Set up as a government-funded ‘deer research center’ Animal Park has a number of large deer enclosures and plenty of birds, many of which roam around the area. Monkeys are also plentiful with macaques, langurs and gibbons, some caged and some free. A canal system separates a couple of islands where gibbons live.

Baan Silapin, or Artists’ Home, is the brainchild of Thawee Kaesangarm, chairman of Hua Hin’s artist club. This gallery complex exhibits works from Thailand’s artists all year round as well as offering various art courses for children and those who wish to take their love of art to the next level.

Set in a picturesque location overlooking Hin Lek Fai Moutain, Baan Silapin complex contains an art gallery, art studios, classrooms and mud house displaying ceramic art and sculptures. There’s nothing formal or rigid about this place. Its founding philosophy, as a gathering and work place for local artists, fills Baan Silapin with warmth and liveliness. Read More...

Black Mountain Water Park offers a fun-filled day for families and anyone needing a big splash. The park features nine different water slides, a wave pool, lazy river, beach pool, kids’ pool, and more – all set on a vast mountain-hugged landscape fronting a main-made lake just 10km north of Hua Hin. Owned and managed by the same people behind the Black Mountain Golf Course, the water park is the latest attraction in the group’s portfolio. It’s located opposite the golf course, on a local road that passes through Wat Huay Mongkol and Baan Silapin. Read More...

Situated at the bottom end of the Naresdamri Road, this Chinese temple sits before stunning views of the sea. It’s a perfect place to enjoy sunset amid the scent of incense and the enigmatic red light that radiates from the small temple. Next to the temple is an ocean view restaurant.

Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas Hua Hin: Formerly the Hua Hin Railway Hotel, one of the classic hotels of the East, the Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas Hua Hin was constructed in 1923 and has fully retained its old-world charm. Centara Hotels & Resorts acquired the lovely old property in 1985, and with every sensitivity towards its original elegance has extended and upgraded the hotel, which stands on 16 hectares of beachfront land amongst topiary gardens that are one of the great local landmarks.

Situated in the Hua Hin centre between the Petchkasem Road and the railway line, the market basically encompasses one street that comes to life from 18:30 onwards, when traders line the street with their stalls selling various apparel, crafts, art, CDs, DVDS and cheap, tasty food – generally what you might expect from a Thai market. This is by no means the best place to shop in Thailand; you will finder a bigger variety of goods in Bangkok or say, Chiang Mai. However, Hua Hin does have a superb selection of seafood restaurants that line the road that hosts the Night Market, drawing a lot of attention from visitors eager Read More...

Hua Hin Fishing Pier is a popular recreational spot and a viewpoint for watching an ocean sunrise or taking in panoramas of Hua Hin town. It remains the centre of Hua Hin’s fishing trade, although to a much lesser extent than in the past. In the evening, locals often come here for a spot of recreational fishing.

Located at the northern end of Naresdamri Road, which runs parallel to the beach, the fishing pier is a narrow strip of concrete platform jutting out into the ocean. It is an ideal place to watch sunrise. Silhouettes of the boats and their masts provide a nice contrast against the sky’s bright orange Read More...

Hua Hin Hills Vineyard is home to the award-winning Monsoon Valley label and a range of labels marketed as ‘new latitude wines’. Hugged by mountain ranges and endless expanse of greenery, the vineyard offers a delightful excursion, complete with wine-tasting and dining opportunities. Covering an expansive 560 acres of verdant countryside, Hua Hin Hills is tucked away in a remote part of Hua Hin, about 36km from the town centre. It’s best to charter a song-taew and plan to spend at least half a day at the vineyard. You can combine the trip with a visit to Wat Huay Mongkol and Baan Silapin, both are en-route to Hua Hin Hills. Read More...

Built during the reign of King Rama VI, and only a short distance from the centre of town, Hua Hin's railway station and adjacent royal waiting room are undeniably attractive. The brightly painted wooden buildings that are Thai in concept and design somehow manage to have a 'Victorian' feel to them. The story about the birth of Hua Hin as a royal seaside getaway town would be incomplete without a mention of this historic railway station. Back in the early days, there was no road access to this idyllic beach town, and train travel was a new and delightful alternative to get from Bangkok to Hua Hin instead of by Read More...

Just two hours’ drive from Bangkok, Kaeng Krachan is one of Thailand’s most bountiful and ecologically diverse national parks. The park’s 2,915sqm forest area consists of pristine rainforests, granite mountain ranges, waterfalls, caves and a reservoir lake, offering plenty of trekking and bird-watching opportunities. The park features many wild as well as endangered animals, including black-and-yellow broadbills, barking deer, tapirs, Asian elephants, tigers, wild dogs and Asiatic leopards. Read More...

This hill is found 1.5km to the west of Hua Hin. A trip up the steep road to the top provides a scenic view of the town, the beach, the Gulf of Thailand and the Royal Hua Hin Golf Course. There is a small park on the hilltop with trails leading to the various viewpoints. Read More...

One of the quintessential landmarks of Hua Hin, Klai Kang Won Palace is the summer residence of HM King Bhumibhol Adulyadej (Rama IX) and other members of the royal family. Klai Kang Won, meaning ‘far from worries’, is aptly named after the peace and serenity of the surrounding landscape, fronting a secluded stretch of the Hua Hin beachfront. Read More...

Located opposite Klai Kangwon Palace, Panee Butterfly farm is home to loads of butterflies and birds. There are also lots of orchids and local plants. This place is a good change of pace from the beach and educational experience for the kids.

Not just a themed open-air mall, Plearn Wan feels more like a living museum where you can experience a slice of life in 1950s Hua Hin. Plern Wan’s two-storey courtyard-style building, an architectural statement in itself, houses a community of period-style shops selling everything from liquor, inexpensive plastic-and-tin toys, snacks as well as a beauty salon, photo studio, outdoor cinema screen and a 20-room guesthouse or ‘Piman Plern Wan’. Read More...

Sam Pan Nam Floating Market is a large scale market fashioned in the style of middle Rattanakosin Period (King Rama VI). The market’s vast landscaped grounds encompass a large manmade lake, show islands, mini train track, over 200 shops and 40 boat vendors offering all kinds of food and snacks. Tucked in Soi 112, about 6km south of town centre, Sam Pan Nam is one of the two floating markets found on the same street. Read More...

Vic Hua Hin is an outdoor complex dedicated to contemporary art and culture. Its landscaped grounds house an art camp, art gallery, open-air amphitheatre, school and restaurant. On selected weekends, the complex hosts an array of dance, theatre and music performances. Spearheaded by Patravadi Mejudhon, renowned actress, director, playwright and founder of the Patravadi Theatre in Bangkok, Vic Hua Hin reflects K. Patravadi’s continuous effort to create public spaces for the artistic and creative minds, particularly the young ones who will become tomorrow’s talented artists. Vic Hua Hin offers a series of workshops, art camps and performances by local, regional and international artists. Read More...

Situated in the centre of town, this is the main place of worship for locals. Wat Hua Hin has a large community of monks in residence. Head down any afternoon to catch meditation sessions or simply to observe the saffron-robbed monks. Although the temple is not a place to occupy hours of your time, it is definitely worth a look in.