Mrigadayavan Palace, Hua Hin — King Rama VI's Golden-Teak Seaside Summer Palace · Fee, Hours, Dress Code, How to Get There · 2026 Guide

Get to know it

What Mrigadayavan Palace is — and why it's worth the trip from Hua Hin

Let us be honest: if you have half a day out of central Hua Hin, Mrigadayavan Palace (Maruekhathaiyawan Palace) is the place we'd send you first. It is a golden-teak seaside palace built for King Vajiravudh, King Rama VI, in 1923–1924 as his summer residence in the later years of his reign. It stands in the grounds of Camp Rama VI in Cha-am, Phetchaburi province, sitting right on the shore between Cha-am and Hua Hin.

What makes it special is that the whole palace is built of golden teak, raised high on concrete pillars to let the sea breeze pass underneath and keep the damp out. Its roughly 16 pavilions are linked by long wooden corridors you can walk right through, designed by the Italian architect Ercole Manfredi to King Rama VI's own brief. Step inside and you feel at once why it stays so open and cool even though it sits right by the sea.

Ever had this happen — a historic site that looks lovely but is hot and tiring to walk? Mrigadayavan is the opposite, because it is a shaded seaside palace that is easy and quiet to wander. You stroll the teak rooms, stand at the end of a corridor to catch the sea breeze, then carry on along the beach in front. People call it the 'palace of love and hope', and once you see it in person, the name makes sense.

Mrigadayavan Palace, Hua Hin — golden-teak pavilions raised on stilts and linked by long corridors, King Rama VI's seaside palace — Mrigadayavan Palace — golden-teak pavilions raised on stilts to catch the sea breeze, linked by long open corridors: King Rama VI's seaside palace

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Character

Golden-teak seaside palace

~16 stilted teak pavilions linked by corridors

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History

Built 1923–1924

King Rama VI's seaside summer residence

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Location

Cha-am, Phetchaburi

Between Cha-am & Hua Hin · ~20–30 min drive

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Entry

Adults around ฿90

Upper teak floor +฿316 · check the rate on site

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Opening days

Fri–Sun, 9am–4pm

Closed Mon–Wed · schedule can change, check first

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Dress code

Modest · cover shoulders & knees

Sarongs/wraps to borrow or rent at the entrance

How it feels when you arrive

The feel of the palace — teak rooms, sea breeze, and a rare quiet

This is one of the easiest cultural sights in Hua Hin to walk — stroll the golden-teak rooms, stand at the end of a corridor for the sea breeze, then carry on to the beach in front.

The appeal of Mrigadayavan is that it is not a grand stone palace meant to overawe — it is warm, wooden and shaded. As you step onto the teak floors they creak softly underfoot, the sea breeze drifts in through the shutters, and light falls through the fretwork in pretty shapes on the boards. It is far quieter than the sights in town, so you can walk slowly, take your photos and soak up the mood. Who it suits is below.

1

History and architecture lovers

Heritage lovers · Teak architecture · Royal history

If you love the past and old woodwork, this is one of Thailand's most complete teak palaces — every pavilion is stilted golden teak linked by corridors, and you can wander for hours without tiring of it. Pair the trip with the Hua Hin Railway Station, another building from the Rama VI era. See every Hua Hin sight at the Hua Hin attractions guide.
2

Anyone after a good photo

Photo spot · Golden teak · Sea light

Mrigadayavan is one of Hua Hin's best-known photo spots — pale golden teak against the sky, long corridors that frame the shot, and soft morning light. Go early for the best light and the fewest people. Dress modestly, covering shoulders and knees, since it is a royal site.
3

Families and easy-going days

Easy walk · Shaded · Family-friendly

Because it is stilted timber with shaded corridors, it is easy to walk and mostly out of the sun, which suits families and anyone who doesn't want a tiring day. An hour or two covers it, and you can carry on to the beach in front or to the Monsoon Valley Vineyard on the same route.
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People planning a day-trip around Hua Hin

Day-trip base · Cha-am side · Beach + culture

Mrigadayavan is on the Cha-am side, so it fits a day-trip heading north from Hua Hin — the palace, Cha-am beach, then the vineyard, all in one day. Plan the whole route at the Hua Hin day-trips guide. As it sits in Phetchaburi, read more about the province at the Phetchaburi guide.

What to see

The key parts of the palace — easy to cover in half a day

🏛️ The stilted golden-teak pavilions

The heart of the palace is a cluster of about 16 golden-teak pavilions, raised high on concrete pillars and linked by long wooden corridors, divided into the king's quarters, the inner residence and the audience areas. Floors and walls are all teak, with shutters and louvres designed to let the sea breeze pass through all day. The century-old timber means you should walk gently and remove your shoes in some areas — follow the marked route and an hour or two covers the whole thing.

🌬️ The long open corridors and the seaside pavilion

What most people remember is the long, airy wooden corridors that link the pavilions — you can walk the whole palace without stepping into the sun, and they lead out to a pavilion and wooden bridge reaching toward the sea. That is the best spot to stand in the breeze and take your photos. Morning light is soft and the crowds are thin, so leave time to stand still for a moment at the end of a corridor, listening to the waves and the sea wind — it is the moment that explains why people call this the 'palace of love and hope'.

🌊 The beach in front and the shaded gardens

In front of the palace is a quiet beach you can carry on to after your visit, with shaded mature gardens around the pavilions. When the flame trees are in bloom their orange-red flowers make a lovely contrast with the teak. The whole feel is quiet and unhurried, ideal for a slow walk, photos and a rest. If you want a longer stretch of sand, Hua Hin beach in town is not far south.

🎫 Tickets and going up to the upper floor

Admission to the palace grounds is around ฿90 for adults, with lower rates for university and school students, while young children, monks and seniors usually enter free. To go up to the upper floor of the teak pavilions, there is an extra fee of about ฿316 per person — all of these prices can change, so check the current rate at the ticket desk before you go in. There is a spot to borrow or rent sarongs and wraps at the entrance if you are not covered enough.

The pavilions of Mrigadayavan Palace among lawns and mature trees — a quiet, shaded seaside teak palace in Cha-am, Phetchaburi — The pavilions of Mrigadayavan among lawns and mature trees — a quiet, shaded seaside teak palace in Cha-am, Phetchaburi

Make the most of it

Tips before you go to Mrigadayavan — go early, dress modestly, check the days

A century-old teak palace that only opens on certain days — a little preparation lets you enjoy it fully and avoid a wasted trip.

🕘 Open only on certain days — check before you travel

The most important thing is that Mrigadayavan is not open every day. It is generally open Friday to Sunday, around 9am to 4pm. Thursdays are usually reserved for school and university groups who book ahead, and it is closed Monday to Wednesday. The schedule can change for holidays or special events, so check the current opening days and hours before you travel, and go in the morning for softer light and fewer people than the afternoon.

👗 Dress modestly and bring slip-off shoes

As a royal site, dress modestly, covering shoulders and knees. Women should avoid sleeveless tops and short shorts, and men should avoid shorts above the knee. If you are not covered enough, there are sarongs and wraps to borrow or rent at the entrance. Because you walk on the wooden buildings, some areas ask you to remove your shoes, so slip-off shoes are much easier — and tread gently to help protect the old teak.

📸 Time it and pair the trip

Allow about 1 to 2 hours to walk the full set of pavilions and take your photos. Since the palace is on the Cha-am side, it pairs neatly with a day-trip heading north — the palace, Cha-am beach, then the Monsoon Valley Vineyard, or back into Hua Hin town. Plan the whole route at the Hua Hin day-trips guide. The best time to visit is the cool, dry season (Nov–Feb) — see the detail at the best time to visit Hua Hin guide.

Where to stay nearby

Where to stay for Mrigadayavan — the Cha-am side or central Hua Hin

The palace sits between Cha-am and Hua Hin, so you have two bases — the Cha-am / north-beach side, quiet and closest to the palace, or central Hua Hin, where everything is walkable.

The upside of this location is that Mrigadayavan sits right in the middle, so either side is a short drive. If you want a quiet beachfront resort closest to the palace, the Cha-am / north Hua Hin beach side is the answer — plenty of seafront resorts, a calm mood, and ideal for a proper rest, though you'll drive into Hua Hin town for late-night food or markets.

If you'd rather have the convenience of walking to the night market, the beach and the train station, stay in central Hua Hin and drive or Grab up to Mrigadayavan in about 20 to 30 minutes on the day you visit. We don't single out specific hotels on this page, but we've gathered the options with genuinely strong review scores to compare at the link below. See the full picture of every area before you book at the Hua Hin where-to-stay guide.

Top 10 hotels in Hua Hin

Town and the Cha-am side, ranked by real review scores — compare before you decide

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Which area to stay in Hua Hin?

A guide to choosing a base — town, north beach toward Cha-am, Khao Takiab, or Pranburi

Getting to Mrigadayavan Palace

Mrigadayavan sits in the grounds of Camp Rama VI on the Cha-am side, about 12 to 20 km north of central Hua Hin, roughly a 20 to 30-minute drive. There is no public transport that goes right to the palace gate, so the easiest way is to drive yourself, take a taxi, or call a Grab — Hua Hin has no BTS, MRT or skytrain like Bangkok, so getting around is mostly by car.

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Drive / car hire

~20–30 min from Hua Hin

Easiest · parking inside the grounds · turn into Camp Rama VI

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Taxi / Grab

Hail it from town

Grab works but supply is limited and you may wait · arrange the ride back

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Rent a scooter

Popular for DIY trips

Up the Phetkasem road · wear a helmet, carry a licence

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Hua Hin–Cha-am songthaew

Drops near the camp gate

Cheap but you walk in · timing unreliable · agree the fare first

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Coming from Bangkok

Train/van to Hua Hin first

Arrive at Hua Hin, then take a car up to the palace

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Timing

Go early · allow 1–2 hr

Open Fri–Sun only · check the day and your return ride first

Getting-around tip for Hua Hin: Hua Hin has no BTS, MRT or metro — but it does have the Southern Line train and the Hua Hin station, which is a landmark in its own right. Reaching Mrigadayavan is mostly by car, so if you are not driving, arrange your taxi or transfer to wait and bring you back, as rides are harder to find by the camp than in town, and Grab supply is limited. Read the full local transport rundown at the getting around Hua Hin guide, and how to arrive from Bangkok at the getting to Hua Hin guide.

Plan your visit

Fitting Mrigadayavan into your trip — half a day, or a full day-trip

⏱️ Half-morning (~3 hours · morning-focused)

8:30 — Leave Hua Hin heading north, driving or Grabbing about 20 to 30 minutes to Mrigadayavan (check it's open, Fri–Sun)
9:00 — Buy your ticket and walk the teak pavilions and long corridors in the soft morning light
10:30 — Stand at the end of a corridor for the sea breeze, take photos, then stroll the beach in front
11:30 — Head back into Hua Hin town, or carry on to the Monsoon Valley Vineyard on the same route

🌇 Make it a Cha-am-side day-trip

Because the palace is on the Cha-am side, it strings into a fine day-trip heading north:
Morning — See Mrigadayavan in the early light, before the crowds
Midday — Walk the beach on the Cha-am side and have a seafood lunch by the water
Afternoon — Carry on to the Monsoon Valley Vineyard for a tasting and the hill views
Evening — Head back into Hua Hin town for the night market

See the full set of day-trips around Hua Hin at the day-trips guide, and plan the whole trip at the Hua Hin 2-day itinerary.

The corridors and golden-teak pavilions of Mrigadayavan Palace — the start of a half-day seaside-palace trip from Hua Hin — The golden-teak pavilions and long corridors of Mrigadayavan — start a half-day trip here in the morning, then carry on to the beach and vineyard on the Cha-am side

Frequently asked questions

FAQ · Mrigadayavan Palace

Where is Mrigadayavan Palace, and how far is it from Hua Hin?

Mrigadayavan Palace sits inside the grounds of Camp Rama VI in Cha-am, Phetchaburi province, between Cha-am and Hua Hin right by the sea. It is about 12 to 20 km north of central Hua Hin, roughly a 20 to 30-minute drive. There is no public transport that goes right to the palace gate, so the easiest way is to drive yourself, take a taxi, or call a Grab. A Hua Hin–Cha-am songthaew can drop you near the camp entrance, but you still have to walk in and the timing is unreliable, so allow time for the return trip too. See all transport options at the getting around Hua Hin guide.

How much is entry to Mrigadayavan Palace?

Admission to the palace grounds is around ฿90 for adults, with lower rates for university and school students, while young children, monks and seniors usually enter free. If you want to go up to the upper floor of the teak pavilions, there is an extra fee of about ฿316 per person. Prices can change, so check the current rate at the ticket desk before you go in.

What days is Mrigadayavan Palace open?

It is generally open Friday to Sunday, around 9am to 4pm. Thursdays are usually reserved for school and university groups who book ahead, and it is closed Monday to Wednesday. The schedule can change for holidays or special events, so check the current opening days and hours before you travel, and go in the morning for softer light and fewer people than the afternoon.

What is the dress code for Mrigadayavan Palace?

As a royal site, modest dress is required, covering the shoulders and knees. Women should avoid sleeveless tops and short shorts, and men should avoid shorts above the knee. The palace has sarongs and wraps to borrow or rent at the entrance if you are not covered enough. Wear shoes that slip off easily, as some areas ask you to remove them before stepping onto the wooden buildings, and tread gently to help protect the century-old teak.

Why is Mrigadayavan known as the palace of love and hope?

The name Mrigadayavan comes from the deer park at Sarnath in India where the Buddha gave his first sermon, and it means "forest of the deer". King Rama VI chose the name and intended the palace to be a seaside retreat full of love and hope, so people came to call it the palace of love and hope. It was his summer residence in the later years of his reign, built entirely of golden teak and raised on stilts to catch the sea breeze, which gives it its uniquely airy, shaded feel.

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