• Hat Yai Municipal Park (สวนสาธารณะเทศบาลเมืองหาดใหญ่), on Kanchanawanit Road, is six kilometers from the city center on the Hat Yai-Songkhla highway. It is the major recreation for the people of Hat Yai and surrounding areas as well. The park is full of beautiful flowering plants, with a pavilion in the middle of the pond, avarium, and food stalls. At the foot of the hill near the avarium stands the statue of King Rama V. There is a Brahman shrine at the hilltop. And at the southern foothill near the boy scout camp stands the jade statue of Guan-yin, the Chinese Goddess.

• Wat Hat Yai Nai (วัดหาดใหญ่ใน) on Phetkasem Road, near Khlong U Taphao Bridge, is the site of a large reclining Buddha measuring 35 meters long, 15 meters tall, and 10 meters wide, named Phra Phuttha Hattha Mongkhon, believed to be the third largest reclining Buddha in the world - revered by both Thai and foreign tourists.

• Ton Nga Chang Waterfall (น้ำตกโตนงาช้าง) is located in the Ton Nga Chang Wildlife Sanctuary. It is one of the beautiful waterfalls of the south, about 26 kilometers from the city. Follow the Hat Yai-Rattaphum road for 13 kilometers, then turn left at Ban Hu Rae for another 13 kilometers. This waterfall has seven levels, the third level is the most beautiful and is named after the waterfall. At the third level the stream separates into two, resembling the elephant’s tusks. Treks have been provided for more adventurous tourists. One can hire a tuk-tuk to the waterfall for two to three hours at 300-400 baht, or one can take the minibus from the fresh market (Talat Sot Thet Sa Ban Hat Yai).

By plane

Airport

Hat Yai International Airport (HDY)

Taxi rides to Hat Yai city can be found at the airport entrance for which the drivers will ask around 250 baht,you also can use the airport limo service which costs 300 baht. A minivan service into the city costs 80 baht. A blue colored songthaew runs into town for 20 baht and can be found at the far end of the parking lot. From Phet Kasem road, there is a Highway No. 4135 (Sanambin Panij road) linking to the airport. Car rental is available on arrival from Avis.

Flights

There are daily flights to/from the new Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport on AirAsia, Nok Air / One-Two-Go and Thai Airwaysand Air Asia flights to Kuala Lumpur have been terminated. Hat Yai is also connected daily to Don Muang, Bangkok's former int'l Airport, which now serves domestic routes only.

From Kuala Lumpur, you can fly with AirAsia to Alor Star on the Malaysian border, and opt for the AirAsia shuttle van that will ferry directly to Hat Yai. You have to book this shuttle minimum 3 days in advance.

By train

Hat Yai is on the southern line connecting Bangkok to Butterworth and Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia.

• To/from Bangkok: Five trains daily to and from Bangkok. Express trains depart at 16:16, 17:34 and 18:05 while the slower Rapid trains depart at 14:18 and 15:26. Trains go via Surat Thani, Chumphon, Hua Hin etc.

A 3rd class ticket with reserved, upholstered seat sets you back 259 Baht (Hat Yai-Bangkok) on ordinary trains and slightly more for Rapid/Express trains (June 2008). Buy tickets directly at the respective railway stations, surcharges are imposed if bought at other agencies!

• To/from Sungai Kolok: Two trains to Sungai Kolok daily departing at 05:36 and 07:18.

• To/from Malaysia: The State Railways of Thailand's [1] International Express leaves Hat Yai for Butterworth near Penang daily at 05:50, going via Padang Besar. In the other direction, trains leave Butterworth at 13:15 and arrive in Hat Yai at 17:30. The train then continues to Bangkok. The Senandung Langkawi operated by Keretapi Tanah Melayu (Malaysian Railways) [2] departs Hat Yai for Kuala Lumpur daily at 14:50, arriving at KL Sentral at 07:36 the next day. Trains from Kuala Lumpur depart at 20:45 and arrive in Hat Yai at 10:20 the next day. The Senandung Langkawi goes via Butterworth and Padang Besar. Please note that Malaysian time is one hour ahead of Thai time. If it is noon in Thailand, it is 13:00 in Malaysia.

• Surat Thani 3rd class ticket cost 55 baht(dec 07) but takes 7 hours!! Good for stunning views of the countryside. See timetable at railway station. Sleepercabins 1st class, 2nd class aircon & fan sleeperettes and 3rd class (now upholstered seats!) are available

By bus

Hat Yai has a large bus station located near the Diana Department store. Buses can be taken to all major towns in the south of Thailand and up to Bangkok. Depending on the route, different classes of bus are available. These range from local orange colored buses without air-conditioning to luxurious 24-seater coaches with toilets and reclining seats.

To/from Bangkok: Air-con buses by The Transport Co. Ltd (บริษัท ขนส่ง จำกัด (บขส.), bor-kor-sor) run between Bangkok southern bus terminal (สายใต้, sai-tai) and Hatyai bus terminal daily. The distance is ~954km and normally takes 12 hours.

• 24 seats VIP bus (พิเศษ, phiset) costs 1065B, departs from Bangkok at 1700, 1800, 1900 and 2000. On the reverse, the departure is at 1600, 1700 and 1800.
• 32 seats Class 1 B bus (ม1พ) costs 828B, departs from Bangkok and Hatyai at 1730.
• 47 seats Class 2 bus (ม2) departs from Bangkok at 0700, 1700 and 2145, Hatyai at 0800, 1530 and 1700 for 535B.

Other scheduled, interprovincial buses serving Hat Yai: Surat Thani, Phuket, Satun, Trang, Nakhon Si Thammarat

To/from Malaysia:

• Kuala Lumpur : Konsortium Bas Ekspress Semenanjung, 32, Prachathipat Road, Hat Yai Tel : +66 074 351280 and +66 074 351281 have 5 bus every day which leave Hat Yai to Kuala Lumpur, departure at 9:00 am, 9:30 am, 10:00am, noon and 7:00pm, ticket cost around 400 baht and it's a 7 hours journey.

• Penang: Scheduled airconditioned Minivans leave hourly in daylight time on the full hour from Georgetowns Lebuh Chulia (Parking Lot of E & A Hotel) The fare is presently set at 32 RM, advance booking is recommended. The journey including border formalities requires about 3 to 3 1/2 hours.

There are two border crossings to choose from, both are easily accessible from Hat Yai.

• Dannok: Vans run from Hat Yai right up to the Thai immigration complex in Dannok in Sadao district. Journey time is about one hour and the fare is 55 baht. Vans leave Dannok in front of the 7-11 store on the left side of the street after leaving the immigration complex. Note that the distance between the Thai and Malaysian immigration checkpoints is about 1km, quite a distance to walk in the heat. You can take a motorcycle taxi between the checkpoints.
• Padang Besar: Regular buses depart Hat Yai's bus terminal for Padang Besar (only to the Thai side). Journey time is about one hour. If you are crossing to Malaysia immediately, ask to be dropped off right at the gates of the Thai immigration complex before your enter town.

By minivan

Minivans connect to and from all major locations in southern Thailand with Hat Yai. Where they depart from depends on the destination but the locals will be able to point you in the right direction. They are generally cheap and quicker than the buses but often overcrowded thus making them uncomfortable and dangerous.

Songthaews ply fixed routes for a fixed fare but using them requires a little local knowledge or the ability to speak Thai. Tuk-tuks and motorcycle taxis are abundant and easy to flag down but fares must be negotiated first otherwise you run the risk of being overcharged. Most journeys around town should not cost any more than 20 baht per person.

• Lee Garden Plaza - The most popular mall for Thai teenagers. Restaurants include Sizzler, Swensens, McDonalds and Fuji among others. Shops inside sell books, clothes, mobile phones and souvenirs. There is a multiplex cinema and a games complex which also includes Karaoke booths.

• Odean Shopping Mall - Mostly clothes.

• Diana Shopping Mall - Clothes, mobile phones, restaurants and a bowling alley.

• Tesco Lotus - Located near the Prince of Songkhla University, a large supermarket that sells food, clothes, household items and lots more. There are also a number of restaurants and smaller shops just outside the main supermarket.

• Carrefour - Very similar to Tesco Lotus.

• Central Department Store - Probably Hat Yai's most upmarket store. Clothes, cosmetics, books, household goods and there is a TOPS food supermarket in the basement.

Although not in the same league as Bangkok, there are a lot of different food options on offer in Hat Yai. Typical Thai street food is abundant almost everywhere. Big, international chain restaurants have branches in town offering Japanese and Western food. Ethnic Chinese from Malaysia and Singapore make up the bulk of Hat Yai's tourists so many restaurants and hotels cater primarily for them. Just opposite Lee Gardens (next to the Regency Hotel) you will see a restaurant which spit-roasts suckling pigs every day. Large, open-air seafood restaurants are also popular with Chinese visitors and the quality of seafood available in Hat Yai is good. Behind Regency Hotel and Lee Garden Hotel is a Vermicillin Store with a Teochew speaking lady boss. The store opens from 10pm-6am. Its beside the street Thanon Duangchan. For those who likes to eat pork ribs soup or "Bak Kut Tea", you can find this place called "YA LUN ROU KU CHA" with telephone no. 01-6082829 There is also a large resident Muslim population and some visitors from Malaysia are also Muslim so finding Halal food isn't a problem. Across the street from Lee Garden hotel there are a couple of Muslim restaurants, Hamid restaurant is not too bad. Nice clean and good food. There are several small ones nearby. Certain Chinese are vegetarian and the town has a good selection of small vegetarian restaurants that offer tofu and soy meat substitutes.

• TOP'S SUPERMARKET under robinsons store close to rail station,,good food/good price!!pick & mix.

• Cha Nang (ชะนาง) 37/1 Niphat Songkhro 1 Road Tel: 0 7423 6311, 0 7423 0166
• Che Ka (เจ๊ะกา) 884-886 Kanchanawanit Road Tel: 0 7436 5264
• Che Lek (เจ๊เล็ก) 190/3-4 Niphat Uthit 2 Road Tel: 0 7424 4466, 0 7424 6710
• Hamid (ฮามิด) 85/2-3 Prachathipat Road Tel: 0 7424 6463
• Hi Wa Thian (ไหหว้าเทียน) 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27 Chaiyakun Uthit Soi 4 Road Tel: 0 7424 3011, 0 7422 1201
• Hong Yok (หงษ์หยก) 31/33-35 Chiwanuson Road Tel: 0 7424 5124-5
• Kan-eng (กันเอง) Niphat Uthit 3 Road Tel: 0 7424 6138
• Khaotom Nai Yao (ข้าวต้มนายยาว) Thammanunwithi Road Tel: 0 7424 6208
• Krathom Duean Phen (กระท่อมเดือนเพ็ญ) Thammanunwithi Road Tel: 0 7423 3160
• Mae Thip (แม่ทิพย์) 187-188 Niphat Uthit 3 Tel: 0 7424 4235, 0 7424 3369
• Mariya (มารียา) 169 Saeng Chan Road Tel: 0 7424 5194
• Phailin Steak House (ไพลินสเต็กเฮ้าส์) 18/3-4 Siphuwanat Road Tel: 0 7423 8562, 0 7423 3222
• Ruean Thai Mai Suai (เรือนไทยไม้สวย) 173 Niphat Uthit 3 Road Tel: 0 7424 3238, 0 7423 4190
• Sumatra (สุมาตรา) 55/1 Ratthakan Road Tel: 0 7424 6459, 0 7423 2747
• Sunday (ซันเดย์) 64 Chuti Anuson Road Tel: 0 7423 3650

The beer in Hat Yai is especially reasonable so enjoy a can of beer while you are there. More reasonably priced than what you pay at the outrageously overpriced Singapore Duty-Free Shops.

• Oceania out of the city center, about 10 minutes by taxi from Lee Gardens and about 100m North of the Hansa Plaza/Paragaon night entertainment complex in Hat Yai 'nai' is Oceania, a beautiful open air restaurant and bar set on 2 floors with a landscaped garden of waterfalls and palms, and soft lighting to boot. The kitchen is open until well after 2am, serving decent Thai food at around 100 Baht a dish. A large Heineken is 90 Baht, with draft available also. The theme is quiet and romantic, ideal after an hour or two in the Disco nearby. Live acoustic music accompanies the diners every night until midnight. Oceania closes when the last customers leave at around 4am.

• Nakorn Nai - A stylish restaurant with free Internet access (WLAN). They serve very tasty western food (Pizza, Pasta, Beef Stroganoff, Breakfast) for reasonable prices.

• The Swan, on Thanon Thamnoon Vithi Rd, one block from The Pubb. Nice atmosphere with books and 2 TVs with UBC. Jack Coke - 60 baht. A slight British Pub feel.
• Brown Sugar, on Thanon Thamnoon Vithi Rd. just across the street from The Post Laser and similar in style, though it's smaller with a bit less ambiance.

• The Pubb - Live music, pool upstairs and decent food. Located downtown.

• The Post Laser Disc - Air-con and pool. Best band in town. Jack Coke 80 baht. Farang hangout. On Thanon Thamnoon Vithi Rd.

• Brass Monkey - Upstairs disco with pool table. Next to Brown Sugar.

• Deep Wonder - Street side and downstair bar. Live music. Across from The Pubb.

• Co Art - A cafe-style place to hang-out in the evening / night. There is a live band almost every day with international well-known cover-songs.

• The Corazon - Claims to be a "Latin", though they never really play songs in Spanish there.

• Acoustic

• The West Side Saloon Can get crowded and very noisy. They have a good bar food menu. The only pub/bar in town that writes the prices on the menu excluding service charge and VAT. Can be a surprise when you get the bill.

• Paragon located at Hansa Plaza