Hua Hin: A Guide to Thailand’s Royal Retreat

Nestled in Prachuap Khiri Khan Province on Thailand’s Malay Peninsula, Hua Hin offers a tranquil escape with its serene beaches, majestic mountains, and rich cultural heritage.

Once a favored retreat for Thai royalty, it boasts regal palaces like Maruekhathaiyawan Palace and vibrant attractions such as Cicada Market and Plearn Wan Shopping Village.

Visitors can explore the mystical Phraya Nakhon Cave or indulge in the whimsical ambience of The Venezia Hua Hin. With delectable cuisines like Som Tam Pu Ma and Tom Yam Goong to savor, Hua Hin promises a blend of relaxation, adventure, and cultural immersion for every traveler.

Exploring Hua Hin:

Hua Hin is one of the eight districts of Prachuap Khiri Khan Province. It lies in the northern part of the Malay Peninsula in Thailand.

Hua Hin is one of the alluring places to escape from the bustling city. It is an amazing beachside town with many incredible mountains, viewpoints, temples, night markets, waterparks, and fine diners. 

Hua Hin is easily accessible via flights, trains, and buses. It was once known as the beach gateway for Thai royals because of its amazing summer places and seaside resorts.  

Things to do in Hua Hin:

1. Visit Maruekhathaiyawan Palace:

This is a Thai-Victorian-style summer seaside palace constructed in the early ’20s during the reign of King Rama IV. It is located 9km south of Cha-Am at the Camp Rama VI military compound.

This architecture was made with golden teak, lots of verandas, latticework, and a ceiling to keep the palace cool during summers.

This candy-coloured mansion has a three-story pavilion with more than 1,000 pillars standing erect to protect the palace from floods and tsunamis. This palace opens from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. There is no admission fee. 

2. Take a stroll at Cicada Market:

This open-air market is all about art, handmade crafts, and good times. Besides the market, you will find an art gallery, beer garden, and live music.

This market is located on Phetkasem Road between Hua Hin town and Khao Takiab. This market is divided into four sections: Art a la Mode, dedicated to clothes, decorative items, home wear, and handmade accessories.

Second, Art Indoors, dedicated to sketches, paintings, and sculptures. Third, Art of Act, dedicated to creative knick-knacks and souvenirs. Lastly, the Art of Eating section is all about an open-air food court. This market opens only on weekends (Fri, Sat, Sun). This market is open from 4 pm to 11 pm. 

3. Plearn Wan Shopping Village:

It is a themed shopping complex located near Klai Kang Won Palace. The architecture is made of unique brown wood. This themed market features many shops and cafes all decorated in 1960s Thai style.

This is one of the best venues for an evening stroll and shopping. Food is the major attraction of this market. Besides food, you can also shop for souvenirs, toys, clothing, and fashion accessories. This market opens daily from 10 in the morning and closes at 10 in the night. 

4. Phraya Nakhon Cave:

It is one of the most mystical and mysterious landmarks of Thailand. If you make it to the centre of the cave you will get a chance to explore the gold and green pavilion hidden inside. This pavilion stands on a hill surrounded by trees and vegetation.

To reach this spot first you have to drive to the small village of Bang Pu located on the beach, and from there you need to get into a boat to reach the cape to Leam Sala Beach. The journey will cost you about 200 Baht. 

5. The Venezia Hua Hin:

This is the newest shopping and attraction village in Hua Hin. In this village instead of a shopping plaza with rows of shops, you will find a photogenic theme destination with plenty of romantic photo opportunities.

The theme of this park is Venice and you will miss the San Marco’s bell tower replica. This theme park is spread in 73,600 sq.m. and houses about 316 shops. The theme park also features a mini zoo and a 3D museum.

This museum opens every day from 10:00 in the morning to 11:30 in the evening. There is an admission fee to enjoy the activities at a theme park. The prices differ according to the activities.   

Food To Try in Hua Hin:

1. Som Tam Pu Ma:

It is spicy blue crab papaya salad. This is a combination of seafood and Thai salad.

This dish is served with chopped carrot, peppers, dried shrimp, fresh vegetables, tomatoes, and papaya. 

2. Tom Yam Goong: 

It is a spicy shrimp soup with a refreshing blend of fragrant lemongrass, chillies, galangal, lime leaves, shallots, lime juice, and fish sauce. Tom Yam Goong is a versatile dish and it can be served as a side dish with virtually any meal. 

How to reach Hua Hin:

1. By plane:

Hua Hin has its own international airport serving Hua Hin district in Prachuap Khiri Khan Province, Thailand. You can also land at Bangkok airport and then take a bus or drive up to Hua Hin which is 199km and 2.5 hours away. 

2. By train:

You can get into one of the several trains running from the nearby cities. From Bangkok, the journey to Hua Hin will take 4 hours. The train station is located near the centre of the city that makes it more convenient for travellers. 

3. By bus:

Hua Hin has its own bus station which is located about 42 meters away from the city centre. Hua Hin bus station is located at Phet Kasem road, 77110 Prachuap Khiri Khan.

Besides the bus station, you will find kiosks, a coffee bar, fast food, and plenty of hotels to stay.

You can get a bus to Hua Hin from Bangkok and the buses from Hua Hin leaves from Sai Tai Mai Terminal to Surat Thani, Phuket and Krabi, Chiang Mai, and Pattaya. 

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