Hua Hin Sights and POI

While Hua Hin claims the fame of being the oldest beach resort in the country, you will not get the taste of it unless you explore the city itself, cast a glance over the beachfront from above Khao Takiab and eat traditional jok for breakfast.

Exploring the oldest part of the city

Naeb Kehardt area offers an authentic Thai experience as it is one of the older parts of town and is filled up with locals and is made into a market on the weekends. There are art galleries, speciality shops, hipster bars and many street vendors to pick and choose from. The closer you head to the beach then the more resorts you will see but are mostly built in true Thai-style and have swimming pools.

Beaches in Hua Hin

The most visited attraction in Hua Hin is Hua Hin Beach and is one that most visitors only see. This stretch of beachfront matches the line of the city and has its share of bars, restaurants and shops to see and try. Though the water is shallow here, it’s a great place to be if you fancy relaxing for a few hours soaking up the sun or at sunset. The best areas are at either end as you won’t get as many people hassling you for buying fake souvenirs. There are a few other beaches nearby like Suan Son and Khao Tao, which are a more chilled out but you will need to get a taxi there.

Khao Takiab

At the southern end of the city beach, there is the most visited view point by Wat Khao Taliab sitting on the namesake hill. The winding road gives way to stunning views. The temple includes a shrine room with most Thai’s bringing flowers, candles and incense and the temple itself is picturesque. Behind the temple you will find a Chinese shrine, which has been taken over by an army of macaques. They sit waiting for you to buy some bananas from the nearby vendors but do be careful as they are worldly known for taking your prized possessions.

Khao Hin Lek Fai

A less know but similarly great vantage point to have a bird’s eye view over Hua Hin is from Khao Hin Lek Fai, which is found a few kms west of the city. We took the chance to go up there one evening to see the views from the 162 metre high stone hill and was absolutely breath taking. Once you have gasped looking over Hua Hin and the surroundings, you will also see there is a public park with monuments and statues of people to do with the city.

Hua Hin train station

For the architects and historians, head to one of the country’s most beautiful and oldest train stations here, which was built just after the 19th century. Even if you are not going to take a train from Bangkok to Hua Hin, try not to miss this picturesque train station.

The crimson and beige teakwood has been superbly maintained and is one of the country’s most iconic places. It boasts features like intricate wood carvings, high ceilings, beams and tiled floors. Make sure you check out the royal waiting room as it is used to be part of the Sanam Chandra Palace in Nakhon Pathom and was moved to Hua Hin in the 1960’s.

Klai Kangwon Palace

Another iconic building in the city is the Klai Kangwon Palace, which was built in 1929 and overlooks the sea. The Spanish-style summer palace is used by the Thai royal family though it is only regularly used during the months of March and April. When they aren’t in it is open to members of the public where you can roam the rooms and long passageways. The palace opens daily from 9am-4pm.

Vintage market

Plearn Wan is an old vintage market and gives you a taste of what life was like about 50 years ago in the city. There are plenty of restaurants which serve local fare at surprisingly not-so-touristy prices and shops that are made to look like they are from the 1950/60s and there is even an old-school drive-in movie cinema and is definitely worth a look.