Hua Hin, Thailand: Is It Worth Visiting? Our Honest Experience
- reefaulkner
- Dec 23, 2025
- 6 min read
Updated: Jul 28
Hua Hin is one of the easiest side quests from Bangkok.
Around four hours from Bangkok, this laid-back seaside town in Prachuap Khiri Khan is known for its beaches, night markets, golf courses and royal history.
It’s a popular weekend escape for both locals and international visitors looking for a slower pace than Bangkok.
We’d visited Hua Hin once before, but only for a couple of days. It never felt like enough time to really understand what the town was all about.
Getting There
From Bangkok, you can reach Hua Hin by train, bus, car or private taxi.
We caught the bus from Ekkamai Bus Terminal, booking our tickets through 12Go for around 260 THB one way. The journey took about four hours, depending on traffic, with one scheduled toilet stop about halfway.
A small tip from experience… don’t drink too much before you leave. That toilet stop couldn’t come soon enough for me.
Some people prefer the train or a private taxi, but I’d happily catch the bus again. It’s affordable, comfortable and I enjoy watching the scenery change as you leave Bangkok behind and head towards the coast.
Where We Stayed – G Hua Hin Resort
This trip we decided to spend a little more on accommodation and stay somewhere central. Hua Hin is more spread out than many people expect, so having a good base made exploring much easier.
We stayed at G Hua Hin Resort, located just off the main road through town. Our room was spacious, with a large king-size bed, a balcony overlooking the pool and a day bed that quickly became my afternoon reading spot. The buffet breakfast was better than expected, the pool never felt crowded and the staff were welcoming throughout our stay. It was the sort of hotel where you could happily spend an afternoon by the pool before heading out for dinner.
I’d definitely stay here again.
📍 Google Maps: G Hua Hin Resort
First Impressions of Hua Hin
The first thing we noticed was the pace.
Compared with Bangkok, Hua Hin feels slower, quieter and far more relaxed. There’s no rush to get anywhere, and the whole town seems to move at its own speed.
The long beachfront, open streets and laid-back atmosphere make it easy to understand why people come here to switch off for a few days. Cafés are busy with people lingering over coffee, the beaches invite long walks, and the markets come alive in the evenings without ever feeling overwhelming.
It also didn’t take long to notice that Hua Hin attracts plenty of retirees and long-term visitors, which adds to its slower, more settled feel.
We really enjoyed that change of pace. After the energy of Bangkok, it was the perfect place to slow down, recharge and enjoy a few days by the coast.
The Beach
Hua Hin is known for its long stretch of coastline, horse riding along the sand and reliable winds that make it a popular spot for kitesurfing.
It’s a lovely beach to walk, especially in the early morning or late afternoon. The sand and beach was very clean, the water, however, wasn’t nearly as clear as the beaches further south on Thailand’s islands. Plenty of people were swimming though, but I found myself happier walking along the shoreline before heading back to the hotel pool for an afternoon swim and cocktail.
I’d also heard Hua Hin has beautiful sunrises over the Gulf of Thailand. Unfortunately… I wasn’t awake early enough to see one.
Kate Flying Hua Hin Beach Hua Hin Beach Horses on Hua Hin Beach
Places We Enjoyed
Rather than trying to tick off every attraction in Hua Hin, we spent most of our time exploring cafés, markets and local food spots. Some were planned, while others were simply places we stumbled across during our stay. These are the places we’d happily go back to.
Hua Hin Night Market
Open every evening from around 6:00 pm until midnight, Hua Hin Night Market quickly became one of our regular dinner spots. There’s plenty of variety, the prices are reasonable, and every meal we had was fresh, generous and full of flavour.
Live music is advertised most nights, although every time we visited the band seemed to be permanently stuck in sound check. If you’re only visiting Hua Hin for a few days, I’d definitely recommend spending at least one evening here.
📍 Google Maps: Hua Hin Night Market
Tamarind Market
Open Thursday to Sunday, Tamarind Market sits beside Cicada Market but has a much more relaxed feel.We chose to eat here because of the laid-back atmosphere and live music. We ordered a selection of dishes to share, followed by an amazing soft crepe for dessert. It ended up being one of our favourite evenings in Hua Hin.
📍 Google Maps: Tamarind Market
MITTE MITTE Café & Brunch
If you’re looking for breakfast or brunch, don’t skip this one.
MITTE MITTE serves everything from bagels and breakfast plates to salads, pasta and sweet treats. Everything we ordered was fresh, beautifully presented and genuinely delicious.
The café itself is bright, modern and welcoming, with fresh flowers throughout the space adding a nice touch.
Definitely one of our favourite cafés in Hua Hin.
📍 Google Maps: MITTE MITTE Café & Brunch
HOC – House of Croissants
If you enjoy a good bakery, this is well worth stopping for.
HOC serves authentic French-style croissants with a menu that includes both savoury and sweet options. Everything is baked fresh daily, and you can really taste the difference.
The coffee was excellent, and the almond croissant was one of the best I’ve had in Thailand.
Whatever you order, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.
📍 Google Maps: HOC – House of Croissants
Chicken + Rice ก๊วยโภชนา หัวหิน 51
This was one of those simple local finds that often ends up being one of the best meals of the trip. Quick service, generous portions, affordable prices and consistently delicious food.
We stopped here after a workout at Endorphin Fitness Club, and it was exactly what we were looking for. Highly recommended if you’re after a great local meal without spending much.
📍 Google Maps: Chicken + Rice ก๊วยโภชนา หัวหิน 51
Soakjai Beach Bar
Nothing fancy.
Just a relaxed little beach bar right on the sand that’s perfect for a drink before dinner.
Sometimes that’s all you need.
📍 Google Maps: Soakjai Beach Bar
Top Seacret Café
This place has all the ingredients for a great beach café.
Grab a drink, sink into one of the pink bean bags, take a dip in the ocean if you feel like it, then settle in and enjoy the afternoon.
Despite some mixed Google reviews, we had no trouble finding it and really enjoyed spending a few hours here.
📍 Google Maps: Top Seacret Café
Binta Burger
The sign outside proudly claims they serve the “Best Hamburger in Hua Hin.”
Normally I’d be sceptical of a statement like that.
But honestly… They were excellent.
Juicy burgers, perfectly cooked crinkle-cut chips and somewhere we’d happily return.
📍 Google Maps: Binta Burger
It Wouldn’t Be a Side Quest Without Checking Out the Local Gyms
Let’s be honest… it wouldn’t be a GTB side quest without finding a few local gyms.
I trained at four gyms during our stay, each offering something a little different. If you’re planning a trip to Hua Hin and want to keep up your training, check out my honest reviews below before you go:
Final Thoughts
Hua Hin turned out to be exactly the kind of side quest we were hoping for.
Just a few hours from Bangkok, it offered a slower pace, long beach walks, great cafés, lively markets and plenty of good food. It felt like somewhere you could switch off for a few days without needing a packed itinerary.
Coming back for longer also gave us a much better feel for Hua Hin than our first visit. We had time to explore beyond the main attractions, try some fantastic local food and simply enjoy being there.
Would I come back?
Absolutely.
Whether you’re looking for a weekend escape or a few days by the coast, Hua Hin is an easy trip from Bangkok that’s well worth making.
As for whether we could see ourselves living here one day…Maybe.
Just not yet. For now, we’re happy to keep it as one of our favourite side quests from Bangkok, and I have a feeling we’ll be back again soon.
Stay strong, stay travelling, and keep the adventure alive 🏋️♀️✈️🌏
Message me if you have any questions or want to know more!
Travel, move, repeat
Mi-Ree 🧡
