Destination guide
Hua Hin Travel Guide
Thailand's old royal beach town, three hours from Bangkok by train
- Best for
- families, couples
- Logistics
- Easy
- Updated
- Oct 15, 2026
Hua Hin in One Paragraph
Hua Hin is a seaside town on the western Gulf of Thailand, about three hours south of Bangkok by train, and the country's oldest beach resort. The royal family built its summer palace here in the 1920s, Bangkok's well-off followed, and the town still has that relaxed, grown-up feel, with golf courses, big resort hotels and a long, shallow beach rather than nightlife and party islands.
The beach runs about 7 km from the fishing pier in town to the hill of Khao Takiab, the night markets are some of the best in the country, and the best day trips are inland and south, to Phraya Nakhon Cave and the wild elephants of Kui Buri. Give it three or four nights, come between November and April, and avoid Thai long weekends, when half of Bangkok drives down.
Arriving in Hua Hin
Where to stay in Hua Hin
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Key Facts
Three hours from Bangkok by train for ฿330
Special Express No. 43 leaves Krung Thep Aphiwat at 07:30 and arrives at 10:31. Minibuses from Ekkamai cost ฿200, and a coach from Suvarnabhumi airport ฿361.
The beach is long and shallow, good for walking
About 7 km from the pier to Khao Takiab. The sea is calm and fine for paddling, and TAT advises staying out after heavy rain, when jellyfish are more likely.
Eat at the night markets
The Hua Hin Night Market opens every evening from about 18:00, and Cicada Market runs Friday to Sunday from 16:00.
The best sights are day trips
Phraya Nakhon Cave in Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park is about 60 km south, and Kui Buri's wild elephants are seen on afternoon safaris.
Grab and the green songthaews cover the town
Songthaews run along the main road to Khao Takiab for about ฿20–40, and Grab is easy to find.
It gets less than half the rain of Phuket or Koh Samui
Hua Hin gets about 936 mm of rain a year at its weather station. December is the driest month, with 12 mm, and October the wettest, with 250 mm.
Is Hua Hin Worth Visiting?
Yes, for an easy beach break close to Bangkok, especially with children, older relatives or golf clubs. It's calmer and more grown-up than Pattaya, and much easier to reach than the islands. It's not the place for clear turquoise water or nightlife, and the beach is better for walking than swimming. My full answer, with the comparisons, is in Is Hua Hin Worth Visiting?
One thing to know for late 2026: the town is demolishing illegal beachfront extensions on the stretch between the fishing pier and the Chao Mae Thap Thim Shrine, in phases from 16 October with the contract running to January 2027, so expect some work on the beach in the center.
The Best Things to Do in Hua Hin
Ordered by how much I'd prioritize them on a first visit of three or four nights. The first five are in or near town; the rest are day trips.
1. Hua Hin Beach and Khao Takiab, From the town center south
A long beach walkAbout 7 km of pale sand from the fishing pier to Khao Takiab, a small headland with a big standing Buddha facing the sea and a hilltop temple. The beach is quiet and shallow, with pony rides and deckchairs, and it's at its best at sunrise and in the late afternoon.
The macaques on Khao Takiab's hill are bold and do bite, so keep food out of sight.
- Getting there
- Walk the beach, or take the green songthaew down the main road to Khao Takiab for about ฿20–40.
- When to go
- Early morning or late afternoon.
2. Hua Hin Night Market and Cicada Market, Town center and Khao Takiab road
DinnerThe Night Market runs every evening on Soi 72 off the main road, with seafood grilled to order, street food and stalls. Cicada Market, toward Khao Takiab, is a weekend arts and crafts market with live music and a food court, open Friday to Sunday from 16:00. Tamarind Market next door is the food-focused one, open Thursday to Sunday evenings.
- Getting there
- The Night Market is walkable from the center; Cicada is a short Grab south.
- When to go
- Evenings, and Friday to Sunday for Cicada.
3. The old railway station, Town center
Hua Hin's most photographed buildingThe red-and-cream wooden station with its royal waiting pavilion is the town's landmark. Trains moved to a new elevated station beside it in December 2023, and the old building is preserved as a heritage site.
- Getting there
- Walkable from the center.
- When to go
- Morning, for the light on the pavilion.
4. Wat Huay Mongkol, About 15 km inland
The giant monk statueA temple with a huge statue of the revered monk Luang Pu Thuad, about 12 m high, set in landscaped grounds. It's on the way to Pala-U if you're heading west.
- Getting there
- By Grab or car, about 20 minutes.
- When to go
- Morning.
5. Mrigadayavan Palace, Between Hua Hin and Cha-am
Royal historyKing Rama VI's teak seaside palace, built in 1923 and 1924, a long run of yellow wooden pavilions on stilts joined by walkways. Hours and fees change, so check before you go, and cover your shoulders and knees.
- Getting there
- By Grab or car north toward Cha-am.
- When to go
- Morning, before the heat.
6. Phraya Nakhon Cave, Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park, about 60 km south
The best day tripA collapsed cave with a royal pavilion standing in a shaft of sunlight, one of the most photographed sights in Thailand. You reach Laem Sala beach by a 350 m hill path or a short boat ride, then climb a steep trail of about 430 m to the cave.
The national park charges ฿200 for adults and ฿100 for children. Wear proper shoes, because the trail is rough and slippery in the rains.
- Getting there
- About an hour by car, or on a day tour with the boat and fees included.
- When to go
- Mid-morning, when the sun reaches the pavilion. Go on a weekday.
7. Kui Buri National Park, About 1.5 hours south
Wild elephantsAfternoon safaris by pickup truck into grassland where herds of wild elephants come out to feed. Sightings are likely but never guaranteed. Private tours from Hua Hin cost about ฿1,300–4,700 a person depending on group size, and run from about 14:30 to dusk.
- Getting there
- On a tour with transport, or drive and hire a park truck.
- When to go
- Afternoon, year round.
8. Pala-U Waterfall, Kaeng Krachan National Park, about 60 km west
A jungle waterfallA multi-tier waterfall in Kaeng Krachan's forest, with pools to swim in on the lower tiers. Visitors can climb as far as the fifth tier, and foreigners pay about ฿300.
- Getting there
- About 1.5 hours by car.
- When to go
- July to November, when the water is high.
9. Golf, All around town
GolfersHua Hin is Thailand's original golf town. The Royal Hua Hin Golf Course opened in 1924 as the country's first, and several more courses lie within about half an hour's drive.
Phraya Nakhon Cave as a Day Trip
If you do one day trip from Hua Hin, make it this one. The cave pavilion is spectacular when the light comes through the roof, the climb is short but steep, and a tour takes care of the drive, the boat to Laem Sala and the park fee. Go on a weekday, because Thai weekenders fill the trail.
How Many Days Do You Need in Hua Hin?
Three or four nights suits most people. Spend a day on the beach and at the night market, a day on Phraya Nakhon Cave, an afternoon at Kui Buri for the elephants, and the rest at the pool or on the golf course.
A weekend from Bangkok works too, and it's what most Thai visitors do. Golfers and families who come for the resorts often stay a week or more.
Where to Stay in Hua Hin
Stay in the town center, near the beach and the night market, if you want to walk to dinner. The big resorts line the beach to the north toward Cha-am, and Khao Takiab and the stretch south of it are quieter.
1. Hilton Hua Hin Resort & Spa, Town center, on the beach
Best base for a first visitA big beachfront hotel right where the town's restaurants and bars start, with large balconies over the sea. My pick for most first visits, because the night market and the beach are both on the doorstep.
2. Anantara Hua Hin Resort, North of the center, on the beach
A leafy resortA low-rise resort in tropical gardens on the beach north of town, a short ride from the center.
3. Dusit Thani Hua Hin, Toward Cha-am
FamiliesA big, well-kept family resort on the Cha-am coast, with pools and space to spread out.
4. Hyatt Regency Hua Hin, South of the center
A resort with everything on siteA large beach resort with a lagoon pool and plenty to do without leaving the grounds.
5. Let's Sea Hua Hin Al Fresco Resort, Nong Kae, near Khao Takiab
Small and design-ledA small beachfront resort where almost every room faces the sea, on the quieter stretch near Khao Takiab and Cicada Market.
6. B2 Hua Hin Premier Hotel, Town
BudgetA cheap, clean, simple hotel for a short stay, a ride from the beach.
7. Jetty Huahin Hostel, Soi Naresdamri, town center
BackpackersA well-rated hostel on the main seafront lane, a few minutes from the beach, the pier restaurants and the night market.
Getting to Hua Hin
From Bangkok, take the train. Ten trains a day run from Krung Thep Aphiwat, and the best is Special Express No. 43, leaving at 07:30 and arriving at 10:31 for ฿330. Minibuses from Ekkamai cost ฿200 and take three and a half to four hours, and from Suvarnabhumi airport the Roong Reuang coach runs 11 times a day for ฿361, about four hours, without going through Bangkok. My Bangkok to Hua Hin guide has every train and fare.
There are no flights from Bangkok. Hua Hin's small airport has a flight to Chiang Mai, and the nearest big airports are Bangkok's.
Bookable departures · refreshed daily
Bangkok → Hua Hin: departure times you can book now
Every departure currently on sale through 12Go for this route, by class. Fares are the spread across the classes shown; the exact price for a seat and date is on the booking page.
Train
| Class | Departures |
|---|---|
| 2nd Class Sleeper AC | 15:10, 16:10, 16:50, 17:50, 18:50, 19:50, 20:30 |
| 2nd Class Sleeper Fan | 15:10, 17:50, 20:30 |
| 2nd Class AC seats only | 07:30, 22:50 |
| 2nd Class Fan seats only | 15:10, 16:10, 17:50, 18:50, 19:50, 20:30 |
| Class 3 Fan | 15:10, 16:10, 17:50, 18:50, 19:50, 20:30 |
Bus
| Class | Departures |
|---|---|
| VIP 24 | 08:50, 14:50 |
| Minibus | 09:30, 11:30 |
| Express | 19:00 |
| VIP Bus | 19:00 |
| Class | Departures |
|---|---|
| VIP 24 | 07:30, 08:30, 09:30, 10:30, 12:00, 14:30, 16:00, 17:00, 18:30 |
Minivan
| Class | Departures |
|---|---|
| Minibus | 05:00, 07:00, 09:00, 11:00, 13:00, 15:00, 17:00, 19:00 |
| Regional 14pax | 06:30, 09:15, 10:00, 12:15, 14:00, 16:00, 18:00 |
Times and fares as sold on 12Go, refreshed daily. Services sold only locally — ordinary trains, weekend excursion trains, walk-up pier tickets — are not listed; see the table above for those. Sponsored link: we may earn a commission when you book, at no extra cost to you.
Bangkok → Hua Hin
Book the train or bus from Bangkok to Hua Hin
12Go lists the trains it can sell, the Ekkamai and Mo Chit vans and the Suvarnabhumi coach with live seats, useful on holiday weekends when the vans sell out.
Sponsored link — we may earn a small commission when you book, at no extra cost to you. Learn more.
Getting Around Hua Hin
The center is walkable, and Grab is cheap and easy to find for everything else. The green songthaews run up and down the main road between the north of town and Khao Takiab for ฿10–40 depending on how far you go, so you can flag one down anywhere along it.
For the day trips to Phraya Nakhon, Kui Buri and Pala-U, take a tour or hire a car and driver, because there's no useful public transport to any of them.
When to Go
November to April is the best time, sunny and dry, and December and January are also the coolest months, with highs around 30°C. December is the driest month, with about 12 mm of rain at the Hua Hin weather station, and February the next driest. It gets hot from March to May, with highs near 34°C.
Hua Hin gets about 936 mm of rain a year, less than half of Phuket's or Koh Samui's, so the rainy season is mild until September and October. October is the wettest month, with about 250 mm. Thai long weekends and school holidays fill the hotels and the trains, so book ahead for those dates.
Plan the rest of the trip.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Hua Hin Travel Guide.
Three or four nights, for the beach and the night markets, a day trip to Phraya Nakhon Cave and an afternoon with the elephants at Kui Buri. A weekend from Bangkok also works.
By train, about three hours on Special Express No. 43 from Krung Thep Aphiwat at 07:30 for ฿330. Minibuses from Ekkamai cost ฿200, and a coach from Suvarnabhumi airport ฿361.
Yes, but there are no flights from Bangkok. Its small airport has a flight to Chiang Mai. Most visitors fly into Bangkok and take the train, a van or the airport coach.
Yes, the water is shallow and usually calm, though it's not crystal clear. TAT advises staying out of the sea after heavy rain, when jellyfish are more likely.
Yes, it's the best day trip from Hua Hin. Go mid-morning on a weekday for the light on the pavilion, wear proper shoes for the steep 430 m trail, and budget ฿200 for the park fee.
In the town center near the beach and the night market to walk to dinner, north toward Cha-am for the big family resorts, or near Khao Takiab for somewhere quieter.
November to April, when it's sunny and dry. October is the wettest month, and Thai long weekends are the busiest.
Where to stay in Hua Hin
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Written by
Mac Kiley
I lived in Bangkok for four years and traveled the country from there. The guides are my own opinions, written the way I'd explain them to a friend planning a trip.
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