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Hua Hin, meaning ‘stone head’, is a seaside resort city in Thailand, only about 200 km south of Bangkok. It’s the oldest and most traditional holiday resort in Thailand. Here you can find the comfort and attractions of a modern travel destination mixed with the charm of still active fishing port. Hua Hin is popular not only with foreigners but with Thais too, especially Bangkok residents.

Besides its 8 kilometre long beach Hua Hin provides historical sites, golf courses, shopping opportunities, various accommodation options and great restaurants. Hua Hin is more laid-back than Pattaya, making it ideal for families, couples and travellers who just like easy holidays in the tropics.

Attractions in Hua Hin

Hua Hin Beach : หาดหัวหิน

Hua Hin Beach is the only beach in this resort city. It is 8 kilometre long sandy strip which stretches from the north of Hua Hin to Khao Takiab. Hua Hin Beach is never over-crowded and offers lots of family-friendly activities between sunbathing and swimming. Hua Hin is also a popular place to take a long stroll along the seashore.

Hua Hin Beach

There are rock formations on the main beach – the city was named Hua Hin or ‘stone head’ under them.

Hua Hin or ‘stone head’

Khao Takiab : เขาตะเกียบ

One of the biggest attractions in Hua Hin is the mountain Khao Takiab, meaning ‘Chopstick Mountain’, which is situated at the southern end of Hua Hin Beach.

Khao Takiab

Khao Takiab is home to Thai temple Wat Khao Takiab. 19 metres tall standing Buddha (Phra Pang Haan Yad) meets visitors at the entrance to the temple.

Wat Khao Takiab

This hilltop temple offers spectacular panoramic views of Hua Hin, especially nice early in the morning.

Panoramic view of Hua Hin

Hua Hin Railway Station : สถานีรถไฟหัวหิน

Hua Hin Railway Station is only a short distance from the centre of the city. It was built during the reign of King Rama VI. The main building of Hua Hin Railway Station and the adjacent royal waiting room are very attractive and it is Thailand's most beautiful railway station. These brightly painted wooden buildings are a good example of authentic Thai architecture making Hua Hin Railway Station a must see attraction.

Hua Hin Railway Station

Wat Huay Mongkol : วัดห้วยมงคล

Wat Huay Mongkol is a must see temple in Hua Hin. The temple is situated about 15 km from Hua Hin. It has the largest statue of the Buddhist monk called "Luang Phor Thuad", who lived from 1582 to 1682. The holy monk is very well known in Southern Thailand for converting sea water to plain water by foot. This is one of the most popular and sacred places for Thais.

Wat Huay Mongkol

Shopping in Hua Hin

Hua Hin Night Market : ตลาดกลางคืนหัวหิน

Hua Hin Night Market is located in the centre of the city, on Dechanuchit Road and Soi 72 that runs between Petchkasem Road and the railway line. The market starts every night around 6 pm and ends around 11 pm. Hua Hin Night Market is the most popular local market, offering wide variety of places to eat and shop.

Hua Hin Night Market

Cicada Market : ตลาดซิเคด้า/ตลาดจั๊กจั่น

Hua Hin Cicada market is a weekend night market, open every Friday to Sunday from 4 pm to 11 pm. It is located on Khao Takieb - Hua Hin Road, at Hua Hin 87. It is a place filled with food stalls, handicrafts, and the local artists. Things here are not cheap but reasonably priced.

Cicada Market

Check Shopping in Hua Hin for more shopping opportunities in this Thai resort city.

What to Do in Hua Hin

Vana Nava Water Park

Vana Nava Water Park is one of the finest water parks in Thailand. Not only tourists but people from all over Thailand come to this water park for amazing rides as there's something for everyone here. At Vana Nava Water Park you will find thrilling rides and slides not far from Hua Hin.

Book your Vana Nava Water Park ticket online and enjoy the park and its 19 amazing rides for a discounted price.

Vana Nava Waterpark Hua Hin

Elephants at Wildlife Friends Foundation

If you want to meet elephants while staying in Hua Hin, the best way to do it is visiting elephants at Wildlife Friends Foundation, where you can interact with Thailand's gentle giants in a truly ethical way. At this elephant sanctuary you will be able to feed and shower them.

As the number of guests each day is limited, the sanctuary is often fully booked a few days in advance. You should book your trip to the elephants as soon as you know which date you plan to visit. A visit there with or without transportation can be booked online here: Elephant Care Day at Wildlife Friends Foundation.

Elephant Care Day at Wildlife Friends Foundation

Snorkeling at Talu Island

Koh Talu (Talu Island) is privately owned island that can be found about 30 minutes’ boat ride away off the coast of Bangsaphan town which is located south of Hua Hin (it takes about 2-3 hours to get there). This idyllic island with white sand beaches is perfect for snorkeling as here you will find the crystal clear blue waters and shallow reefs that can’t be found in Hua Hin.

It is possible to arrange half-day trip to the island at a local ticket office in Bangsaphan. However, boat departs Bangsaphan at 9:00 and getting there from Hua Hin that early is quite complicated. If you are staying in Hua Hin and want to visit Koh Talu, booking a day trip that includes all transportation and even lunch on the island is the best choice.

Trip from Hua Hin to Koh Talu can be booked here: Talu Island Speedboat Snorkeling Trip in Hua Hin.

Snorkeling at Talu Island

Kitesurfing

If you like kitesurfing, Hua Hin is definitely for you to visit in Thailand.

Kitesurfing in Hua Hin

Massage

You will find massage parlors almost on every street corner in Hua Hin. Massage prices normally vary depending on the level of establishment but in most cases getting massage here will still be significantly cheaper than in your home country.

If you don’t mind paying a little bit extra, visiting one of Thailand's most famous and highly regarded spas Let's Relax Spa is recommended. This day spa in Hua Hin provides first class customer service and offers some of the best spa treatments available in Thailand. Book your visit to Let's Relax Spa online and enjoy relaxing massage cheaper. Various relaxing treatments and massages can be booked here: Let's Relax Spa Treatments in Hua Hin.

Let's Relax Spa

Where to Stay in Hua Hin

You should choose Hotel in Central Hua Hin if you want to stay in central location near Hua Hin Beach and Hua Hin Night Market. Very popular location with even more accommodations is Khao Takiab area. Find your place to stay in Khao Takiab area here: Hotels in Khao Takiab, Hua Hin.

Hotels in Hua Hin

For more places to stay in Hua Hin check Hotels in Hua Hin on Booking.com or Hotels in Hua Hin on Agoda.com.

How to get around Hua Hin?

There's no public bus in Hua Hin but you can get local transport songtaew for getting around Hua Hin.

Songtaew Hua Hin

How to get to Hua Hin?

Hua Hin is located just about 200 km south of Bangkok and can be easily accessed from there by taxi, bus or train. Detailed description of transportation options for getting from Bangkok to Hua Hin can be found here: Best Way to Travel from Bangkok to Hua Hin.

Buses to Hua Hin

Buses to Hua Hin leave Bangkok Southern (Sai Tai Mai) Bus Terminal 3 times a day (11:30, 14:00 and 16:00) and it takes about 3 hours to get there, depending on the class of the bus and traffic conditions.

There are also buses to Hua Hin from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) running daily about every hour from 06:30 to 18:30. Direct bus from Bangkok Airport to Hua Hin is really convenient for travelers who are not planning to make a stopover in Bangkok. For current schedule and online bookings check:

Bus from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Hua Hin

Minivans to Hua Hin are also available at all 3 main bus stations in Bangkok. Minivans depart from Ekkamai Bus Terminal to Hua Hin every hour from 06:00 to 19:00. It takes about 4 hours to get to Hua Hin from Ekkamai. Minivans to Hua Hin also leave from Mochit Van Terminal and from Khao San Road. These minivans normally also make stops in Phetchaburi and Cha-Am.

Various buses and minivans going from Bangkok to Hua Hin can be found here:

Buses and minivans from Bangkok to Hua Hin

You can also get a minivan running to Hua Hin from other cities south of Bangkok. If you are staying in Kanchanaburi, you can get a minivan going to Hua Hin as well.

Train to Hua Hin

Taking a train is an easy way to get to Hua Hin from Bangkok as most of Southern Line trains stop at Hua Hin. Trains to Hua Hin leave Bangkok’s Hua Lamphong Railway Station and Thonburi Railway Station 10 times daily. However, most of the trains heading that way are third class trains that are offering very limited comfort. If you're looking for a bit more comfort, you can book second class train ticket here:

Train from Bangkok to Hua Hin

Hua Hin Railway Station is conveniently located in the centre of the city.

Train to Hua Hin

Flights to Hua Hin

Hua Hin Airport (HHQ) currently has only one connection with Chiang Mai but the schedule isn’t very stable as the carrier serving this route isn’t reliable.  

You should choose a flight to one of Bangkok’s airports instead. There is a direct bus route from Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) to Hua Hin making traveling to this seaside resort much easier.

Ferry to Hua Hin

From Pattaya to Hua Hin you can travel by a direct ferry which is the fastest way for traveling between these two resort cities.

Weather in Hua Hin

Hua Hin has only two seasons - the wet and the dry. Between November and May the weather is mostly dry with little rain expected for much of this time.

Wet season in Hua Hin occurres between May and October. Despite being on the Gulf of Thailand coastline, Hua Hin experiences slightly different rain patterns than other east coast destinations with serious rainfall only occurring in September and October.

For the best time to visit Hua Hin check our weather ratings chart.

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After visiting Hua Hin you are planning to continue your trip up north or down south? Check when is the best time to visit Thailand's other destinations and choose your next destination.

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