Thailand’s Gulf Islands · Historic town
Songkhla
Songkhla is a historic Sino-Portuguese old town and beach city on the Gulf coast, a short shared-van or ride-hail trip from the larger hub of Hat Yai.
Overview
Overview
Songkhla is a historic Sino-Portuguese old town and beach city on the Gulf coast, a short shared-van or ride-hail trip from the larger hub of Hat Yai.
The Pho Thong shared van from Hat Yai Bus Terminal (gate 14) is a budget, fixed-route option; a Grab or maxim ride-hail car offers direct door-to-door transport instead — confirm current fares before travel.
Experience
What it's like
Things to do
- In-town sightseeing — The Old Town's heritage streets, starting around Nang Ngam Road, are lined with Sino-Portuguese shophouses and suit a walking visit. Samila Beach, with its iconic golden mermaid statue on a rock near the BP Samila hotel, is Songkhla's most photographed spot.
- Hilltop viewpoints — Khao Tung Kuan's 1897 lighthouse offers a clear-day view over the Thale Sap and the offshore Cat and Mouse Islands. Wat Saket, a separate hilltop temple reachable on foot or by funicular, offers panoramic views of Songkhla Lake instead.
Plan your visit
Plan your visit
Getting there & around
Getting there
From Hat Yai, the Pho Thong shared van runs from Hat Yai Bus Terminal (gate 14) to Songkhla's bus terminal as a budget, fixed-route option. A Grab or maxim ride-hail car offers direct, private door-to-door transport instead.
Your trip
How Songkhla fits your trip
May suit travelers wanting a quieter Sino-Portuguese old-town and beach stop near Hat Yai, combining a walkable heritage street with a hilltop lighthouse viewpoint.
Dates, other stops, and what matters on this trip can make this fit clearer.
Add dates and other stopsInformation used
Information used
Wherely research — Wherely's own governed depth-production research for Songkhla — drawn from independently-owned travel sources — covering gateway, access, and local-mobility choices, and landmark and activity choices. Exact fares, schedules, and prices change too often to publish as fixed facts.
Photo credit
Hero photograph: Samila Beach of Songkhla, Thailand by OPK-Photography, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
What to do next
What to do next
Return to Thailand’s Gulf Islands when you want the wider geography, or save this Place when it still fits.