🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
Hat Yai and Songkhla are two different districts in the same province. Hat Yai is the commercial hub — it has the airport, plenty of food, and big malls. Songkhla town sits on the lake, an old town that has held onto its Chino-Portuguese character really well. A lot of travellers skip Songkhla because they assume it's far, when it's actually only about a 40-minute ride away. So this plan strings the two towns together to fit neatly into a single trip.
What does this 2-day trip look like?
Day one stays in Hat Yai: breakfast eats, Kim Yong Market, and the fried chicken and dim sum the city is known for. Rest up in the afternoon heat, then head out to the ASEAN Night Bazaar in the evening. Day two starts a bit earlier — take a minivan or drive to Songkhla, walk Nang Ngam Street mid-morning once the shops are open, have lunch around the old town, spend the afternoon at Samila Beach photographing the Golden Mermaid, then head up Khao Tang Kuan for the view before heading back. If you only have one day, you can cut day one and do just the Songkhla day on its own.
- Distance — Hat Yai to Songkhla town is about 30 km, roughly a 40-minute ride
- Minivan/songthaew — Pho Thong minivans run about 34 THB, the green songthaews about 28 THB, picked up near the Hat Yai clock tower
- Good for — anyone who wants both Hat Yai's food and a lakefront old town in one trip
- Budget per person — food and sightseeing alone run about 600–1,000 THB/day, not counting accommodation
Book the activities in your Hat Yai trip ahead
Booking online ahead on Klook or GetYourGuide is usually cheaper than the gate and skips the queue. Pick only the experiences you actually want — prices and availability are shown live on each site.
Day 1 — Hat Yai: eat your fill before crossing to Songkhla
Eating through Hat Yai's food and markets
Day-one tip
If you're set on going to Songkhla early the next morning, pick a place to stay near the clock tower or Kim Yong Market. You can walk straight to the Songkhla minivans/songthaews in the morning and skip the hassle of hailing a ride.
Day 2 — Cross to Songkhla, walk the old town and Nang Ngam Street
Today is the highlight of the trip. Leave Hat Yai a bit early so you reach the old town mid-morning as the shops start opening. Nang Ngam Street is short enough to finish in one morning, but there's so much food you'll want to take it slow — don't fill up at one shop, graze a little at a time so you can hit them all.
Songkhla Old Town, Nang Ngam Street and Samila Beach
About opening hours
The shops on Nang Ngam Street don't all open at the same time — some open in the morning, some at noon. For example, Yiw Ice Cream and Ban Lee Heng open around noon, while Lert Bakery is open from 7am. Plan your route around the opening hours so you don't show up to a closed shop.
Nang Ngam Street food you shouldn't miss
Nang Ngam Street has been Songkhla's food street for ages. Many shops have been open for decades and have become part of the locals' memory. We've picked the ones still open and still eaten by locals, with prices that are all approximate and may shift a little depending on the season.
Lert Bakery
Egg-custard buns made with real butter — clearly buttery, a popular breakfast and gift item on Nang Ngam Street. Best eaten warm in the morning.
Kiat Fung Beef Stew
The original Songkhla rice-and-stew shop — pork, chicken and offal in a rich gravy, a breakfast plate Songkhla locals grew up with.
Yiw Ice Cream
Old-recipe vanilla ice cream that's been sold for over 80 years, with an egg-yolk topping option — soft, old-style, a dessert that belongs to this street.
Ban Lee Heng
Traditional hand-churned mung bean ice cream, an 80-plus-year-old shop, with several toppings to choose from and old-style hot tea served alongside.
Tae Hiang Iew
A 78-year-old Chinese restaurant, best known for tamarind-stir-fried grouper, bold flavours in the Songkhla-Chinese kitchen style — good for a group ordering several dishes.
Je Ni
MSG-free grouper rice soup with fresh lime — clean, light and easy to eat, with noodles available too. Good for a light lunch.
Tao Khua Pa Juab
Tao khua, a Songkhla local dish of tofu, vegetables, noodles and prawns tossed in a special sauce — a plate that's hard to find outside this town.
Kuaytiaw Nai Ru
A vintage-decorated noodle shop in an old building, best known for pork-bone noodles, with an atmosphere that suits the old town well.
Roti Nang Ngam 111
Roti with a range of fillings, best with the chocolate–condensed milk–Ovaltine one, sweet and rich — a good snack while walking the street.
Lyn's The Shanghai Cafe
A cafe in a roughly 200-year-old building, vintage mixed with modern — good for a break out of the sun while walking the old town. A touch pricier than the shops nearby.
Things to know before you go
- Weekdays are quieter — Songkhla Old Town gets crowded on weekends, so if you can, go on a weekday for easier walking and photos
- Bring an umbrella/hat — both Nang Ngam Street and Samila Beach are walked in the open, and the southern sun is strong, so come prepared for it
- Cash — many of the old shops take cash only, so carry small notes to pay for food easily
- Allow extra time for transport — Hat Yai–Songkhla minivans/songthaews run often, but evenings on holidays can be packed, so leave a little buffer for the trip back
If you only have one day
Cut day one in Hat Yai and run the day-two plan as a full day instead. Leave Hat Yai at 8am, return in the evening, and you can still cover Nang Ngam Street, Samila Beach and Khao Tang Kuan all in one day.
Want a well-located base for exploring Hat Yai–Songkhla?
See the Top 10 Hat Yai hotels →