What is the difference between Hat Yai and Songkhla?

Hat Yai is the commercial city — transport hub, shopping, markets, and hotels. Songkhla is the older provincial capital 30 km away on a peninsula between the sea and the lake — quieter, more scenic, with the old town architecture and fishing culture. Most travellers use Hat Yai for logistics and Songkhla for exploring.

Is Songkhla safe to visit?

Songkhla province itself is considered safe for tourists. The security situation in the far south (Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat provinces) does not affect Songkhla or Hat Yai, and Hat Yai receives large numbers of Malaysian and Singaporean visitors year-round.

What food should I try in Hat Yai?

Hat Yai fried chicken (Gai Tod Hat Yai), khao mok (Muslim-style biryani), roti with curry, and Khanom Chin with southern fish curry are signature dishes. The Kim Yong Market and surrounding streets offer outstanding street food at genuinely local prices.

Songkhla Province Guide — Hat Yai, Songkhla Old Town & Southern Thailand

About Songkhla Province

Songkhla province is home to Hat Yai — the commercial capital of southern Thailand and a major hub for travellers heading to or from Malaysia. The province also contains the twin-sea peninsula of Songkhla city, a charming old town of Sino-Portuguese shophouses wedged between the Gulf of Thailand and the vast Songkhla Lake. The lake itself is Thailand's largest natural lake and an important wetland for migratory birds. Hat Yai is a city of commerce, night markets, and excellent Muslim-influenced food; Songkhla town is quieter, historic, and genuinely lovely.

Key facts

Population: 1,428,609 (2020)
Area: 7,394 km²
Density: 193 / km²
Districts: 16
Capital: Songkhla
ISO code: TH-90
Airports: Hat Yai International Airport (HDY), Songkhla Airport (SGZ)

All 16 districts

Bang Klam · Chana · Hat Yai · Khlong Hoi Khong · Khuan Niang · Krasae Sin · Mueang Songkhla · Na Mom · Na Thawi · Ranot · Rattaphum · Saba Yoi · Sadao · Sathing Phra · Singhanakhon · Thepha

Top Highlights

Songkhla Old Town
Sino-Portuguese architecture, fishing culture, and the famous cat statues
Hat Yai night markets and food scene
arguably the best Muslim Thai cuisine in the country
Songkhla Lake
Thailand's largest natural lake, important bird sanctuary
Khao Nam Khang National Park
caves with WWII history and forest hiking trails

Getting There

Hat Yai International Airport (HDY) has frequent flights from Bangkok (60 minutes) with Thai Airways, Bangkok Airways, and budget carriers. Hat Yai is also on the main southern rail line from Bangkok. Buses connect Hat Yai to Surat Thani, Kuala Lumpur, and Penang. Songkhla town is 30 minutes east of Hat Yai by songthaew or taxi.

Inside Songkhla

Districts (16)

Bang Klam ·Chana ·Hat Yai ·Khlong Hoi Khong ·Khuan Niang ·Krasae Sin ·Mueang Songkhla ·Na Mom ·Na Thawi ·Ranot ·Rattaphum ·Saba Yoi ·Sadao ·Sathing Phra ·Singhanakhon ·Thepha

Mapped in Songkhla

109 places of interest recorded in OpenStreetMap. Coverage is contributed by volunteers and varies by area, so treat these as a guide to what is mapped rather than a complete inventory.

68Temples
14Markets
8Historic sites
7Attractions
5Waterfalls
4Museums
2Beaches
1Family attractions

Named examples

Frequently Asked Questions

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Sources

Facts on this page last checked 1 August 2026.

1.Q235574 — population, area, districts, coordinates — Wikidata (Wikidata), retrieved 1 August 2026
2.Background reading — Wikipedia (Wikipedia), retrieved 1 August 2026Linked for context; no text is reproduced from it.
3.Official provincial website — Provincial administration (Official source), retrieved 1 August 2026

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