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Asia > Southeast Asia > Thailand > Southern Thailand > Southern Gulf Coast > Padang Besar (Thailand)
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Padang Besar (ปาดังเบซาร์). Also spelled Padangbesar, Padangbezar and Padangbasar) is a border town in Southern Thailand.

Padang Besar is the only direct rail link between Malaysia and Thailand. It also has a road crossing between the two countries which is a lot less busy than the more direct Sadao-Bukit Kayu Hitam crossing.

The town on the Malaysian side of the border, in Perlis, is also called Padang Besar. Malaysians usually refer to the town on the Thai side as "Pekan Siam" or "Siamese Town".

Slightly bigger and a lot more ramshackle and sleazy looking than its Malaysian counterpart, Thailand's Padang Besar is often busy with Malaysians crossing the border for shopping and to indulge in the freewheeling entertainment which Thai border towns are infamous for.

Get in

Visa

For more information on visa requirements for Thailand, see Thailand | Get in.

By train

The Thai side of Padang Besar has a small railway station which should not be confused with the Padang Besar station on the Malaysian side where all Thai and Malaysian immigration formalities are carried out. The station is on the right side of the road leaving town towards Hat Yai. The following are departures from the Thai Padang Besar station, hence the times are all Thai time.

Both Keretapi Tanah Melayu's [1] Senandung Langkawi express between Kuala Lumpur and Hat Yai and the State Railways of Thailand's [2] International Express between Bangkok and Butterworth in Penang stop for a short while before proceeding to or after coming from Malaysia. The Senandung Langkawi departs for Hat Yai at 08:45 and for Kuala Lumpur at 15:45. The International Express leaves Padang Besar for Bangkok at 16:30 and for Butterworth at 07:20.

Malaysia is one hour ahead of Thailand. When it is noon in Thailand, it is 13:00 in Malaysia.

By road

Padang Besar is about 50 km south of Hat Yai. Coming from Hat Yai, you will have to turn right (west) at Sadao. To get to the Malaysian town of Padang Besar, leave town on the road to Hat Yai and the Thai immigration checkpoint is about 1 km away on the right.

The border crossing is open 05:00-23:00 Thai time (06:00-midnight Malaysian time).

Bus to/from Hat Yai: Regular local buses link Padang Besar and Hat Yai via Sadao. Journey time is about one hour. Buses leave from the main town square. The bus can also be caught on the main road right outside the Thai immigration complex. Wait on the opposite side of the road for Hat Yai-bound buses. Buses stop running around 18:00, so it is advisable to check.

Bus to/from Malaysia: There are no direct buses. From Hat Yai, get off the bus at the Thai immigration complex and walk or take a motorcycle taxi (20 baht or RM2 should be enough). If you choose to walk, remember that the two immigration checkpoints are several hundred metres apart. There is a duty free shopping complex in between the checkpoints on Malaysia territory.

Get around

See

  • Wat Tham Khao Rup Chang (วัดถ้ำเขารูปช้าง) (About 13km from Padang Besar market). The temple uses the cave as religious ground. The cave has been partitioned into several rooms with delicate stalactites and stalagmites. The surroundings are peaceful and shaded by trees.

Do

Buy

Eat

Drink

Sleep

Go next

Routes through Padang Besar
BangkokHat Yai  N  S  Butterworth



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