Songkhla Things to Do Tips by Rodan44 Top 5 Page for this destination

Samila Beach Cat and Rat Statues

Just a few meters away from the Mermaid statue on Samila Beach are the Cat and Rat statues. These statues represent the small Cat and Rat islands, which can be seen just off shore from here. There is a story behind the cat and rat, and a plaque next to the statues details this story. I don't remember it anymore, so you will just have to go there and read it for yourself.

Directions: north end of Samila beach, next to Mermaid statue

Samila Beach Mermaid

At the north end of Samila beach you will find this bronze mermaid statue. While the statue itself is not necessarily a "must see activity", the beach around it and view of the Gulf of Thailand is quite nice, and there are many souvenir shops and seafood restaurants in the immediate area. Besides, the statue is kind of an icon in Songkhla and a photograph of it is really compulsory for any visitor to the city. Also, anyone who has ever been to Copenhagen, Denmark will find this statue to be quite familiar.

Directions: north end of Samila Beach

The Institute for Southern Thai Studies

Located atop a hill on the tiny island of Ko Yo in the Thale Sap (inland lake), the Institute for Southern Thai Studies houses a large and impressive museum that contains an exhaustive number of exhibits on the history and culture of southern Thailand. There are many separate exhibit halls spread around the hill, and you have to do a good amount of climbing to reach them all, making the musuem both informative and athletic! There is a great panoramic view of both the island and lake from here. Admission fee is 10 Baht for children, 30 Baht for Thai nationals, and 60 Baht for other nationals.

Address: Moo 1 Tambon Koyo, Muang Distric, So

Directions: Highway 4146, northeastern side of the island near Tinnasulanon Bridge

Hours: 8.30-17.00

Phone: (074) 331184-9

Website: http://www.tsu.ac.th/ists/

Khao Tang Kuan

To get a an idea of Songkhla's exceptional location, make your way to the top of Khao Tung Kuan hill on the northwestern side of the city peninsula. You can reach the top of the hill, which is 2000 feet above sea level (almost 700 meters) by either a flight of naga-railed steps leading off Ratchadamnoen Road on the west side of the hill or via the new funicular (cable car) on the east side, the former being free and the latter costing a small fee. At the summit there is a temple with chedi and a lighthouse. In October there is a festival to clad the chedi with cloth and to offer alms to monks. From here there are great panoramic views of the town, the fishing port and of the Thale Sap (inland lake). Also, just down the steps from the summit is a 19th-century brick pavilion of European style built in 1888 by the then ruler of Songkhla, Phraya Wichien Khiri (Chom), under the command of King Rama VI. Our guide book spoke of the "hordes" of monkeys on the hill and a sign warned us not to feed the monkeys, yet we didn't see a single monkey anywhere there.

Directions: Northwest end of the Songkhla city peninsula.