Transportation to Hua Hin
The charming town of Hua Hin is situated approximately 195kms from Bangkok. The town is easily accessible and can be reached by a variety of transport options. For those opting to self-drive, it takes about three hours to reach Hua Hin from Bangkok Hualamphong Station. An inexpensive travel option is to use the bus system, which services the town from Bangkok as well as cities throughout Thailand. In addition, train transportation is also available but is slower than the bus. A flight service also links it to Pattaya and Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi airport.
Hua Hin International Airport and flights
Hua Hin Thailand International Airport serves Hua Hin and currently only offers domestic shuttle flight service with SGA from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport. There are a number of daily flights on offer. It’s a rather basic facility, with only a few flights a day, where passengers are spirited away upon arrival and check in can be done 20 minutes before depart. The service offered by SGA departs Bangkok Survarnabhumi Airport at: 10:45, 14:15 and 17:15 taking 50 minutes. Flights back to Bangkok depart at: 12:30, 15:30 and 18:30. More on SGA Air.
Hua Hin train transportation
An easy transport option between Hua Hin and Bangkok is to take the train. Trains depart daily from Bangkok Hualamphong Station for Hua Hin with Express trains leaving Bangkok twelve times daily at the following times; 08:05, 09:20, 13:00, 14:45, 15:10, 15:30 17:05, 17:35, 18:20 and 19:20, with two later trains that arrive in the wee hours. Journey times are between three and three and half hours and it’s a pleasant ride with the sea to your left, often visible, mountains to your right and pretty rice fields and coconut groves in between. The new train station in Hua Hin is located in the centre of the town and the journey from the capital takes about four and a half hours.
Hua Hin bus transportation
Bus transportation is the most inexpensive and practical travel option from Bangkok central. Buses to Hua Hin depart from Bangkok Southern Bus Terminal (across the river in Thon Buri) every 30 minutes. The bus ride takes approximately three hours with many of the buses making several stops along the way. Air-conditioned buses are a bit more expensive but are worth the additional cost and slightly quicker Non-air-conditioned coaches also depart from Bangkok Southern Bus Terminal but tend to be uncomfortable, especially for tourists that have not acclimated to the heat and humidity. Minibuses also depart from the Victory Monument (behind the food court) regularly when the vehicle is full. It’s also possible to arrange bus rides that depart directly from Khao San road en-route to the far south via Hua Hin, enquire with local travel agents.
Hua Hin taxi transportation
Taxis and small private mini-vans can be taken from Bangkok to Hua Hin. This may be a comfortable option but it can be a bit expensive. If you opt to use one of these modes of transportation, negotiate the fair with the driver in advance.
Hua Hin car hire
Car rental is readily available and reasonably priced. Car hire is one of the best ways to see Thailand up close and personal. The road network is extremely efficient although some signs are in Thai only. With the simple use of a detailed map, driving to Hua Hin should prove unproblematic. Getting out of Bangkok onto HWY4 or route 35 is probably the biggest challenge. From Suvarnabhumi airport you can now skirt the southern reaches of the city and cross the river via a new purposely built bridge and highway that meets route 35. The main highway is dual carriage the whole way and pretty straight-forward though it gets busy on Friday and Sunday afternoons and you can expect some reckless local driving habits.
Public transportation in Hua Hin
Getting around Hua Hin is easy. Some of the most popular modes of transport in the city are tuk-tuks and motorcycle taxis, both of which can be hailed everywhere and are relatively inexpensive. Songthaew (shared taxis) are also available, run along the same routes throughout the day and only cost a few baht.
Car hire
Car and jeep hire is a great option for visitors wanting to explore the town and surrounding areas. Car hire is reasonably priced, but make sure that you rent from a reputable car hire agency and check that your vehicle has full cover insurance. There are several private hire companies locally, but quality is always an issue in Thailand and we recommend online booking in advance.
Motorbike hire
Renting a motorbike is a fun way to get around Hua Hin. Rental shops are located virtually everywhere and motorbikes are inexpensive. However, unless you have experience driving a motorbike, you may wish to choose another option as driving can be dangerous for inexperienced drivers.
