Hua Hin
A royal seaside retreat in Thailand, with Santorini Park, the Cicada creative market and Sam Roi Yot National Park; quieter than Pattaya and better suited to family holidays.
Hua Hin sits on the western shore of the Gulf of Thailand, at the northern end of Prachuap Khiri Khan province about 200 km southwest of Bangkok. It has been a royal seaside retreat since the 1920s, when King Rama VI and King Rama VII built palaces here. The royal Klai Kangwon Palace ("Far From Worries") is still in use (generally closed to the public), so the town is quiet and safe, geared mainly to family holidays, golf and long stays. Attractions stretch north and south along the coast. In the centre are the railway station, the old streets, the night market and Hua Hin Beach. In the southern suburb of Khao Takiab you'll find Monkey Hill, Royal Park, and the Cicada and Tamarind markets. To the north, Cha-am has Santorini Park, the Swiss Sheep Farm, Mrigadayavan Palace (the Palace of Love and Hope) and Cha-am Beach. The western hills hold vineyards, Pala-U Waterfall and the World Heritage–listed Kaeng Krachan National Park. About 60 km to the south is Sam Roi Yot National Park with Phraya Nakhon Cave, and about 65 km farther north, Phetchaburi has Phra Nakhon Khiri (Khao Wang), Khao Luang Cave, Ban Puen Palace and Wat Mahathat Worawihan, making a standard day trip. Climate: the dry season from November to March is the most comfortable (25–32°C); April–May is scorching; June–October is the rainy season, but Hua Hin lies in a rain shadow with markedly less rain than Phuket, so it can be visited year-round. Getting there and around: direct minivans run from Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports (about 3–3.5 hours), or take a train from Bangkok (about 4 hours). In town, use fixed-route songthaews, tuk-tuks and Grab; for the national parks and Phetchaburi, charter a car or drive. Recommended stay: 3–4 days, with 1 day for the beach and night market, half a day for Cha-am's family attractions, 1 day in Phetchaburi, and 1 day for Sam Roi Yot or Kaeng Krachan. Good to know: Cicada Market is open only on weekends; dress respectfully at royal sites; foreign visitors pay a separate admission fee for national parks.
Top sights
- Hua Hin Beach – A fine-sand beach stretching about 5 km, at the heart of Hua Hin, Thailand’s royal seaside resort. Beach horse riding, sunrise views and be…
- Cicada Market – Hua Hin’s most stylish weekend night market, with handmade art, live bands and open-air theater performances. Together with the neighboring…
- Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park / Phraya Nakhon Cave – A sinkhole cave among limestone peaks, where a shaft of sunlight falls on a Thai pavilion built in King Rama V’s era. It is Thailand’s most…
- Khao Takiab / Wat Khao Takiap – A small hill and temple at the southern end of Hua Hin Beach, with a 20-metre standing Buddha facing the sea. The summit overlooks the whol…
- Hua Hin Railway Station – A red-and-white wooden station in Thai style with a royal waiting pavilion. It's one of Thailand's most beautiful railway stations and a fr…
- Wat Huay Mongkol – A countryside temple about 15 km west of Hua Hin, home to Thailand's largest seated statue of Luang Pu Thuat, a revered monk. It's a pilgri…
- Hua Hin Night Market – A long-established night market near the railway station in the city centre, with a street of seafood stalls and souvenir vendors.
- Plearn Wan – A nostalgic themed district that recreates Thai small-town life from the 1950s to 1970s, with old-fashioned shops, snacks and a Ferris whee…
- Vana Nava Water Jungle – A tropical jungle-themed water park on the southern outskirts of Hua Hin, with high-speed slides and a giant wave pool. It's good for a fam…
- Hua Hin Hills Vineyard – A leading site of Thailand's 'new latitude' wine production, where you can taste wine in a valley vineyard and enjoy Western food as the su…
- Pala-U Waterfall – A multi-tiered waterfall in the southern part of Kaeng Krachan National Park. A forest trail climbs past it, and butterflies often gather a…
- Kaeng Krachan National Park – Thailand's largest national park and a World Heritage forest. The clouds at dawn from Phaneon Thong summit are spectacular.
- Khao Hin Lek Fai Viewpoint – A small forested hill park on the west side of town. Its viewpoints overlook Hua Hin and the coastline, and the sunset and city lights are…
- Pranburi Forest Park – A mangrove boardwalk and casuarina beach at the mouth of the Pranburi River, offering a peaceful natural walk south of Hua Hin.
- Hua Hin Artist Village (Baan Silapin) – An artists' community in the woods at the foot of Khao Hin Lek Fai, with galleries, sculpture studios and painting classes.
- Rajabhakti Park – Seven bronze statues of Thai kings, each over ten metres tall, stand side by side. The vast square is a new landmark in Hua Hin.
Where to eat
- Koti Restaurant – A long-established Thai-Chinese fusion restaurant opposite Hua Hin Night Market; its tom yum and curry crab are the mos…
- Jek Pia Old Coffee Shop – A Hua Hin coffee shop open for more than sixty years, serving pig blood soup, satay, chicken rice and congee in the mor…
- Baan Itsara Seaside Wooden House Restaurant – A restored wooden-house restaurant by the sea north of the old town, known for spicy curry crab and creative Thai seafo…
- Chao Lay Seafood Restaurant – A longtime seafood restaurant on a pier extending over the sea along Naresdamri Road, known for yellow curry crab and f…
Itineraries
- Phetchaburi & Hua Hin Railway Getaway – Take the Southern Line train to the historic city of Phetchaburi, pass through Cha-am to Hua Hin, and explore the cave…