9 Best Things To Do In Hat Yai: Markets, Waterfalls & Day Trips

Featured image: Dominic Nelson, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Hat Yai At A Glance

Hat Yai is a trade and transit hub in Songkhla Province, southern Thailand. Food, shopping and markets carry the city more than sightseeing does. Songkhla and Ko Yo add culture and lake views as day trips. Most trips fit 1 to 3 days. Arrivals come by air, by bus or van, and overland from Malaysia. Pick a base near the shopping streets and add one nature stop. Rain is the main swing factor from October to December.

9 Best Things To Do In Hat Yai

Entries run from markets to nature to day trips, and each carries one trade-off. Opening hours are hedged because sources disagree.

• 1. Kim Yong Market
  • Kim Yong Market on Supasarnrangsan Road is a daytime market with snacks, dried goods and a connected wet market.
  • Sources give hours of 6am to 6pm and 7am to 5.30pm, so confirm locally.
  • Skip if you dislike stuffy open-air stalls; Central Festival is the cooler option.
• 2. Greenway Night Market
  • Greenway is described as the city's largest lifestyle market, with local brands, snacks and a two-storey food area.
  • Stalls start around 4pm, and ASEAN Night Bazaar across the street opens around 4.30pm.
  • Skip if crowds bother you; Malaysian visitors fill the bazaar. See evening market stalls for more.
• 3. Khlong Hae Floating Market
  • Khlong Hae is reported to run Friday to Sunday only, from about 3pm to 9pm, so verify before planning around it.
  • It is smaller than Bangkok's floating markets, with food stalls and boat tours. Read our floating market notes for detail.
  • Skip if you arrive Monday to Thursday.
• 4. Ton Nga Chang Waterfall
  • Ton Nga Chang is a well-known Hat Yai waterfall, said to resemble an elephant's tusks as the water falls.
  • The hike can be tough, so plan breaks.
  • Skip in the wettest months, or if the climb looks beyond you.
• 5. Hat Yai Municipal Park
  • Hat Yai Municipal Park has hiking trails, picnic areas, a cable car and a temple with views over the city.
  • Kho Hong Mountain Viewpoint is the popular lookout, best near sunrise or sunset.
  • Skip if you want a flat, fully shaded stroll.
• 6. Wat Hat Yai Nai
  • Wat Hat Yai Nai is the temple stop for its reclining Buddha. Judge size claims by eye.
  • Cover shoulders and knees and remove shoes inside, as at most Thai temples. Find other temple stops to pair it with.
  • Skip if you are short on time and prefer markets.
• 7. Ko Yo Island
  • Ko Yo is a lakeside fishing village about 30 minutes from the city by road (estimate). Visit the Southern Folklore Museum and Wat Laem Pho, home to a reclining Buddha.
  • Waterfront restaurants serve seafood lunches.
  • Skip if you only have half a day.
• 8. Samila Beach
  • Samila Beach in Songkhla is known for its Mermaid statue and sunset walks.
  • Horseback rides were listed at ฿150 in a 2025 itinerary.
  • Skip if you want a swim-and-lounge beach; the draw is the statue and sunset.
• 9. Central Festival Hatyai
  • Central Festival Hatyai is one of the biggest malls in the city, near the Niphat Uthit road shopping area.
  • It works as an air-conditioned fallback when it pours.
  • Skip if you want local atmosphere rather than chain shops.

Hat Yai Attractions By Time And Distance

Distances below are estimates built from itinerary sources. Ko Yo sits about 30 minutes from the city by road, and Kim Yong Market is about 30 minutes from the airport. Allow extra for traffic and confirm in your ride-hailing app. Ton Nga Chang, Municipal Park and Samila Beach have no verified times here, so check locally.

Sample Itineraries

Build days in morning, afternoon and evening blocks rather than fixed hours. Khlong Hae is reported to run Friday to Sunday only, so slot it on those days. For late plans, see after-dark options. Food stops are covered in local dishes. Restaurant picks sit in restaurant picks by area.

• 1 day
  • Morning at Kim Yong Market, afternoon at Central Festival or Municipal Park, and evening at Greenway Night Market from about 4pm.
• 2 days
  • Day 1 follows the one-day plan. Day 2 covers Ko Yo in the morning, Samila Beach at sunset, and Khlong Hae if it is Friday to Sunday.
• 3 days
  • Add a Ton Nga Chang hike on a dry morning and Wat Hat Yai Nai in the afternoon.
• Rainy-day swap
  • Trade outdoor stops for Central Festival, Big C, cafés and the Southern Folklore Museum on Ko Yo.

Costs, Hours, And Booking Notes

Our sources supply only one price. Horseback rides at Samila Beach were listed at ฿150 in a July 2025 itinerary. Expect markets and temples to be low-cost, and confirm waterfall, cable car and Wonders Land fees on arrival. Khlong Hae is reported to run 3pm to 9pm, while Greenway starts around 4pm. Check your government's travel advisory for Southern Thailand before booking, since advisories vary by province.

• Check before you go
  • Market opening hours, since sources disagree.
• Floating market days
  • Confirm Friday to Sunday operation.
• Weather
  • Look at a forecast within a week of travel.
• Advisories
  • Read your government's current guidance.

Getting There And Around Hat Yai

Flights from Singapore are reported at about 90 minutes to 1 hour 35 minutes. Confirm the current schedule with the airline, since an older source mentioned 2 flights a day. Our airport transfer guide covers the road into town. Coming from the capital? See Bangkok route options. Land arrivals from Singapore can take about 18 hours by bus. Check train timetables with the State Railway of Thailand. Around town, ride-hailing apps and taxis work for the markets, and getting around town explains the rest.

Where To Stay

Central shopping streets around Niphat Uthit 1, 2 and 3 Roads put markets, malls and massage parlours within short rides. Quieter edges trade convenience for calm, and one boutique hotel was described as about 10 minutes' walk from the centre. Night-market trips are easy by ride-hailing from either. We do not quote rates because sources were dated. Compare areas in where to sleep by area.

When To Visit Hat Yai

January to March is reported as the best window, and October to December as very wet. Night temperatures were cited at 22 to 25°C, which suits Greenway. Verify forecasts close to your dates. Month-by-month planning sits in seasonal planning notes.

Mistakes To Avoid

Most problems come from timing and distance.

• Wrong floating market day
  • Showing up Monday to Thursday means Khlong Hae is likely closed.
• Outdoor days in the wet season
  • Keep a mall or museum backup from October to December.
• Underestimating Ko Yo
  • Treat it as a half day, not a quick stop.
• Ignoring temple dress rules
  • Cover shoulders and knees, and remove shoes inside.
• Trusting a single set of hours
  • Kim Yong Market hours differ between sources.
• Skipping the advisory check
  • Read your government's guidance before booking.

Is Hat Yai Worth It?

Hat Yai is worth it if you want food, markets and easy day trips on a modest schedule. It is weaker for travelers chasing grand sights. Two nights covers the core list. A third night adds Ton Nga Chang and a temple. Read the full worth-it verdict before you commit.