Songkhla has something for everyone. For people seeking peace and quiet, they can rarely go wrong with the city of Songkhla and its nearby beaches. For avid shoppers, Hat yai provides endless thrills. Together both cities make this province a fascinating place for a mere stopover or an extended holiday.

Songkhla Attractions: 
Hat Yai's shopping opportunities are legendary and being so near the Malaysian border (50 km.) has afforded it with every kind of goods found in Thailand and Malaysia. The main shopping districts are the Niphat Uthit 2 and 3 roads where stalls sell everything from fresh fruits to electronic gadgets. Furthermore, the city is highly popular for its delectable Thai and Chinese cuisines. Specialties such as shark fins soup and bird's nest are much in demand here.

Worth visiting is Wat Hat Yai Nai in the city which houses the world's third largest reclining Buddha image. Ton Nga Chang Waterfall, 26 km. from Hat Yai City, is a high, 7-tier waterfall with shady trees ideal for picnics.

Without a doubt one of the most picturesque beaches of the South, Samila Beach is a 3-kilometre stretch of white sand that is as popular as its mermaid statue. Offshore are the famous islands of Ko Nu (mouse) and Ko Maeo (cat). The fishing community of Khao Seng to the south of Samila features a huge, immovable boulder called Hua Nai Rang which according to folklore sits atop pirate treasure.

Songkhla City has its own beautiful temple to rival Wat Hat Yai Nai Wat Matchimawat is a must-see for its display of antiques dating over 4 centuries. The Songkhla National Museum in the city likewise has antiques on display, the highlight being those recovered from shipwrecks in the Gulf of Thailand.

Songkhla is also blessed with the scenic Songkhla Lake, an inland body of water connected to the Gulf of Thailand. The Khu Khut Waterfowl Sanctuary in the lake is the home to thousands of waterfowls and aquatic birds which usually come to seek refuge during December and May. Another attraction of Songkhla Lake is the Institute of Southern Thai Studies located on Ko Yo some 10 km. from Songkhla. The institute has a museum tracing the history of people in the area and an excellent collection of folk arts and crafts. Ko Yo can be reached by the Tinsulanonda Bridge, Thailand's longest concrete bridge.

Songkhla/Hat Yai is a good place for sportsmen and sports fans to catch some action. There are 2 shooting ranges in Hat Yai, one operated by the Royal Thai Navy, the other by the Hat Yai Police. Songkhla has 2 9-hole golf courses, at Samila and Kho Hong and another 18-hole course is to be opened in 1994, the province's first. Golfers can enjoy both the fantastic scenery of the courses and their remarkably low fees.