TH · Songkhla · 7.21°N 100.60°E

songkhla

Hat Yai's quieter seaside neighbour: old town murals, Samila Beach, seafood.

Best time
February to September is drier. October to December brings the heaviest rain.
How long
A day trip from Hat Yai, or 1 night
Getting there
About 45 minutes' drive from Hat Yai, so many people base themselves there. Hat Yai is about an hour from the Bukit Kayu Hitam border, or about 1 hour 15 minutes' flight from KL.
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TH · Songkhlasongkhla7.21°N 100.60°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Hat Yai's quieter seaside neighbour: old town murals, Samila Beach, seafood.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingSongkhlaTH, Songkhla
KLsongkhla
≈ 468 km from KL, as the crow flies
Songkhla city, Thailand

Photo: Tarik Abdel Monem · CC BY 2.0

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Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

The provincial capital is Hat Yai's quieter neighbour on the coast, about 30 km away. It has an old town of Sino-Portuguese shophouses and street art, a long town beach and good seafood, all at a slower pace than Hat Yai.

Makan

  1. SeafoodFish, crab and prawns from the lake and the sea, especially at the restaurants on Ko Yo.Map ↗
  2. Southern Thai foodRich curries and khao yam, a herby rice salad, at the town's markets and rice shops.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. Samila BeachThe town beach, with the bronze mermaid statue everyone photographs.Map ↗
  2. The old townStreets of old shophouses, murals and cafés along Nakhon Nai and Nakhon Nok roads.Map ↗
  3. Khao Tang KuanA hill by the beach with a pagoda on top and views of the sea and the lake. There's a lift up.Map ↗
  4. Ko YoAn island in Songkhla Lake, reached by bridge, known for its hand-woven cloth and seafood restaurants.Map ↗
  5. Songkhla National MuseumAn old Chinese-style mansion holding art and finds from the south.Map ↗

Good to know

  • A few districts in the far south of Songkhla province are covered by travel advisories. Songkhla town and Hat Yai aren't usually among them, but check Wisma Putra's latest advice.
  • If you're driving from Malaysia, bring your passport, your car's papers and Thai insurance.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.