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Padang Besar is a border bazaar/market town that's been around for a long time. It has the Malaysian-Thailand border running right through it now so there's a Malaysian side and a Thai side. Whichever side you're on, you can easily go through immigration (the Malaysian and Thai counters are literally next to each other). Just make sure you have your passport and check visa requirements beforehand, of course. I went to the Malaysian side. Locals from both sides of the border come here by the bus-loads to shop for housewares, food items, clothes, toys etc. My father is from Kedah, the state below Perlis, and back when he was a kid you would literally walk across the train tracks to the bazaar proper. His mother used to get all her kitchen and houseware needs here. As a traveller, you probably don't need any more clothes or pots and pans, but if you do, I love the kitchenware selections (I love cooking)! I just walked around and listened to the mix of languages being spoken, people-watched, sat down and ate at one of the many busy food establishments, then shopped for snacks (nuts, crackers, dried fruits, cookies etc.). Worth it, and cheap. I bought both to snack on and as "buah tangan" (literally "fruit from the hands" or travel gifts) for my family in KL.

Not much attraction but for the traveller, DO BUY T-SHIRT HATYAI/CLOTHES at ARKED Padang Besar because clothes are much cheaper than in Hatyai. AND OLE-OLE also cheap such as key-chain or bags. They sell it only like RM10 but in HATYAI, they sell it at rm13/rm15. and we can nego at best price! Go eat at Arked Padang Besar, food is delicious but, a bit expensive. Not many grab-car. during my visit, only 8/9 grab-cars that registered with grab so it is really a long queue.

It was like a ghost town on weekdays we were there. No activities and most vendors at shopping arcade were selling the same things. Nothing to shout about. We were told that the town is busier on weekends.

The town itself is interesting for shoppers but better to go during the weekend. One place to go would be Haatyai across the border in Thailand. Transport there is easy as there are plenty of taxis and vans available but you have to get back by 10pm as the immigration closes at that time. Another place is Gua Kelam, about 30 minutes drive away. It is a beautiful drive and the cave is supposed to be interesting. We went up to the entrance but it was closed due to an earlier flood that had weakened the bridge going in. To get around call a Grab taxi and negotiate a deal to take you around for a few hours. Walking around is not very easy.