A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Hat Yai vs. Atami for Food, Attractions, Nightlife, and Families

Should you visit Hat Yai or Atami?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Hat Yai and Atami can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Hat Yai

Hat Yai is a cultural, lively, and festive city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. Visitors also love the food, shopping, and museums. See Hat Yai travel costs.

Atami

Atami is a authentic, overlooked, and nostalgic town. Other popular activities here include nightlife, food, and beaches. See Atami travel costs.

Hat Yai and Atami: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Hat Yai or Atami?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Hat Yai. Although Hat Yai and Atami are both popular with visitors, Hat Yai has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Hat Yai is more popular for its food, shopping, and big city activities, while Atami is known for its beaches. Hat Yai is popular for its local markets, its traditional restaurants, and its colorful temples. It is also home to Wat Hat Yai Nai. Atami is popular for its onsen (hot springs) and sandy beaches.

How is Hat Yai different from Atami?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Atami and Hat Yai. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Hat Yai or Atami?

For an educational experience, head to a museum or a notable sight in either Hat Yai or Atami.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Hat Yai. The city has many temples to explore such as Phra Maha Chedi Tripob Trimongkol and Wat Hat Yai Nai.

Atami is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. The onsen, or hot springs, have historically been a big draw to this town. Places to experience them include Oedo Onsen Monogatari Atami, Otsuki Hotel Wafukan, and Myoraku-Yu. Other sights around town include Kaminiya Shrine and the MOA Museum of Art.

Is the Food Better in Hat Yai or Atami? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Hat Yai is renowned for its restaurants. Also, Atami is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

Many restaurants in Hat Yai have been singled out for their culinary prowess. Eating is really what you do in this city. There is amazing street food, impressive floating restaurants, and authentic cuisine that locals and visitors alike enjoy. The dishes include lots of seafood and some Chinese influences.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Atami area. You'll find an authentic Japanese dining experience here, with a lot of seafood due to the city's coastal location. Popular dishes include sushi, dried fish, and fish boiled in broth.

Is Hat Yai or Atami Better for Nightlife?

Evening events are good in both Hat Yai and Atami.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Hat Yai. It's a big city, so there are plenty of clubs and bars where you can party late into the night.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Atami. The town was once a place to escape the city and enjoy a fun night out, but these days it's a bit quieter and has more of a nostalgic vibe. Head to Yushima Yugijo Yushima Amusement Center for some of the best nightlife in town.

Is Hat Yai or Atami Better for Beaches?

Atami is a town with good options for the beach. However, Hat Yai is not a beach destination.

Plenty of visitors enjoy relaxing on the beach in Atami. The most popular beach in the city is Atami Sun Beach, which is right in town. It's a place to relax in the sun, and there are sometimes fireworks throughout the year.

Hat Yai is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Hat Yai or Atami?

Hat Yai is a very popular place for its shopping opportunities. Also, Atami is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its shopping areas.

Hat Yai is well-known for its shopping. It's a large commercial hub in southern Thailand and many visitors come specifically for the shopping. There are many markets in town and places to buy everything from local products to trendy clothes.

Many visitors go to Atami to go shopping. You'll find a couple of retro shopping streets in town such as Atami Ekimae Shopping Street, Nakamise Shopping Street, and Heiwadori Shopping Street. There are arcades and food stalls where you can sample local dishes.

Is Hat Yai or Atami Better for Families?

Atami is a town with good options for its family-friendly activities. However, Hat Yai is a mediocre city for its kid-friendly activities.

Atami is a family-friendly place to visit. The city is a hot springs area, but you can also head to the nearby beaches and other family-friendly activities.

Hat Yai is not always a place people visit with their families. There are some play places for the kids and kid-friendly meals are available in many places. There are also some animal farms and parks near town where kids and adults can enjoy a natural setting.

Is Hat Yai or Atami Better for Couples?

Atami is a town with good options for couples. However, Hat Yai is a mediocre city for romance.

Atami is a good town for couples to visit. This is a beach and hot springs resort area, and in historic times it was a honeymoon destination. Today you'll find beaches, hot springs, shopping, and museums to explore, but most visitors use it as a base to explore the nearby areas, as the town itself doesn't have a lot to offer.

Hat Yai is not the best destination for a couple to visit. Most people pass through the city on their way to other places, but if you chose to linger you'll enjoy amazing food and some interesting activities around town.

Is Hat Yai or Atami Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Atami is a town with good options for backpackers. However, Hat Yai is a mediocre city for backpackers and budget travelers.

Atami is a good town to visit for backpackers. While there aren't a huge number of hostels in the area, and backpackers often skip over this town, prices aren't particularly high so you should be able to find something affordable.

Hat Yai is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There are hostels in the city, as well as cheap hotels, but the backpacker vibe isn't the same as what you get in other Thai cities. If you want more authenticity, then this is your place.

Is Hat Yai or Atami Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Atami is a town with good options for its public transit. However, Hat Yai is a mediocre city for times when you don't have a car.

Atami has a few public transit options. There are public buses, such as the YuYu Bus, which has two routes and passes by many of the town's attractions.

Public transit is mostly limited in Hat Yai. The easiest and cheapest way to get around is by tuk tuk or motorbike taxi.

Is Hat Yai or Atami a more walkable city?

Atami is a town with good options for its ease of walking around. However, Hat Yai is a mediocre city for its walkability.

Atami is a somewhat walkable town. Some parts of the city are more walkable than others.

Hat Yai is generally not a very walkable city. Some parts of the city are more walkable than others.

For even more information, also check out Is Hat Yai Worth Visiting? and Is Atami Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Atami or Hat Yai?

How long in Hat Yai or Atami?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Hat Yai or Atami to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Hat Yai than Atami because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Hat Yai, and 1-2 days is enough time in Atami.

Families should spend more time in Atami than Hat Yai. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Atami, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Atami than Hat Yai. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Atami that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Atami than Hat Yai if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Atami.

One day in Hat Yai or Atami?

In Hat Yai, many people enjoy the shopping and museums that this festive destination offers. Lots of people come for the food. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Because of this, one day is usually enough time for a trip here.

In Atami, you'll find nightlife and food. This town offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

A weekend in Hat Yai or Atami?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Hat Yai. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. This would be the perfect place to spend a weekend, as it has just the right amount of activities. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

In Atami, you'll find food and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Atami has to offer.

Five days in Hat Yai or Atami?

Hat Yai is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the destination of Hat Yai. Lots of people come for the food. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

Atami is a great place to explore. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

A week in Hat Yai or Atami?

You'll find food and shopping around the colorful destination of Hat Yai. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. Lots of people come for the food. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Atami. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Atami. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Contiki Tours to Thailand, The Best G Adventures Tours to Thailand, The Best 10-Day Tours from Tokyo, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Tokyo.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Hat Yai and Atami, we can see that Atami is more expensive. And not only is Hat Yai much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Hat Yai would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Hat Yai and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Atami would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Atami than you might in Hat Yai.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Hat Yai Expensive? and Is Atami Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Hat Yai or Atami?

Hat Yai has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Atami. When comparing the sizes of Hat Yai and Atami, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Hat Yai or Atami?

Atami has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Hat Yai experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Hat Yai or Atami in the Summer?

Both Atami and Hat Yai during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Hat Yai because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, the beaches and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Atami this time of year.

In July, Hat Yai is generally a little warmer than Atami. Daily temperatures in Hat Yai average around 29°C (83°F), and Atami fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).

It's quite sunny in Hat Yai. In the summer, Hat Yai often gets more sunshine than Atami. Hat Yai gets 206 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Atami receives 140 hours of full sun.

Atami gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Hat Yai. Hat Yai usually gets less rain in July than Atami. Hat Yai gets 101 mm (4 in) of rain, while Atami receives 202 mm (8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Hat Yai or Atami in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Hat Yai and Atami. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Hat Yai year-round. Furthermore, many travelers come to Atami for the shopping scene.

Hat Yai is much warmer than Atami in the autumn. The daily temperature in Hat Yai averages around 28°C (82°F) in October, and Atami fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).

Hat Yai usually receives more sunshine than Atami during autumn. Hat Yai gets 182 hours of sunny skies, while Atami receives 130 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Atami receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Hat Yai gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Hat Yai usually receives more rain than Atami. Hat Yai gets 284 mm (11.2 in) of rain, while Atami receives 154 mm (6.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn. Also, May to December is the rainy season in Hat Yai.

Should I visit Hat Yai or Atami in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Hat Yai as well as Atami. Hat Yai attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many visitors come to Atami in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

In the winter, Hat Yai is much warmer than Atami. Typically, the winter temperatures in Hat Yai in January average around 28°C (82°F), and Atami averages at about 5°C (42°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Hat Yai this time of the year. In the winter, Hat Yai often gets more sunshine than Atami. Hat Yai gets 221 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Atami receives 162 hours of full sun.

Hat Yai receives a lot of rain in the winter. Hat Yai usually gets more rain in January than Atami. Hat Yai gets 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Atami receives 73 mm (2.9 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, January to April in Hat Yai is the dry season.

Should I visit Hat Yai or Atami in the Spring?

Both Atami and Hat Yai are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Hat Yai throughout the year. Also, most visitors come to Atami for the beaches during these months.

In April, Hat Yai is generally much warmer than Atami. Daily temperatures in Hat Yai average around 30°C (85°F), and Atami fluctuates around 14°C (57°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Hat Yai. Hat Yai usually receives more sunshine than Atami during spring. Hat Yai gets 265 hours of sunny skies, while Atami receives 161 hours of full sun in the spring.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Atami. In April, Hat Yai usually receives less rain than Atami. Hat Yai gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Atami receives 163 mm (6.4 in) of rain each month for the spring. The dry season in Hat Yai is January to April. The rainy season in Hat Yai is May to December.

Typical Weather for Atami and Hat Yai