TH · Songkhla · 7.01°N 100.47°E
hat yai
The classic road trip north: Hat Yai fried chicken, night markets and shopping.
- Best time
- Any time of year; the heaviest rain falls from October to December.
- How long
- 2–3 days The day-by-day plan: 3 days, 2 nights →
- Getting there
- About an hour's drive from the Bukit Kayu Hitam border, or about 1 hour 15 minutes' flight from KL.
hat yai
Dear group chat,The classic road trip north: Hat Yai fried chicken, night markets and shopping.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingHat YaiTH, Songkhla
Photo: TomMumuPangPangEmma · CC0 Photo: Milei.vencel from Hungary · CC BY-SA 3.0 Photo: Pchaas · CC BY-SA 4.0 Photo: This Photo was taken by Supanut Arunoprayote. Feel free to use any of my images, but please mention me as the author and may send me a message. (สามารถใช้ภาพได้อิสระ แต่กรุณาใส่เครดิตผู้ถ่ายและอาจส่งข้อความบอกกล่าวด้วย) Please do not upload an updated image here without consultation with the Author. The author would like to make corrections only at his own source. This ensures that the changes are preserved.Please if you think that any changes should be required, please inform the author.Otherwise you can upload a new image with a new name. Please use one of the templates derivative or extract. · CC BY 4.0 Photo: This Photo was taken by Supanut Arunoprayote. Feel free to use any of my images, but please mention me as the author and may send me a message. (สามารถใช้ภาพได้อิสระ แต่กรุณาใส่เครดิตผู้ถ่ายและอาจส่งข้อความบอกกล่าวด้วย) Please do not upload an updated image here without consultation with the Author. The author would like to make corrections only at his own source. This ensures that the changes are preserved.Please if you think that any changes should be required, please inform the author.Otherwise you can upload a new image with a new name. Please use one of the templates derivative or extract. · CC BY 4.0
Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.
Southern Thailand's biggest city and the classic road trip from northern Malaysia: shopping, markets and food at friendly prices.
Makan
Things to do
- Kim Yong MarketThe city's busiest market for snacks, dried goods and bargains.Map ↗
- Khlong Hae floating marketFood sold from boats on weekend evenings.Map ↗
- Hat Yai Municipal ParkA cable car up the hill to a Guanyin statue and city views.Map ↗
- SongkhlaA day trip to Samila Beach and its mermaid statue.Map ↗
Where to stay
In the city centre near the markets.
Good to know
- Driving across needs your car's papers and Thai insurance. Sort them before the border.
- Bring your passport and allow extra time at the border on weekends.
Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.