Hua Hin Thailand Tourism (2020) Travel Guide Top Places

"Thailand's Royal beach resort"

Hua Hin Tourism

The original beach resort of Thailand, Hua Hin is a renowned destination among both locals and tourists alike. Once known as the beach getaway for Thai royals because of their summer palaces, this seaside resort is growing into a fashionable getaway for visitors to escape the loud urban city life, especially that of Bangkok.

Hua Hin has a beautiful mix of the sea and city life with amazing golf courses, upbeat markets, great accommodation, and fun waterparks. What particularly stands out for this town is its quiet and cosy ambience that differentiates it from most of Thailand's getaways which are generally loud and flashy.

Every since Hua Hin received a stamped approval from the royals, it has quietly grown in popularity, and Thai nationals and tourists have flocked to this town to escape the madness of the city and other tourist destinations in the country. Still a famous fishing village and an active port for fishing, Hua Hin manages to flaunt the old world charm, along with offering all the modern amenities of a tourist hotspot. And one of the famous attractions and must-do things in the city include checking out the palace, Far From Worries, built by King Rama VII, which is quite a sight to behold.

Places to Visit In Hua Hin

Cicada Market

Hua Hin Train Station

Plearn Wan Shopping Village

Hua Hin Night Market

Monsoon Valley Vineyard (Hua Hin Hills Vineyard)

Kaeng Krachan National Park

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Hua Hin Packages

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Mesmerizing Budget Hua Hin, Bangkok, Phuket Package

6 Nights

Starting from ₹11,076

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Exciting Tour of Hua Hin, Bangkok

4 Nights

Starting from ₹16,314

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Unforgettable Hua Hin, Bangkok, Krabi Package Tour

6 Nights

Starting from ₹23,362

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Splendid Hua Hin, Bangkok Package Tour

3 Nights

Starting from ₹12,969

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Amazing Budget Hua Hin, Bangkok, Phuket Package

5 Nights

Starting from ₹13,273

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Phenomenal Hua Hin, Bangkok, Krabi Package

5 Nights

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Nightlife in Hua Hin

Being quieter than its other Thai brothers, some might find the nightlife of Hua Hin boring with more laidback options available. For those who want a more conventionsl club/pub scene, the main road called Thanon Phetkasem has a line of local Thai karaoke bars. The Hilton Hotel is a landmark for those wishing to go to bars and clubs as all entertainment venues are nearby. The Soi Bintabat is Hua Hin's nightlife street with beer bars, clubs and pubs lined up one after the other. Do check out Johnnie Walker's Sports & Music Bar on Selakam Road while you're in the area.

Shopping in Hua Hin

While the Hua Hin night market is more popular for its food items, small souvenirs can be bought for family and friedns from there. For the hand-made artefact lover, the Cicada night market is a better option as it caters to handicrafts, crafts and even has an art gallery right behind the market.

Tips While Visiting Hua Hin

Since it is a beach town, shorts and comfortable tank tops are the way to go in Hua Hin.
Observe care when going to any temple or place of religious significance and cover up. Other than that almost anything goes in Hua Hin.
Take care to cover up your arms when in the Royal Palace grounds and observe any specific instructions mentioned at the gateway.

Daily Budget for Hua Hin

The easiest way to keep a low budget afloat on a trip is to stay at inexpensive hotels. 3000 - 4000 THB would be enough to sustain a decently luxirious trip. For the backpacker, the cost would be half of the current amount depending on how much you spend on food, shopping, sightseeing and transport. Relatively all these things are cheap in Thailand so one need not worry about finances on stuff other than accomodation.

Exchanging Money in Hua Hin

Lots of private money exchange booths are set up all over Hua Hin. Do compare prices before settling for one. Major banks like Bangkok Bank, Siam Commercial Bank etc. also have branches in Hua Hin so money exchange should not be a problem in the city.

Currency in Hua Hin

Major cards are accepted in almost all restaurants, bars and hotels. Carry a sufficient amount of the Thai Baht with you as local market vendors may not accept other currencies.

History of Hua Hin

A Thai favourite for more than 90 years, Hua Hin is the original beach resort in Thailand. King Prajadhipok turned this seaside town into a royal vacation place for the royal family in the 1920s and since 2007 has been a full-time residence of the current Thai King . A 2.5km drive will bring you to this quaint town where the Klai Kangwon (Far From Worries) Palace built by the King still stands. Being a residence to royalty the palace is not open for visitors but the palace grounds are accessible in the evening from 4 PM to 7 PM. Tourists should take care to bring their passport along with them to access the grounds.

Language of Hua Hin

Finding English speakers at restaurants, hotels and tourist attractions should not be a problem if you are visiting Hua Hin. Do carry an English to Thai dictionary with you in case you get into a sticky situation. Of course a smile is the best way to diffuse tension in most cases. Learning Thai phrases like 'chai' - 'Yes', 'mai chai' - 'no' , and 'pood Thai mai dai' - 'I can not speak Thai' will go a long way.

Religion of Hua Hin

The major religion of Hua Hin is Buddhism

Restaurants and Local Food in Hua Hin

Hua Hin, being popular among tourists, has a wide selection of Thai as well as international cuisine available for the foodie in you. Seafood based curries are a popular item on the menu. Chicken, pork and seafood are consumed in some form for almost every meal of the day. Be sure to try the roadside grilled and fried squid if it tickles your fancy. Vegetarians need not fear as many options are available for them too. Some of the best food in Hua Hin can be sampled in the night market, best served with a leisurely stroll.
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Suggested Itinerary

1-2 day Itinerary

Day 1: Relax and Unwind

After making your way to Hua Hin, cool off by heading straight to the beach. Hua Hin has plenty of beaches to choose from. Hua Hin Beach is perfect if you are looking for a lively beach. And for a more secluded beach, head to Suan Son Pradhiphat, Cha Am, or Khao Takiab. Cha Am is home to a stunning seaside palace, Mrigadayavan Palace, built by Rama VI and is open to the public.

And as the sun sets and the hunger strikes, explore the night market, Cicada Market, which is an artist’s haven. Just like other Thai markets, this market also features an array of Thai dishes, handcrafted artefacts, trinkets, and handicrafts. There’s also a beer garden, where one can indulge in a variety of drinks.

Day 2: Exploring the city of Hua Hin

Start the day early by paying a visit to Khao Takiab. The “Chapstick Mountain” or the “Monkey Mountain. It has a hilltop temple that is accessible by climbing a flight of stairs, which also offers sensational views of the fishing village and the ocean from the top.

After this, head to the Plearn Wan shopping village that is designed in the 1960s Thai-style and features wooden buildings, old-style shops, and vintage cars.

From here, go to the Venezia, a Venice-themed village shopping area that comes with a ridable canal, San Marco’s bell tower, several fountains, fun-fair, European-themed eatery joints, and an art gallery.

And to close the day off, take an evening walk by the Hua Hin railway station famed for its Thai-designed concept mixed with a Victorian aura, which is a must-visit for every traveller.

Best Time to Visit Hua Hin

Commuting within Hua Hin

Hua Hin Photos

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Holidify's Opinion

What's Great?

Hua Hin is more of a resort destination than a typical Thailand tourist destination and hence is more relaxing.
Some of the best seafood can be found here.
This city is also one of the best places to retire, particularly for the Europeans.
Renowned as one the driest cities in Thailand, street food and street life including open-air activities come alive.
Kitesurfing is a popular activity here and the city is regarded as one of the best places in all of Asia for kitesurfing.

What's Not So Great?

By building walls in the ocean to keep the water out, the beaches are being adversely affected. The development of condos and beachfront hotels/resorts is affecting the ocean.
The city is losing its original charm because it is getting too commercialized.
Since it is just 2 hours away from Bangkok, Hua Hin can get quite crowded over the weekends.
The beaches in Hua Hin are polluted and aren’t tropical as other beaches on the southern islands.
The access to most of the Hua Hin’s beaches remains poor because of the infrastructure issues.

Top Hotels In Hua Hin

THE BARAI by Hyatt Regency Hua Hin

9.7 (7 reviews)

฿ 20,833 onwards

Baan Yokmhanee

9.3 (133 reviews)

฿ 816 onwards

Let's Sea Hua Hin Al Fresco Resort

9.3 (292 reviews)

฿ 5,998 onwards

Hua Hin Marriott Resort and Spa

9.2 (1667 reviews)

฿ 3,877 onwards

Cape Nidhra Hotel

9.2 (393 reviews)

฿ 9,600 onwards

Triple Z Hotel

9.2 (195 reviews)

฿ 1,200 onwards

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How To Reach Hua Hin

Hua Hin is well connected to Bangkok and other major cities in Thailand so domestic travel is not a problem for first time visitors. Trains and buses are also options to reach the city comfortably.