The short version
Songkhla sits on a narrow peninsula where Songkhla Lake, Thailand's largest natural lake, meets the Gulf of Thailand — a "city of two seas" that organises itself into four practical areas rather than a rail network or a single beach strip. Old Town (Bo Yang), just north of the City Gate, is the walkable, low-cost core of Sino-Portuguese shophouses and Chinese temples behind Songkhla's 2025 UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy status. Samila Beach, anchored by the Golden Mermaid statue and Tang Kuan Hill's hilltop viewpoint, carries the city's newer, better-appointed apartment stock. Ko Yo, a lake island reached by the Tinsulanonda Bridge, is the quietest and most rural option, known for centuries-old handloom weaving. And the University & Naval Quarter around Thaksin University, Songkhla Rajabhat University and the Royal Thai Navy's Third Naval Area Command is the city's more residential, institutional side. None of the four is far from the others by motorbike or songthaew — the choice comes down to pace, budget and whether you want an apartment or a house.
Songkhla's areas, mapped.
An approximate look at where Old Town, Samila Beach, Ko Yo and the University & Naval Quarter sit relative to each other.
Songkhla's four key areas
Songkhla's Old Town, just north of the City Gate, is a compact grid of Sino-Portuguese shophouses, Chinese clan temples and the gold-domed Banbon Mosque — a living record of the city's centuries as a Chinese-Malay trading port. Since 2009 a resident-led community revival has restored heritage buildings and covered the district in street murals, and the area's culinary depth (Peranakan-influenced Thai-Chinese cooking, seafood, old coffee shops) is part of why UNESCO named Songkhla a Creative City of Gastronomy in 2025. It suits long-stayers who want a walkable, historic, low-cost base close to the harbour and Old Town cafés rather than a beach-resort setting.
Samila is the city's pine-shaded, white-sand beachfront — home to the bronze Golden Mermaid statue that has stood as Songkhla's symbol for more than 50 years, plus horse-riding stalls and a run of beachfront seafood restaurants. Tang Kuan Hill rises just behind it, topped by the golden Phra Chedi Luang stupa and a cable car to the summit viewpoint over the city and Gulf of Thailand. This stretch carries Songkhla's newer, better-appointed apartment and condo stock, and suits residents who want sea air and an evening beach walk within a genuinely small provincial city.
Ko Yo sits in the middle of Songkhla Lake, connected to the mainland by the Tinsulanonda Bridge — Thailand's longest concrete bridge, built in two phases. The island's roughly 200 weavers across nine groups have produced Ko Yo woven cloth, a five-star OTOP-certified textile, for more than two centuries, and the Southern Thai Folklore Museum sits on its northern hill. It's the quietest, most rural of Songkhla's areas — a lake-island pace of life rather than city or beach living, and it suits those who want genuine local culture and low cost over convenience.
Quick comparison
| Area | Best for | Typical rent |
|---|---|---|
| Old Town (Bo Yang) | Sino-Portuguese shophouses, the City Gate & a decade-long community mural revival | 1BR apartment/shophouse THB 3,000–6,000 |
| Samila Beach & Tang Kuan Hill | The Golden Mermaid statue, beachfront restaurants & the city's hilltop viewpoint | 1BR condo/apartment THB 4,500–8,000 |
| Ko Yo (Koh Yo Island) | A lake island reached by Thailand's longest concrete bridge, famous for handloom weaving | House/room rental THB 2,500–5,000 |
| University & Naval Quarter | Thaksin University's main campus, Songkhla Rajabhat University & the Royal Thai Navy base | 1BR apartment/house THB 3,000–5,500 |
Songkhla areas FAQ
Which area of Songkhla is best for expats and retirees?
It depends on what you value. Old Town (Bo Yang) suits long-stayers who want a walkable, historic, low-cost base among Sino-Portuguese shophouses and Old Town cafes. Samila Beach suits those who want sea air, an evening beach walk and the city's newer, better-appointed apartment stock. Ko Yo island suits residents chasing the quietest, most rural pace of life and genuine local culture over convenience. The University & Naval Quarter suits academics, naval families and anyone who wants a residential, institutional setting close to Thaksin University and Songkhla Rajabhat University.
What's the cheapest area to rent in Songkhla?
Ko Yo island generally has the lowest cost, roughly 2,500–5,000 THB a month for a house or room, reflecting its rural, lake-island setting away from the city centre. Old Town (Bo Yang) is the cheapest way to be genuinely central and walkable, at roughly 3,000–6,000 THB for a one-bedroom apartment or shophouse.
Can I rent a house instead of an apartment in Songkhla?
Yes — as in most Thai provincial capitals, houses and shophouses outnumber condo towers in Songkhla outside the Samila Beach pocket. Ko Yo and the University & Naval Quarter have more house-style rentals, while Samila Beach carries most of the city's newer, better-appointed apartment and condo stock. Foreigners can own condominium units freehold within each building's 49% foreign-ownership quota; houses and land are typically held on a registered long lease or through a Thai company structure.
Is Old Town or Samila Beach better for a first-time visitor?
Old Town is the better base for exploring on foot before committing to a longer lease — it's the walkable historic core near the City Gate, with the widest choice of low-cost shophouse rentals and Songkhla's UNESCO-recognised food culture on the doorstep. Samila Beach suits those who already know they want sea air, the Golden Mermaid statue and Tang Kuan Hill's viewpoint close by, plus the city's newer apartment buildings.
Do you need a car in Songkhla?
Songkhla city has no BTS, MRT or rail line of its own. Within Old Town and Samila Beach, motorbikes, songthaews and ride-hailing apps cover daily life reasonably well. Ko Yo island and trips to Hat Yai — home to the region's fuller mall scene, larger hospitals and the nearest airport and rail station, roughly 30km away — are where a car or motorbike becomes close to essential.
Sources & References
- Tourism Authority of Thailand
- National Statistical Office, Thailand
- Department of Land Transport, Thailand
Primary and official sources are cited above. Government rules, fees and procedures in Thailand change over time and vary by office; always confirm current requirements with the relevant authority before relying on them. BAANLYY never takes paid placement in editorial content.
Related Songkhla guides
Where to live in Songkhla · Songkhla Area Score · Songkhla cost of living · Songkhla rental market guide · Songkhla city hub
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