A two-sea province with a colorful old town, Samila Beach and its mermaid, the Nang Ngam street quarter, and the border trade city of Hat Yai
Songkhla is a big southern province on the Gulf of Thailand made up of two very different cities. Old-town Songkhla sits between a lake and the gulf, with Samila Beach and its golden mermaid statue being the image most people picture first. The old quarter along Nakhon Nok, Nakho
Start with stays →Fresh seafood and lakeside fish — With both the gulf and the lake at hand, there
Samila Beach and the Mermaid — Songkhla's signature beach, marked by the gold
Samila Beach — The city's signature beach with the mermai
Stays, sights, food and itineraries — all on one page
The best of Songkhla — don't miss these on a first trip
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A ranked roundup plus per-hotel reviews, with prices compared across Agoda · Booking · Trip.com
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Songkhla stays picked from real reviews — honest about the good and the bad, with price ranges and booking links
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7.7Highlights and sights around Songkhla — nature, city and culture
Songkhla's signature beach, marked by the golden mermaid statue and the cat-and-mouse sculptures. People sit in the breeze under the pines, take photos with the mermaid, and look out at Cat and Mouse islands offshore.
A district of brightly painted Sino-Portuguese shophouses along Nakhon Nok, Nakhon Nai, and Nang Ngam streets, with old coffee shops, long-running eateries, and street art to photograph throughout the area.
A trade and food city that buzzes day and night, with Kim Yong Market, night markets, big malls, and late-night restaurants. It's a regular stop for Malaysian and Singaporean visitors who come to sightsee and shop.
Thailand's largest brackish-water lake, with Koh Yo in the middle known for its seafood and local woven cloth. Eat lakeside while watching the Tinsulanonda Bridge stretch across the water.
A low hill in the old town that you climb for 360-degree views of Songkhla, the lake, and the gulf. There's an old chedi at the top and a naga staircase to walk up, making it a popular sunset spot.
A canalside floating market near Hat Yai open Friday to Sunday evenings, with southern dishes, local sweets, and boats selling food along the water. It's where Hat Yai locals come to graze in the evening.
Songkhla's signature food — real local spots, rounded up and ranked
With both the gulf and the lake at hand, there's shrimp, shellfish, crab, and fresh fish. Spots along Samila Beach and on Koh Yo boil, stir-fry, deep-fry, and steam it southern-bold, served with a sea view.
A favorite Hat Yai breakfast. Dim sum shops open early with shumai, har gow, steamed buns, and Chinese tea, and they fill up before the sun is even up.
Gaeng tai pla, khua kling, gaeng lueang, and southern khao yam are everywhere in town, hot and salty-spicy, eaten with steamed rice and fresh raw vegetables on the side.
Tao kuan is a local specialty of rice crackers, fried tofu, blanched vegetables, and boiled egg drizzled with palm-sugar sauce that's sweet with a salty edge. It's an evening snack that's hard to find outside Songkhla.
Hat Yai-style fried chicken, marinated and fried crisp, topped with fried shallots and eaten with sticky rice and dipping sauce. It's a local star that people buy to take home as a gift.
Old shops in the old town make clear-broth stewed beef eaten with bread or rice, paired with strong traditional coffee. It's a classic Songkhla-style breakfast.
Koh Yo, in the middle of the lake, is known for sea bass raised in floating pens. Lakeside spots make steamed fish, fried fish, and local chili dips, eaten with a view of the Tinsulanonda Bridge.
The Hat Yai night market and Kim Yong Market are full of snacks, sweets, fruit, and fried bites. You can graze your way through from evening into the night.
Ready-made plans — from a day trip to 2–3 days, plus routes to neighbouring provinces
Best time to go, getting around, and what to know before visiting Songkhla
February–August, when the skies are clear for swimming and walking the old town; November–December brings heavy rain and strong winds
How to reach Songkhla and get around
What to pack for Songkhla
Songkhla's signature beach, marked by the golden mermaid statue
A district of brightly painted Sino-Portuguese shophouses along
A trade and food city that buzzes day and night, with Kim Yong M
Thailand's largest brackish-water lake, with Koh Yo in the middl
A low hill in the old town that you climb for 360-degree views o
A canalside floating market near Hat Yai open Friday to Sunday e
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🌾A lakeside town on Songkhla Lake — Khao Ok Thalu mountain, red lotus blooms at Thale Noi, rice fields with water buffalo, and the home of shadow puppetry and Manora dance
Explore Phatthalung →
🏝️A southern border town on the Andaman, a UNESCO Global Geopark, the Tarutao–Koh Lipe islands, and a quiet Muslim way of life
Explore Satun →
🛕A thousand-year-old stupa, Ai Khai of Wat Chedi, shadow-puppet cafes, and waterfalls plus the Gulf coast
Explore Nakhon Si Thammarat →
🌫️Thailand's southernmost province — a town laid out in perfect circles, plus Betong with the Aiyoeweng sea of fog, an old tunnel, and Hokkien Chinese food
Explore Yala →Songkhla is a big southern province on the Gulf of Thailand made up of two very different cities. Old-town Songkhla sits between a lake and the gulf, with Samila Beach and its golden mermaid statue being the image most people picture first. The old quarter along Nakhon Nok, Nakhon Nai, and Nang Ngam streets is packed with brightly painted Sino-Portuguese shophouses, old-school coffee shops, and street art that keeps people wandering and snapping photos all day.
The other side is Hat Yai, a trade and food hub that buzzes day and night, with night markets, malls, and a steady stream of visitors from Malaysia and Singapore. Songkhla eats well across the board: fresh seafood, bold southern dishes, Hat Yai-style dim sum for breakfast, and local sweets like tao kuan. People come to Songkhla to stroll the old town, eat seafood, and hit Hat Yai all in one trip.
Best time: February–August, when the skies are clear for swimming and walking the old town; November–December brings heavy rain and strong winds