Hua Hin is one of the most famous beach destinations among Thais thanks to its proximity to Bangkok. On weekdays, with no traffic, Hua Hin can be reached from Thailand’s capital in about two and a half hours. This means that many Bangkokians take weekend or multi-day weekend trips to Hua Hin and some even have their second home there.
Hua Hin has also suffered a great construction boom in recent decades, but more controlled than in Pattaya. Unlike Pattaya and sex tourism, Hua Hin is reputed to be a more family-friendly and friendly destination, also thanks to its relationship with the Thai monarchy; Since several kings have frequented this beach city on a regular basis, the previous king Rama IX spent several years residing there. Also many expats, especially western retirees, have made Hua Hin their home.
“Hua Hin in Thailand is a recommended destination not so much because of its beach but because it is a good place to spend a few days relaxed enjoying all that the place offers: good food, night markets, some waterfalls, the famous Phraya Nakhon cave in Sam Roi Yod National Park, kitesurfing, etc. “
ℹ️ Top Things to Do in Hua Hin
Hua Hin Night Market
It is a night market in the center of the city that opens every day of the year and where you will find a wide range of food for dinner, as well as desserts and ice creams. It also has many stalls of clothes and souvenirs for tourists. It is open every day from 6:00 p.m.
Tamarind Night Market
It is an ideal market for dinner, probably the best in all of Hua Hin, since its food offer is very good. You have both Thai food and Western food stalls. There are quite a few tables to sit on and there is usually live music. Highly recommended. It is open from Thursday to Sunday from 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Cicada Weekend Market
It is located right next to the Tamarind Night Market. It is a much larger and very well designed market. The stalls are very well cared for and sell interesting things aimed at tourists. There is also a great offer of food that is somewhat more expensive than in the previous market. It is open from Friday to Sunday from 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Kitesurf
Hua Hin is one of the best destinations in Thailand for kitesurfing from the beginning of November to the end of March. The wind is not usually excessively strong and the sea is not very rough either. There are several schools where one can rent the material or take courses. I did a course with a Spaniard instructor at the KBA School and it was very good. Expect European prices.
Khao Takiab Monkeys
At the end of Hua Hin beach we find the small mountain of Khao Takiab and, at its top, there is a beautiful temple with great views of Hua Hin beach. At the top there are also many monkeys wanting to steal what they can from us. So be careful!
Rooftop Bars
Both the Hilton hotel and the Holiday Inn have great rooftop bars to have a drink enjoying excellent views and a pleasant sea breeze. The Hilton is much better located, in the heart of the old town, and is not too expensive.
Sam Rot Yod National Park
Sam Rot Yod National Park, south of Hua Hin, is a phenomenal day trip from Hua Hin if you have your own vehicle. If not, another option is to easily rent a motorcycle or car in the city and drive to the park. One of its great attractions is the Phraya Nakhon cave with its small temple inside illuminated by a large opening in the ceiling of the cave. To get to the cave you must get to Laem Sala beach beach beforehand, either by boat or on foot for about 30 minutes from the nearest parking lot. You will have to pay 200 THB to access. Once on the beach you will have to walk again for 30 or 45 minutes until you reach the cave. It is all uphill, so bring enough water, but the effort is worth it.
Pa La-U Waterfall
A little over an hour by car from Hua Hin, you will find this small river with some waterfalls. It is an ideal place to cool off in nature and spend an entertaining morning. It belongs to the Kaeng Krachan National Park.
Free Elephants at Kui Buri
One hour and a half by car from Hua Hin you will find the small Kui Buri National Parl, one of the few places in Thailand where you can see wild and free elephants. There you will find a project developed by the Kuiburi Wildlife Ecotourism Club in which local farmers act as drivers and guides for 2-3 hours to enter a restricted area of the park where elephants and other animals live freely. Her you have the exact places you have to drive to: Hueai Leuk.
🏨 Where to stay in Hua Hin
If you are looking for cheap accommodation, it will not be difficult to find it in the red light district of Hua Hin, near the beach and the Hilton Hotel. The cheapest rooms usually cost between THB 300-500 (€ 7.5-12.5). If you want luxury in front of the beach, take a look at the Hilton or the Centara.
🏖 The most recommended Hua Hin beaches
These are some of the most popular and beautifull beaches in Hua Hin
1️⃣ Hua Hin Main Beach
Hua Hin Beach changes quite a bit during the year. From the end of November to the end of March is the ideal season to enjoy it, since there is a pleasant wind and the sea usually offers a more bluish and more beautiful color.
As a disadvantage, at this time the tide is usually higher and sometimes there is little sand in the morning. From April to October the color of the sea is grayer but the tide is usually lower and there are fewer people.
In April, it is also very hot and few people go to the beach in the sunniest hours.
2️⃣ Suan Son Pradipat and Koh Tao Beach
It is the beach just after Hua Hin. It is a 6 km pine beach that is owned by the Thai army, but is open to the public. The army has a few resorts, but the beach is largely unspoiled.
Locals take advantage of it, above all, in the afternoons for a picnic. It is also an ideal place to run. In the north (military) area of the beach there is a large parking area with a restaurant, a nice cafeteria and a small massage center.
Khao Tao beach is actually the same as the previous one, Suan Son Pradipat, but it is its southern part. The only thing that since she does not belong to the military, they call her by a different name.
In it, you will find some resorts and a restaurant facing the sea: Gusto Et Cozy. The resorts in this area are very quiet and have direct access to the sand, such as The Blue Sky Resort.
3️⃣ Pranburi Beach
Pranburi is about 26 km south of Hua Hin. In the Pranburi area we first come across Paknam Pran beach, which is smaller and quieter. Then we have the main beach of Pranburi, which is very long, about 8 kms. There is a hotel offer on both beaches, although quite limited. In general, it is a very quiet area and kitesurfing when the wind allows it.
4️⃣ Thao Ko Sa Forest Park Beach
The Thao Ko Sa Forest park is an area where you will find a small mangrove forest in which they have built a path with wooden boards. It can be covered in about twenty minutes and is a pleasant walk through the forest. In addition, in the same area you will find a very quiet beach area with some ideal tables for a picnic under the shade of a tree. There is also a cafeteria in the park itself.
5️⃣ Sam Rot Yod Beach
It is a fairly long beach where we have many resorts that are well priced and quiet. It is a good destination for those who want to disconnect and are simply looking for a small hotel in front of the sea (although a narrow road separates the hotels from the sand). One recommended to go with the family is the Dolphins Bay.
6️⃣ Laem Sala Beach
Probably the best beach in the area. It is a virgin beach with white sand and palm trees in the Sam Rot Yod National Park, which can only be accessed by walking along a mountain path of 30-40 minutes or by boat. On the beach near Hua Hin there are bungalows, shops and a national park restaurant. From this beach you can go up to the incredible Phraya Nakhon cave, to access it you have to pay 200 THB for adults and 100 THB for children.