Is Hua Hin worth visiting? This and many more are the common questions often asked by backpackers who entertain the thought of adding the beachside resort town to their list of travel destinations. As a traveler/tourist, you wouldn’t want to spend thousands of dollars or travel halfway around the world to a destination just to end up with regrets. So, is Hua Hin worth the time and expenses? Stick around and you just may find out.
Is Hua Hin Worth Visiting?
Hua Hin is one of the most visited tourist destinations in Thailand, and for good reasons. With such recognition, it is safe to say that a visit to this beachside resort town will be worth it. Aside from being a haven for both royal families and the elites in its early days, it is filled with a great number of tourist attractions and tourist-like activities. Here, you will find mountains, temples, lots of incredible beaches, water parks, night markets, viewpoints, and addicting restaurants that are operational at any time of the year.
With highlights such as a lively night market, beautiful, powdery sand beaches, numerous beach activities, and seaside seafood restaurants, you would be at loss leaving Thailand without visiting Hua Hin. Oh, not to mention missing out on the chance to go golfing at some of Thailand’s most renowned golf courses. At Takiab Bay, just down the coast, visitors can enjoy the spectacular view from a hilltop Buddhist temple and take seaside horseback rides.
From simple guesthouses to luxurious resorts are the types of accommodation you will find along the streets and beaches away from the sea in Hua Hin. You will also find some of the finest and world-class spa treatments. Hua Hin is a community of 60,000 residents which is ideal for warm and welcoming Thai hospitality. This region can be accessed via bus, car, or train.
How Many Days Do I Need to Stay in Hua Hin?
Let’s assume at this point you’ve made up your mind to visit Hua Hin, how many days will it take to explore and experience its landmarks, and food markets? Three days should give you enough time to explore the royal palaces, mangrove forests, jungle waterfalls, the nightlife, and even Bangkok, the country’s capital. Below are the best tips for spending 3 days in this getaway hotspot.
City Highlights (Day One)
A city blessed with 7 km (4 miles) of sand is bound to be the hub for beach lovers. You can decide to ease into a vacation by stopping at the beach to take cool swims in the Gulf of Thailand. If you’d rather begin with site seeing, it is advisable to go with a full-day tour of what was once the holiday destination for Thai elites and royals. A well-orchestrated tour often includes sites such as the Khao Takiab (Monkey Mountain) and the ornate train station. An alternative would be a tour that involves Hua Hin and the countryside – exploring the surrounding mangroves or visiting a rural winery for an alfresco wine-tasting experience.
A food tour might just be what you need if you are interested in Thai cuisine. You can begin by locating the city’s local staples and morning markets. If you are on a trip with family, you may want to consider opting for a family foodie adventure, introducing yourselves to the distinctive Thai food flavors.
Day Trips (Day Two)
Hua Hin offers a handful of day trip options to choose from, all of which are tailored to make your experience worthwhile with the convenience of arranged transportation and a guide. From Hua Hin, you can decide to get a glance at Bangkok and its glittering grand palace which has a seat of past Thai kings or the golden temples. A journey into Kaeng Krachan National Park to swim at the jungle waterfall (Pala-U) or a boat trip through the rivers of Pranburi would be a fun-filled experience.
Another must-visit destination is Petchaburi, a picture-perfect province. You can either go on a full or half-day tour, which allows you access to a cable car ride to a hilltop palace with serene and refreshing gardens (Phra Nakhon Khiri). A day trip to the sheep farm to see and feed animals is an ideal family-oriented outing. You can also take your family to go see and explore the rock cavern (Khao Luang Cave) filled with statues of Buddha.
Food and Fun (Day Three)
What better way is there to end a three-day staycation at Hua Hin other than to indulge in food and fun? If you decide to go kiteboarding at the ocean you can book a course for it. Hua Hin is regarded as the mecca for this activity and offers both full-day and short discovery packages, all of which are equipped for an easy learning experience.
If you’d rather indulge in sea activities like slides, you can visit the Vana Nava water jungle. This water park has about nineteen pools and rides with a variety of dining options to choose from. This location was designed with a focus on creating a fun-filled experience for visitors.
At sunset, you can venture into the old town of Hua Hin for mouth-watering cuisines. The best way to discover the hidden restaurants that the majority of tourists miss and learn about Thai food recipes is by joining a food walking tour. Taking a stroll through Hua Hin’s buzzing night market after having a fresh seafood dinner is one of the best ways to end a three-day visitation.
Is Getting Around Hua Hin Easy During Visitation?
It is fairly easy to get around Hua Hin because it is a small beach town and can even be explored by motorbike or bicycle. However, Songtaew (passenger truck) would be a better option when transporting down to Pranburi, Khao Takiab, or even up to Cha-Am. Although the majority of nightlife, shopping, and dining experience in Hua Hin can be easily explored by foot, you can also try trishaw rides for a unique experience. Some visitors may even go for tuk-tuks because they are a more convenient way to move around, however, they are a little bit pricier. Below are some of the best transportation means to move around Hua Hin during visitation.
Bicycles
As earlier mentioned, this is an excellent mode of transportation. Bicycle rental shops can be seen all over Hua Hin. When cycling around the city, you must put on a helmet as a safety measure and endeavor to lock your bicycle when parking after use.
Car Rental
Patronizing car rental services is one of the best ways to move around Hua Hin comfortably and at your own pace. The majority of visitors often begin their journey with rented cars in Bangkok where they are road signs vividly written in Thai and English.
There are more car rental services in Bangkok than in Thailand which gives you more choices to choose from. You must always give way to larger vehicles when driving. Also, expect to be held accountable when involved in an accident. On no account should you leave your international driver’s license behind as your insurance automatically becomes invalid without your license.
Transporting By Foot
Going about your daily activities on foot is also one of the best ways of getting around the city. The major hotels, restaurants, tourist attractions, and beaches are within convenient walking distance of the city.
The Motorbike Taxis
In Hua Hin, this is a very common means of transportation. Around every corner of the streets, you will find a collection or cluster of motorbikes with drivers putting on brightly colored vests. Boarding motorbikes can be a great and convenient way of navigating through lanes often seen in Hua Hin. This can sometimes be a thrilling experience.
The Thai-Style Rickshaw
Popularly known as Samlor, they are often found close to the Hua Hin railway station and are most times peddled by elderly men. These men have years of experience and are capable of safely transporting both the locals and visitors around Hua Hin.
The Local Pickup Trucks
Locally called Songthaew, it is a convenient transportation method in Hua Hin, especially when commuting from Hua Hin to Cha-Am. They pass through fixed routes and operate like buses.
Tuk-Tuks
Servicing Hua Hin central, its tourist spots, and beaches are plenty of tuk-tuks, just as it is with most parts of Thailand. Because the majority of streets in Hua Hin are narrow and challenging for buses or vehicles to pass through, tuk-tuks have become the ideal transportation means for such routes. Transporting yourself outside of Hua Hin using tuk-tuks can be sometimes pricier, however, the fare can be negotiated before boarding.
What are the Best Things to do in Hua Hin While Visiting?
Caution! These activities are addictive and may leave you yearning for more and not wanting to leave. All of these activities greatly make up for what Hua Hin is famous for and are tailor-made for family and friends’ fun by the seaside.
Explore the Cicada Market
This market is arguably one of a kind, it is all about good times, handmade crafts, and art. It is an open-air market that draws artistic talents and spectators from different parts of Hua Hin. The Cicada Market is divided into four sections; arts, fashion, dining, and entertainment.
The majority of the outdoor spaces are occupied by “Art a la Mode” – a section of the market that is dedicated to decorative items and fashion. In the art gallery is where you will find “Art Indoors”, here is where plenty of sculptures and paintings are up for sale. Still, within the art gallery, you will find lots of shops selling spectacular souvenirs and knick-knacks.
The Cicada market only opens during the evenings of the weekend and is often filled with locals from Bangkok who come to Hua Hin to rest or explore during the weekends. This night market is situated on Petchkasem Road, Halfway between Khao Takib and Hua Hin town.
Visit the Hua Hin Railway Station
This is a destination full of history. Although it was opened to the public in 1911, it was first constructed when King Rama VI ruled. It has a proximity to Hua Hin Central. There is nearby waiting room, coupled with the railway station are one of the city’s most attractive areas. People often describe the wooden, brightly painted buildings around this area as “Victorian-style”.
This historic railway station is a valuable piece in the story of how Hua Hin used to be a royal seaside getaway destination, and without its recognition, this story would be incomplete. This is the case because, in the early days, the only way one could travel from Bangkok to Hua Hin was through the use of boats as there were no roads. The railway station served as an alternative and more convenient way to arrive at Hua Hin. To date, it remains charming, photogenic, and quirky. Visiting this location will be worth it.
Watch the Sunrise at Hua Hin Beach
This fantastic long stretch of soft, fine sand is one of the best places to go watch the sunrise. In the daytime, it’s got a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere, mostly filled with fun activities the likes of beach volleyball, banana boats, and jet skis. Swimming its waters is refreshing although one has to be on the lookout for jellyfish during low tides.
Although going for long walks at the beachside is possible, you are bound to encounter some obstacles. Due to lots of the hotels directly backing the beach, there are only a few spaces you can access the sand on the beach. Do note that parking a car near these spots can be tricky.
Take a Trip to the Black Mountain Water Park
This is an ideal location for families and friends seeking big water splashes and a day full of fun. In this park, you will find a wave pool, beach pool, lazy river, kid’s pool, and nine different waterslides. All of these features are set on a mountain with an artificial lake north of Hua Hin. This property is owned and managed by the organization that runs the Black Mountain Golf Course. The waterpark is located near the golf course on a road that cuts through Baan Silapin and Wat Huay Mongkol.
Explore the Hua Hin Night Market
Right in the heart of Hua Hin is the traditional marketplace named after the city itself. It is situated between the railway line and Petchkasem road. This night market takes up an entire street and comes to life at sundown. This is when traders from different parts of the town come out to line the streets with stalls offering lots of items for sale. The majority of the items one could find here are typically merchandise you can expect to see in a local Thai market in other parts of the country.
Lining the road that makes up the Hua Hin market are plenty of superb seafood restaurants to choose from, which is one of the reasons why visitors are often attracted to the night market. These seafood restaurants are quite popular in this region because of their affordable prices, food quality, and atmosphere. These restaurants are arranged with minimal space between each other, and their food and prices are slightly similar.
Find your way to Santorini Park in Cha-Am
This park brings to life the perfect imitation of a Greek Island. It is a theme park with all the right details, from domed towers and stone-paved paths, colorfully painted windows, to classic whitewashed buildings. There’s also an interesting lineup of restaurants, shops, and an amusement park.
Santorini Park comprises five zones promising quality entertainment for families. The amusement park is located at the Park Zone and equipped with games and rides which include the G-MAX reverse bungee, double-decker carousel, a Ferris wheel (40 meters high), and a G-MAX giant swing. Here you will also find Asia’s first Wallholla climbing structure and a Dark Ride 7D interactive game.
Visit the Chopstick Mountain
Locally known as Khao Takiap, it is among the most visited places in the Khiri Khan province, making it one of the biggest attractions in that area. Sometimes it is fondly called the “Monkey Mountain” due to the presence of the great number of monkeys that live on the mountain.
At the top of this mountain you will find a temple with astonishing views of Hua Hin, the romantic getaway destination once favored by the royals and elites of Thailand.
Conclusion
With that said, Hua Hin is arguably worth visiting as there is so much to do and see. So, if you tend on traveling down here next holiday season, you must book accommodation ahead of time as this region is often crowded by tourists and travelers during that period. If you are in a hurry and plan on visiting other areas in Thailand, it is recommended that you spend at least three days in Hua Hin for a more insightful experience as it would be almost impossible to see and do all of the above-mentioned activities.
