Ayutthaya : The Best Day Trip From Bangkok, Thailand

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Are you looking for the best day trip from Bangkok? If you’re like me then you’re probably excited about visiting something different from the bustling streets of Bangkok. Don’t look further and go to Ayutthaya : the best day trip from Bangkok.

Ayutthaya is a must visit destination for history buffs and casual travellers alike. This city is the ancient capital of the Kingdom of Siam, now so called Thailand. Today, Ayutthaya is a huge UNESCO World Heritage Site that offers a glimpse into Thailand’s rich past with its stunning temples and ruins.

After reading this post you’re going to know everything about a day trip to Ayutthaya. As I’ve been there recently I’m sharing the different options to get there, the best things to see, where to eat and all my extra tips.

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Table of Contents

Ayutthaya : The Best Day Trip ? Why visiting

Founded in 1350, Ayutthaya was once the vibrant capital of the Kingdom of Siam and a major hub of trade and culture in Southeast Asia. The city was located in a strategic location, surrounded by rivers until the Burmese destroyed the city in 1767 during a war between the two kingdoms.

Today, the UNESCO Heritage Site is well preserved and allows you to walk freely around the ruins and temples. This city is the testament to the grandeur of the Kingdom of Siam.

Ayutthaya is perfect for you if you like culture and history, visiting UNESCO Heritage Site or simply wants to take a day trip from Bangkok.

If you are visiting Bangkok check out my post 3 Days In Bangkok : The Ultimate Itinerary

Useful informations

  • Best time to visit : the cooler months are from November to February. The weather is ideal to explore Ayutthaya as you don’t get overheated.
  • Opening hours: Most of the historical sites opens from 8am to 6pm.
  • Entrance fees: Each temple or site has an entrance fee. It is around 50 THB (1.5$USD/ 1.5€/ 1.3CHF.) If you plan to visit multiple location, consider purchasing the Ayutthaya Historical Park pass for 220 THB (6$USD/ 6€/ 5.5CHF.)
  • Please dress modestly and cover your shoulders and knees to show respect to the culture, religion and people. As it gets warm under the sun I recommend you to wear light pants and a light shirt or t-shirt.

PLEASE DO NOT RIDE THE ELEPHANT that are around the temples. They are mistreated and not well care of. Do not go to the elephant tourists camps around either! This is unethical and you will be paying to harm animal. Let’s be gentle with all beings on earth.

How to get to Ayutthaya

There are plenty of options to choose to get to Ayutthaya.

  • By Train : from Bangkok’s Hua Lamphong Station or Krung Thep Aphiwat Station you can buy a ticket to Ayutthaya. We bought the ticket directly at the train station and the price for a one way was 20THB (0.5$USD/ 0.5€/ 0.4CHF.) The journey takes between 1h30 and 2h. There a several trains per day but I recommend you to take an early train and arrive at the opening hours. Personally we took this option and jumped in the train at 6:30am. We arrived at 8am ate breakfast and started our visit at 8:30am.
  • By Bus: The bus leaves from Bangkok’s Nothern Bus Terminal and takes 2h. It costs around 50-70 THB (1.5USD/ 1.5€/ 1.3CHF.)
  • By Car: Rent or hire a private driver to spend the day in Ayutthaya. I’d recommend this option if you are travelling with a group of people and want flexibility. You can hire a driver on Grab for the day or ask your hotel for recommendations.
  • By Boat: You can book a river cruise to get to Ayutthaya from Bangkok. The price usually includes meals and a guide for the excursion and costs around 2500 THB (73$USD/ 70€/ 65CHF.)

Where can you buy your ticket?

If you’re looking for guided tours here are some of my recommendations:

What to do

You can visit the temple of Ayutthaya in no particular order but I recommend you to absolutely visit these 3 temples :

Don’t forget to cover your shoulders and knees before entering the sights. Most of them won’t let you in if you’re not covered enough.

Wat Mahathat

This is a must as it’s one of the oldest temple in Ayutthaya. It is a huge complex where you can walk around the ruins. This temple is famous for the Buddha head entwined in a tree roots. The story behind it is that when the Burmese destroyed the temples they cut most of Buddha head from statues to sell them on the black market. However this specific head was to big to take back home right away. So the Burmese hurried it thinking they would come back to take it. They never did and the head grew out of the soil entwined in the roots

Wat Phra Si Sanphet

This is one of the most photographed sites in Ayutthaya. It is well known for its beautiful three stupas that were once part of the royal palace complex.

Wat Ratchaburana

This temple allows visitors to climb down into the crypt to see the ancient murals. This temple is known for its well preserved tower in Khmer-style.

Wat Chai Watthanaram

This complex was built in Khmer-style during the of King Prasat Thong in 1630. It was designed to honor the mother of the King and reflect the power and the wealth of the Ayutthaya’s Kingdom at the time.

Like most of the other temples, it was partially destroyed during the invasion of the Burmese in 1767. It’s famous around photographers for its sunset view.

Wai Yai Chai Mongkhon

This temple was built in 1357 during the reign of King Uthong, the founder of Ayutthaya Kingdom. in the 16th the complex was repaired and extended by King Naresuan. Initially builded for monks to live and meditate in, it got also linked to the military history of the kingdom.

Ayutthaya Ferrillo Fanny

How to get to the ruins by yourself

When arriving at Ayutthaya train station, a lot of taxi drivers will ask you to drive you around. If you’re not interested I advice you to keep walking straight down, pass by some shops and go until the end of the street.

There, you’ll find a little boat that cost 20 cents and takes you to the other side of the river. You’ll arrive at the local market. From there it is around 20 minutes walk before finding Wat Mahathat.

Download the Google map’s offline map of Ayutthaya if you want to orientate yourself easily. It is very accurate.

Hire a driver

Choose to hire a tuktuk. There are plenty waiting at the train station to take you around. You need to bargain the price with them. Don’t be afraid to ask for the temples you want to see and personalised your itinerary. They all have a poster with the pictures of the different temples so you can easily show them.

OR walk and hire a taxi at one of the temple in the center. We walked most of the time but one temple was a bit further and we decided to hire a tuktuk to get to the last temple and to take us back to the train station. They will try to offers more prestations but you can really negotiate what you want to do.

Where to eat

Some restaurant recommendations to have lunch or dinner in town.

  • Raan Tha Luang
  • Baan Kano Nhom
  • The Summer House Ayutthaya
  • Ayutthaya floating market

Books and movies about Ayutthaya

  • Four Reigns, Kukrit Pramoj. It is a historical novel setting in Bangkok but it provides a lot of informations and understanding of the cultural continuity from Ayutthaya to modern Thailand.
  • A History of Ayutthaya : Siam in the Early Modern World, Chris Baker and Paul Phongpaichit. This book is about the rise and fall of Ayutthaya and offer insights into the cultural and political environment.

Extra tips

  • Rent a Bike on the spot: If you’re comfortable with your orientation you can take the train by yourself and then rent bikes to get around the town.
  • Stay Hydrated : This is the most important tip and I recommend you to always keep some rehydration powder that you can pour in your water if you feel dizzy. It really helps under the heat and prevent from dehydration.
  • Timing is key: as I mentioned I definitely recommend you to go early morning. It allows you to beat the crowds and the midday heat. The light in the early morning is also really beautiful and nice on pictures.
  • Travel light: Bring a small backpack with sunscreen, a hat, enough water and your camera.

Finally if you need a Sim card for Thailand, you can order an e-Sim on these apps.

Conclusion

In my opinion, if there is one day trip that you must do from Bangkok, it’s Ayutthaya. You’ll be able to immerse yourself in the beauty and visit some beautiful landmarks of one of the most important city of Thailand. For me it is the little sister of the Cambodian’s complex Angkor Wat in Siam Reap but it is less crowded and more enjoyable to walk around. So be ready to explore one of the most treasured destinations in Thailand!