🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
If you come to Hat Yai and sleep in a little, the stretch between a late lunch and the Kim Yong market buzzing in the evening usually leaves you with free time to wander. Street art and the 3D museum fit this window perfectly, because they're right in town — a short walk or a quick Grab ride away — and most of it needs no advance booking. You just walk and take photos until it's time to eat.
Hat Yai Street Art — Following the Walls Through the Old Town
Hat Yai City Municipality runs the Hat Yai Street Art project, painting murals across the walls and old buildings in the town centre — dozens of spots in all, clustered around the old community district near Chue Chang Temple, Saeng Si Road and the small lanes that connect them on foot. Many of the pieces tell Hat Yai's own story: the steam locomotive of Hat Yai Junction, the crested bulbuls that southerners love to keep, and a vendor pulling tea. Some spots even have AR you can scan to see the image move.
The nice part is that every spot is free — you can walk and shoot all day with no entry fee. It's best in the early morning or late afternoon when the sun isn't harsh. Most of it is within walking distance of the downtown hotel district, and if you start from Chue Chang Temple and loop through the lanes, you'll find paintings along the way, like a little treasure hunt.
- Chue Chang Temple area — a good starting point. This Chinese temple in the town centre has a pretty shrine you can photograph, then walk out and find murals on the walls around it.
- Saeng Si Road and the surrounding lanes — several pieces you can walk between, ranging from scenes of Hat Yai life to fun ones you can pose with.
- Highlight pieces — the Hat Yai Junction locomotive, the crested bulbul, and the tea-pulling vendor are the most-photographed.
- AR codes — some spots have a code you can scan to watch the image animate on your phone. Look for the sign beside the painting.
Photo tip
Hat Yai's midday sun is strong and hot. Street art photographs best in the early morning before 10am or after 3pm, when the light is softer and you won't be drenched in sweat. Wear comfortable walking shoes — you'll be looping through the lanes a fair bit.
Want more out of Hat Yai? Book tours & activities
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.
Magic Eye Museum — 3D Painting Museum
Magic Eye Museum is Hat Yai's first 3D painting museum. It uses trompe l'oeil techniques, painting on the walls and floors so they look like they have real depth — and when you take a photo, you become part of the scene: falling off a cliff, swimming with sharks, or standing in an underwater world. It's great for families or groups of friends, since the more people you have, the more fun the poses get. It's laid out in several zones, including underwater, an ice world, Egypt, and classic art.
Location
414 Kanchanavanit Road (Greenway Market zone, near the Khlong Rian three-way junction), Hat Yai district. A few minutes by Grab from the town centre.
Opening hours
Open daily from around 9am onwards. Allow 1–2 hours to walk and shoot every zone.
Ticket price
Thai adults around 200 THB, children around 150 THB; foreigners pay more. Children under 100 cm and seniors usually enter free. Double-check on site.
Who it's for
Families with kids, groups of friends, or couples who want fun photos — and it's a good place to escape the sun or rain during the day.
Straight talk
The museum's ticket prices and closing time can change with the season. Some sources list a 5.30–6.00pm close, while at other times it stays open later. Before you go, call to check or look at the latest page, and give yourself at least 1–2 hours before closing so you can walk every zone without rushing.
Want More Street Art? Head to Songkhla Old Town
If you're hooked on street art and have a half-day to a full day, Songkhla Old Town is where many people say there are more paintings and a better atmosphere than in Hat Yai itself. It's about a 30–40 minute drive or ride from Hat Yai, with murals spread along Nang Ngam Road, Nakhon Nai Road, and Nakhon Nok Road, paired with century-old Sino-Portuguese buildings. There's also the Songkhla National Museum, set in an old Chinese mansion, worth a stop. It makes an easy day trip on from Hat Yai.
Want a half-day Hat Yai plan that mixes photos with a meal? Check out the full Hat Yai city guide.
See the Hat Yai travel guide →A Daytime Walking Route — Shoot First, Then Eat and Shop
To give you a sense of how to thread the street art and the museum together with your meals and the shopping district, here are two options to choose from depending on your time. Both keep the pace easy and uncrowded.
Street-art walk + a meal (morning–afternoon)
Hat Yai + Songkhla Old Town (morning–evening)
Getting around town
Within Hat Yai itself, the street-art spots are walkable. For Magic Eye and Songkhla, use Grab or hire a car / motorbike taxi. If there are several of you, chartering a songthaew or van to Songkhla works out cheaper and more flexible than waiting on public transport.