Golden Buddha
Steep steps, sea views and a great many monkeys who will happily take your sunglasses.
Plan your visit
- Hours
- Open 24 hours daily
Dress Modestly
Cover shoulders and knees at all temples. Carry a light scarf or sarong — some temples lend wraps, but not all. Shoes come off before entering any building with a Buddha image.
Details
Full opening hours
Tours that include Golden Buddha
Skip-the-line entry, guided visits and day-tour combos around Golden Buddha.
Why go, and how to do it well
Go for the view and treat the monkeys as the main event, because they will be. This hilltop Buddhist temple and golden Buddha sit on Khao Takiab, the headland everyone calls Monkey Mountain, above Hua Hin's southern shoreline. You can climb up from the beach below or come in from the hilltop side, but either way there are a lot of steps and they're steep. Late afternoon into sunset is when the coastline from the upper levels really earns the effort.
Opinion on the place splits, and I think both sides are right. It's quiet, the shoreline views are the real draw, and the statue photographs beautifully. But the grounds aren't consistently looked after, and if a scruffy setting bothers you, this won't win you over. Takiab beach below has picked up plenty of bars and restaurants, so pair it with a meal rather than making it the whole afternoon.
Written by Mac Kiley · Updated Sep 2026
Stay within reach of Golden Buddha
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Tours that include Golden Buddha
Skip-the-line entry, guided visits and day-tour combos around Golden Buddha.
Around here, on foot
Well-rated places within a short walk of Golden Buddha, nearest first. Minutes are at an easy pace in the heat.
- 1 minPAGE Beach BarRestaurants & Food · 100 m · 4.8★
- 2 minKhao Takiab Nuea BeachBeaches · 150 m · 4.5★
- 3 minLek Seafood RestaurantRestaurants & Food · 220 m · 4.9★
- 6 minWat Khao Lan ThomTemples & Culture · 440 m · 4.4★
- 6 minWat Khao TakiapTemples & Culture · 470 m · 4.1★
- 6 minWat Khao KrailartTemples & Culture · 500 m · 4.7★
Experience hints
Pair your visit. After Golden Buddha, round out your day in Hua Hin with contrasting stops nearby.
Reviews from Google
Very nice and clean place, lot of stairs to go up the temple, great shoreview, beware of Theft from hundreds of monkeys around, don't feed them, there are no thrash bins, so don't litter. Apart from sounds of the sea, the monkeys taking care of loud Arguments and quarrels noises, souvenirs are not too expensive from downtown city market, good foot massage in town is recommend after the visit.
Monkey Mountain. Lots of nice bars and Restaurants now at Takiab
Nice walk along the beach, tide was coming in so we walked through the village, very squalid and overrun with monkeys but ok. Statue is ok, surroundings not maintained at all and didn't bother going up the steps to the top due to monkeys. could be a lot better
A sample of visitor reviews from Google. Read all 398 reviews on Google.
GX9H+FGX, 4, Tambon Nong Kae, Amphoe Hua Hin, Chang Wat Prachuap Khiri Khan 77110, Thailand
Open in Google MapsMore temples & culture nearby
All within 8 min walk of Golden Buddha.
Wat Khao Lan Thom
A hilltop Buddhist temple near Hua Hin offering scenic views and a peaceful cultural escape from the crowds.
Wat Khao Takiap
Monkeys run the place, the views are worth the steps, and yes, there are dinosaur statues.
Wat Khao Krailart
A hilltop Buddhist temple in Hua Hin with a reclining white Buddha, golden statues, sea views, and a peaceful mangrove path.
Phra Mae Kwan Im Shrine
A serene Chinese Buddhist shrine in Hua Hin dedicated to Kwan Im, the Goddess of Mercy.
Tips for Visiting Temples & Culture
Mind Your Feet
Never point your feet at a Buddha image or a monk — it's considered deeply disrespectful. When sitting inside a temple, tuck your feet behind you or to the side.
Ask Before Photographing
Exterior photos are almost always fine, but some interior halls prohibit photography. Look for signs, and never pose irreverently with Buddha images — it's a legal offense in Thailand.
Go Early Morning
Major temples like Wat Pho and Wat Arun are dramatically less crowded before 9 AM. You'll also avoid the worst of the midday heat and get softer light for photos.
Golden Buddha: Frequently Asked Questions
Is Golden Buddha worth visiting?
Golden Buddha holds a 4.2★ rating from 398 Google reviews — a strong rating for temples & culture in Hua Hin.
What are the opening hours of Golden Buddha?
Golden Buddha is open 24 hours a day — see the full day-by-day schedule in the location info on this page. Hours can change on Thai public holidays, so check ahead for holiday visits.
When is the best time to visit Golden Buddha?
The best months to visit Hua Hin are March – August, with the most reliable weather. Crowds peak in Weekends year-round (Bangkok day-trippers) — going early in the day usually means fewer people. Months to think twice about: September – November (rainy season).
Where is Golden Buddha located?
Golden Buddha is at GX9H+FGX, 4, Tambon Nong Kae, Amphoe Hua Hin, Chang Wat Prachuap Khiri Khan 77110, Thailand, in Hua Hin. Getting around Hua Hin: Songthaews (blue, along main roads); Motorbike taxis.
Also popular in Hua Hin
Huana Market
An afternoon market for locals, not tourists, and the food stalls are the reason to come.
Aowtakiab Seafood Hua Hin
Seafood on the water at Ao Hua Don, best in the late afternoon light, with parking that makes the drive easy.
Aleenta Hua Hin - Pranburi Resort & Spa
A luxury wellness resort on Pranburi's quiet coastline, offering spa treatments and holistic health programs.
KBA Kiteboarding Asia Hua Hin
A well-regarded watersports center in Hua Hin offering kiteboarding, wingfoil, and efoil lessons for all levels.
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Go at first light, before the tour vans arrive, and the golden chedi and the whole Chiang Mai valley are yours.
