Hua Hin is a popular beach destination near Bangkok, located 200 km south of the capital of Thailand. The city is home to many quiet beaches including Hua Hin Beach, Suan Son Pradipat Beach, Khao Takiab Beach, and Khao Tao Beach.
Hua Hin Beach is the main beach in Hua Hin City Center, and is packed with things to do and see. It may not be one of the best beaches in Thailand, but it still offers lots of activities such as swimming, horse riding, windsurfing, and jet skiing.
In this travel guide about Hua Hin Beach, we will look at where the beach is located, how to get to the beach, what to do on and around Hua Hin beach.
You can check other info about Hua Hin in these articles:
- 26 Best Things to Do in Hua Hin
- How to get to and Around Hua Hin
- Best Areas to Stay in Hua Hin
- 4-5 Days In Hua Hin Itinerary
Where is Hua Hin Beach?
Hua Hin Beach is a 6 km long beach in Hua Hin City, stretching all the way from the rocky headland next to the fishing pier in the north to the Giant Standing Buddha at the Monkey Mountain in the south.
The beach has fine white sand and shallow, clean water. It is a good place for swimming, sunbathing, taking a leisure stroll along the shore, horse riding, and enjoying various water activities such as windsurfing and jet skiing.
Be mindful of jellyfish at the beach in the rainy season, from July to October. It is better to avoid swimming in the beach in this wet season.
The Beach is lined with resorts and hotels. The busiest part of the beach is around Centara Resort. There are beach facilities such as umbrellas and sunbeds along the shore. You can find many independent beach vendors as well as restaurants and cafes that belong to the beachfront resorts.
At the southern end of the beach near the Monkey Mountain and the Giant Standing Buddha, you can find several restaurants, and bars that are great places to visit to enjoy meals and drinks at sunset.
How to get to Hua Hin Beach?
Hua Hin Beach is lined with private properties in the beachfront, but there are still several public access to the beach. Hua Hin Soi 67 is the popular access to the busy section of the beach. Another nice access is via Naresdamri Road and the Chinese shrine at the end of the road.
Depending where you are staying in Hua Hin, you can get to the beach by walking, taking green songthaews, or using riding sharing services such as Grab and Bolt.
Walking
If you stay in the beachfront hotels and resorts, you can easily walk to the beach. I stayed at the Captain Joe Cafe & Hostel and it was just an easy 2 minute walk to the fishing pier, and a 5 minute walk to Jao Mae Tubtim Shrine via Soi Naresdamri.
Public green songthaews
You can use a local public bus (or green songthaew) to get to the beach. The green line runs along the main road from the airport to Khao Takiab. The main road, Phet Kasem Road, runs parallel with Hua Hin Beach, and is located within 500m radius from the beach.
The bus runs every 15 minutes everyday from 6am to 9/ 10pm. The price is 15 baht. You can flag the driver on the side of the road, get in the car, get off at the point near the beach and walk to the beach.
Grab and Bolt
If you want a private ride without having to negotiate the price with the driver, you can use Grab or Bolt App to request a drive, both on motorbike taxi or regular taxi. The price from a hotel in Hua Hin City Center to the beach is around 100 baht.
What to do on Hua Hin Beach?
Swimming/ Sunbathing
The beach has fine white sand and clean water, which is good for swimming and sunbathing. But, please be aware of jelly fish in the off season and flag color on the beach to tell if the beach is safe to swim.
There are many beach vendors on the beach with umbrellas and sunbeds for rent, especially around Huhin Soi 61 and Centara Resort. You can rent these beach facilities for around 100 baht or order food and drink from them to use the bedchairs for free.
Taking Stroll along the beach
With a long stretch of fine soft sand, it is comfortable to walk along the beach and chill. This is a free and popular activity in Hua Hin beach, especially in the days when the beach has strong waves.
Horse Riding
Horse riding is a popular and unique activity in Hua Hin Beach. You can ride the horse along the shore and take photos with the horse. It is around 500 baht for a 1 hour horse ride, you can ask for a shorter time.
Watersport activities (Jet skiing, Kitesurfing)
There are several watersport activities along Hua Hin Beach such as jet skiing, banana boat, and kite surfing. You can easily find rental shops along the beach where you can rent equipment or take surfing lessons from them.
When I visited Hua Hin late December, I saw several people paragliding around the Standing Buddha at the southern section of Hua Hin Beach in the late afternoon.
Hua Hin Fishing Pier
The pier is located next to a fishing village, at the northern end of Hua Hin Beach. It was within a minute’s walk from my hotel, Captain Joe Hostel, on Hua Hin Soi 55.
If you stay around the pier, you can visit and take a look. Many local fishing boats dock here, and you can enjoy stunning views of the coastline and the city from the pier. The night market is held on the pier on the weekend where you can try cheap local food.
Saphan Pla Night Market
This is a local night market located on Hua Hin fishing pier. It is held on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 5pm to midnight. The market offers good meals, drinks, and massages at low prices.
There are tables and chairs to sit and eat. If you come with a car, the parking is 50 baht. There is free parking for motorbikes.
Jao Mae Tubtim Shrine
This is a small and colorful Chinese temple located on the north of Hua Hin Beach, just a few minutes walk from the fishing pier. The shrine is right at the end of Naresdamri alley.
From the shrine, you can have views of the fishing pier and the beach. You can walk down to the beach from the shrine via the stairs.
Wat Khao Takiap
Wat Khao Takiap is located on the top of Monkey Mountain, at the southern end of Hua Hin Beach. You can reach the temple by scooter or tuk tuk. The ride at the end near the temple is passing the seafood market and up to the short curvy and hilly road.
There are lots of souvenir shops at the foot of the temple. There are also many monkeys roaming around the ground and the stairs. Monkey droppings are everywhere, so watch your step.
You can walk up the stairs to reach the top of the chedi. It has stunning views of Hua Hin Beach and the city. The temple has a free entrance and it is open everyday.
Standing Golden Buddha
This 20 m tall standing golden Buddha is a beautiful temple overlooking the sea, located at the bottom of the Monkey Mountain. You can reach the temple by scooter or taxi or walk down from Wat Khao Takiap.
There are several restaurants and cafes on the stairs to the Buddha. It is a great place to have a meal and drinks with the ocean views, especially at sunset.
Watch the sunrise and sunset
Hua Hin beach is a great place to watch the sun rise. Don’t miss it if you can wake up early. If you can’t get out of the bed early in the morning, you can still enjoy the beautiful golden sky and peaceful beach at sunset.
The beach near Wat Khao Takiab is quite a popular spot at sunset. You can find several places to eat and drink on the cliff near the Giant Standing Buddha.
Hua Hin Night Markets
There are several night markets located close to Hua Hin Beach where you can explore in the evening. Popular night markets are the Hua Hin Night Market in downtown Hua Hin and Tamarind and Cicada weekend night markets near the south of Hua Hin Beach.
These night markets are perfect places to eat local food, sea food, and buy souvenirs. There are lots of seafood restaurants in the Hua Hin night market, and the Tamarind and Cicada have a more hip and artsy atmosphere.
Bluport and Market Village Shopping Malls
Bluport and Market Village are two major shopping centers in Hua Hin City Center. It is located on the city’s main road, which is a few hundred meters from the beach. These places are perfect places for shopping, dining, and entertainment.
They are Air-conditioned malls, making them perfect for a break from the sun or rain. You can find a foot court in these malls as well as shops selling fashion, electronics, and lifestyle products.
Enjoy the nightlife at Soi Bintabaht, Soi 94 and Soi 80
Hua Hin has a relaxing nightlife scene with lots of bars, night clubs, and restaurants. There are several areas in the city that have high concentrations of bars and night clubs. They are Soi Bintabaht, Soi 94 and Soi 80. If you are after a party and bar hopping, you must check these areas.
Seafood Restaurants
As the beach city, Hua Hin is home to lots of seafood restaurants. You can find them along the beach as well as in the night markets and in the city center.
If you are a seafood lover, you can check out a cluster of restaurants at the Hua Hin Night Market. There is a wide selection of large seafood, such as prawns and lobsters, on display. You can choose what you want, and the restaurant will cook it for you.
My hotel’s owner recommended a restaurant called, Jek Piek Seafood Restaurant. He said that it is one of the best restaurants in Hua Hin and lots of locals eat there.
Where to stay on Hua Hin beach?
There are plenty of hotels, resorts, and backpacker hostels in and around Hua Hin Beach. If you want to stay right on the beach, you will need to pay a little bit more. There are more cheaper options further away from the beachfront area, but still easy access to the beach.
Here are some of the best places to stay on Hua Hin Beach:
Hilton Hua Hin Resort & Spa
Hilton is one of the best resorts in Hua Hin City Center. The resort is set in a central location right at the heart of the city and on the beachfront. You’ll be within a short distance from the bars, restaurants, and night markets. The train station is also nearby, which is a continent for train travelers.
The resort has beautiful grounds, a rooftop Bar, and a pool. You can choose rooms that have ocean views for the best experience. If you are family or couples looking for a luxury stay right on the beach, Hilton is a great choice.
Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas
Centara is a popular hotel located on Hua Hin Beach. The hotel has a central location, easy access to restaurants, bars, malls, and night markets. It has an old charm and is very well-maintained. If you want a great quality hotel, Centara is the perfect base for your visit to Hua Hin.
The Yana Villas
This accommodation is located at the southern section of Hua Hin Beach, close to the Monkey Hill and the Standing Buddha. It has direct access to the beach. This area also has a quieter atmosphere compared to the more central area of Hua Hin beach.
See more:
I will wrap up my travel guide about Hua Hin beach, the main beach in Hua Hin City here. I hope you know what to do in and around the beach by now. Have a good time at Hua Hin beach.