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General information about Hua Hin
Hua Hin (Hua Hin, Hua Hin) is a city in Thailand on the coast of the Gulf of Thailand, 220 kilometers south of Bangkok (Hua Hin on the map of Thailand) and a popular beach tourist resort. This is one of the oldest resorts in Thailand. Although the city is small, with only 80,000 people, it is a well-developed tourist center for almost all types of recreation, and we recommend considering it as an alternative option to rest in Pattaya.
Holidays in Hua Hin
Holidays in Hua Hin are primarily beach holidays. The main city beach stretches for five kilometers, and there are several other excellent beach areas outside the city. Even on the city beach, which is not considered the cleanest, the sand is white and very fine. The descent into the water is smooth, which is good for relaxing with children. There are sun loungers, umbrellas, cafes, water activities, and even horseback riding. In general, there is everything you need for a wonderful beach holiday.
Hua Hin differs from other urban resorts in the country in a quieter environment, and this is why it is attractive to tourists, especially older and elderly, families who want to avoid meeting noisy crowds, take a break from the hustle and bustle. Therefore, for those who are tired of noisy and depraved Pattaya, Hua Hin may be a great alternative. We can confidently say that Hua Hin is "Light Pattaya", while compared to Pattaya it has cleaner and more beautiful beaches, and the water here is simply unrealistically warm.
At the same time, there is enough entertainment and attractions to diversify a relaxing beach holiday. There is a whole area of bars with girls and boys for every taste, you can walk around the night market (and there are three of them here), or dine on the freshest seafood in restaurants at the fisherman's wharf. During the day you can spend time on the beaches or get acquainted with the sights.
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City beach
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Cha-am Beach
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City center
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A street with cafes and bars
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Protects law and order
In general, Hua Hin has firmly established the title of "royal resort", since almost a century ago the King of Thailand chose this place for the rest of the royal family. Therefore, cleanliness and order are always maintained here, a very high level of security and low crime. Another advantage of Hua Hin is its convenient location relative to Bangkok airport. Although the airport in Hua Hin is modest and accepts only rare local flights, arriving at Bangkok airport, it is not easy to get to Hua Hin from there in 3 hours and less than 300 baht by direct bus.
There is another category of tourists to whom we would highly recommend Hua Hin. Many of our compatriots have been going to Thailand for the winter in recent years, spending three to four months there. So, Hua Hin is a great place for such trips. It is just moderately quiet and peaceful here, near the sea, and there is always somewhere to go or go to see something interesting.
However, there is an additional condition for a comfortable stay here – a slightly larger stock of finances than for other resort places on mainland Thailand.
Infrastructure in Hua Hin
Hua Hin is a city with a well–developed citywide and tourist infrastructure. There is public transport from songteo fixed-route taxis, there are shopping centers and small shops, markets. Travel services are widely offered in every hotel and in travel agencies on the street. You can easily find ticket sales for buses, trains, airplanes; ready-made tourist group or individual transfers; excursions; motorcycle rental; visa extension, etc. It is best to look for travel agencies and rentals on the streets of Soi Selakam and Nares Damri, which resemble a tourist area. In general, there is everything you may need during your vacation or travel.
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Food and dining in Hua Hin
As usual in Thailand, there will be no difficulties in getting a full meal or something to eat in Hua Hin: restaurants, cafes and street fast food are found at every turn. Prices are the same as at any other resort in the country. The area for romantic dinners is the Hua Hin marina area, where seafood cafes with sea views are concentrated. If you want to try something exotic, go to Hua Hin Night market, where the variety of street fast food just makes your eyes run away. Well, if you just need to sit and drink beer with snacks, look for such places in the very center of the tourist area on the streets of Soi Selakam and Nares Damri.
Food prices in Hua Hin: you can have a snack with street fast food from 30 baht(0.92 RUB); a full-fledged dinner in a cafe with beer or other alcohol - from 200 baht (6.16 USD). About which dishes to try and in general read about the cuisine of Thailand here...
Cafe overlooking the sea near the pier -
Shopping and malls
Also, in Hua Hin, you can enjoy spending time shopping. These can be both night markets, where, by the way, you can buy quality goods for little money, and shopping centers selling branded clothing. The largest shopping center is Market Village, located in the city center. It sells clothes, food, household appliances, as well as a cafe, restaurant, cinema and bowling alley. In addition to this center, the new Cicada Market night market is popular – an area for walking, shopping and entertainment (opening hours from Friday to Sunday from 18:00 to 23:00). Cicada Market hosts exhibitions, concerts, shows, souvenir sales. Quite a popular place among tourists is the main night market in the city, open every day from 18:00 to 23:00. In this place you can buy original Thai souvenirs, try local seafood dishes. Another market - Grand Market is known for a large selection of cosmetics and household goods.
Hua Hin Shopping Center -
Hotels and accommodation
Accommodation in Hua Hin is mainly represented by hotels, there are not very many guest houses here. Moreover, it is believed that the prices here are slightly higher than at other beach resorts in Thailand with the same quality. This may be true, but the difference in prices is almost not noticeable. If desired, it is quite easy to find a room with air conditioning from 500 baht (15.41 RUB, see Thailand currency and exchange rate), or a bed in a hostel from 200 baht (6.16 USD). The price for five-star accommodation starts from 2500 baht (77.05 rub.) for a room for two. It is also worth mentioning the town Cha-Am (Cha-am), which, although located 25 kilometers from Hua Hin, is often considered by tourists as one of the far beaches of Hua Hin. In Cha-Am, the choice of inexpensive housing is much wider, and the situation is even calmer. See more about beaches and areas in Hua Hin, and where it is better to choose a hotel here...
We recommend searching and booking accommodation in Hua Hin on these sites or using the search form:
- 🛌 Search for hotels in Hua Hin on Trip.com (💳 Mir cards work)
- 🛌 Search for hotels in Hua Hin on Yandex.travel
- 🛌 Search for hotels in Hua Hin on Booking.com
- 🛌 Search for hotels on Ostrovok.ru
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Personal experience: In Hua Hin, we decided to finally stop by on our sixth visit to Thailand. Before that, we had already repeatedly chosen Pattaya, visited the north and south, and Bangkok has become almost our second home. And I didn't imagine at all that there are places here that can make you fall in love with yourself again.
I fell in love with Hua Hin from the very first day. As soon as we arrived at the bus station, got off the bus and went on foot to look for a hotel, I was surprised by the cleanliness of the streets. Then I found out that Hua Hin is a "royal resort" not only in name, but also in reality. That's why everything is constantly licked and kept clean.
According to the prices, I expected it to be worse. But I didn't see much difference between the promoted resorts of Thailand and Hua Hin at all. Transport is inexpensive, in shops and markets everything is the same as in Pattaya. Even the guest we found for 500 baht is quite decent, with air conditioning.
The beach was not surprised at first sight. As usual, a wide strip, fine pleasant sand, and almost no palm trees, because the city beach. But when I first went into the water, apparently that's when I fell in love with this place. Well, you know, sometimes some insignificant pleasant things are so memorable and impressive that you fall in love with it. So, I have never seen such warm water as here. Even in swimming pools. It was like walking into a hot bathroom, and I still had to get used to it. A little further from the shore, of course, it became cooler. I don't understand how such hot water in the Hua Hin Sea can be explained, maybe it is specially heated here, because this is a royal resort. Of course, this is a joke, but who knows… After all, this is a royal resort. I will definitely come back here again, and more than once.
Hua Hin weather, tourist seasons
Hua Hin is a year–round resort. It is hot here all year round and you can relax comfortably on the beach. The cool season, the hot season and the rainy season stand out.
Cool season (high season) runs from November to February. This is the best time to visit Hua Hin. There is almost no rain at this time, the weather is moderately cool by local standards, i.e. not too hot.
Hot season (temperature season) lasts from March to April. At this time, you can have a great rest and sunbathe, the only drawback of this period is sometimes unbearable heat.
Rainy season (low season) lasts from May to October. A lot of precipitation falls during the rainy season, but this, by and large, does not interfere with rest, since the rains are short-lived, and the sky is almost always clear. The maximum rains fall in October. Which is good, at this time the prices for vouchers and hotel accommodation may decrease.
Seasons in Hua Hin by month:
| Jan | Feb | March | Apr | May | June | July | Aug | Sept | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
* the best time to visit;
acceptable time to visit;
not recommended time to visit
Current Hua Hin weather and forecast
Attractions and entertainment
There is almost nothing interesting in the city itself, all the sights are located outside the city, and some at a respectful distance. These are mostly temples and natural attractions. Khao Luang Cave Temple is famous for its huge reclining Buddha statue. In addition to this colossus, there are many other Buddha figures installed by Rama IV. The cave is located 5 km from Petchaburi on the road No. 3173. Another temple located in the cave, Wat Khao Bandai It. It houses the famous meditation school. At the entrance to the cave, tourists are greeted by a flock of eternally hungry monkeys, which can be fed with bananas. In general, there are a lot of temples in Hua Hin. This is the Wat Cha Am temple, also located in the cave, and Wat Na Yang (the Great Earwig), and the famous Wat Ta Nod Luang ship temple, near the fishing village of Bang Kao, and others equally popular. There are many national parks in the vicinity of Hua Hin: Kaeng Krachan, Kui Buri National Park, Khao Sam Roi Yot, Huay Yang, Kaeng Krachan, as well as the cleanest beaches Hat Thang Sai, Hat Sam Phraya, Puk Thien, Khao Kalok and beaches in Ao Manao Bay. During the day you can go to the town of Phetchaburi, famous for a huge number of ancient temples and palaces.
In between relaxing on the beach and sightseeing trips, you can go golfing, go through spa treatments, visit a massage parlor, etc. Elephant riding is popular and can be found in several places near the city. There is karting. There are several markets in the city, designed specifically for tourists (assortment – souvenirs and crafts). Be sure to visit one of the night markets and the floating market. Well, on the beaches, of course, there are a lot of water sports and entertainment.
There is not a lot of nightlife in Hua Hin, but it is still there. There is a whole tourist area in the center, packed to the brim with noisy bars with girls. Also in the evening it will be interesting to stroll through one of Hua Hin's night markets or sit in a seafood restaurant near the fisherman's pier.
Learn more about Hua Hin sights and what to see here...
How to get there
It is best to get from Russia and other countries to Hua Hin via Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport, since the small local Hua Hin airport does not accept regular flights. You can fly to Suvarnabhumi by direct flights or flights with transfers from Moscow, St. Petersburg and some regions. You will have to get from the airport to Hua Hin by land, but it is very easy to do this even without the experience of independent trips by direct bus for 269 baht.
Minimum prices for flights from Moscow to Bangkok:
Minimum prices for flights from Russia to Bangkok:
In the city there is a railway station of the railway line connecting Bangkok with the south of the country, and going further to Malaysia and Singapore. Therefore, you can get here by train (in some cases with a transfer) from Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Penang Island in Malaysia, as well as from Krabi, Phuket Island, Koh Samui and other resorts in the south, but of course with a transfer via ferry or bus.
Frequent regular bus service connects the city with all major resorts and cities of the country. In some cases, you need to transfer from the north to Bangkok.
In 2017, the ferry service between Pattaya and Hua Hin started, the ferry runs 1 time a day (see about Pattaya-Hua Hin ferry). There are also Lompraya branded ferries from the islands of Koh Samui, Phangan and Tao.
Learn more about how and how to get to Hua Hin here...
Also read the detailed instructions:
- How to get to Hua Hin from Bangkok
- How to get to Hua Hin from Pattaya
- How to get to Hua Hin from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport
- How to get to Hua Hin from Don Mueang Airport
- Ferry from Pattaya to Hua Hin
Transport, what to use to get around
In Hua Hin, you can travel inexpensively by minibus taxis called Songthaew. They are practically no different here from Pattaya, the trip fee is from 20 baht(0.62 USD). They move along the established routes, but they can also be used as a taxi to travel to any place, then it will cost from 100 baht (3.08 rub). See more details about Songthaew routes in Hua Hin here...
There are tuk–tuks on Hiahin, like in Bangkok, but they are expensive to travel on. Tourists are asked even more expensive than for a regular car taxi, you should always bargain. There is also an exotic mode of transport – tricycle rickshaws. But do not consider them as a means of transportation, but rather as an attraction or attraction. The trip on them is quite expensive.
In Hua Hin, you can freely rent a car, motorcycle or bicycle. Renting a simple motorcycle starts from 150 baht per day (4.62 USD). To rent a vehicle, you need international rights with the appropriate category.
See more about Hua Hin transportation and what to use to move here...
Useful tips on Hua Hin
- Entertainment, girls. Adult night entertainment in Hua Hin is concentrated in the city center in the most tourist area along the streets of Selakam, Nares Damri, Here you can also find the most inexpensive accommodation.
- Hotels. When choosing a hotel or guesthouse, keep in mind that in the tourist area in the center there are several bars that will not let you sleep all night long because of loud music.
- Night markets. At night markets you can find very interesting and original souvenirs, but the prices for simple souvenirs such as magnets here may be slightly higher than in other places in the city. We need to bargain.
- Currency exchange in Hua Hin. There are plenty of exchange offices here, as well as ATMs for cash withdrawals. The course is good. The easiest way to find the exchange offices on the main street of Thanon Phetkasem
- ATMs in Hua Hin. ATMs are found here almost at every turn, so there will be no problems with withdrawing cash. The easiest way to find them is along the main street of Thanon Phetkasem.
- Orientation, street names. Not everywhere in Hua Hin street names are duplicated in English. But you can navigate by street numbers Soi 72, Soi 86, etc.
- Rent of transport. During sightseeing, try to park vehicles closer to the crowded area, preferably in a paid parking lot. The fact is that the local monkeys are very aggressive and have a habit of spoiling transport left unattended. For example, they can easily break the wires of a motorcycle or tear the seat. Locals scare away monkeys with the help of toy crocodiles, they are very afraid of them.