Not too famous like Phuket or not too crowded like Pattya, Hua Hin is a seaside town which is a blend of sandy beach, exciting theme park and lively markets. For those reasons, Hua Hin became a popular tourist hotspot in Thailand. This blog will be my Hua Hin travel guide and Top tourist attractions.
Table of Contents
1. Hua Hin Thailand at a glance
Before sharing my Hua Hin travel guide, let’s take a look at some key information about Hua Hin.
Hua Hin had long been a small fishing village until the Thai royal family built summer palaces in the area. This seaside town soon became a popular retreat for not only Bangkok residents but also international tourists.
Hua Hin is more peaceful compared to Bangkok or Pattaya. It will be a good option for those who wish to stay far away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
2. Best time to travel Hua Hin
Located proximity to the equator means high temperatures (average temperature above 30°C) and small fluctuations over the course of the year.
The best time to visit Hua Hin is from November to February, which is the cool season in Thailand. December and January are the peak travel seasons which experience the maximum influx of tourists so book your tickets and hotels in advance to avoid the soaring prices.
But don’t worry. I traveled to Hua Hin in January and it is not as crowded as mentioned on TripAdvisor. Yes, I traveled to Hua Hin during weekdays. So if you don’t want to see a peaceful town, travel on weekdays.
3. How to travel to Hua Hin from Bangkok
Located 300 km south west from Bangkok makes Hua Hin a favorite weekend retreat for city dwellers. There are some ways to reach Hua Hin from Bangkok.
a. Bus: There is a direct bus from Arrival Hall – Suvarnabhumi Airport (Level 1 – Gate 8) to Hua Hin.
It is recommended to book the ticket in advance. I didn’t book the ticket so when I reached the ticket booth at Suvarnabhumi Airport, there was no available ticket until 7:00 pm. Kindly see this link for more information.
b. Minivan: The most budget friendly transportation to get to Hua Hin. It normally takes 3h to get from Bangkok to Hua Hin (travel time depends on traffic conditions). The driver will stop along the road for toilet and snacks.
If you wish to use this transportation, go to Mochit Bus Station or Sai Tai Mai Bus Terminal. The minivan will start until it reaches enough people on board. Price for one person is 180 THB / one way.
c. Train: Taking the train to Hua Hin is not a good option as it takes more than 4 hours to reach Hua Hin from Bangkok.
d. Private car: The most convenient way to get to Hua Hin for groups. You can prebook the car or go to the Car service booth at the Arrival Hall of Suvarnabhumi Airport.
4. Where to stay in Hua Hin
4.1. Where to stay in Hua Hin
Although Hua Hin is not so big, there are a wide variety of accommodations ranging from budget friendly to luxurious. As a result, it will be difficult to choose your ideal home for the holiday in Hua Hin.
My recommendation is to stay along the main road (Phetkasem Road) where all main transportations passes by (especially Songthaew – the main public transport of Hua Hin). It means that you can get access to transport.
If you are a beach lover, book a resort with a private beach (don’t worry the price will not drive you bankrupt, but affordable).
4.2. Where I stayed
I stayed at The Serenity Hua Hin. I came across this hotel while searching for accommodation on Booking.com. Most rooms on the first floor feature direct access to the swimming pool.
As located along Hua Hin main road, it is easy to get to public transportation in town. It is really convenient. I don’t need to get to the minivan station, the van picks me outside the hotel gate (pre-book with hotel reception is required).
Despite staying along the main road of Hua Hin, it takes time to reach the town center (Hua Hin Clock Tower).
| The Serenity Hua Hin |
5. Tourist attractions in Hua Hin
The city of Hua Hin offers plenty of things to do and sights to see from temples and imperial palaces to theme parks and night markets.
Here are my list for top tourist attractions in Hua Hin:
5.1. Santorini Park
Santorini Park is an amusement park located about 45 minutes from Hua Hin. This amusement park’s architecture resembles Santorini island in Greece.
I had traveled to Santorini and this theme park looked exactly the same as the authentic one. Its white and blue painted buildings and windmill will be a good chance to take some Instagrammable photos.
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5.2. The Venezia
The Venezia shopping complex features colorful architecture and decoration inspired by the world-famous canals city Venice.
It feels like you have stepped right into Italy with beautiful houses along the canal, gondola and mini version of San Marco Piazza.
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5.3. Plearnwan Eco Vintage Village
Recapturing the classic charm of old Hua Hin, Plearnwan Eco Vintage Village will bring you back to the 50s – 70s of the last century.
Not just a themed open-air mall, Plearnwan Eco Vintage Village makes you feel more like a living museum.
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5.4. Hua Hin Railway Station
Built in 1920, Hua Hin railway station is part of the southern line of the Thai Railway. This station features royal Thai style with a red roof pavilion. .
Being considered as one of the most beautiful railways in Thailand, the picturesque Hua Hin railway station is a top-visited tourist attraction in town.
5.5. Mrigadayavan Palace
Mrigadayavan Palace is the former summer Palace of King Vajiravudh (or King Rama VI) built in 1924.
The palace is now a national heritage site under the management of The Foundation of Mrigadayavan Palace which is dedicated to conservation and education purposes.
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5.6. Swiss Sheep Farm
Swiss Sheep Farm recreates European-style sheep farms, with scenic meadows surrounded by farm houses, barns, and large bales of hay against a backdrop of mountains.
It will be a great experience to spend some hours here as you can play or carry sheeps as they are not fenced up.
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5.7. Night market
Although Hua Hin is small, there are 6 night markets in town namely Hua Hin night market, The Grand night market, Cicada night market, Chatsila night market, Tamarind night market, Hua Hin night bazaar.
However, the scale of night markets in Hua Hin is smaller when compared to that of Bangkok. As a result, there is not much to see and shop here.
It only takes me 10 minutes to go around the Chatsila night market. And I ended up shopping at a restaurant.
6. Hua Hin travel itinerary
My recommendation is to spend at least 3D2N for Hua Hin. As I took the minivan to Hua Hin right after landing in Bangkok, so
It is also common to do a day trip from Bangkok. However, it may be exhausting as I took more than 4 hours of sitting in the car. So I don’t recommend doing a day trip.
You can find my Hua Hin travel itinerary below:
DAY 1: PlearnWan Eco Vintage Village
My flight to Bangkok arrived at 11:00. I took the minivan to Hua Hin. I got to Hua Hin at 4 pm and
DAY 2: Santorini Park – The Venezia – Chatsila Night Market
I spent the whole day visiting Santorini Park, The Venezia (had lunch and shopped at F.N Outlet). In the evening, I took a walk at Chatsila Night Market.
DAY 3: Get up early and take the minivan back to Bangkok at 8:00 am (the hotel receptionist booked a minivan for me. As my hotel is situated along the main road, I don’t need to get to the minivan station).
7. Hua Hin travel budget
It took me 6675 THB for the 3D2N trip to Hua Hin. As I traveled to Bangkok and Hua Hin during my Thai’s trip, I didn’t exclude the flight ticket in this budget table.
Most of my budget is spent on transport (minivan, car rental) though I choose the most budget friendly option. If you wish to save money, do it on accommodation and food.
Moreover, it took me more for hotel and car rental (incl driver) as a solo traveler. It would be cheaper to travel by group (group of 4 or 5).
You can find my Hua Hin travel budget below:
| I. TRANSPORTATION | ||
| 1. Minivan Bangkok– Hua Hin (round trip) | 360 THB | * Buy ticket on board |
| 2. Car rental | 2000 THB | * Incl driver |
| 3. Travel around the town | 80 THB | |
| II. ACCOMMODATION | ||
| 4. 2-night stay at The Serenity | 3,400 THB | |
| III. SIGHTSEEING | ||
| 5. Santorini Park | 150 THB | |
| 6. The Venezia | 280 THB | * Prebook here |
| IV. EATING | ||
| 7. 3-day eating | 405 THB | |
| TOTAL | 6675 THB | ≈ 200,703 USD |
8. Summary: Hua Hin travel guide and Top tourist attractions
8.1. Hua Hin travel tips
– Make sure to book your tickets (flight ticket, bus ticket and admission) in advance to save time and money.
– Book your accommodation 1 – 2 months before departure to avoid disappointment.
– People in Hua Hin speak English not so fluently. The driver who took me around tourist attractions in Hua Hin can only speak some words in English (but he was so nice).
– Nightlife in Hua Hin is boring compared to Pattaya and Bangkok, so don’t expect a boozy night out.
– It is better to do some shopping in Bangkok rather than a resort town like Hua Hin.
8.2. Summary
After spending three times only in Bangkok, the trip to Hua Hin allowed me to see other aspects of Thailand. Hua Hin is such a weekend retreat to stay away from the hustle and bustle of Bangkok.
This is all I want to share in this Hua Hin travel guide. If you need any further information, kindly see other posts in my blog or contact me.
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