Hua Hin is a famous beach resort town in the middle of the “Thai Riviera” between Phetchaburi and Chumphon. The area is particularly known for its beautiful beaches and golf courses, but there are plenty of things to do in Hua Hin.
It’s one of the oldest resort towns in Thailand, and even the King of Thailand has a summer residence in Hua Hin.
Huay Mongkol Temple
One of Hua Hin’s highlights is the Luang Phor Thuad temple. It is dedicated to the famous namesake monk who is believed to have performed miracles such as turning saltwater into freshwater.
This statue is the biggest Luang Phor Thuad statue in the world and is set in a beautiful park. The site also features a small elephant sanctuary and a picturesque lake.
Hua Hin Night Market
Hua Hin’s night market is a great spot to spend a nice evening. The market offers a variety of goods such as clothing and souvenirs but there is also a great street food section here with a wide range of Thai food.
Many of the dishes are extremely delicious and cost much less than in traditional restaurants. There is also a lot of fresh seafood on sale here that is caught by the region’s many fishermen.
Vana Nava Water Jungle
Vana Nava calls itself Asia’s first water jungle and indeed this water park is very unique and worth exploring as it does a great job embedding traditional water park elements such as slides and adventure pools into lush tropical vegetation.
The park also offers Asia’s first VR slide that makes you slide down a waterslide while wearing VR goggles, making the experience even more exciting. Apart from the thrilling slides, there are also plenty of attractions available that are suitable for children.
Maruekhathaiyawan Palace
The beautiful Maruekhathaiyawan Palace is situated in beautiful gardens located right at the sea on a beautiful beach located between Hua Hin and Cha-am.
This palace serves the Thai royal family as a place for relaxation and was built in an interesting combination of Thai and European architecture. Despite it being in use as a royal residence, the palace can be visited with prior reservation.
Keep in mind that there is also a dress code that needs to be followed when entering the palace.
Cicada Market
Cicada Market takes place every weekend and is known for being a paradise for everyone interested in art, souvenirs, handicraft, decorative items and clothing.
The market is huge and exploring everything the vendors have on offer takes hours. In the evenings there is often also live-music played here. Coming here is a great experience regardless if you want to go shopping.
Phraya Nakhon Cave
The Phraya Nakon Cave is one of the most mystical landmarks of the country. What makes the cave so interesting is that there is a small temple located here that is lit up by the rays of sunshine penetrating the cave through its roof.
The cave is located in the Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park but coming here and making your way to the temple is not easy and can be considered a real adventure.
It includes taking a boat ride and climbing hundreds of meters of uneven terrain and steep steps. The effort is worth it in the end and making it to the temple will be an experience you will likely never forget.
Wat Khao Takiap
The beautiful Wat Khao Takiap is located on a hill just south of Hua Hin’s center and offers fantastic views over the sea and the skyline of the city.
The highlight of the temple is the large standing Buddha statue and the many playful monkeys living here. As with many great panoramas, it takes some effort to get here as there is a long staircase that has to be climbed before making it to the temple.
Black Mountain Water Park
The Black Mountain Water Park is another attraction that is great for the whole family. The park is located a few kilometers inland and is situated in a great recreational area that also offers a golf course.
In total the Black Mountain Water Park offers nine slides and seven different types of pools including a wave pool that can be used for surfing. Needless to say, there are also dining options available and the safety of the facilities is guaranteed.
Wat Tham Khao Tao
Wat Tham Khao Tao is located in Nong Kae just south of Hua Hin and is one of the most interesting temples in the area. Similar to Wat Khao Takiap it is situated on a hill overlooking the beach.
The temple is interesting as it is partially located in a cave and feels a lot more unconventional than most Thai temples. Wat Twat Tham Khao Tao stretches across the entire hill and also offers many viewing platforms that are located on the rocky beach just at the water.
Wat Khao Krailart
Wat Khao Krailar is located right in the middle of Hua Hin and feels less touristic and more local compared to some of the other temples of the area. One reason why this is the case is likely the incredibly long staircase that needs to be climbed to get up to the temple.
It is not recommended to climb it during the heat of the day, instead, come here during the morning hours when the temperatures are lower. The hill on which the temple sits is quite high and offers a fantastic panorama of the city, the sea, and the inland mountains.
Pranburi Beach
Around 25 km south of Hua Hin lies the beautiful Pranburi Beach. It is known for being much less frequented than the beaches of Hua Hin and offers plenty of serenity.
The beach is wide and offers fine sand and calm waters. Perfect for beach-lovers that don’t fancy the crowds of local and foreign tourists. Many local windsurfers come here as the beach is known for perfect conditions suitable to this sport.
Venezia Hua Hin
Venezia Hua Hin is themed after Venice and offers many canals and buildings resembling the famous Italian city. There are also gondola rides available that take guests on a tour of the area.
Many people come here for the fantastic array of restaurants, bars, cafes, and shops, which makes the Venezia Hua Hin one of the commercial centers of the city.
Monsoon Valley Vineyard
Even though Thailand isn’t known for its great wines there are some wineries here that are worth checking out. One of them is the Monsoon Valley Vineyard located in the lush hills of Hua Hin’s backcountry.
It was established in 2001 by a Thai entrepreneur aiming at creating a local wine culture in Thailand. After many successful years, the Monsoon Valley Vineyard is today much more than just a winery.
Visitors can also enjoy mountain biking, guided tours around the vineyard, and, of course, great wine in a scenic setting.
Hua Hin Beach
Hua Hin’s city beach is surprisingly clean and well-maintained considering it is generally rather busy and located right in the heart of the city.
The wide sand beach offers calm waters, sunbeds and umbrellas for rent, and many amenities located nearby, including many bars and restaurants.
Por Promin Muay Thai Camp
Muay Thai is popular all over Thailand and Hua Hin is no exception, offering the first-class Por Promin Muay Thai Camp. The camp looks back on a long history as its head trainer has over 40 years of experience in the sport.
The courses offered here are fantastic as all the trainers are ex-stadium fighters and know all the important aspects of Muay Thai. The camp offers training suitable for everyone.
It doesn’t matter if you are already a fighter and want to improve your skills or if you are a beginner that just wants to see what Muay Thai is like.
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