Songkhla

About Songkhla

Songkhla is a southern province with two distinct urban centres: Songkhla, the provincial capital on the coast, and Hat Yai, an important commercial and transport hub. The wider province includes lake-basin settlements, the Sathing Phra peninsula, beaches and inland communities.

Songkhla's old town and National Museum provide cultural context through architecture and local history. Coastal and lake scenery, Tinsulanond Bridge and Wat Chathing Phra offer different outings beyond the centre. Hat Yai supports a separate city-based stay, while food and traditions reflect Thai, Chinese and Malay influences across the province.

Choose your base according to the actual destination. Hat Yai and Songkhla are different places, and the lake basin and southern districts require onward travel. Confirm the precise accommodation, station or meeting point rather than using the province name alone. Security advice differs within the province. As reviewed on 25 October 2026, FCDO advises against all but essential travel to Chana, Thepha, Na Thawi and Saba Yoi districts and on the Hat Yai–Padang Besar rail route. Check current guidance before planning these journeys.

Songkhla Province covers 7,393.89 square kilometres and had 16 districts, 127 subdistricts and 1023 villages at 31 December 2024. Its 2024 registered population was 1,431,107; this is a whole-province civil-registration count, distinct from the capital city or an estimate of visitors.

Southern east-coast rainfall can continue late in the year, particularly during the northeast monsoon. Use current forecasts for the exact district and activity; mainland, upland and offshore conditions may differ.