Destination guide
Things to Do in Hua Hin
A cave pavilion, a monkey hill, wild elephants and a different night market every evening
The best thing to do in Hua Hin is a day trip, to Phraya Nakhon Cave in Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park, where a royal pavilion stands in a shaft of sunlight. In town, climb Khao Takiab for the monkeys and the view over the bay, walk the 7 km beach in the early morning, and eat at a different market every night, the Hua Hin Night Market any evening and Cicada and Tamarind at the weekend.
Add an afternoon with the wild elephants at Kui Buri and sunset from Khao Hin Lek Fai, and three nights is about right. Below are twenty things to do, ranked, with each one's hours and price, the day trips grouped by direction, what to skip, and what to do after dark.
Arriving in Hua Hin
Where to stay in Hua Hin
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Key Facts
Most of the town is free
The beach, Khao Takiab's temple, Khao Hin Lek Fai, Rajabhakti Park, Wat Huay Mongkol and every night market charge nothing to get in. The national parks are the cost, ฿200 for an adult at Sam Roi Yot.
The best sights are day trips
Phraya Nakhon Cave is about 60 km south, Kui Buri's elephants come out in the afternoon, and Pala-U Waterfall is about 60 km west. There's no useful public transport to any of them, so take a tour or hire a car and driver.
Mornings for the climbs, afternoons for the elephants
The light reaches the cave pavilion before about 11:00, Wat Huay Mongkol photographs best in the morning, and Kui Buri's viewing runs in the afternoon. Save the viewpoints for late afternoon.
Check the closed days
The Artists Village shuts on Mondays, Black Mountain Water Park on Wednesdays, and Tamarind Market from Monday to Wednesday. Cicada only opens Friday to Sunday.
Songthaews cost ฿20–40
The green songthaews run along the main road between the north of town and Khao Takiab, and Grab is easy to find for everything else.
Go between November and April
December is the driest month at the Hua Hin weather station, with about 12 mm of rain, and October the wettest, with about 250 mm.
The 20 Best Things to Do in Hua Hin
Ranked by how much I'd prioritize each one on a first visit of three or four nights. The town sights are close together, the day trips are an hour or more away, and the list mixes them on purpose so the best of each stays near the top.
1. Phraya Nakhon Cave, Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park, about 60 km south
The best day tripA collapsed cave with a pavilion from the reign of King Rama V standing under a hole in the roof, and when the sun lines up it lands right on the pavilion. That happens before about 11:00, so leave Hua Hin by 08:00 or 08:30.
You reach Laem Sala beach over a hill path of about 350 m or by boat (about ฿400 return for up to six), then climb a steep trail of about 430 m to the cave. The park fee is ฿200 for adults and ฿100 for children, and the cave is open 08:30 to 15:30. Walk round to the back of the pavilion, because most people shoot the front and leave.
- Getting there
- About an hour by car, or a day tour with the boat and fee included.
- When to go
- Mid-morning on a weekday.
2. Khao Takiab and Wat Khao Takiap, The south end of the beach
Monkeys and the viewA small hill at the south end of Hua Hin Beach, with a big standing Buddha facing the sea and a hilltop temple up a long flight of steps. The temple is a bit run down and that's part of its charm, with Buddha statues of every size and two dinosaurs nobody explains.
The monkeys own the place. Entry is free and a bucket of monkey food costs about ฿100, but keep loose food and dangling bags away from them, because they bite. The beach below the hill is wider and quieter than in town.
- Getting there
- The green songthaew down the main road for about ฿20–40, or a Grab.
- When to go
- Late afternoon, in daylight.
3. Cicada and Tamarind Markets, About 4 km south, toward Khao Takiab
A weekend eveningTwo markets across the road from each other. Cicada, open Friday to Sunday from 16:00 to 23:00, is the art market, with independent makers, a food court and street performers in the amphitheater at 19:45 and 21:00. Tamarind, open Thursday to Sunday from 17:00 to 23:00, is the open-air food court with a band on stage.
On a weekend I'd shop at one and eat at the other. Both are free to enter, and Tamarind's stalls take cash directly, so you don't need Cicada's food-court card.
- Getting there
- A green songthaew for ฿20–40 or a short Grab. Grab is easier after 22:00.
- When to go
- Friday to Sunday. Arrive before 18:00 or after 19:30 to get a table at Tamarind.
4. 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, with gaur too. There's no riding and no touching, the animals move on their own terms, and sightings are likely but never guaranteed.
The elephant viewing area runs from 14:00 to 17:00. Rent binoculars at the entrance for ฿100, because the herds are often some way off. Private tours from Hua Hin cost about ฿1,300–4,700 a person depending on group size, and if you drive yourself, a park truck is about ฿850 for a group of up to six.
- Getting there
- A tour with transport, or drive and hire a park truck.
- When to go
- Afternoon, year round.
5. Hua Hin Beach at sunrise, From the fishing pier to Khao Takiab
A long walkAbout 7 km of pale sand, very shallow and gentle, better for walking and paddling than for a serious swim. The north end by the pier has the seafood restaurants, the main entrance beside the Centara is where the horses wait, and past the Hyatt it turns quiet.
Horse rides cost about ฿300–500 for half an hour, so agree the time and price first, and chairs are about ฿50. From November to March high tide can cover most of the sand, so check the tides before a long walk.
- Getting there
- Walk down from any of the lanes off the main road in the center.
- When to go
- Sunrise or the late afternoon.
6. Khao Hin Lek Fai, On the hill west of the center
Sunset over the townA park on top of a hill with numbered viewpoints spread across it and the town and coast laid out below, which is a rare thing in a place this flat. Reviewers rate points two and five highest, and point four has lost its view to the trees.
It's free and open from 06:00 to 20:00, so sunrise and sunset both work. Monkeys, goats and dogs wander the paths, and the monkeys steal, so don't leave anything on a motorbike seat.
- Getting there
- A short Grab from the center.
- When to go
- Late afternoon.
7. The old railway station, Town center
Hua Hin's landmarkThe red-and-cream wooden station with its royal waiting pavilion, the Phramongkutklao Pavilion, moved here from Nakhon Pathom in 1967. The railway reached Hua Hin in 1911 and turned a fishing village into Thailand's first beach resort.
Trains moved to a new elevated station next door in December 2023, and the old building is kept as a heritage site you can walk around for free.
- Getting there
- Walkable from the center, about 400 m from the night market.
- When to go
- Morning, for the light on the pavilion.
8. Hua Hin Night Market, Dechanuchit Road, town center
Dinner any nightDechanuchit Road closes to traffic every evening from 18:00 to around midnight, and it's the grilled seafood, pad thai, satay and roti people come for, with seafood platters from about ฿200. It's smaller than most people expect, which I'd call a plus.
Don't turn up at 18:00, when the stalls are still setting up. After 19:00 is better, and the sit-down places are at the western end.
- Getting there
- Walkable from the center. A Grab in town costs ฿60–100.
- When to go
- Any evening after 19:00.
9. Wat Huay Mongkol, About 15 km inland
The giant monk statueA 12 m statue of Luang Pu Thuat, the revered 16th-century monk, in wide, park-like grounds with a lake, a three-headed Erawan elephant and fish and deer to feed. Thais come from all over the country to pay respects. If you're expecting ornate halls, this isn't that.
It's open 06:00 to 20:30 and free. Go in the morning, because in the afternoon the sun sits behind the statue and your photos turn out as a dark outline.
- Getting there
- By Grab or car, about 20 minutes. Arrange your ride back before you go, because taxis are scarce out here.
- When to go
- Morning.
10. Pala-U Waterfall, Kaeng Krachan National Park, about 60 km west
A jungle swimA waterfall with 15 levels in Kaeng Krachan's forest, of which visitors may climb the first five. Levels one to three take about 45 minutes to an hour and suit most people. Above that it's a scramble over rocks and roots.
Levels three and five are where people swim, and the fish come to investigate your legs. It's open 08:00 to 16:00, foreigners pay about ฿300, and you need your own car or a tour to get there. Wet season means a bigger flow, dry season better footing.
- Getting there
- About 1.5 hours by car. Pair it with Wat Huay Mongkol on the way.
- When to go
- Early, before the heat and the crowds.
11. Wat Tham Khao Tao and Khao Tao, Nong Kae, about 10 km south
A quiet cave templeA cave temple in a limestone hillside, with Buddha images in the caverns and paths up to viewpoints over the coast. It's a working temple and much quieter than Khao Takiab. The ground is rocky in places, so skip it in flip-flops.
It's open 07:00 to 18:00 and free. Khao Tao Beach below it is calm and local, with few facilities, so bring water and cash.
- Getting there
- By Grab or scooter, about 20 minutes south.
- When to go
- Morning.
12. Bueng Bua Boardwalk, Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park
Birds and lotusA raised wooden walkway over a freshwater marsh full of reeds and lotus, with birds and monitor lizards along the edges. It's flat and easy, fine for children, and short, so I'd add it to the cave day rather than drive out for it alone.
It's open 08:00 to 17:00 and covered by the same ฿200 park ticket as the cave. A boat through the marsh costs about ฿500 for up to four people.
- Getting there
- Inside the park, a short drive from the Phraya Nakhon trailhead.
- When to go
- Early morning, when the birds are active.
13. Pran Buri Forest Park, Pak Nam Pran, south of Hua Hin
MangrovesA free boardwalk through mangrove forest, 15 to 20 minutes at a normal pace. Slow down and look at the roots near the water, where black crabs climb, and go up the tower for the view over the canopy.
There's an empty beach at the far end and a boat trip on the river from halfway along. It's open 08:30 to 17:00, and the signs are in Thai only.
- Getting there
- By car or Grab, on the way south to Sam Roi Yot.
- When to go
- Early, before the heat builds.
14. 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.
15. Chatchai Market, Town center
A local morningThe market the town shops at, with fish, shrimp, crab, fruit, spices and flowers for the shrines, and nobody has tidied it up for visitors. Eat while you're there, skewers from the food stands or mango sticky rice.
It opens at 05:00 (03:30 on Sunday) and closes at 16:00, and the best seafood is gone by mid-morning. Bring cash.
- Getting there
- Walkable from the center, beside the night market.
- When to go
- Early morning.
16. Hua Hin Artists Village, Hin Lek Fai
A rainy afternoon with kidsA cluster of working studios and galleries where local artists paint, exhibit and sell, with murals between the buildings. The museum section costs about ฿80, and painting and beading sessions about ฿150–300 with materials included, which is why families stay longer than they planned.
It's open 10:00 to 17:00 and closed on Mondays. Carry cash for the entry and the workshops.
- Getting there
- A short Grab west of the center.
- When to go
- Any afternoon except Monday.
17. Rajabhakti Park, South of the center
The seven kingsSeven huge bronze statues of Thai kings, from King Ramkhamhaeng to the Rattanakosin era, lined up across a ceremonial plaza. It's a place Thais come to pay respects, so dress modestly, and an hour covers it.
Entry is free, it's open 08:00 to 18:00, and a free electric shuttle runs from the parking lot. Go early, because the plaza has almost no shade.
- Getting there
- By Grab or car.
- When to go
- Early morning.
18. Mrigadayavan Palace, Between Hua Hin and Cha-am
Royal historyKing Rama VI's teak seaside palace, sixteen buildings on pillars joined by raised walkways that run toward the sea breeze, with boards in Thai and English. It's open on fewer days than most sights and the tickets 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.
19. Walking Street at the fishing pier, Saphan Pla, the old town
Seafood by the waterA small weekend market along Hua Hin's working fishing pier, open Friday to Sunday from 17:00 to midnight, with seafood grilled in front of you, draft beer and loud live music. Dishes start around ฿60. Stick to what comes off the grill.
- Getting there
- Walkable from the center.
- When to go
- Friday to Sunday, 19:00 to 21:00.
20. Vana Nava Water Jungle, South of the center
Families with young kidsA jungle-themed water park with slides, pools, a surf simulator and an obstacle course, built around families with young children, and the lifeguards get consistent praise. Couples are better off at the hotel pool.
It's open 11:00 to 17:00 every day, and online tickets are cheaper than the gate. Leave swimwear with metal zips at home, and pack water shoes.
- Getting there
- By Grab.
- When to go
- A hot weekday.
Hua Hin Attractions, Hours and Prices at a Glance
| Place | Open | Cost | Go |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phraya Nakhon Cave | 08:30–15:30 daily | ฿200 park fee (child ฿100), boat about ฿400 for up to 6 | Before 11:00 |
| Wat Khao Takiap | Daylight | Free, monkey food about ฿100 | Late afternoon |
| Cicada Market | Fri–Sun 16:00–23:00 | Free | 19:00–21:00 |
| Tamarind Market | Thu–Sun 17:00–23:00 | Free, parking ฿50 | Before 18:00 or after 19:30 |
| Kui Buri elephant viewing | 14:00–17:00 daily | Park truck about ฿850 per group, tours ฿1,300–4,700 a person | Afternoon |
| Hua Hin Beach | Always open | Free, horse ride ฿300–500 for 30 min | Sunrise |
| Khao Hin Lek Fai | 06:00–20:00 daily | Free | Late afternoon |
| Hua Hin Night Market | 18:00–midnight daily | Free, seafood platters from about ฿200 | After 19:00 |
| Wat Huay Mongkol | 06:00–20:30 daily | Free | Morning |
| Pala-U Waterfall | 08:00–16:00 daily | About ฿300 | Early |
| Wat Tham Khao Tao | 07:00–18:00 daily | Free | Morning |
| Bueng Bua Boardwalk | 08:00–17:00 daily | Sam Roi Yot ticket, boat about ฿500 for up to 4 | Early morning |
| Pran Buri Forest Park | 08:30–17:00 daily | Free | Early |
| Chatchai Market | 05:00–16:00 (Sun from 03:30) | Free | Early morning |
| Artists Village | 10:00–17:00, closed Mon | About ฿80, workshops ฿150–300 | Afternoon |
| Rajabhakti Park | 08:00–18:00 daily | Free | Early morning |
| Fishing pier Walking Street | Fri–Sun 17:00–midnight | Dishes from about ฿60 | 19:00–21:00 |
| Vana Nava Water Jungle | 11:00–17:00 daily | Cheaper online than at the gate | Weekday |
| Black Mountain Water Park | 11:00–17:00 (Sat to 19:00), closed Wed | ฿600 adult | Opening time |
Hours come from each place's Google listing in our records and can change on Thai public holidays. Park and boat fees are the national park's posted rates.
Day Trips From Hua Hin, by Direction
Group the day trips by direction and you'll spend far less time in the car. South is the big day. Leave early for Phraya Nakhon Cave, walk the Bueng Bua boardwalk in the same park on the same ticket, and stop at Pran Buri Forest Park on the way back. Kui Buri's elephants are further south again and only come out in the afternoon, so they make a separate half day.
West is the green day. Wat Huay Mongkol is about 15 km out, Pala-U Waterfall about 60 km, and Monsoon Valley's vineyard is in the hills west of town if you want lunch with a view. North is the royal half day, Mrigadayavan Palace on the road to Cha-am, which you can pair with Cha-am Beach.
What to Skip
Klai Kangwon Palace is the one to cross off. It's still a royal residence and closed to the public, so visitors who turn up on the strength of the listed hours are turned away at the gate.
Skip the water parks if you're two adults. Vana Nava and Black Mountain are built for children, and couples in the reviews keep saying the hotel pool would have been better. And don't take the family down Soi Bintabaht, the bar street, which has a bar-girl side and charges more for a beer than the beach bars do.
Arriving in Hua Hin
Top-Ranked Hotels in Hua Hin
The top of my ranked list of the 10 best hotels in Hua Hin. Each button opens the hotel on Booking.com with your dates filled in.
#2B2 Hua Hin Premier Hotel4.7 (4,563 reviews)
A budget-friendly hotel in central Hua Hin offering clean, airy rooms with gulf views and free parking.
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#3Hilton Hua Hin Resort & Spa4.5 (6,148 reviews)
Upscale beachfront resort in Hua Hin offering ocean-view rooms, a spa, pool, and rooftop dining.
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#4Anantara Hua Hin Resort4.7 (4,110 reviews)
A beachfront luxury resort in Hua Hin known for personalized service, lush grounds, and elegant Thai-inspired design.
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Things to Do in Hua Hin at Night
Nights in Hua Hin are about eating outdoors. The Hua Hin Night Market runs every evening, Tamarind adds Thursday, Cicada and the pier's Walking Street join on Friday, and Sunday has all four. My Hua Hin night markets guide has every market by day of the week.
For a drink, Soi Bintabaht is the bar street in the old town, short and casual, with live music and pool tables. It's dead in the afternoon and busy after dark, and Saturday feels very different from Monday.
Things to Do in Hua Hin With Kids
Hua Hin is one of the easiest places in Thailand with children, because the beach is shallow and the sights are close. Vana Nava is the big water park, open every day from 11:00, and Black Mountain has nine slides and seven pools inside a resort, with gentle splash areas for small children. It's closed on Wednesdays.
For something drier, the painting and beading sessions at the Artists Village cost about ฿150–300, the Bueng Bua boardwalk is flat and short, and Suan Son Pradiphat's pine-shaded beach is calm, with chair-and-umbrella sets for about ฿100. The monkeys at Khao Takiab are fun to watch from a distance, but keep small hands away from them.
How Many Days, and Where to Stay
Three nights covers it. One day for the cave and the south, an afternoon for Kui Buri, a day for Khao Takiab, the beach and the markets, and the rest at the pool or on a golf course. Stay in the town center if you want to walk to the night market and the pier, or near Khao Takiab for the quieter end, close to Cicada and Tamarind.
From Bangkok the train takes about three hours and costs ฿330 on Special Express No. 43. My Hua Hin travel guide has the hotels, the getting-there options and the weather in more detail.
Plan the rest of the trip.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Things to Do in Hua Hin.
Its long, shallow beach, its royal history as Thailand's first beach resort, golf, and night markets. The best-known sight nearby is Phraya Nakhon Cave, about 60 km south, where a pavilion stands in a shaft of sunlight.
Walk the beach at sunrise, climb Khao Takiab for the temple and the monkeys, watch the sunset from Khao Hin Lek Fai, see the old railway station, Wat Huay Mongkol and Rajabhakti Park, and browse the night markets. None of them charges for entry.
Yes, it's the best thing to do from Hua Hin. Leave by 08:30 to catch the light on the pavilion before about 11:00, wear proper shoes for the steep 430 m trail, and budget ฿200 for the park fee.
In the wild at Kui Buri National Park, about 1.5 hours south, on afternoon pickup-truck safaris. The viewing area runs from 14:00 to 17:00, and sightings are likely but not guaranteed.
Eat at the Hua Hin Night Market any evening, at Tamarind from Thursday to Sunday and at Cicada and the fishing pier's Walking Street from Friday to Sunday. For bars, Soi Bintabaht is the small bar street in the old town.
Go to the Artists Village for the galleries and a painting session (closed Mondays), Market Village mall for its food court and cinema, or a spa. October is the wettest month, with about 250 mm of rain at the Hua Hin station.
No. It's still a royal residence and closed to the public, whatever the listed hours say. Mrigadayavan Palace, between Hua Hin and Cha-am, is the royal palace you can visit.
Three nights is enough for the cave, the elephants, Khao Takiab and the markets. Golfers and families who come for the resorts often stay a week.
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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