Hat Yai is a glittering metropolis where you’ll find a combination of shopping malls, revered temples, street food stalls and a renowned floating market. The central heart of Hat Yai is dotted with riverside restaurants and lively cocktail bars, while the surrounding region reveals lush parklands and a sprawling lake that feeds into the Gulf of Thailand.

Things to do

If you’re looking for quality dining and drinking establishments, head to Hat Yai’s downtown core. Post Laser Disc Pub & Restaurant is perfect for creative cocktails, while Betong Chicken Rice and Decha Fried Chicken Restaurant serves up Thai specialties in a street-stall setting.

Need a bit of retail therapy? Head to Odean Shopping Mall and browse through Thai stores selling sporting goods, apparel, China dolls and luggage. Lee Garden Plaza offers contemporary entertainment, including a multiplex cinema, games arcade and karaoke booths, while the local markets sell knock-off designer jeans, handbags and shoes for bargain prices.

Don’t leave Hat Yai without experiencing the Khlong Hae Floating Market, where you can browse numerous stalls run out of traditional boats. Afterwards, tick off some of the city’s iconic temples, including Chedi Thaimongkhon, a Buddhist temple with unique metal artwork. Don’t miss the open-air Wat Hat Yai Nai temple, where you can see one of the world’s largest reclining Buddha statues.

Visit the Magic Eye 3D Museum to admire a whimsical collection of 3D wall art and paintings that are perfect for snapping novelty photographs. Take a break from the crowds at Hat Yai Park, where you can stroll quiet walking paths, ride on a gondola and see religious statues.

Getting around

Hat Yai is easily reached by flying into Hat Yai International Airport and riding a bus to Hat Yai Bus Terminal or catching a train to Hat Yai Railway Station. You can get around Hat Yai using taxis and motorcycle taxis.