10 Top Attractions in Songkhla

When people think of Songkhla, the first image is almost always the Golden Mermaid — a dark bronze figure sitting on coastal rocks at Samila Beach, combing her hair. The statue was cast in 1966 by Ajarn Chit Buabut, inspired by the legend of a mermaid who came ashore to comb her hair with a golden comb. When a fisherman spotted her and fled in fright, she dived back into the sea leaving the comb behind. The spot became the city's landmark, and nearly every visitor makes a stop for a photo. It works equally well for families, couples, photography enthusiasts and anyone who wants to stroll along the sea in peace.

The signature shot is the mermaid with Ko Nok and Ko Maeo floating on the water behind her — uniquely Songkhla. The light in the late afternoon is soft and the heat eases off, making it the most comfortable time to visit. Beyond the mermaid there are also cat and rat statues nearby to photograph, the fine white sand beach locals call 'crystal sand', a casuarina forest providing shade, and a steady sea breeze throughout. Many reviews mention that the beach is clean and well maintained; some visitors rub the statue for good luck before leaving.

Entry is completely free and the beach is open 24 hours. Located at the tip of Samila Cape, Bo Yang Subdistrict, about 1 km from Songkhla city centre. The area has seafood restaurants, roadside food stalls, souvenir shops and horse-riding photo services nearby. Foreign review sites consistently rank the Golden Mermaid among Songkhla's top tourist sights, with a Google rating of 4.9.

A few things to know: on weekends and in the late afternoon, crowds build and you may have to wait your turn for a clear photo with the mermaid. The sea on this side can have strong waves on some days — this is a walking and photography beach rather than a swimming beach. Midday sun is intense; bring a hat and sunglasses. For the best light and a pleasant temperature, late afternoon near sunset is the time to be here.

Songkhla Old Town is the beating heart of the city — you can walk it all day without getting bored. The focus is three parallel streets: Thanon Nakhon Nok (along the lake edge, formerly the area of old rice mills and warehouses), Thanon Nakhon Nai, and Thanon Nang Ngam. Both sides of these streets are lined with century-old Sino-Portuguese buildings and Hokkien-style wooden shophouses; many have been restored as cafés, souvenir shops and boutique hotels. It's a natural fit for photography lovers, café devotees and anyone who wants to graze through local food as they walk. The name 'Nang Ngam Road' was formerly 'Nine-Room Road', renamed in 1935 after Songkhla's first beauty queen who lived in this neighbourhood.

The highlight not to miss is the street art scattered across roughly 15 points through the quarter — paintings depicting the life of Songkhla people in the past: fishermen, children at play, old shophouses — plus popular photo spots including a replica Fujian tea-house corner. Worth adding: the City Pillar Shrine, the red Hap Ho Hin Building, Baan Nakhon Nai Museum, and a walk to the lakeside. For food, the options run from Songkhla noodles, tao kua, khanom kra-bok and other local specialities all the way to new cafés and matcha shops — Thai, Chinese and Muslim places mixed in together along the route.

Walking the quarter and photographing it is entirely free; you only spend on food and shopping. Located in Bo Yang Subdistrict, Mueang Songkhla, the three streets connect easily on foot. The neighbourhood is open all day, but shops and cafés are busiest late morning to evening. Weekends attract the most people. After dark, some sections take on a different character when the lights come on in the old buildings.

The quarter is popular because it combines historic architecture, wall art and local food in a single walk. Foreign reviewers consistently praise the well-preserved old buildings and relaxed pace. TripAdvisor ranks it the second best thing to do in Songkhla. On a weekday you'll get better pictures with fewer crowds. Midday heat can be strong — wear comfortable shoes and bring an umbrella or hat.

Khao Tang Kuan is a small hill in the middle of Songkhla city that almost every visitor stops at. Located in Bo Yang Subdistrict, a short drive from Samila Cape, its main draw is the summit: Phra That Chedi Luang, the city's paired pagoda built during the era of the Nakhon Si Thammarat kingdom, alongside an old lighthouse and a red-brick European-style chapel from the reign of Rama V. It suits anyone who wants merit, a view and a piece of history all in one stop — families, couples and solo visitors all find it worthwhile.

The highlight is the near-360-degree view from the top: Ko Nok and Ko Maeo, Tinsulanonda Bridge, Songkhla Lake and Samila Beach all in the same frame at once. Two ways up: the inclined rail lift takes about 3–5 minutes and costs 30 THB for adults, 20 THB for children; or walk the 145-step Naga staircase for free. At the top there's also a love-lock wall where couples make wishes. Most reviews say the view is worth every baht and the atmosphere is quieter than expected.

Entrance by the lift is affordable: adult Thais 30 THB, children 20 THB. The location is in the Songkhla old-town centre, easy to reach. Lift hours: Mon–Fri approx. 10:00–19:00; Sat–Sun and public holidays open earlier from 08:00. This spot remains consistently popular because it is simultaneously a photo landmark, a merit-making destination, and a sunset viewpoint that Songkhla residents feel personally attached to.

A note: large numbers of long-tailed macaques live on the hill and are quite bold. Keep food, drinks and valuables hidden and out of sight — do not hold plastic bags in view. The afternoon gives better light and cooler air. Allow extra time if you plan to walk up the stairs rather than take the lift.

If you're in Hat Yai and want an attraction that combines sightseeing, merit-making and a viewpoint in one stop, Hat Yai Municipal Park on the slopes of Khao Kor Hong is what locals consistently bring out-of-town visitors to. The park covers over 900 rai with a lake, paddle boats, flower gardens and exercise areas — but the real draw is the cable car, which claims to be Thailand's first aerial gondola, carrying visitors up to the summit to pay respects without the slog of climbing stairs. It suits families with elderly members, those who come to make merit, and anyone wanting to store a Hat Yai city view from up high.

The highlight is the gondola ride — about 525 metres, 8 people per car, a quick trip that reveals the full Hat Yai cityscape and a distant view of Songkhla Lake below. At the top: Phra Phuttha Mongkhon Maharaj, a large gilded brass Buddha in the posture of bestowing blessings, nearly 20 metres tall and the city's paired sacred image. Nearby is a Brahma shrine and a white jade Guanyin statue said to be 9.9 metres tall — reportedly the largest in Thailand. Reviews consistently note that the late afternoon is the favourite time: cool wind and a sunset view from the lookout.

The park entrance is affordable. The cable car costs about 100 THB for adult Thais, 50 THB for children, students and those in uniform; foreigners pay a little more. Visitors who prefer not to take the gondola can drive or walk up instead. Located on Kanchanawanit Road, Khor Hong Subdistrict, a few kilometres from Hat Yai city — easy by taxi or Grab. The park opens from early morning until evening; the cable car runs approximately 09:00 to late afternoon.

This spot is popular because it combines merit, views and family activities in one place. Key things to know: the cable car closes for maintenance at certain periods — check ahead before visiting. Weekends and holidays can mean queues. Going in the mid-to-late afternoon gets you the daytime view and the sunset.

Songkhla Central Mosque — full name Masjid Pusat Diyenul Islam — is the white, graceful religious building that many people nickname 'Thailand's Taj Mahal'. It stands on Lopburi Rameth Road between Hat Yai and Songkhla city. What makes it one of the south's premier photography landmarks is the reflection pool stretching more than 200 metres across the front, mirroring the golden domes and four minarets on the water's surface so perfectly it looks as if there's an upside-down mosque beneath. Ideal for architecture lovers, photography enthusiasts, couples seeking pre-wedding backdrops, and families looking for a quiet and peaceful evening stroll.

The unmissable experience is arriving in time for sunset. Nearly every review says the same thing: the golden late-afternoon light and the mirror image in the pool are the highlight — the blue sky shifting shade by shade from about 17:30 until dark, then the mosque lights up at night and the reflection changes character completely. Besides photography, there are fish in the pool — small pellets of fish food cost about 10 THB and children especially love feeding them. Inside, the ceiling of the main hall is high and airy; the floors are polished marble. The wide courtyard outside is shaded and cool, with people using it for evening exercise.

Entry is free and there is a large covered car park directly under the building. Food and fruit vendors, roti sellers and drink stalls regularly set up around the car park. Opening hours are approximately 08:30–15:30 daily, with Friday closed for religious services. As this is an actively used mosque, dress modestly (shoulders and knees covered), remove shoes before entering, and be respectful during prayer times.

The reason Songkhla Central Mosque remains consistently popular is straightforward: it is genuinely beautiful, easy to reach — about 10 minutes by car from Big C Klong Hae — and produces photographs that are instantly recognisable as Songkhla. Time your arrival for the late afternoon to get the image that makes the trip worthwhile.

Klong Hae Floating Market is the south's first culturally themed floating market, located in Klong Hae Municipality, Hat Yai District, Songkhla. The defining feature is real: vendors paddle wooden boats selling food along the canal; customers sit riverside and order directly from the boats. Some stalls pass food across via long lengths of bamboo. This kind of scene is genuinely rare in Hat Yai, and for anyone who wants authentic southern Thai atmosphere — Thai Buddhist and Muslim culture side by side — this is the market to visit. It suits foodies and photography enthusiasts in particular.

The must-try is walking and tasting southern Thai food at wallet-friendly prices: grilled items, noodles, local sweets and a strong halal food section, most dishes costing in the tens of baht. Many vendors dress in vintage Thai costume. On stage there are cultural performances: Manora classical dance, and sometimes Nang Talung shadow puppetry — you get food and a show in one visit. Another detail many visitors appreciate is that stalls serve food in bamboo tubes, coconut shells and other low-waste containers.

Free entry, a wide car park, and a food budget of a few hundred baht covers a full evening. The market is open on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays only, approximately 13:00–21:00. Located opposite Wat Klong Hae, about 15–20 minutes from Hat Yai city centre. Reviews mention large and enthusiastic crowds in the evening, including many international visitors. The atmosphere is lively.

The market is popular because it combines a canal floating market, a land market, affordable food and cultural performances in one place. Key thing to know: this is a Fri–Sun market only. Late afternoon on cooler evenings is the most comfortable; if you dislike crowds, arriving in the early afternoon beats the peak hours. Some reviews note that individual food stalls are similar to other markets, but the boat-paddling vendors and eating by the canal are an experience no other Hat Yai market replicates.

Kim Yong Market is Hat Yai's landmark souvenir market — a stop that almost everyone who comes to Songkhla makes. It's a two-storey market building in the city centre selling everything from food to daily goods: the ground floor is dried goods, sweets and fruit; upstairs and around the edges are clothes, bags, watches, shoes, perfume and imported goods from Malaysia, Singapore and China. It's perfectly suited to people who want to buy all their souvenirs in one place without running between shops. The name comes from 'Chee Kim Yong', the Chinese landowner who originally owned the land, making this a long-standing Hat Yai institution.

The things visitors consistently bring home are nuts and dried fruits — cashews, almonds, pistachios, walnuts and chestnuts at prices lower than elsewhere — followed by imported sweets, chocolates, dried fruit, dates, and processed seafood like dried squid, salted fish and shrimp paste. Stop for a bowl of chicken biryani, hot coffee or tea to refuel mid-walk. The Hat Yai insider tip is to go to whichever stall has the most people around it: fast turnover means fresher stock. Many stalls let you taste before you buy; gentle bargaining is usually welcome.

The atmosphere is a proper market — passageways are narrow and maze-like, and on holidays it's packed and hot. That's part of the charm: a mix of Thai and Malaysian, Chinese and Singaporean shoppers all crammed in together. Free entry with no admission charge; spending depends entirely on what you buy. Google rating sits at around 4.1 from nearly ten thousand reviewers — a reflection of how many people genuinely pass through.

Located on Sane-ha Nusorn–Lamai Songkhro Road in Hat Yai city centre — a comfortable walk from most hotels. Open every day approximately 07:00–18:00, though most stalls hit their stride after 9am. Note: the surrounding streets are congested and parking is very limited. If you're staying in the city, walking or a motorbike taxi is far more convenient. Allow 1–2 hours for a comfortable browse.

If you want somewhere air-conditioned to walk, eat, watch a film and shop all in one place in Hat Yai, Central Hat Yai is the first answer locals give. It's the largest shopping centre in Songkhla and in the south, covering over 250,000 square metres and housing more than 250 brand-name shops under one roof. It works perfectly for families, couples and visitors who want the feel of a modern Bangkok-style mall right in the middle of Hat Yai. First-timers often remark that it's bigger and better-stocked than they expected.

Highlights not to miss: SF Cinema with its multiple screens including an IMAX for blockbusters; the indoor ice-skating rink that children love; and Fun Planet, an indoor theme park for families. The food side covers a food court, well-known restaurants, cafés and dessert shops spread across multiple floors. Most reviews note the mall is spacious, clean, easy to walk through, well zoned and staffed by friendly people — a mall that blends modern retail with the southern Thai eating-and-leisure culture naturally.

Free entry. Browsing alone is enjoyable without spending anything; a meal costs roughly 100–300 THB depending on the restaurant. Excellent location on Kanchanawanit Road, close to the city centre and a short ride from the train station and bus terminal — plenty of parking on site. Open every day approximately 10:00–21:00.

Note: during long weekends and festivals the mall is very busy. Car parks fill quickly and popular restaurants have queues. Going in the morning or early afternoon is more relaxed. This spot is popular because it is simultaneously a meeting place, a shopping destination and a leisure hub for Hat Yai residents and for Malaysian and Singaporean visitors who cross the border regularly.

If you're in Hat Yai and want somewhere relaxed to wander in the evening, the ASEAN Trade Night Bazaar on Chotiwithayakul Road is the spot that locals and visitors keep coming back to. It's a large two-storey indoor market: the ground floor is a long stretch of fashion clothing, shoes, bags, watches, jewellery and vintage second-hand clothes arranged in stalls you can walk for hours. It suits younger visitors who want to shop without blowing the budget, but groups of friends and whole families enjoy it equally.

The food section is the other highlight — a huge range of street food: grilled fish balls, grilled squid, fried chicken, noodles, chicken biryani and halal food. Many reviews praise the friendly prices; buy your food and find a seat in the wide open-air seating area under lantern lights. The atmosphere is open and airy rather than cramped. There are photo spots scattered around and children's rides for families. Some clothing stalls price things on the higher side, but most respond well to polite bargaining.

Free entry. Food and shopping for a full evening costs about 100–300 THB. The market is located near Hat Yai Bus Terminal, open Tuesday to Sunday approximately 16:30–22:00, closed every Monday — confirm before you go. Google rating sits at 4.3 from nearly ten thousand reviewers.

Popular because it combines shopping and food in one place. Key things to know: evenings on weekends are busy; parking is available but spaces fill up fast. Arriving slightly early makes for a more comfortable browse.

If you're visiting Songkhla with children and want somewhere that keeps the whole family occupied for a full day, Songkhla Zoo is what many friends recommend. It's the south's first open zoo, covering 878 rai of hillside terrain on Khao Roop Chang. What sets it apart from most zoos is the location on a hill: you drive or walk through the grounds at your own pace, with a view of Songkhla Lake and Tinsulanonda Bridge as a backdrop throughout. It suits families with young children, couples and relaxed group visits.

The animals are genuinely varied: tigers, white tigers, lions, giraffes, zebras, bears, elephants, monkeys and orangutans. Reviews consistently say the animal show highlights — particularly the sea lion show and the tiger feeding session — are what children love most. Many visitors also enjoy the close-up animal-feeding activities: hand-feeding giraffes, hippos and deer. For photography lovers, the Songkhla Lake viewpoint from the upper area is a popular check-in point with a cool breeze and big shady trees throughout the zoo.

Entrance fee: adults approximately 150 THB, children 70 THB, with an additional 50–60 THB to bring a vehicle in — worthwhile since you can drive around easily. Open every day 08:30–16:30. Coming in the morning is recommended to catch the best weather and make the animal show rounds. Key things to know: the terrain is hilly — if you're not driving, there's more walking. The on-site water park has been closed for renovation at various points; check the zoo's Facebook page before visiting to avoid missing a key feature.

Songkhla Zoo remains a popular landmark because it combines fun, nature education and a beautiful view in one place. A single-day family trip covers animals, shows and the lake view without being exhausting.