The first impression of the city beach of Hua Hin is stunning. It’s like stepping onto a podium with no end in sight. The city beach is a long (about 8 km) narrow (50-100 m) strip of coastal sand with almost no vegetation. Limited Mount Takiab (Khao Takiab) from the south and fresh seafood cafes wedged into the sea - from the north.
Has a point infrastructure (sun loungers + umbrellas, cafes, kayak and kite rental) - in places of access to the sea, free for the public. There are very few such exits in the center of Hua Hin, 4-5.
The content of the article
- one Beach description
- 2 Entering the water, depth and waves
- 3 Sun beds and shade
- 4 Hua Hin Beach Photos
- five Shops and attractions on the beach
- 6 Houses and hotels on the beach
- 7 How to get to the beach
- eight City beach on the map
Beach description
Along the entire length of the beach, there are various-sized hotels or condos, often expensive due to the proximity to the sea, surrounded by deep fences. Entrance and exit to the beach through their territories - for guests only.
The status quo is closely monitored by guards. Hotels do not want to share with the public even the shade of the greenery. This is a local peculiarity, and if you do not know it, you will stomp along a hot highway for several kilometers before diving on a jay to the beach..
By the way, on the stretch from Condochein to Takiab there are already a lot of free passages to the sea, through each quarter. Alas, there is virtually no infrastructure there ...
The places of mass recreation of tourists (and services for them) are as follows:
- the extreme northern point - the road from the railway station directly leads to it - Damnitnkasem Rd .;
- the extreme southern point - in front of Mount Takiab (Khao Thakiab);
- four jays in the center; one - at Kondochain; the other three - before and after the pedestrian crossing to Market Village.
All these places have a lot in common, but differ in nuances..
The beach is sandy all along, yellowish refined; in the north - the sand is finer and whiter; in the south, it seemed dirtier, possibly due to the inclusion of black volcanic sand. The beach is clean enough even in «wild» places where there is no infrastructure and beach merchants.
The sea near the coast is muddy, as the frequent sharp ebbs and flows raise the sand from the bottom. But silt, stagnant, wetlands are not noticeable.
The infrastructure is typical: sunbeds & umbrellas, which, if desired, can be stuck directly into the sea; cafe with simple Thai food and drinks (cans, necks, juices); rental of something. And here it makes sense to dwell on the differences.
In the northern part, horse rental dominates, since here, on the beach, their parking is located. Tourists with sensitive noses may not like this place. The horses smell. And the sand near the entrance to the beach is suspiciously damp in any weather. But the northern beach is prettier than others: there are trees in the shade of which you can hide; picturesque boulders scattered along the coast as a decoration and a platform for pictures.
At the exit - a trough with water, where you can rinse your feet for 5 baht. On the way to the beach there is a free guarded parking lot for cars and bikes (there are independent parking in the central and southern parts of the beach), souvenir rows, a mini-coffee shop with good drinks and a tourist police office.
The central part of the beach is the province of kitesurfers. Here, on the way, at least two specialized schools - with European instructors, gear and equipment. The beach also has a volleyball court and boat and water banana rental.
The southern part, near Takiab, is an exotic place thanks to the macaques. The beach strip is wider here, it takes longer to go to the edge of the sea. But along the way, you can chat with «ancestors». They feed on the shore, descending from Takiab, the abode of monkeys. They behave guilelessly and even impudently. Kids frolic in lakes between stones, adults vigilantly watch tourists for food in their hands.
Strange, but women are usually robbed. They can jump and snatch the tin from their hands. Or climb your legs like a tree and grab a bun. In general, it's better to keep your distance and be touched. «ancestors» through the lens of the camera, especially if you are with children. Macaques, I note, are not aggressive, just hunger and ignorance of the Criminal Code pushes them to a crime.
At the water's edge, closer to the mountain, the primates are also in order. Usually they feed on what the sea has sent, and are harmless, even shy.
Entering the water, depth and waves
If you do not check the ebb and flow calendar in Hua Hin (it is available on the Internet, in English), you will be very surprised. The sea sways like a drunken sailor; shies away like a frightened dog. On other days, the water's edge runs back tens of meters, leaving all bathers with a nose.
The bottom is shallow - you get tired of walking in order to reach depth at least to the waist. But during the high tides - and they are also rapid - swimming is very fun. Catch a wave and enter paradise on its hump. Waves knock you off your feet, strive to overwhelm, but the undoubted plus of the Gulf of Thailand is that a large wave does not drag, on the contrary, it beats to the shore.
On calm days, the depth is comfortable for swimming at 7-10 meters. At low tide, you will not have enough patience to look for the optimal depth, and it is almost impossible to plunge, except that «to urinate». At high tides 3-5 meters from the shore - up to the chest, or even on the shoulders of a person of average height.
Pebbles at the entrance are found at the northern point of the beach. In the central and southern - sand.
Sun beds and shade
Sun loungers & umbrellas (50 baht / one) are put up for the day at public access points to the beach. It happens, especially in the northern, most populous part, that there are not enough of them for everyone. Quite calmly, you can sunbathe a savage: whole sections of the city beach are empty. But free shadow can be found again in the northern part, where there are trees. Further, along the entire length, there is no greenery. In the south you can find shade from stones, but not calm - because of the macaques.
Hua Hin Beach Photos
Northern part
central part
South part
Shops and attractions on the beach
The city beach is convenient because civilization with all its delights awaits you at the exit: coffee shops and cafes with good food, shops «7-11», supermarkets, less often - shops with vegetables and fruits, massage parlors. The center and the north are especially attractive, from where you find yourself on a busy highway, chock-full of trade and services..
Two steps from the northern point - street «under the tourist», it runs parallel to the beach. Here European food and beer, decorated like a toy, restaurants, a modest cafe with Russian cuisine, art shops and jewelry stores, Hindu clothing ateliers and real estate agencies.
In a word, a pretty inconsistency. Along it, if you go north, you will find yourself in several cafes of fresh seafood hanging over the sea. In a simpler / cheaper cafe - noisy and crowded, in a more expensive cafe - decorously, noble and quiet.
The central part of the beach is attractive due to its proximity to Market Village. This is the best shopping center in Hua Hin, where you can relax, dine, and stock up on food - cosmetics - clothes.
There is a Tecko Lotus here; fast food playground; a lot of restaurants with Italian, Thai, Japanese, Turkish, etc. kitchen; coffee shops; cosmetic shops; local brand clothing stores; markets for household goods and electrical appliances, cinema, children's playground. Each floor has clean toilets.
In addition to the Market Village, there are a lot of mini-shops, massage parlors, cafes with live music in the evenings on the track..
The southern part, Takiab, is interesting for its proximity to the temple complex, one has only to climb the mountain, and the seafood market. The market is to the right of the beach when facing the sea. This is a short street with a specific smell and a series of shops. In trays by the road - sea reptiles and fish covered with ice. Live in aquariums «food» such as crabs, shrimps and turtles. There is also a cafe where they can, point your finger at, bake a grill.
Mount Takiab is a local landmark. It is easy to climb it, including from the beach. The mountain is entwined with paths, stairs, recreation areas surrounded by lush greenery. Everywhere you will be accompanied «ancestors» - in anticipation of a handout or prey. AND «mountain» tribe, unlike «beach», more aggressive.
So, bypassing a small temple complex, you can reach another on the top - Phra Mae Kuan In, famous for hordes of macaques. (They even erected a monument on the territory.) According to unofficial information, this is a Chinese temple of mercy, built for «those at sea».
But even if you only climb the cliff overhanging the beach, you will get a spectacle: a beautiful view of the Hua Hin seaside. City overshadowed by Buddha.
Houses and hotels on the beach
On the stretch between the main road and the city beach, along its entire length, there are a lot of hotels and occasionally condos. And where they are not, there will be, do not hesitate. You cannot find houses for rent here. This is the specificity of Hua Hin. Hotels - pretentious, for wealthy people like Hillton or Centara .
There is also an outwardly simpler one, but with a high price tag. And the condos, especially the new ones, are tricky. The corner in them cannot be removed on their own: only through intermediary agents. The exception, perhaps, is the Kondo Chain, 5-7 minutes from the beach. True, this is not quite the center of the city, to the south. A free studio apartment can be asked at the reception.
If available, conduct and show. The prices are differentiated, depending on the tourist season. From November to February, the condo is packed with tourists, despite the double price tag. Since March, the condo begins to vacate, and housing prices are falling (from 10 thousand / month).
The village of Takiab is a calm, fashionable and not cheap place. There are a lot of hotels in the vicinity of the beach, with prices above average.
Hua Hin hotels>
I advise you to look for hotels along the beach on RoomGuru, very convenient service for comparing prices in different booking systems. You can also read our article with conclusions about accommodation in Hua Hin and the Royal Express Hua Hin hotel.
How to get to the beach
On foot or by bike, from the main track Petch Kasem Rd .:
A) North point of the beach: on the ring road from the railway station Damnitnkasem Rd.
B) Central part: three jays in the viaduct area to Market Village, before and after it.
C) South-Central: behind the high-rise Condo Chain (you can go through the territory, despite the guard).
By tuk-tuk or bike on the main track Petch Kasem Rd .:
D) South point, Takiab: go only straight, bypassing the road junction, to the final tuk-tuk of Takiab village. Here, continue straight ahead, to the nearest exit to the sea at the foot of the mountain..
Route green tuk-tuk (10 baht / person) runs from the center to the village. Takiab. From the final tuk-tuk to the beach - 10-15 minutes on foot.
City beach on the map
A point in the northern part of the beach is marked on the map, where the entrance to it is, there is the road from the railway station. In fact, the beach begins from here and further stretches to the south, there is no longer any north of the beach..
Hua Hin City Beach Map
Hua Hin City Beach Map:
