Hua Hin - Where Locals Go To Play
Hua Hin: Thailand’s Classy Beach Town (If “Classy” Means Retired Expats and Golf Carts)
If you’ve ever wanted to go to the beach but thought, “What if it were also kind of posh, extremely chill, and vaguely British?” Congratulations, Hua Hin is calling your name. Once a royal vacation spot, now a hybrid of beachfront condos, seafood markets, and golf courses as far as the eye can squint.
How to Get There
By Train
From Bangkok, it’s scenic, slow, and only mildly uncomfortable.
2nd-class train: 40–250 THB, depending on how much legroom you desire
Takes about 4–5 hours unless time stops entirely, which is possible.
By Van or Bus
From Bangkok’s Southern Bus Terminal or Ekkamai.
Fare: 160–250 THB, travel time: 3–4 hours
Bonus: your knees will become one with the seat in front of you. Just kidding, unless you're a basketball player.
By Car
It’s a 2.5–3 hour drive on a straight highway. Easy if you like honking at people driving 40 km/h in the fast lane.
Where to Stay
Budget
Guesthouses and hostels near the beach or train station from 400–800 THB/night. Expect a bed, a fan, and probably a very enthusiastic gecko.
Mid-Range
Boutique hotels with pools, sea views, and AC that works half the time. 1,200–2,500 THB/night.
Luxury
Swanky beachfront resorts that cater to retirees, golfers, and people escaping Bangkok’s drama. Starting at 3,000 THB/night, plus extra if you demand a pillow menu.
What to See
Hua Hin Beach
Free entry, but prepare to rent a beach chair or awkwardly lie on your towel like an amateur.
Chair rental: 50–100 THB
Mostly calm, decent swimming, occasional horses just casually strolling through your vibe.
Khao Takiab Beach & Monkey Mountain
Enjoy a beach day with built-in monkey paparazzi, but just try not to let them run off with your selfie stick!
Monkey Mountain offers great views and hordes of marauding macaques.
Pro tip: pack your snacks like you're smuggling diamonds. And read the blog post about what to do when you get bitten by one.
Theme Parks (Kind of)
Hua Hin offers numerous attractions appealing to families with children, including water parks and theme parks. Popular options include Vana Nava Water Jungle and Black Mountain Water Park.
Hua Hin Railway Station
Cute, colonial-style, and probably more photographed than your last relationship. Free to visit. Trains still arrive here, somehow.
Cicada Market (Fri–Sun)
A hip night market with art, food, and prices that say, “We know you're from Bangkok.”
Entry: free
Food: 100–300 THB depending on how Instagrammable it is
Hua Hin Night Market
A more chaotic version of Cicada. Street food, souvenir shirts, and one thousand types of grilled squid.
Entry: free
Snacks: 50–150 THB
Chance of food coma: high
What to Do
Eat Seafood Until You Question Reality
Seafood is fresh, plentiful, and cheap-ish depending on how touristy the restaurant looks.
Grilled prawns: 150–300 THB
Fish dishes: 200–500 THB
Pro tip: plastic chairs = better prices and 60% more flavor.
Go Golfing (If You Hate Money)
There are at least 9 golf courses, because Hua Hin is where Thailand keeps its golf dads.
Green fees: 1,000–4,000 THB, depending on how fancy you want to feel
Bring sunscreen and emotional resilience.
Visit Vana Nava Water Jungle
Water park with slides that will make you question gravity.
Entry: 1,000 THB for adults, give or take
Best enjoyed before seafood and with zero shame.
Wine Tasting at Monsoon Valley Vineyard
Yes, Hua Hin has a vineyard. No, it’s not a fever dream.
Wine tasting sets: 400–1,000 THB
Jeep tour through the vines: 200–300 THB
Perfect if you want to feel classy while sweating profusely.
Nightlife
Hua Hin nightlife is like a sleepy beach dog: harmless, a little lazy, but occasionally howls.
Beer bars (quirkily called bar beer by Thais)
Mostly lined up on Soi Bintabaht. Expect neon lights, pool tables, and retired men living their best (or most confusing) lives. Rent-a-friends are available in some.
Beers: 60–90 THB
Cocktails: 120–180 THB, often containing half a lime and full regret
Beach Bars
Great for a chill night out. Sit on bean bags, sip overpriced mojitos, and pretend you’re not being bitten by sand fleas.
Drinks: 100–200 THB, ambiance: priceless
Live Music Bars
Low-key cover bands performing everything from Ed Sheeran to Bon Jovi with surprising commitment. May involve impromptu dancing by people named Barry and Eileen.
Excursions
Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park
Entry: 200 THB (foreigners)
Boat or hike to Phraya Nakhon Cave: 400–500 THB
Giant cave with a royal pavilion lit by beams of sunlight. Like a fantasy movie, except with more sweat.
Maruekhathaiyawan Palace
A beautiful wooden seaside palace that’s hard to pronounce but nice to walk through.
Entry: 30–60 THB
Dress modestly or prepare to rent a sarong and shame.
Pa La-U Waterfall
Great for hiking, swimming, and pretending you're Bear Grylls.
Entry: 300 THB (foreigner tax again)
Bring snacks and an escape plan for mosquitoes
Final Thoughts
Hua Hin is not trying to be “cool”, and that’s kind of the point. It’s chill, easy, and just weird enough to be interesting. Come here if you want beach days without full-moon parties, seafood without food poisoning, and sunsets with a side of sanity.
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