Bangkok to Ayutthaya: Discovering Ayutthaya, Thailand
Time travel may not be scientifically possible, but if you’ve ever felt the urge to take a step back in time, a visit to Ayutthaya Historical Park in Thailand is about as close as you can get. The Ayutthaya ruins are what is left of the once-splendid and ornate capital of the Kingdom of Siam that existed from 1351 to 1767. Ayutthaya is considered to be the predecessor of modern day Thailand, and was one of the great superpowers of the Southeast Asia region centuries ago.
Today what remains in Ayutthaya, Thailand are the crumbling, red-brick ruins of what was clearly a majestic and grand city. The Ayutthaya Historical Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and truly one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen in Thailand. It had been a bucket list destination for me for years, and in all the many times I have visited Thailand, I didn't get to go until 2022. But it was certainly worth the wait.
We visited Ayutthaya, Thailand over the course of two days, but from Bangkok to Ayutthaya is only about an hour, so you can certainly do it as a day trip from Bangkok. Still, we like to take our time and explore, so we decided to spend a little extra time.
I've detailed below the things we did and loved, and the things we did that you could probably skip. If you're short on time and wondering what to do in Ayutthaya for a day, this will probably be a good guide for you.
The one thing that I cannot stress enough is how spectacularly beautiful the Ayutthaya Historical Park is. Make sure to remind yourself that the Ayutthaya ruins are almost nearly 800 years old, and you are walking through them. I had to pinch myself several times as I imagined what it must have been like to have lived in this spectacular city during its heyday.
So let's get into it, shall we? Welcome to Ayutthaya Historical Park.
How to Get to Ayutthaya from Bangkok
How to get from Ayutthaya to Bangkok is super easy. The Total travel time from Bangkok to Ayutthaya is less than two hours to travel the 50-mile journey.
One of the easiest ways to get from Bangkok to Ayutthaya is the train. Simply go to the Hua Lamphong Railway Station, where you can choose a first-class or third-class ticket. First-class is about 330 baht ($8.80), and the journey takes an hour and 20 minutes. The Third-class train ticket is only 20 baht ($0.50) and takes two hours. There is also no air conditioning in the third-class train.
Another way to get from Bangkok to Ayutthaya is to take a minivan. These take between 90 minutes and two hours and leave from Mo Chit Bus Terminal. The one-way ticket costs 70 baht ($1.80). You will have to tell the driver you are headed to Ayutthaya.
Bus tours are another popular way to do an Ayutthaya day trip from Bangkok. These are well-organized, provide transportation, and come with a guide. It also usually includes lunch at a local spot. This is a great option for solo travelers, travelers who want to meet other people, or people who really want all the guesswork taken out. I used to scoff at organized tours, but after my years of solo traveling I've come to really enjoy them because it gives me the opportunity to learn something new and meet other people.
The way we chose to get to Ayutthaya was in a taxi. We were planning to spend a couple of nights there so we had our luggage with us, and taxis are really affordable in Thailand. A one-way rate was about 1,000 baht ($26) and took us straight to our hotel. It was definitely the most convenient option for us.
Getting Around Ayutthaya
If you’re visiting Ayutthaya as a day trip from Bangkok, I recommend either renting a bicycle to get around the Ayutthaya historical park, walking on foot, or using taxis. Bike rental shops are abundant, as are taxis, particularly if you download the Grab app, which works exactly like Uber. Many of the sites within the park are close together so you can walk around. But if you’re planning to do things outside the park, you may need something with wheels.
We were determined to rent a scooter, which we like to do in most places we travel. Having spent the majority of our time already in Krabi, we assumed that scooter rentals in Ayutthaya would be abundant. This was not the case. It took some serious digging to find a place, and the scooters in Ayutthaya were significantly more expensive than they were at the beach. Still, our hotel was on the outskirts of the city and we were in town for 48 hours so we knew we needed our own wheels. I can’t seem to find the place we rented from on Google, and I think there’s a chance it’s not open anymore. So put in a little leg work with Google and I am sure you will find a shop.
Best Things to Do in Ayutthaya, Thailand
Wat Chaiwatthanaram
Brace yourself. This is quite the entrance into the world of Ayutthaya. Technically not in the Ayutthaya Historical Park, it is very much a part of Ayutthaya's history, and is one of the most important Ayutthaya ruins.
The traditional Khmer-style temple sits on the the West Bank of the Chao Phraya River and is known for its towering central prank that is surrounded by four smaller pranks and eight chedi temples.
It is breathtaking. So much so that I still think about it regularly and how unbelievable it was to be able to actually walk the pathways within this temple. Its majestic perch on the river must have been quite a sight for visitors coming to the city as they disembarked off of riverboats and were met with such a spectacular structure.
Wat Phra Ram
Wat Phra Ram is not on the typical tourist circuit when visiting Ayutthaya. But it totally should be. This 14th-century temple was one of the earliest temples to be built in Ayutthaya, Thailand. Take note of its central prang, which is still beautifully preserved — and mesmerizing.
There's a very "Tomb Raider" vibe to this temple because it's overgrown with jungle. And because it's often skipped over, it has far fewer tourists than many of the other nearby temples.
Wat Mahathat
Speaking of Tomb Raider, the vibes keep on going over at Wat Mahathat, perhaps one of the coolest temples we saw at the Ayutthaya ruins. The temple allegedly dates back to 1384 and is one of the most famous places to visit in Ayutthaya because of the stone face of Buddha that is peeking out from the thick roots of a tree.
Truth be told, you'll have to get in line to take a picture of the face without other people in it, or pick the best angle to crop other people out. Still, it's a really wonderful spot in Ayutthaya, and the rest of the crumbling temple around it is just as mysterious and haunting.
Wat Ratchaburana
Just across the road from Wat Mahathat is Wat Ratchaburana. Built in the 15th century, the temple was built by King Boromracha II. The temple has really cool wall paintings in the two crypts underneath the large prang. The prang itself is truly impressive as it rises from the center of the red brick walls that encircle it.
Wat Phra Si Sanphet
I absolutely loved this temple. Not only is Wat Phra Si Sanphet supremely impressive, it also happens to be one of the most historically important temples in the Ayutthaya Historical Park. It is marked by its three large chedis, two of which were built in 1492. The third was built in 1530 and contains the ashes of King Ramathibodi II.
Wat Tha Ka Rong
Get ready to do a double take when you get to Wat The Ka Ring. This temple is not part of the Ayutthaya Historical Park, as it is still an active temple — and a very fascinating one at that.
The sprawling, colorful temple will make you feel as if you've dropped down into a pinball machine, with flashing lights, the clink of game machines, and animatronic mannequins that stand at every corner collecting donations.
Of course, the space wasn't always a futuristic, Vegas-style mind bend. It was actually a campsite for Burmese troops during the 16th century, and the temple itself is buried behind a covered plaza that is oversaturated with stuffed animals, candles, super hero figurines, and shrines.
Part of the temple experience includes a floating market, which is only open on weekends. This multi-sensory experience is overwhelming, but in a really fascinating way and should not be missed.
Best Ayutthaya Restaurants
While we were not in town for *that* long, we did find some Ayutthaya restaurants that we really loved. I’ve also listed a few others that have great reviews, but keep in mind we did not eat at all of these. The first two, however, we did experience and they were excellent.
Malakor Kitchen
Directly across from the Ayutthaya Historical Park, this casual restaurant serves up traditional Thai recipes with a great atmosphere. We had the green curry and the spicy salad with glass noodles and ground pork. It was super fresh and in a great location.
Pae Krung Kao
We found this restaurant thanks to Lonely Planet, and it was such a treat. We walked into the quirky front of the restaurant, which is strewn with knick-knacks and antiques. It feels like you’re walking into someone’s attic. An outdoor deck overlooks the river, which is really nice. They have an English menu but it is really limited, so you can do what we did and try to memorize a few of our favorite dishes in Thai.
We ordered the larb moo (spicy ground pork) and pad kee mao (drunken noodles) and both were excellent. The restaurant got a kick out of our pronunciations and we all had a good laugh because we very clearly butchered the words. But it was fun to try.
Other websites rave about the following Ayutthaya restaurants:
Ban U Thong Restaurant: Go for the fist-sized river prawns.
Coffee Old City: Local Thai favorites and a few western comfort foods
Bai Pau: Un-westernized Thai food, off the beaten path.
Somtum Sukunya: Spicy som tam salad and other Isaac dishes.
Where to Stay in Ayutthaya
Do *not* stay where we stayed. While the grounds of Pludhaya Resort & Spa were lovely, with individual huts overlooking the rice fields, it was way too far out of town. Plus, the huts were extremely hot with really hard beds. It seemed like it was going to be a very peaceful experience, but it was more uncomfortable than anything else.
Instead, try these:
Banchan Hostel
For those on a budget, Hanchan Hostel has great reviews, a friendly atmosphere, and is close to the Ayutthaya Historical Park.
A variety of room styles, including bungalows, single beds, superior rooms, twin beds, and deluxe rooms. The hotel is in a good location, not far from many of the main temples that you'll want to explore.
Busaba Ayutthaya
This chic accommodation is modern and sleek — a nice contrast from the traditional, and a glimpse of modern-day Ayutthaya. The terrace is on the water, and makes for a lovely spot to sit and read.
Kantary is a well-known brand in Thailand, known for its upscale accommodations. The hotel features apartment-style rooms, a gym, limo service, and is in a great location from which to explore Ayutthaya.
With just 27 sleek rooms, Sala Ayutthaya is located on the river overlooking some of the ancient temples.