If you are coming in a direction from Bangkok, one of the first tourist attractions you will encounter in Phetchaburi is Tham Khao Yoi, a temple built on the foothill of the Khao Yoi mountain that you can see straight from the highway from miles away. At Tham Khao Yoi temple, right at the foot of the mountain, you will find a duo of stairs going up into a cave through 2 Kinaree architectural-style gates and once inside, you will be greeted with a big reclining Buddha statue as well as several other Budda images all scattered throughout the cave that you can walk around in.

There is also a hiking trail up Khao Yoi Mountain which will take you to 2 secluded caverns atop the mountain. One is called Tham Sawan (Heaven Cave) and which takes about 15 minutes to hike to. Even though the entrance to Tham Sawan looks really sketchy with a small but steep metal stair taking you down a small hole, once you are inside, you will be greeted with a small beautiful secluded cavern, perfect for hiding from the heat after the hike. If you continue on along the trail past Tham Sawan, you will find another cavern, but this time, it's much larger and there is a big Buddha image in the middle of it.

Tham Khao Luang is probably one of the most beautiful and easily accessible caves in Thailand. The temple cave is located just north of Phetchaburi City and once inside, you will find a huge cavern with more than 170 Buddha images and stupas all lined up along the cavern's walls as the sunlight shines through from above. It sure is quite a sight to behold and to make the best of your visit.

It is strongly advised that you arrive there between 10 and 11 AM. That's when you will get the best light as the sun should be right above the ceiling hole, creating a beautiful sun ray that illuminates the entire cavern. Tham Khao Luang Cave's opening hours are between 9 AM to 4 PM every day. Once you arrive, you will have to park your car at the temple nearby and pay the ticket for 20 THB for the entrance ticket and 10 THB for a transfer to the cave entrance.

When you arrive in Phetchaburi City, the first thing you will notice is the presence of Khao Wang mountain right at the center of the city and atop that mountain, you will find Phra Nakhon Khiri, a royal palace turned museum that you can go up and explore. To get up there, you will have to park your car and take a light rail at The Light Rail Transit Station on the foothill of the mountain. Once you are at the top, there are several points of interest you can explore.

The main part of the Phra Nakhon Khiri is the residential area which has since been turned into a museum where you will be able to get a glimpse of what it is like to live in a palace back in the day. There are several rooms you can walk around in the residential area and it should take around 15 minutes to complete the loop. There are several places to see atop Khao Wang that you shouldn't miss like the old white castle with a blend between European colonial and Thai architectural styles. There is also an observatory you can climb up to where you will be able to get a stunning panoramic view of Phetchaburi city and its surrounding landscapes.

If you have been traveling in Thailand for a while now, you will start to notice a common trace when it comes to temple names in Thailand. "Mahathat" is often used as a name for temples that are considered to be royal and the principal temple of a city and you can find one in Phetchaburi as well. Wat Mahathat Worawihan is the main temple of Phetchaburi and it is located right at the center of the city just across the Phetchaburi river from the old morning market.

The temple, which was constructed during the 12th and 13th centuries, is made up of a number of pagodas and buildings, the most notable of which are the main 5 enormous pagodas, which are all white and serve as the city's most recognizable feature. It is a nice site to stop by while you tour the surrounding ancient riverbank morning market since you will see many residents visiting the temple making merit and burning incense sticks throughout the day, especially on the weekends. Furthermore, there is free parking available at the shrine. Every day from 6 AM to 5 PM, Wat Mahathat Worawihan is open, and as usual, there is no entrance fee.

Not too far from Wat Mahathat Worawihan and the morning market, you will also find Wat Kamphaeng Laeng and Wat Phai Lom, the old remnants of the expansive influence of the Khmer empire that reigned over this part of Thailand in the 12th Century. Wat Kamphaeng Laeng especially is considered to be the oldest structure in Phetchaburi and although it is pretty small compared to other old Khmer ruins in Thailand, it is still worth a visit if you are interested in the history of this region.

Wat Kamphaeng Laeng is definitely the bigger one of the two but at Wat Phai Lom, you can still make out the beautiful handicraft patterns on its well-preserved facade, which is worth a look if you love history. Both temples are open 24/7 every day and there are no entrance fees for both foreigners or Thais to visit.

If you are looking for a place to relax by the beach, the closest beach to Phetchaburi City is Hat Chao Samran Beach which is just 15 minutes away. There was a legend that King Naresuan the Great and his brother, King Ekathotsarot, fell in love with this peaceful seaside and decided to extend their stay during a short visit. Since then, people surrounded decided to name this beach Hat Chao Samran, meaning the Royal Leisure Beach. The beach was highly popular during King Rama VI period, who had ordered the construction of Hat Chao Samram Palace, which finished in 1918. Today, Hat Chao Samran is a favorite place for tourists who love its calm and beauty.

Chao Samran beach is very popular among the locals here and you will find that it gets really lively in the evening with street food carts everywhere and local families picnicking. The beach itself is not the prettiest or the softest but that makes it also less touristy and with such a wide sandy area, you won't have problems finding a nice quiet place to spend the day relaxing by the beach.

Now if you are looking for a nice area you can stay by the beach, Cha-Am Beach has a ton of great accommodation options for you to choose from as well as other tourist facilities to help you explore Phetchaburi more efficiently. The beach is also better than Chao Samran Beach with soft sand leading up to the sea and plenty of shaded areas for you to relax with a glass of your favorite beer.

If you are looking for a place to spend a few days by the beach in Phetchaburi, Cha-Am is definitely the perfect place to be. Beach chairs are for rent and usually cost about 50 THB per person for a few hours. You can get drinks and food from any vendors by the beach or convenience stores found on the other side of the beach road. Water sports are quite popular in Cha-Am too as you can ride the banana boat or rent a jetski right on the beach. However, renting a jet ski isn’t recommended unless you’re experienced as too many incidents happen.

Did you know that Phetchaburi is home to the largest national park in Thailand? The Kaeng Krachan National Park covers over 2,900 km² along the Tennesserim Hills that created a natural western border between Thailand and Myanmar. It is one of the best places in Thailand to go wildlife watching as the area is well protected and the wildlife population continues to thrive. You can see all sorts of wildlife from birds which are quite common to even black leopard which is extremely rare.

Additionally, you can camp inside the national park, which will increase your chances of seeing these elusive creatures. In Kaeng Krachan National Park, there are 2 campgrounds: Ban Krang Campground, which is open even during COVID, and Phanoen Thung Campground and its breathtaking outlook, which is regrettably closed due to COVID and appears to be closed for the foreseeable future. In addition, the Kaeng Krachan Dam View Point is accessible by car and is a lovely alternative to camping overnight.