5 Best Sights in Hua Hin, The Gulf Coast Beaches

The lesser-known Cicada Market near Hua Hin Beach has quality arts and crafts, with products ranging from handmade leather flip-flops to handcrafted Thai candles. Piano and pop concerts add entertainment, and there are food stalls selling international and Thai fares.

This long-established market is a favorite with locals and tourists. Residents come during the day to purchase meats, seafood, and produce; after 5 pm you'll find everything from jewelry and clothing to toys and artworks. The night market also has interesting eats, including Thai kanom (coconut-based sweets), exotic fruits, barbecued meats, and traditional Thai dishes.

Hua Hin's namesake beach is the nicest of those along this part of the coast, but it's also the most popular. Though not as stunning as other Thai beaches, it's a wide, 7-km-long (4½-mile-long) boulevard of golden sand. Vendors hawk food and drink nonstop, but you can escape this parade by booking a relaxing beach massage or taking a horseback ride to less populated areas. Water sports can be arranged at various points. It can get rough and the sea isn't clear, but you can definitely swim here. Amenities: food and drink; water sports. Best for: walking.

Come to this peaceful spot on a hilltop for panoramic views of the city and the Gulf of Thailand. Beware of the monkeys that like to snatch bags and snacks. Roosters and goats also roam this public park.

You'll pass rice fields, sugar palms, pineapple plantations, and crab farms as you make your way to this park south of Hua Hin, the gloriously named "300 Peaks." It has two main trails and is a great place to spot wildlife, especially monitor lizards and barking deer. With a little luck you might even see the adorable dusky langur in a treetop, a monkey known for the white circles around its eyes. About a kilometer (½ mile) from the park's headquarters is Khao Daeng Hill, which is worth a hike up to the viewpoint, especially at sunrise. Another 16 km (10 miles) from the headquarters is Haad Laem Sala, a white-sand beach. A steep 20-minute hike from the beach is Phraya Nakhon Cave, visited by three Thai kings for its tiny, gold-blue pavilion that features a pink curtain. Enveloped in a contemplative hush, the mystical cave with inscriptions from two kings has an opening in its roof, where sunlight shines through for a beautiful effect. Visit between 10:30 and 11 am, when sun rays fall on the evergreen trees that frame the pavilion. If you don't have a car or scooter, you'll have to take the bus to Pranburi, a 30-kilometer journey from Hua Hin. From here you take a songthaew to the park.