Major city · Thailand
Padang Besar
Stop at Padang Besar only if you need the border crossing – a few hours to catch a train or bus; otherwise skip.
Padang Besar is a small Thai border town with the only direct rail link to Malaysia and a modest bus service to Hat Yai. It has limited attractions and no hotels, so most travellers only need a few hours to cross or catch a train.
More
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- THB
- Best months
- Nov–Apr (dry season)
- avoid May–Oct (rainy season)
- Airport
- HDY
- Nights
- 0
Not a trip line yet
Rules in force · 6Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore…
- Southeast Asia ↗Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Brunei and Myanmar; never carry a bag or parcel for anyone.
- Southeast Asia ↗Carry a passport valid for at least six months from entry with two blank pages; airlines refuse boarding on less.
- Thailand ↗Check entry rules and any arrival card on the official Thai government sites for your passport; visa-exempt stays and pre-arrival forms change.
- Thailand ↗Do not criticise or mock the monarchy: insulting the royal family is a criminal offence.
- Thailand ↗Temples and palaces: shoulders and knees covered, shoes off before entering halls.
- Thailand ↗E-cigarettes and vapes are illegal to import or use; do not pack them.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Padang Besar191 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Padang Besar, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the Thai baht (THB, ฿).Thailand-wide
- SIM or eSIMAIS and TrueMove H sell tourist SIMs at airport arrivals; passport registration is required.Thailand-wide
- Tap waterNot drinkable from the tap.Thailand-wide
- TippingSit-down restaurant: Leave ฿20–100 (≈ US$1–4) or the coins; skip it if a 10% service charge is on the bill.Thailand-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/B/C/O. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 220 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Thailand-wide
- SafetyGenerally safe; stay alert at night, keep belongings secure in markets, and respect border checkpoint rules.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsWestern toilets in malls and hotels; squat toilets with a water bucket in rural stops.Thailand-wide
- Emergency numbers191 police · 1669 fire and ambulance · 1155 tourist police (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysMany Bangkok street-food vendors stay off the main roads on Mondays (street-cleaning day in several districts)…Thailand-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportHDY Hat Yai International Airport (About 50 km (31 mi) north, 1‑h bus ride).HDY Hat Yai International Airport (About 31 mi (50 km) north, 1‑h bus ride).
- Getting aroundLocal red‑bus every 30 min to Hat Yai (≈1 h 30 min, 50 baht).
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- HDY Hat Yai International Airport (About 50 km (31 mi) north, 1‑h bus ride)HDY Hat Yai International Airport (About 31 mi (50 km) north, 1‑h bus ride)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Best
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Feb
Best
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Mar
Best
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Apr
Best
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
May
Avoid
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Jun
Avoid
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Jul
Avoid
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Aug
Avoid
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Sep
Avoid
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Oct
Avoid
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Nov
Best
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Dec
Best
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Best: Nov–Apr. Avoid: May–Oct. Month by month →
Warmest Apr (33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)), coolest Jan (22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C) low), wettest Jul (15 rain days), driest Jan (5). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Padang Besar: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
5 rd
Feb
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
5 rd
Mar
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
6 rd
Apr
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
7 rd
May
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
12 rd
Jun
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
14 rd
Jul
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
15 rd
Aug
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
15 rd
Sep
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
13 rd
Oct
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
9 rd
Nov
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
6 rd
Dec
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
5 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Local red‑bus every 30 min to Hat Yai (≈1 h 30 min, 50 baht). Minivans and motorcycle taxis also operate; taxis charge about 150 baht for the 50 km to Hat Yai.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Hat Yai
goDoor to door: ≈1 h by train, ≈1 h 30 min by bus
Shuttle train twice daily from Padang Besar station, about 1 h; or local red‑bus every 30 min, 1 h 30 min, 50 baht (≈ US$2)
Main hub for hotels, markets and onward travel; trains run early morning and late afternoon.
Wat Tham Khao Rup Chang
goDoor to door: ≈20 min
Local songthaew or motorbike taxi from Padang Besar market, about 13 km (8.1 mi), 20 minLocal songthaew or motorbike taxi from Padang Besar market, about 8.1 mi (13 km), 20 min
Cave temple with stalactites; modest entry fee, quiet spot for a short visit.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Hat Yai
Nearest city with hotels; day‑trip from Padang Besar
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- ฿300–500 (≈ US$10–16) excl. bed
- Mid
- ฿600–900 (≈ US$19–30) excl. bed
- High
- ฿1,000 (≈ US$35)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
Prices of common things
| Local bus Hat Yai ↔ Padang Besar | 50 baht (≈ US$2) |
| Train Bangkok → Padang Besar (special express) | ≈1,157 baht |
| Motorcycle taxi to Malaysian side | 20 baht (≈ under US$1) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Visa runs not allowed at this crossing; re‑entry same day is blocked (check latest rules).
- Border open 05:00‑23:00 Thai time; buses stop around 18:00.Border open 5:00 AM‑11:00 PM Thai time; buses stop around 6:00 PM.
- Train ticket to Bangkok costs about 1,157 baht (≈ US$40) (2026).
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 191
- Fire and ambulance
- 1669
- Tourist Police
- 1155
Pocket card
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Padang BesarPadang Besar
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
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ถึงที่อยู่นี้ด้วยTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police191
- Ambulance1669
- Tourist Police1155
Embassy
US consular services are in Bangkok; nearest Thai foreign office is in Hat Yai.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Hat Yai ↔ Padang Besar bus: ≈50 baht, 1 h 30 min
- Bangkok → Padang Besar train (special express): ≈1,157 baht, 12 h (check schedule)
Say or show
- ที่ศูนย์ตรวจคนเข้าเมืองอยู่ที่ไหน — Where is the border crossing? (tîi sǔun trùk khon kâo mueang yùu tîi năi)
- ค่าโดยสารรถบัสเท่าไหร่ — How much is the bus ticket? (khâa dooy săan rót bát tâo rài)
- ต้องการแท็กซี่ไปหาดใหญ่ — I need a taxi to Hat Yai (dtông gaan tâek-sîi bpai Hâat Yai)
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Padang Besar. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Nov–Apr (dry season) · avoid May–Oct (rainy season) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 1 area to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 2 day-trips, door to door
- 3 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- An airport-to-bed path that says whether a late landing still works
- Walking clusters with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Field-verified times and fares
Sources
Ask about Padang Besar
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