Visit Hua Hin

A red and white wooden railway station, miles of sand facing the Gulf of Thailand, summer palaces and a cave where light falls on a royal pavilion: Hua Hin is the laid-back seaside town of Bangkok residents. Three or four days cover the essentials, a week lets you slow down.

Why choose Hua Hin for a beach stay?

Hua Hin is Thailand's oldest seaside resort, developed in the 1920s around the railway and the royal family's summer residences. Located about 200 km southwest of Bangkok, it is reached by train or road in three to four hours. Its climate is drier than the Andaman coast during the summer monsoon.

Hua Hin's must-sees

Between royal heritage, beaches and limestone peaks, six visits sum up the resort.

Hua Hin railway station

A small red and white wooden station with its royal waiting pavilion, now the symbol of the town and still served by trains on the southern line.

Maruekhathaiyawan Palace

A golden teak summer palace built on stilts in 1923, linked by long airy walkways leading down to the beach, between Hua Hin and Cha-am.

Phraya Nakhon Cave

A vast collapsed cave in Khao Sam Roi Yot park where a royal pavilion catches a shaft of natural light in the late morning.

Khao Takiab temple

A hilltop temple at the end of the beach with views over the whole bay, a large standing Buddha facing the sea and a colony of macaques.

Chatchai night market

An evening market right in the centre where you dine on grilled seafood, pad thai and mango sticky rice for a few dozen baht.

Cicada Market

An open-air weekend arts market with local crafts, a small performance stage and food stalls, very popular with Thai families.

What to do in Hua Hin, from the town centre to the national parks?

The old centre and seafront

The heart of Hua Hin fits into a few streets between the station and the beach: fishermen's houses on stilts turned into restaurants, a wooden pier and historic hotels. The main beach stretches for about 5 km to the south, wide enough to walk at low tide at sunrise, before 8 am, when riders lead their ponies along the sand. In the evening, Chatchai night market fills Dechanuchit Road from 6 pm. Allow half a day for the centre on foot, and aim for the weekend for the atmosphere.

Khao Takiab and the south of the bay

Some 6 km south of the centre, Khao Takiab hill marks the end of the long beach. A staircase leads in about fifteen minutes to a temple overlooking the whole bay, and a large standing Buddha faces the sea. Macaques are numerous and light-fingered: put away sunglasses and plastic bags. Further south, Khao Tao beach is quieter and popular with Thai families. A songthaew links the centre to Khao Takiab for a few dozen baht, the easiest way to get there.

The royal residences of the coast

Hua Hin owes its rise to the stays of the Siamese court. Klai Kangwon Palace, a royal residence built in the late 1920s, is generally closed to the public. The teak palace of Maruekhathaiyawan, built in 1923 on stilts facing the sea, can be visited about 10 km north on the road to Cha-am: allow two hours and wear clothes covering shoulders and knees. Remember that any disrespectful remark about the monarchy is severely punished under Thai law.

Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park

About sixty kilometres south, this coastal park of limestone peaks and marshes is the best day trip from Hua Hin. Phraya Nakhon Cave shelters a royal pavilion lit through an opening in the roof, ideally between 10 and 11 am. To get there, take a boat from Bang Pu or walk about twenty minutes over the headland, then climb roughly 430 m of steep trail. Plan a full day, bring water and good shoes, and avoid the hottest hours for the climb.

Markets, golf and the hinterland

Cicada Market, open Friday to Sunday evenings, gathers artisans, musicians and food stalls in a garden south of town. Hua Hin is also Thailand's golf capital, with the Royal Hua Hin Golf Course opened in 1924, one of the oldest in the country. Inland, tropical vineyards and Pala-U waterfall, on the edge of Kaeng Krachan park, are about 1 hour 30 minutes away by road. To combine the beach with the capital, Bangkok is three to four hours away by train, and the coast fits easily into a tour of central Thailand.

Frequently asked questions about Hua Hin

Can you visit Klai Kangwon Palace in Hua Hin?
Generally not: Klai Kangwon remains a residence of the royal family and is not open to visitors. To see the architecture of the summer palaces, head instead to the teak palace of Maruekhathaiyawan, about ten kilometres north, which is open to the public with appropriate dress.
Do you need the boat from Bang Pu to reach Phraya Nakhon Cave?
It is not compulsory. The boat saves a walk of about twenty minutes over a rocky headland, but the final climb to the cave is on foot in any case. At low tide you may have to land in the water, so bring suitable shoes.
Hua Hin or Cha-am: where to stay on the Gulf?
Hua Hin offers more restaurants, markets and transport, as well as the main station. Cha-am, about 25 km north, is quieter and mostly visited by Thais at weekends. For a first stay without a car, Hua Hin is more practical.
Is the Bangkok to Hua Hin train worth it compared with the minibus?
Yes if you are not in a hurry: the journey is longer but more comfortable, with rice field scenery and arrival at the historic station. Second-class seats sell out fast at weekends, so book them in advance on the State Railway of Thailand website.
Can you swim in Hua Hin in October?
You can, but October is the wettest month on this coast, with sometimes rough seas and more jellyfish. The beaches remain usable between showers. For relaxed swimming, aim for the December to April period instead.
Are the Khao Takiab monkeys dangerous?
They are not aggressive if you do not feed them, but they readily snatch bags, sunglasses and bottles. Do not hand them anything and keep your belongings closed. If bitten or scratched, see a doctor quickly, as rabies is present in Thailand.
How many days for Hua Hin and Khao Sam Roi Yot?
Three days let you see the centre, Khao Takiab and Maruekhathaiyawan Palace and devote a full day to Khao Sam Roi Yot. Add two days for the beach, Cicada Market and Pala-U waterfall.

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