Songkhla is two destinations in one. Songkhla city, on a sandbar between the Gulf of Thailand and Songkhla Lake, is an old port with Chinese-Portuguese shophouses, a seaside promenade and some of the south’s best museums. Thirty kilometres inland, Hat Yai is the region’s busy commercial hub, famous for shopping, night markets and food that draws visitors from Malaysia and Singapore. In 2025 Songkhla joined the UNESCO Creative Cities Network as a City of Gastronomy, which tells you how seriously people here take eating.
- Best for: old-town walks, food trips, city breaks, culture
- From Bangkok: about 950 km; flights to Hat Yai International Airport take around 1.5 hours; overnight trains run to Hat Yai Junction
- Songkhla city ↔ Hat Yai: roughly 45 minutes by road
- Best season: February to August is usually drier on this Gulf coast; heavy rain is common from October to December
- Recent news: Hat Yai was badly flooded in November 2025; TAT reports that visitor numbers recovered strongly in 2026, but check that specific shops and hotels have reopened
- Food guide: What to eat in Songkhla and Hat Yai
Safety note: Four districts in the south of Songkhla (Chana, Thepha, Saba Yoi and Na Thawi) are covered by long-running security measures. Check official government travel advisories and local news before travelling to those districts. Songkhla city and Hat Yai are busy, normal tourist areas.
Getting there and getting around
Hat Yai International Airport has frequent flights from Bangkok and some regional routes. Hat Yai Junction is a major railway station with overnight trains from Bangkok, and buses connect Hat Yai with every southern province. The Sadao checkpoint links Songkhla with Malaysia by road.
Minivans and buses run between Hat Yai and Songkhla city throughout the day. In Hat Yai, tuk-tuks, ride-hailing apps and taxis are easy to find; in Songkhla city, the old town is best explored on foot or by bicycle. A car helps for Koh Yo, the lake and the waterfalls.
Top things to do in Songkhla and Hat Yai
Samila Beach and the Mermaid statue
Songkhla’s town beach is a long sweep of sand lined with casuarina trees. The bronze mermaid sitting on the rocks is the symbol of the province, and nearby you will see the Cat and Rat islands offshore. Come at sunset when locals walk and jog along the shore. Map
Songkhla Old Town
The streets of Nakhon Nai, Nakhon Nok and Nang Ngam are lined with Chinese, Sino-Portuguese and Thai shophouses, many restored as cafés and galleries, with murals telling the town’s story. Look for the remains of the old city wall and the Chinese shrines. Map
Songkhla National Museum
Housed in a handsome 19th-century Chinese-style mansion, the museum covers the region’s history and art from prehistoric times onward. The building alone is worth the visit. Map
Khao Tang Kuan
A small hill at the north end of the old town topped with a white chedi and a pavilion, with views over the sea, the lake and the town. Walk up the steps in the cooler hours. Map
Wat Matchimawat
Songkhla’s important old temple has a richly decorated ordination hall with mural paintings showing daily life in the past, as well as a small museum. Dress modestly. Map
Koh Yo and Songkhla Lake
An island in Songkhla Lake connected by the Tinsulanonda Bridge, Koh Yo is known for traditional cotton weaving and lakeside seafood restaurants. The Institute for Southern Thai Studies here runs the Thaksin Folklore Museum, a hillside complex with collections on southern life and great views of the lake. Map
Laem Son On
The tip of the sandbar where the lake meets the sea, with a park, the Naga fountain and fishing boats coming and going. It is an easy add-on to Samila Beach. Map
Khlong Hae Floating Market
In Hat Yai, vendors sell snacks and drinks from boats along a canal in the late afternoon and evening. It is lively and touristy, best visited for a casual dinner; check which days it runs. Map
Hat Yai Municipal Park
A hillside park with a large standing Buddha image, a statue of Guanyin, a Chinese pavilion and views over the city. Festive lights are often set up here around the New Year. Map
Wat Hat Yai Nai
Home to one of the largest reclining Buddha images in Thailand; you can walk inside the base. It is close to the city centre. Map
Ton Nga Chang Waterfall
About an hour from Hat Yai in Rattaphum district, this multi-tiered waterfall is named for a fall that splits like a pair of elephant tusks. It flows best after the rains. Map
Suggested 2-day itinerary
Day 1 (Songkhla city): Breakfast in the old town, walk Nakhon Nai and Nang Ngam roads, visit the National Museum and Wat Matchimawat, climb Khao Tang Kuan, then sunset at Samila Beach and dinner at a seafood restaurant on Koh Yo.
Day 2 (Hat Yai): Dim sum breakfast, Wat Hat Yai Nai and the Municipal Park, an afternoon at Ton Nga Chang if the water is flowing, and an evening at the Khlong Hae Floating Market or a night market in town.
Festivals and events
Hat Yai’s Midnight Songkran in April turns the city centre into a giant water festival that runs late into the night and draws large crowds from Malaysia and Singapore; read our Songkran etiquette guide before you go. Chinese New Year is a big occasion in Hat Yai and Songkhla’s old town, with lanterns, lion dances and shrine ceremonies. After the end of Buddhist Lent (usually October), Songkhla holds Chak Phra or Lak Phra, when decorated Buddha images are pulled through the streets and carried on boats. Loy Krathong (November) is celebrated on the lake and at canals. Dates change every year, so check with TAT.
Practical tips
- Check rain and flood warnings from October to December, the monsoon peak on this coast.
- Dress modestly at temples and mosques; Songkhla has both large Buddhist and Muslim communities.
- Hat Yai is very busy at weekends and Malaysian holidays; book hotels early for Songkran and Chinese New Year.
- Read the safety note above before travelling to the four southern districts.
- The sea at Samila can have strong currents; swim only where locals do and in calm weather.
FAQ
Is Hat Yai safe to visit after the 2025 floods?
Hat Yai has largely reopened, and TAT reported strong visitor numbers in 2026. Check that your hotel and any shops you plan to visit have reopened, and watch for weather warnings in the rainy season.
Should I stay in Hat Yai or Songkhla city?
Hat Yai is better for shopping, nightlife and transport links. Songkhla city is quieter and better for old-town walks, the beach and museums. Many visitors split their stay.
Is Songkhla safe?
Songkhla city, Hat Yai and the main sights are ordinary tourist areas. Four southern districts have long-running security measures; check official advisories before going there.
When is Midnight Songkran in Hat Yai?
It is held around the Songkran holiday in mid-April. Exact dates and venues are announced each year, so check with TAT or Hat Yai municipality.
Keep exploring
- Songkhla and Hat Yai food guide
- Things to do in Satun
- Things to do in Trang
- Things to do in Nakhon Si Thammarat
Cover photo: Songkhla mermaid.jpg · Ahoerstemeier · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
