Eight beaches, from the town beach and Khao Takiab to Sai Noi's swimming cove and the national park at Sam Roi Yot.
Hua Hin's beaches line up along one road. The town beach runs about 7 km from the fishing pier south to Khao Takiab, then come Suan Son, Khao Tao and the little cove at Sai Noi, then the long, empty sand at Pranburi and the national park beaches of Sam Roi Yot. Cha-am is about 25 km north. The farther south you go, the quieter it gets, and the more you'll want your own transport. If the town beach is the one you're deciding on, Hua Hin Beach has its own page that walks it stretch by stretch, from the pier to Khao Takiab.
The town beach, about 7 km of shallow sand from the fishing pier south to Khao Takiab, with horse rides, kitesurfers and hotels behind it. It earns its place for convenience rather than the water, which is shallow and clouds up after rain, so for a proper swim head south.
The quieter south end of the town beach under Khao Takiab hill, where the temple on top has a golden standing Buddha and the macaques have the run of the stairs. Calmer and less crowded than the center, and a songthaew ride from town.
A beach on army land south of Khao Takiab, shaded by casuarina pines, with chairs and umbrellas for about ฿100 a set and mostly Thai families on the sand. Calm and quiet, with no jet skis or hawkers. The gate closes at sunset.
Where to stay
My pick at each price level in Hua Hin, going by Google's hotel class. Hotels from my ranked list of the 10 best come first, then the best-reviewed. Each button opens the hotel on Booking.com with your dates filled in.
#1Luxury · 5-star
Dusit Thani Hua Hin4.8 (7,383 reviews)
A long-established beachside resort in Hua Hin offering spacious suites, a spa, and extensive family facilities.
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A separate beach town about 25 km north in Phetchaburi province, long and shallow and easy for small children. Thai families fill it on weekends with banana boats and cheap seafood, and midweek it's very quiet.
A small beach by a fishing village about 13 km south of town, under the hill with the turtle temple, Wat Tham Khao Tao, and with far fewer people than the town beach.
A wide, undeveloped beach about 30 km south, with gentle waves, cleaner water than the town strip and resorts instead of a promenade. Pranburi Forest Park's mangrove boardwalk is nearby. You'll want a car.
A small cove between rocky headlands below Khao Tao hill, about 16 km south, with the clearest water and the best swimming near Hua Hin. There are no hotels on it and only a few stalls, so bring what you need.
A cove inside Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park, about 65 km south, reached only by boat or a short hill trail. It's the start of the climb to Phraya Nakhon Cave, and the park's ฿200 entry fee covers both.
Sai Noi for swimming, a small cove below Khao Tao hill about 16 km south of town with the clearest water nearby. Suan Son Pradiphat for shade and calm water. The town beach, Hua Hin Beach, for convenience, since you can walk to it from most hotels.
Sai Noi. It's a sheltered cove between rocky headlands, so the water is clearer and calmer than on the long, shallow town beach, which clouds up after rain.
Sai Noi first, then Suan Son Pradiphat, which is calm and shaded. The town beach is very shallow and best near high tide.
It's different more than better. Cha-am, about 25 km north, is a Thai family beach town that's cheaper and very quiet midweek but packed on Thai long weekends. Hua Hin's town beach has more hotels, restaurants and things to do behind it.
The north end of the town beach, around the Hilton and Centara, puts you within walking distance of the night market and restaurants. South toward Khao Takiab is quieter with more room on the sand, and for real swimming you'll be driving to Suan Son or Sai Noi from either.
December to February is the driest, with about 12–25 mm of rain a month and one rain day on average. October is the wettest month, around 250 mm, followed by September. The rest of the year is mostly good beach weather, which makes Hua Hin a safe pick in summer when Phuket's seas are rough.
Yes. Most of the coast is shallow and calm. Suan Son Pradiphat, the town beach and Cha-am all suit young children. Expect brown or golden sand rather than the white sand of the islands.
