dechanuchit Road is fun place to shop around for counterfeit goods and inexpensive souvenirs. Modern shopping complexes continue to spring up in the town centre, and there are ample tailors around if you want a Thai silk suit made in a day.

As befits a tourist destination of its calibre, Hua Hin has one of the best dining scenes in Thailand outside of the main hubs like Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket. Visitors can enjoy casual seafood dining right on the water near the fishing pier, or splash out for a fine meal in one of the city's top beachfront hotels. There are also dozens of reasonably-priced restaurants featuring classic Thai dishes along with lots of international cuisine such as Italian, French, Japanese and American.

Overview

There is only one airline flying from Bangkok to Hua Hin each day so most visitors take the train or bus, which offer many more scheduling options and are much cheaper. Once in Hua Hin, you can walk to most places. If you need to go farther afield there are red shared taxis, tuk-tuk, and motorcycle taxis to help you out. Renting a car can be useful if you plan to explore the surrounding area.

Airports

Hua Hin has its own airport about five kilometres to the north of town. It offers a convenient way to get directly to the beach from Bangkok, but has no connections to other Thai cities. Although flight schedules to and from Hua Hin change almost as regularly as the tides, SGA Aero provides at least one flight a day from Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport. This tiny regional airline is the only carrier currently serving Hua Hin.

The pleasantly small terminal is a reminder of how relaxing air travel could be in another universe. It offers only basic amenities, but visitors are able to exchange currency, pick up sundries, rent a car and grab a bite to eat at the terminal. Navigating your way around this compact airport is easy.

To get from the airport to your hotel, there are taxis waiting outside the Arrivals door. This is really the only transport option, although the more expensive hotels often provide a shuttle pick up service. Otherwise, you can rent a car and do the driving yourself.

Public transportation

Most travellers reach Hua Hin by train or bus. There are 10 trains per day running from Bangkok's Hua Lampong Railway Station to Hua Hin, taking just over 4 hours to make the journey. The fares are very cheap and the trains are comfortable. Hua Hin Railway Station is at the end of the main Damnoenkasem Road. Red shared taxis and tuk-tuk wait to take you to your destination.

Buses and minivans are another popular way to reach Hua Hin. Minivans and private VIP tourist buses can be arranged at any travel shop in Bangkok or other city. Regular buses depart from Bangkok's Southern Bus Terminal every 20 minutes from 05:00 to 22:00 for just a few dollars. Hua Hin's bus station is on Srasong Road, just a block from the main drag. If you're driving yourself, the main Thonburi-Paktho Highway (Route 35) runs right from Bangkok to Hua Hin.

Once you're in Hua Hin, there are a number of public transport options to get you around the city. For the most part you can explore the town on foot, but if you want to travel north to Phetchaburi or south to a quieter beach you'll need to catch a ride.

Red pickup trucks known as songtaew drive around Hua Hin non-stop day and night picking up people as they flag them down. These shared taxis will take you wherever you need to go if they're heading in that direction. Basically, passengers jump into the back of the covered pick up truck, take a place on one of the benches and when reaching their destination, they press the buzzer. Fares are cheap and paid upon arrival but should be negotiated beforehand.

Classic tuk-tuk also run around Hua Hin providing a more personal and private ride, but they cost a little more. Always settle the fare before you get in a tuk-tuk. Motorcycle taxis are useful if you are alone and need a quick direct ride to someplace like the market or beach. There are even still a few three-wheeled bikes called samlors that ferry passengers short distances in the centre of town.