Songkhla: food, Old Town and a convenient route through southern Thailand

Songkhla — a city and the name of the province of the same name in southern Thailand. Hat Yai — a separate city in this province, through which it is convenient to organize the trip. Here you can combine getting to know local dishes, a walk through the Songkhla Old Town and stops by the lake.

Since 2025 the city has been part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in the Gastronomy category. Behind this status is a cuisine in which southern Thai, Chinese and Malay-Muslim traditions meet. You can start getting acquainted with Khao Yam rice salad and Khai Khrop duck egg yolks, then add curry and Hat Yai-style fried chicken.

If you want to go beyond the usual resort route, build your trip around historic streets, lake cuisine and markets. Below are dishes, landmarks for a walk and a schedule that will help you choose a suitable day.

Why Songkhla received UNESCO recognition for gastronomy

Membership confirmed since 2025 on Songkhla’s page in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network. This is recognition of the city in the gastronomy category, so there is no need to treat it as a restaurant award. The status does not confirm that any specific establishments are listed in the Michelin Guide.

The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) describes local cuisine through a combination of southern Thai spices, the techniques of Chinese settlers Hokkien and Teochew, and Malay-Muslim traditions. This approach helps you understand the region through different dishes rather than searching for a single “correct” flavor. More about the Chinese component can be read in the article on Chinese influence on Thai cuisine.

There is an interesting connection: the description of the historic district mentions Chinese and European architectural features, while the cuisine shows Chinese, southern Thai and Malay-Muslim influences. A walk and a meal reveal different sides of this cultural neighborliness. That is why it is convenient to build your acquaintance with the city around streets and food, leaving time both for the facades and for explaining an unfamiliar dish.

Where Songkhla is and how to get there via Hat Yai

For a trip from Bangkok, you can choose a flight to Hat Yai Airport and then arrange a separate transfer to the historic district. The airport operator describes it as an important transport link for the five southernmost provinces of Thailand. When booking, separate the flight and the ground part of the route: the arrival point and the start of the walk are different places.

The old official booklet of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) estimates the distance between the cities at approximately 30 km. This estimate refers to Songkhla and Hat Yai, not to the road from the airport. For transfers, choose exact departure and arrival points so you do not plan the trip based on the distance between cities.

If you prefer rail or bus, choose a service according to your travel dates and onward transfer. An old estimate of rail travel time cannot be used as a current timetable. For a car trip, see the road trip route through Thailand: check your stops against where you will stay and your return before adding new points.

Old Town: streets, architecture and a food walk

According to the Thai government portal, the historic district is more than 200 years old, and its architecture combines Chinese and European features. The main streets are Nakhon Nok Road, Nakhon Nai Road and Nang Ngam Road. They can be used as the basis for your own walk.

Start by looking at the historic facades, then stop for food and continue exploring the neighboring streets. Do not tie the whole walk to one establishment: first choose the dishes you are interested in, then look at the menu on site. This way the architectural part of the route keeps its meaning even if the dish you want is not available at the chosen spot.

If you have already seen the Old Town of Phuket Town, it can serve as a brief visual reference point for getting acquainted with the Chinese-European heritage. But it is better to set expectations for the walk based on the district itself, without promises of empty streets and photos without queues. Leave room for pauses: a food walk requires time to choose food and talk about what it contains.

Southern Thai cuisine: what to try in Songkhla

It is convenient to start with Khao Yam, a southern rice salad. In the gastronomy description by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), Nam Budu, a fermented fish sauce, is highlighted. However, the name of the salad does not explain the composition of each portion: ask the seller about the ingredients and dressing separately.

Khai Khrop is another way to get acquainted with local cuisine. According to the same agency’s description, the dish is made from two duck egg yolks: they are cured in salt, then steamed in the shell. The cooking method itself is what makes it interesting here, so you do not have to start getting to know the region with curry.

The name of Kaeng Tai Pla is linked to the tai pla sauce, which gives the curry a pronounced aroma and flavor. Khua Kling, Sato Pad Kapi and Kanom La are named among the region’s signature dishes on the Thailand NOW state information portal. The way roti is served with curry and cucumber sauce is described by the photographer and food writer Austin Bush; this is an example of serving, not a required set for every establishment.

You do not need to order everything at once. Choose a dish that interests you by its composition and discuss the spiciness before ordering. If Thai dish names are still confusing, a guide on what to try and how to order Thai food.

Songkhla Lake, Ko Yo and natural stops

Songkhla Lake helps you understand the link between local cuisine and natural resources. UNESCO notes that the lake environment supports more than 700 species of fish, shrimp and mollusks. This describes the natural diversity, not a list of products that will necessarily appear on the menu.

For a separate food stop, you can include Ko Yo island. The Thailand Gastronomy Network suggests trying the traditional rice salad Khao Yam Bai Yor here. Use the dish name as a reference point for getting to know the island’s cuisine, then choose a place based on the menu and your own route.

You can combine the natural part of the trip with the gastronomic one: plan a stop at the lake and a separate visit to the island. First decide what interests you more — a walk, the scenery or a meal — then arrange the transfers. If you want to add a boat trip, treat it as a separate service: availability and conditions do not follow from the mere fact of visiting the lake.

Markets of Songkhla and Hat Yai: where and when to go

Kim Yong Market is located in Hat Yai. The old official booklet of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) describes its daily operation from early morning “until 8 p.m.” So it is wrong to call it exclusively a night market, but you also should not carry the old hours over to your current trip.

For Lat Dong Tan Market, the schedule is published in a message from the provincial authority about Lat Dong Tan Market. The 2026 schedule by the Gregorian calendar, corresponding to 2569 in the Buddhist calendar, provides for operation on every other Sunday, from 09.00 to 15.00.

The main pitfall is putting Lat Dong Tan in your plan for any Sunday. The market runs every other week, but the message does not list the specific trading dates. Before the trip, confirm a suitable Sunday and the exact venue.

Hat Yai: transport hub and fried chicken

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) describes Hat Yai as a southern center of communications, trade and transport. This is the basis for considering it an independent part of the trip, not just a transfer point. You can make a stop here for food and the market, and arrange the walk through the historic streets separately.

A gastronomic reason to linger is local fried chicken. According to the official portal of the Songkhla gastronomy initiative, Hat Yai-style chicken is available in more than 400 establishments in the province. This number applies to the whole province, so it does not describe the number of places only in the city or near the airport.

Choose a convenient place along your route and check what is included in the order. Getting to know the dish does not require finding a single “main” restaurant. If your arrival and onward transfer already take up a significant part of your plan, keep the food stop flexible: this way lunch does not have to become a race before departure.

How to plan the trip: costs, weather and ordering food

Start with a set of stops, then move on to the length of the trip. It is more convenient to spread the historic streets, the lake, Ko Yo and the markets across separate parts of the route than to try to visit everything between arrival and departure. If Lat Dong Tan is of particular interest, first choose a market Sunday and only then build the rest of your plans around it.

The preparation can be organized like this:

• Choose the dishes you want to try and save their names.
• Separately note the walk through the Old Town, the lake stop and the island visit.
• Match the markets with your travel dates.
• Plan transfers and the return to your place of stay.
• Check the forecast for outdoor stops.

Count food costs based on the menus you choose and portion sizes. Do not assume automatic savings compared with Phuket or Koh Samui: the budget depends on what you order. Before paying, ask whether the side dish, sauce and drink are included in the stated price.

For a flight estimate, Thai Airways publishes a round-trip economy class offer from Bangkok to Hat Yai for October 2026 from 4,760 baht. October marks the period of the offer. This is a dynamic fare from a specific airline; the current price must be checked when booking. Costs for onward transfers and meals should be planned separately.

A translation app on your phone and basic Thai phrases can help you discuss the composition and spiciness of food. It is convenient to show the dish name, but a question about the specific portion is still useful. Before a food trip, also read the article on food and water safety in Thailand.