Hua Hin

Thailand

Cityscape: Serene sands and chic retreats
City life: Sassy society sunspot

A couple of hours south of bustling Bangkok, the laid-back resort town of Hua Hin has been a Thai weekender’s favourite ever since the royal family started heading here back in the twenties. Of course, the rest of society followed suit. And they’re still coming.

Enchanted by the feather-soft, white-powder beach, the King Rama IV built his summer palace in what was once a small village in the north of Thailand. Since then, the town has grown into a peaceful paradise of seaside chic, with finely manicured golf courses, world-class spas, sleek boutique hotels and a smattering of excellent restaurants. After a couple of days enduring the frenetic urban hum of Bangkok, it’s the perfect place to escape to for a few lazy days of beach-based bliss.

Pictured: Putahracsa

Boutique hotels in Hua Hin

Our round-up of the hippest hideaways and boutique hotels in Hua Hin

Getting there

Planes, trains, automobiles, or maybe even helicopter – we tell you the best way to go.

Worth getting out of bed for

Highlights the best Hua Hin has to offer, from art and culture to fun-packed activities; we've even found the most inspiring place to enjoy the views from.

Eating, drinking & dancing

We've tracked down the best cafés for people-watching, the bars with the coolest cocktails, the most accomplished restaurants and the liveliest local nightlife in Hua Hin.

Smith Maps

Here is the map of Hua Hin; each Mr & Mrs Smith hotel is marked by a flag; click it for more details.

Taxis: There aren’t any normal taxi services available in Hua Hin, although, if you have the nerve and/or death-wish, plenty of motorbike taxis rattle around. Unless you want to wander further afield to off-centre restaurants or resorts, you can happily navigate the small town on foot.
Tipping culture: Restaurants and bars usually add a 10 per cent service charge, although staff may not see any of this. Tip when service merits it.
Siesta and Fiesta: Not wanting to miss the potential custom of the wealthy Thais who flick to Hua Hin, shops open on time, usually around 10am, and close around sunset. Some cafés and restaurants open as early at 8am to serve the breakfast crowd.
Packing tips: Fit in with the local fashionistas: stack up on designer togs and strut the streets.
Recommended reads: Since you’re lounging where the Thai royals like to relax, why not tuck into a book that features one of them? Pick up a copy of Anna and the King of Siam by Margaret Landon. This book became the basis for the very famous The King & I plays and movie. Don’t bring it with you though – it’s banned in Thailand for being culturally offensive. Four Reigns by Kukrit Pramoj, one of the country’s ex-prime ministers, follows one woman as she witnesses the reigns of four successive monarchs.
Cuisine: Like most beach towns in Thailand, Hua Hin boasts tantalisingly tasty seafood, often cooked in simple curries, grilled, or deep-fried and served with sweet-spicy sauces. Head to the Hua Hin Fishing Pier and Khao Takiab Fishing Village for some of the freshest seafood served in town. Hua Hin has several excellent authentic Thai restaurants; Naebkehard Road is home to a few of the best. Several high-quality international restaurants have also opened in the past few years. Fusion cuisine and Italian food are among the holidaying Thais’ favoured fare.
Currency: Thai baht. £1 is approximately THB65.
Time zone: Country code for Thailand: 66; Hua Hin is 032. Drop the ‘0’ if dialling from overseas.
Dialing codes: GMT + 7 hours
Do go/don't go: Hua Hin, like Bangkok, gets horribly hot between April and May. But even worse than the heat are the traffic jams on Fridays and Saturdays. Head to Hua Hin on a weekday and you’ll have the whole place to yourself.