Fun Things To Do In Hat Yai Thailand

Hat Yai is a city located in southern Thailand near the Malaysian border. It is the largest city in Songkhla Province and has a population of over 156,000 people. It is not as popular as other places in Thailand but the city is packed with markets, history, and temples. What are the things to do in Hat Yai Thailand?

In Hat Yai, there are a number of temples to explore around the city such as Wat Hat Yai Nai. There is a floating market that is held daily that sells food, drinks, souvenirs, and more. Or you can visit the 3D Museum or if you are visiting Hat Yai in November or December you can see the lantern festival.

In this post, we will go through things to do in Hat Yai Thailand. Let’s get started!

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Is Hat Yai Worth Visiting?

Hat Yai is worth visiting if you want to go site sighting and enjoy the local markets and shops. The city is not touristy but it is developing in this aspect so do not expect English to be spoken widely. There is a limited range of accommodation and is definitely it is not a place to party.

The Best Time To Travel To Hat Yai Thailand

Hat Yai has an average temperature of between 25°C to 33°C all year round. The warmest months are between March to August and the coolest months are between December to February.

The best time to visit Hat Yai is between December and February for the cooler weather.

Things To Do In Hat Yai Thailand

Hat Yai is located near the Malaysian border. The city is the largest metropolitan area in the south of Thailand there are plenty of things to do that will keep you busy for a few days.

Here is our list of things to do in Hat Yai Thailand.

Enjoy The Magic Eye 3D Museum

The Magic Eye 3D Museum showcases 3D art on display and tricky floor paintings plus there is a show featuring magic and shadow dancing.

Great for kids in particular with lots of funny and shocking photos appearing when you download the app.

They are two ticket types, the first is just for just the show, and the other is a combo ticket for the show and the 3D museum.

Visit Municipal Park

Municipal Park is a big park with a lot of attractions like the ice house, cable car to go up to the hill, 3-headed elephants, and the big golden Brahman Buddha Shrine at the hilltop.

As well as that there is a big pond where you can have a picnic, go jogging, or simply watch the sunset from the beautiful viewpoints.

A park is a peaceful place and has great viewpoints plus it is a good location for taking photos.

See Hatyai Park Lantern Festival

The Hatyai Park Lantern Festival is located opposite Hatyai Ice Dome in Municipal Park. The lantern festival is held at the park every year from November till the end of the year.

Simply as the name suggests that it is a festival where lanterns are got in from Bangkok and Singapore.

The lanterns come in all shapes and sizes such as animals, robots, and so on. There are made of a high standard and workmanship.

Visit Khlong Hae Floating Market

Definitely, a unique experience to see how the locals sell their items from the boats themselves. The floating market is only open during the weekends. Selling snacks, food, and drinks that you cannot really find somewhere else.

At the top area of the floating market, food, clothes, souvenirs, and fruits are sold. There are seats available to enjoy the food there.

Eat At The Greenway Night Market

The Greenway night market has a massive food section selling anything you could possibly want regarding Asian food. You can also buy souvenirs but it is not the market’s focus.

You can enjoy quality food at a fair price. There are using card systems instead of paying cash directly, the balanced money is refundable.

There is plenty of seating. If you like the night markets, then this is a place you will want to visit. it is open from Wednesday to Sunday from 5.00 pm to 10.00 pm.

Shop At The Central Festival Mall

The Central Central Festival Mall is the largest mall in Hat Yai. It is near the Hatyai weekend night market and the Magic Eye 3D Museum.

You will find popular International and local brands and shops at this mall. Plus there is an IMAX cinema as well as the 4DX cinema.

See The Wat Hat Yai Nai

This is one of the longest reclining Buddhas in the world. The Wat Hat Tai Nai is about 15 minutes from town in the direction of the railway station. The entrance is free and the temple complex itself is beautiful.

This reclining Budha is under a huge roof supported by pillars and there are some beautiful structures around the main statute.

Visit Namtok Ton Nga Chang

Namtok Ton Nga Chang or Elephant Tusk Falls is one of the best waterfalls to see in that area but can get very busy over the weekends. There are seven levels of the waterfalls, the best part is on its third level where the stream is separated into two.

It is out of town but worth the visit. It is about a 30 to 40 minutes drive from the town center. The entrance fee is 200 baht for foreigners and 20 baht for locals.

Wrapping Up

Finally, there are a number of temples to explore around Hat Yai such as Wat Hat Yai Nai. There is a floating market held daily that sells food, drinks, souvenirs, and more. Or you can visit the 3D Museum or if you are visiting Hat Yai in November or December you can see the lantern festival.

And that’s it for now! I’d love to know if this guide on the things to do in Hat Yai Thailand has helped you. Let me know if you have any questions and let me know if there is more to add.

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