In Hat Yai city
Night markets and street food
Food is the reason many people come to Hat Yai. Evenings belong to the markets:
- ASEAN Night Bazaar — clothes, souvenirs and food stalls, open in the evening (roughly 16:30–22:00) and usually closed on Mondays.
- Greenway Night Market — a big evening food market popular with locals and visitors. Opening days vary; check before you go.
- Kim Yong and Santisuk markets — daytime markets in the city centre, famous for snacks, dried fruit, nuts and imported goods. Kim Yong was still recovering from the November 2025 floods in early 2026, so check that your favourite shops are open.
Read more in our Hat Yai night markets and food guide.
Temples and viewpoints
- Wat Hat Yai Nai — home to a huge reclining Buddha, around 35 metres long.
- Hat Yai Municipal Park — a hillside park with the stainless-steel Phra Maha Chedi Tripob Trimongkol, a standing Buddha and wide views over the city. A cable car runs up the hill (around 200 THB for foreign adults); check that it is operating before you go.
Day trips from Hat Yai
Ton Nga Chang Waterfall
A seven-tier waterfall in the forest of the Ton Nga Chang Wildlife Sanctuary, about 26 km from Hat Yai (roughly 40 minutes by car). It is at its best in the rainy season, from about June to November, and can be just a trickle in March–April. The entrance fee for foreign visitors is around 200 THB. Full details in our Ton Nga Chang waterfall guide.
Songkhla old town and Samila Beach
Songkhla, about 30 km from Hat Yai, is the provincial capital and a calm contrast to the busy city: Sino-Portuguese shophouses in the old town, murals, cafés and the long Samila Beach with its famous mermaid statue. Across the lake, Ko Yo island is known for local weaving and seafood restaurants.
Khlong Hae Floating Market
An evening market on a canal on the edge of Hat Yai, open on Fridays, weekends and public holidays from the afternoon until about 21:00. Vendors cook and sell from small boats — come hungry.
Koh Lipe via Pak Bara
Koh Lipe, the small island paradise in the Andaman Sea, is reached from Pak Bara pier in Satun province — about 2 to 2.5 hours by car from Hat Yai, then 1–2 hours by speedboat. Pak Bara is the only route that runs all year round. See how to get from Hat Yai to Koh Lipe. We can drive you to Pak Bara with our car-with-driver service.
Closer to home: around Uma Valley
Some of our guests barely leave the garden — and we understand why. At Uma Valley you can:
- have breakfast in the open-air dining room overlooking the lotus lake;
- sit on the wooden deck at sunset and listen to the frogs;
- walk through the coconut palms with our gentle rescue dogs;
- watch the little waterfall and its island light up in the evening.
Sadao district itself is quiet countryside of rubber and fruit plantations. The Malaysian border at Danok is within easy reach if you plan a short trip south.
When to go
Southern Thailand has its own weather pattern. The driest months in Hat Yai are roughly January to early April. The heaviest rains usually fall from October to December, and in November 2025 Hat Yai experienced severe flooding. If you travel in the rainy season, keep your plans flexible — and enjoy the waterfalls at their most powerful.
Plan your days with us
We are always happy to help you plan: where to eat, which market is open today, how to get to the islands. With our car with driver on request, day trips are easy and relaxed.
Quick answers
How many days do you need in Hat Yai?
Two to three days is enough for the markets, temples and food of Hat Yai plus one day trip — to Ton Nga Chang waterfall or Songkhla. Add a few days if you continue to Koh Lipe via Pak Bara.
What is the best time to visit Hat Yai?
The driest months are roughly January to early April. October to December is the heaviest rainy season, when flooding is possible, while waterfalls such as Ton Nga Chang are at their fullest in the rainy months.
Is Hat Yai worth visiting?
Yes, especially if you enjoy food, markets and easy day trips. It is also the gateway to Songkhla, the Satun islands (Koh Lipe) and the Malaysian border.
Prices, timetables and opening hours change often — please check before you travel.
