Things to do @ HuaHin and Cha-am
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Here are some must see's in the area...
Santorini Park brings a slice of the picture-perfect Greek island to Cha-Am. It’s got all the details right, from classic whitewashed buildings, colourfully painted windows, down to stone-paved paths and domed towers. An impressive lineup of shops, restaurants and an amusement park promise good times for everyone. This photogenic outdoor entertainment outlet occupies an expansive area just before the main highway reaches Cha-Am Beach. It’s quite an unusual sight, given the whitewash theme and architectural style that sets it apart from its surroundings. Cliff-top views of the ocean and a sweeping beachfront are the two missing elements that would otherwise make this place closer to the real thing.
Village Zone is all about the Greek island’s village architecture and its chilled-out coastal vibe. Wander down the maze of stone-paved lanes lined with two-storey whitewashed buildings and more than 140 shopping boutiques. Rest Area is where you will find a host of fast food outlets, cafés, personal care salons, a petrol station, convenience stores and more souvenir shops.
Opening Hours: Mon - Fri 10:00 - 19:00, Sat - Sun 09:00 - 19:00
Location: Phetkasem Road (198 km. post)
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Santorini Park Cha-am
Thanon Phet KasemSantorini Park brings a slice of the picture-perfect Greek island to Cha-Am. It’s got all the details right, from classic whitewashed buildings, colourfully painted windows, down to stone-paved paths and domed towers. An impressive lineup of shops, restaurants and an amusement park promise good times for everyone. This photogenic outdoor entertainment outlet occupies an expansive area just before the main highway reaches Cha-Am Beach. It’s quite an unusual sight, given the whitewash theme and architectural style that sets it apart from its surroundings. Cliff-top views of the ocean and a sweeping beachfront are the two missing elements that would otherwise make this place closer to the real thing.
Village Zone is all about the Greek island’s village architecture and its chilled-out coastal vibe. Wander down the maze of stone-paved lanes lined with two-storey whitewashed buildings and more than 140 shopping boutiques. Rest Area is where you will find a host of fast food outlets, cafés, personal care salons, a petrol station, convenience stores and more souvenir shops.
Opening Hours: Mon - Fri 10:00 - 19:00, Sat - Sun 09:00 - 19:00
Location: Phetkasem Road (198 km. post)
Cicada Market is all about art, handmade crafts and good times. With an open-air market concept, it brings together Hua Hin’s artistic talents and those who wear ‘freedom of expression’ on their sleeves. Besides the crafts market, you’ll also find an art gallery, beer garden and live music.
Open only on weekend evenings, the market is usually packed with weekenders from Bangkok. It is located on Phetkasem Road, about halfway between Hua Hin town and Khao Takiab.
The market has four sections: Art a la Mode, Art Indoors, Art of Act and Art of Eating. Art a la Mode occupies the majority of the outdoor space and is dedicated to clothes, decorative items, home wear, and handmade accessories. Art Indoors is situated in the art gallery where the bulk of painting, sketches and sculpture are for sale. Housed inside the same building as the art gallery are a handful of shops selling creative knick knacks and souvenirs.
Art of Eating, an open-air food court, enjoys an idyllic garden setting. Find all kinds of savoury snacks, sweets, salads, deep fries, stir fries, all the way to steaks, pastas and seafood barbecues. A separate bar and beer garden offers a good selection of alcoholic drinks.
Part of Cicada Market’s philosophy to help promote Hua Hin as an art destination, Art of Act provides a platform for local art groups to express their talents and creativity. The market’s open-air amphitheatre has seen performances by Hua Hin’s Sasi Dance Group, B Boy, pantomime, music bands and invited artists from Bangkok, such as Koh Mr. Saxman.
All in all, Cicada Market reflects Hua Hin’s laid-back yet vibrant personality. It’s not just another outdoor night market but a place where you can chill out, appreciate art and join in the fun.
Opening Hours: 16:00-23:00 (Friday, Saturday), 16:00-22:00 (Sunday)
Location: Suan Sri, Khao Takiab (on Phetkasem Road)
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Αγορά Κικάδα
159 Soi Hua Tanon21Cicada Market is all about art, handmade crafts and good times. With an open-air market concept, it brings together Hua Hin’s artistic talents and those who wear ‘freedom of expression’ on their sleeves. Besides the crafts market, you’ll also find an art gallery, beer garden and live music.
Open only on weekend evenings, the market is usually packed with weekenders from Bangkok. It is located on Phetkasem Road, about halfway between Hua Hin town and Khao Takiab.
The market has four sections: Art a la Mode, Art Indoors, Art of Act and Art of Eating. Art a la Mode occupies the majority of the outdoor space and is dedicated to clothes, decorative items, home wear, and handmade accessories. Art Indoors is situated in the art gallery where the bulk of painting, sketches and sculpture are for sale. Housed inside the same building as the art gallery are a handful of shops selling creative knick knacks and souvenirs.
Art of Eating, an open-air food court, enjoys an idyllic garden setting. Find all kinds of savoury snacks, sweets, salads, deep fries, stir fries, all the way to steaks, pastas and seafood barbecues. A separate bar and beer garden offers a good selection of alcoholic drinks.
Part of Cicada Market’s philosophy to help promote Hua Hin as an art destination, Art of Act provides a platform for local art groups to express their talents and creativity. The market’s open-air amphitheatre has seen performances by Hua Hin’s Sasi Dance Group, B Boy, pantomime, music bands and invited artists from Bangkok, such as Koh Mr. Saxman.
All in all, Cicada Market reflects Hua Hin’s laid-back yet vibrant personality. It’s not just another outdoor night market but a place where you can chill out, appreciate art and join in the fun.
Opening Hours: 16:00-23:00 (Friday, Saturday), 16:00-22:00 (Sunday)
Location: Suan Sri, Khao Takiab (on Phetkasem Road)
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.
Most of the park is open spaces, with little pockets of trees and greenery dotting the landscape. The nine water slides are grouped together, so you don’t have to walk very far to try them all. Some are built for speed, with long, narrow tubes that plunge straight down or in successions to the pool below, while others go round in circles before spitting you out in one big splash.
From the water slides, you get to the slide pool and lazy pool. Ride an inner tube, or just float, and simply go with the flow. The swim-up pool bar is ideal for quenching your thirst, while the spa pool and fountain pool offer a little break from all the adrenalin-packed activities. The wave pool sends out huge waves every 20 minutes, and the beach pool is, well, like a natural beachfront.
Opening Hours: 10:00 - 17:00
Location: About 10km from Hua Hin. From Hua Hin Soi 56, take the road that winds around the back of the Hua Hin Railway Station and follow the signs.
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Black Mountain Water Park
1 หินเหล็กไฟ 2Black 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.
Most of the park is open spaces, with little pockets of trees and greenery dotting the landscape. The nine water slides are grouped together, so you don’t have to walk very far to try them all. Some are built for speed, with long, narrow tubes that plunge straight down or in successions to the pool below, while others go round in circles before spitting you out in one big splash.
From the water slides, you get to the slide pool and lazy pool. Ride an inner tube, or just float, and simply go with the flow. The swim-up pool bar is ideal for quenching your thirst, while the spa pool and fountain pool offer a little break from all the adrenalin-packed activities. The wave pool sends out huge waves every 20 minutes, and the beach pool is, well, like a natural beachfront.
Opening Hours: 10:00 - 17:00
Location: About 10km from Hua Hin. From Hua Hin Soi 56, take the road that winds around the back of the Hua Hin Railway Station and follow the signs.
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.
Coming from Phetkasem Road, you reach Hua Hin Floating Market first, and Sam Pan Nam is about 1km further on. Both markets embrace a retro theme, with 1920s style architecture and long, wooden boardwalks connecting the shops. Daily cultural shows and boat tours are also offered at both markets.
The difference is the size and type of activities available. Hua Hin Floating Market is not as big but has a more sophisticated ambience, while Sam Pan Nam offers a wider range of activities and goods.
Designed to reflect Hua Hin’s unique history and architectural heritage, Sam Pan Nam Floating Market adopts the same identity as Hua Hin town. The sign posts, railings, roof tiles, folding doors all evoke an air of 1920s Hua Hin. There’s also a replica train station and a miniature tourist train that runs at the back of the market. Although there’s no actual fishing pier, the lake has a few moored fishing boats where you can climb aboard and take photos.
On the front section, red wooden bridges and boardwalks link one island with another, while the lake serves as a venue for boat tours and cultural shows. Shops resemble the shop-house buildings in Hua Hin town, but here they’re only one storey high. There’s a good mix of food, souvenirs and clothing shops – many have branches at nearby Hua Hin Floating Market as well as Pattaya Floating Market. Apart from a handful of snack bars wedged in between retail shops, the food section offers a larger variety of snacks, ready-to-eat meals, grilled meat skewers, seafood, noodles, drinks and desserts.
The floating markets offer colourful alternatives to shopping malls and traditional outdoor markets. You get to experience a little bit of everything, whether Thai food, architecture, culture or shopping. But which floating market to visit? For sheer variety and fun activities, Sam Pan Nam scores much higher points than Hua Hin Floating Market.
Opening Hours: 10:00-23:00
Location: Hua Hin Soi 112
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Σαμ Φαν Ναμ
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.
Coming from Phetkasem Road, you reach Hua Hin Floating Market first, and Sam Pan Nam is about 1km further on. Both markets embrace a retro theme, with 1920s style architecture and long, wooden boardwalks connecting the shops. Daily cultural shows and boat tours are also offered at both markets.
The difference is the size and type of activities available. Hua Hin Floating Market is not as big but has a more sophisticated ambience, while Sam Pan Nam offers a wider range of activities and goods.
Designed to reflect Hua Hin’s unique history and architectural heritage, Sam Pan Nam Floating Market adopts the same identity as Hua Hin town. The sign posts, railings, roof tiles, folding doors all evoke an air of 1920s Hua Hin. There’s also a replica train station and a miniature tourist train that runs at the back of the market. Although there’s no actual fishing pier, the lake has a few moored fishing boats where you can climb aboard and take photos.
On the front section, red wooden bridges and boardwalks link one island with another, while the lake serves as a venue for boat tours and cultural shows. Shops resemble the shop-house buildings in Hua Hin town, but here they’re only one storey high. There’s a good mix of food, souvenirs and clothing shops – many have branches at nearby Hua Hin Floating Market as well as Pattaya Floating Market. Apart from a handful of snack bars wedged in between retail shops, the food section offers a larger variety of snacks, ready-to-eat meals, grilled meat skewers, seafood, noodles, drinks and desserts.
The floating markets offer colourful alternatives to shopping malls and traditional outdoor markets. You get to experience a little bit of everything, whether Thai food, architecture, culture or shopping. But which floating market to visit? For sheer variety and fun activities, Sam Pan Nam scores much higher points than Hua Hin Floating Market.
Opening Hours: 10:00-23:00
Location: Hua Hin Soi 112
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.
From the main street, Plern Wan’s curious looking entrance – a giant structure fashioned from reclaimed wooden planks – is hard to miss. Stepping through the small opening (compared to the wooden structure) is like stepping into a time machine – suddenly, you find yourself surrounded by all things vintage. When it’s crowded, usually at night, the festive atmosphere resembles that of a well-organised temple fair from decades ago.
Food is the main highlight at Plearn Wan. But other than the usual pad thai or grilled meat skewers, you will find a good mix of old and new. Hard-to-find snacks, such as 'tong muan sod' (sweetened pancake) and 'ka lor jee' (similar to Japanese mochi), are cooked up by order at one of the hawker carts lining the walkway along with typical fare such as noodles and barbecued pork over rice. And if you are a fan of Thai sweets, you will find a myriad of mouthwatering recipes here, from mango sticky rice to grass jelly with shaved ice and preserved fruits in sweetened syrup.
Besides hopping from one food cart to the next, shopping is another favourite pastime for visitors to Plern Wan. The collection of one-off souvenirs, toys, clothing, fashion accessories and even a shop selling various kinds of 'nam prik' (chili paste) is quite impressive – even if you don’t buy anything, it makes for quite a pleasurable look around.
Living up to its name (Plern Wan means the ‘joy of yesteryear’), Plern Wan has a fairground complete with a Ferris wheel, game booths and an outdoor cinema where screenings take place on weekend evenings.
For those who can’t have enough of Plern Wan in a single day, check in to Piman Plern Wan, the boutique guesthouse located on the second floor. All rooms are individually decked out in a delightful period style, but they are not cheap and can be noisy during peak season (as the shopping and dining zones are right underneath it).
Opening Hours: 10:00 – 22:00 (Mon-Thurs), 10:00 – midnight (Fri), 09:00 – midnight (Sat), 09:00 – 22:00 (Sun)
Location: Phetkasem Road (between Hua Hin Sois 38 and 40)
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Plearwan
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.
From the main street, Plern Wan’s curious looking entrance – a giant structure fashioned from reclaimed wooden planks – is hard to miss. Stepping through the small opening (compared to the wooden structure) is like stepping into a time machine – suddenly, you find yourself surrounded by all things vintage. When it’s crowded, usually at night, the festive atmosphere resembles that of a well-organised temple fair from decades ago.
Food is the main highlight at Plearn Wan. But other than the usual pad thai or grilled meat skewers, you will find a good mix of old and new. Hard-to-find snacks, such as 'tong muan sod' (sweetened pancake) and 'ka lor jee' (similar to Japanese mochi), are cooked up by order at one of the hawker carts lining the walkway along with typical fare such as noodles and barbecued pork over rice. And if you are a fan of Thai sweets, you will find a myriad of mouthwatering recipes here, from mango sticky rice to grass jelly with shaved ice and preserved fruits in sweetened syrup.
Besides hopping from one food cart to the next, shopping is another favourite pastime for visitors to Plern Wan. The collection of one-off souvenirs, toys, clothing, fashion accessories and even a shop selling various kinds of 'nam prik' (chili paste) is quite impressive – even if you don’t buy anything, it makes for quite a pleasurable look around.
Living up to its name (Plern Wan means the ‘joy of yesteryear’), Plern Wan has a fairground complete with a Ferris wheel, game booths and an outdoor cinema where screenings take place on weekend evenings.
For those who can’t have enough of Plern Wan in a single day, check in to Piman Plern Wan, the boutique guesthouse located on the second floor. All rooms are individually decked out in a delightful period style, but they are not cheap and can be noisy during peak season (as the shopping and dining zones are right underneath it).
Opening Hours: 10:00 – 22:00 (Mon-Thurs), 10:00 – midnight (Fri), 09:00 – midnight (Sat), 09:00 – 22:00 (Sun)
Location: Phetkasem Road (between Hua Hin Sois 38 and 40)
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 boat.
With the train station in place and the northern-southern rail line connecting Bangkok and as far south as Singapore in 1921, the town was gradually built around it. European expatriates would travel from Penang and Singapore to enjoy a seaside vacation in Hua Hin. A road was constructed from the train station to the beach where the town’s first luxury hotel – The Hua Hin Hotel Siam – once stood. The hotel, designed by Italian architect A Rigazzi and operated by the Royal Siamese Railway (RSR), has two storeys and boasts elegant colonial-style architecture with verandahs on either side. Today, it has become part of the Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas Hua Hin and Hilton Hua Hin Resort & Spa. By 1926, Hua Hin was pretty much set to be a popular seaside town, complete with the train station, luxury hotel, two royal palaces (Klai Kang Won and Maruekhathaiyawan) and a nine-hole golf course (laid out in 1921).
Today, the train station has become a popular tourist attraction. Its quaint, East-meets-West architectural style stands in stark contrast to the modern hotel buildings and outdoor malls that have become an integral part of 21st century Hua Hin’s skyline.
Relive the splendour of Hua Hin’s past by combining your visit to the train station with Maruekhathaiyawan Palace, also fashioned in similar style with open verandahs, covered boardwalks and beautiful fretwork details. Better yet, relive the past and take the train from Bangkok to Hua Hin, a journey that takes about four hours compared to 2.5 hours by car.
Opening Hours: 07:00-23:00
Location: Western end of Damnernkasem Road
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Hua Hin Railway Station
พระปกเกล้าBuilt 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 boat.
With the train station in place and the northern-southern rail line connecting Bangkok and as far south as Singapore in 1921, the town was gradually built around it. European expatriates would travel from Penang and Singapore to enjoy a seaside vacation in Hua Hin. A road was constructed from the train station to the beach where the town’s first luxury hotel – The Hua Hin Hotel Siam – once stood. The hotel, designed by Italian architect A Rigazzi and operated by the Royal Siamese Railway (RSR), has two storeys and boasts elegant colonial-style architecture with verandahs on either side. Today, it has become part of the Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas Hua Hin and Hilton Hua Hin Resort & Spa. By 1926, Hua Hin was pretty much set to be a popular seaside town, complete with the train station, luxury hotel, two royal palaces (Klai Kang Won and Maruekhathaiyawan) and a nine-hole golf course (laid out in 1921).
Today, the train station has become a popular tourist attraction. Its quaint, East-meets-West architectural style stands in stark contrast to the modern hotel buildings and outdoor malls that have become an integral part of 21st century Hua Hin’s skyline.
Relive the splendour of Hua Hin’s past by combining your visit to the train station with Maruekhathaiyawan Palace, also fashioned in similar style with open verandahs, covered boardwalks and beautiful fretwork details. Better yet, relive the past and take the train from Bangkok to Hua Hin, a journey that takes about four hours compared to 2.5 hours by car.
Opening Hours: 07:00-23:00
Location: Western end of Damnernkasem Road