Ayutthaya is one of the best day trips you can do from Bangkok. It is only around 80km away, but it feels completely different from the city. Instead of skyscrapers, traffic and malls, you have ancient temple ruins, huge Buddha statues and old palace grounds spread around a former capital of Siam.
It was once one of the largest cities in the world before it was destroyed in 1767. Today, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and full of impressive ruins. It is different from other day trips you can do from Bangkok with the more popular railway and floating markets or the seaside chaos of Pattaya.
You can visit Ayutthaya in one day, but I would not try to do it in the absolute cheapest way just for the sake of it. The temples are spread out and it gets extremely hot, and the journey by train can take away a lot of your day once you factor in getting to the station, crossing the river and finding transport between temples.
In this guide I will list the pros and cons of every method on how to get to Ayutthaya from Bangkok and all the best things to do and temples to see once you are there
How to Get to Ayutthaya from Bangkok
There are a few ways to get from Bangkok to Ayutthaya. The journey itself normally takes between one and two hours, depending on the unpredictable Bangkok traffic and the option you choose.
Organised Tour from Bangkok
An organised day tour is the easiest option, especially if you are short on time, travelling solo or simply do not want to deal with transport in the heat.
Most tours pick you up from central Bangkok between 7am and 8am. You will then travel in an air-conditioned minivan or coach, visit four to six main temples, stop for lunch and return to Bangkok in the late afternoon or early evening.
A standard shared tour usually costs around 1,000–1,800 THB per person. Some include hotel pickup, lunch and entrance fees, while others only include transport and a guide, so always check what is actually included before booking. There are also tours that take you on the river and some tours even combine it with Floating market
The main benefit is that you get someone explaining what you are looking at. Ayutthaya is beautiful, but if you just walk around ruins without context, after the fourth temple it can all start feeling a bit repetitive.
I would avoid tours that try to combine Ayutthaya with a floating market, elephant ride and several shopping stops in one day. It sounds like you are getting more for your money, but you end up spending less time at the actual historical sites. Stick to a tour focused mainly on Ayutthaya and ideally one that includes Wat Mahathat, Wat Phra Si Sanphet and Wat Chaiwatthanaram.
Private Taxi or Driver from Bangkok
A private taxi or driver is my recommended option if there are two to four of you travelling together.
It gives you much more flexibility than a group tour. You can leave Bangkok early, choose the temples you actually want to see, spend longer at the best ones and avoid being rushed back onto a coach every 40 minutes.
A one-way taxi from Bangkok can cost around 1,000–1,500 THB. Most of the major temples are within a short walking distance so you can just navigate it yourself. However read the best temples below as you do not want to arrive in Ayutthaya and then start figuring out how to move around between temples.
You can also book a private driver for the full day. Expect to pay roughly 2,500–3,500 THB for a car and driver for around eight to nine hours, usually excluding temple entrance fees, food and possibly motorway tolls. Split between three or four people, it is very reasonable. In my opinion this was overkill for myself and we instead just grabbed a grab or uber and just enjoyed the drive.
The drive is usually around one to one and a half hours if you leave Bangkok early. It can take longer in bad traffic, which is another reason to aim for a 7am departure rather than leaving at 10am and wasting half the day.
Train from Bangkok to Ayutthaya
The train is the cheapest way to get to Ayutthaya, but I would not recommend it for most people doing a day trip. Only do it if you want to experience the local trains and how they work.
Trains from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal can take around one hour and 15 minutes on the faster services, but many take closer to one and a half to two hours. Tickets can be very cheap, from around 20 THB in third class up to a few hundred baht for a more comfortable air-conditioned seat.
On paper, it sounds like a great budget option. The issue is that the train does not take you directly to the ruins.
Once you arrive at Ayutthaya Railway Station, you still need to walk to the river, take the small ferry across, then arrange a tuk-tuk, bicycle or taxi to get around. The major sights are scattered over several kilometres, so this is not somewhere you can realistically visit properly just by walking.
You can take the small ferry across the river for around 10 THB, but then you still need to figure out the rest of your transport. By the time you have travelled across Bangkok to the station, waited for a train, travelled to Ayutthaya and arranged a tuk-tuk, a large part of your day is already gone.
The train is worth considering if you are on a very strict budget, staying near Krung Thep Aphiwat or want the local experience. Further more it also takes around an hour depending where you’re staying to reach Bangkok’s train station. In my opinion, just pay a bit more for a tour or taxi and actually enjoy the day rather than the hectic traveling.
How to Get Around Ayutthaya
Ayutthaya Historical Park is not one single enclosed park. The temples are spread around the old city island and beyond it, with some of the best ones located across the river.
If you are on an organised tour or have hired a private driver, this is already sorted.
If you arrive independently, you have a few options.
Tuk-tuks are the easiest way to get around. Agree a full price and itinerary before you get in. Rates can vary a lot, but expect to pay around 200–400 THB per hour or roughly 1,200–1,800 THB for a longer private circuit, depending on your negotiation skills and how many temples you want to see.
Bicycles are a cheaper option and can cost around 50–100 THB for the day. Ayutthaya is relatively flat, and cycling between the central ruins can be enjoyable in the morning. However, I would not recommend it in the middle of the day unless you are very comfortable cycling in the heat. The sun is brutal, and some of the better temples are too far apart to make cycling practical on a short day trip.
My advice is just visit the three main temples which are right next to each other and walk a bit through the park. Cycling also works but I would avoid spending extra on a private tuktuk driver if you arrived here alone and on a budget.
Things to Do in Ayutthaya
You will not be able to see every temple in Ayutthaya in one day, and there is no need as other than the main ones and if you’re not a Buddhist or into Buddhism than the main ones will suffice. Pick the best ones and give yourself time to enjoy them.
Most major historic sites charge foreign visitors around 50 THB per temple. There is also a six-temple pass for around 220 THB, which is worth getting if you plan to visit several ticketed ruins. I started off my day in Wat Mahathat. They only accept cash at the time I visited so have some handy.
Wat Mahathat
Wat Mahathat is the most famous temple in Ayutthaya and the one you have probably already seen.
This is where you will find the Buddha head wrapped inside the roots of a banyan tree. It is one of the most recognisable images in Thailand and definitely worth seeing in person. It is important to pay your respects here and respect other religions. It was definitely something abnormal when I saw it as it’s not normally you see a cut out head of a god around a tree.
When taking a photo with the Buddha head, crouch or sit lower than it. It is considered disrespectful to stand above a Buddha image.
Wat Ratchaburana
Wat Ratchaburana is only a short distance from Wat Mahathat. Just a 5 minute walk and I found myself to the biggest temple here. It was certainly a sight to behold as the prang was massive.
Its large central prang is still in much better condition than many of the other ruins. The temple was built in the 15th century and has a slightly different feel to Wat Mahathat, with more height and detail in the remaining structure.
Wat Phra Si Sanphet and Wihan Phra Mongkhon Bophit
Wat Phra Si Sanphet was once part of the royal palace complex and is one of the most important sites in Ayutthaya.
The three large chedis lined up next to each other are the main feature here. They hold the ashes of former kings and are one of the classic views of the old capital.
Right next door is Wihan Phra Mongkhon Bophit, an active temple with a huge golden Buddha statue inside. It is free to enter and gives you a nice change from the exposed ruins outside.
This is one of the places where you need to dress respectfully. Cover your shoulders and knees, take off your shoes before entering the temple building and avoid speaking loudly.
Wat Phra Ram
Wat Phra Ram sits near a pond in the central part of the historical park and is a good stop if you want something a little quieter. I walked through the park and I only saw this temple for the outside.
It is less busy than Wat Mahathat, but it has a very photogenic central prang surrounded by smaller ruins. It is also close enough to Wat Phra Si Sanphet that you can visit both without wasting time.
Wat Chaiwatthanaram
Wat Chaiwatthanaram is my pick for the most impressive temple in Ayutthaya.
It is located outside the main old city island, beside the Chao Phraya River, so it is much easier to reach with a driver, tuk-tuk or organised tour. The temple has a huge central Khmer-style prang surrounded by smaller towers, and it feels completely different from the flatter ruins in the centre.
This is one of the best places for photos, especially later in the afternoon when the light is softer. You may see people renting traditional Thai outfits here for photos.
Take a Short River Boat Ride
If you have extra time, take a short boat ride around the rivers surrounding Ayutthaya.
The boat ride itself is not essential if you only have one day, but it gives you a different view of the old capital and lets you see temples from the water. Sunset rides are particularly nice, although this is easier if you are staying overnight or have a private driver rather than relying on the train back to Bangkok.
Try Ayutthaya Boat Noodles and Roti Sai Mai
Do not leave Ayutthaya without trying boat noodles. They are small bowls of rich noodle soup, usually served in portions that look tiny but are designed for you to order a few at a time.
Another local speciality is roti sai mai, a thin sweet roti wrapped around colourful strands of sugar floss. It is not exactly a healthy snack, but you are on holiday, so it would be rude not to try it.
Optional Stop: Bang Pa-In Royal Palace
Bang Pa-In Royal Palace is located south of Ayutthaya and is often included on full-day tours from Bangkok.
It was a summer palace for Thai kings and is very different from the temple ruins. There are landscaped gardens, elegant buildings and a mixture of Thai, European and Chinese-style architecture.
It is worth adding if you have a full-day private driver or a tour that includes it without sacrificing too much time in Ayutthaya itself. I skipped this as the heat was getting to us and wanted to rush back to our hotel pool.
A Realistic Ayutthaya Day Trip Itinerary
If you book a tour or private driver, this is a realistic way to plan your day:
- Leave Bangkok around 7am.
- Visit Wat Chaiwatthanaram first before it gets too hot.
- Stop at Wat Phanan Choeng if it is on your route.
- Visit Wat Mahathat and Wat Ratchaburana together.
- Have lunch and try boat noodles.
- Visit Wat Phra Si Sanphet, Wihan Phra Mongkhon Bophit and Wat Phra Ram.
- Finish at Wat Lokayasutharam or take a short river ride.
- Return to Bangkok around 4pm or 5pm.
You can fit in Bang Pa-In Royal Palace too, but only if you start early and do not spend too long at every stop.
Practical Tips for Visiting Ayutthaya
Bring cash. Temple tickets, tuk-tuks, food stalls and smaller shops are much easier to pay for in Thai baht.
Start early. Ayutthaya is exposed and there is very little shade around some of the ruins. Visiting between 11am and 2pm can feel like walking around inside an oven.
Dress respectfully. For ruined historical sites, normal comfortable clothes are usually fine, but active temples require covered shoulders and knees. Personally I didn’t find them to be as strict about the clothing here but dont come in sleeveless. A normal Tshirt and shorts reaching the knee should be fine.
Do not try to visit every temple. One day is enough for the highlights, but trying to see ten or twelve ruins will make the whole experience feel rushed and repetitive.
Skip elephant rides. I felt sorry for the animals as they are clearly not treated well here. If you want to see elephants go to an elephant sanctuary near Chiang Mai instead.
Conclusion
If you have an extra day in Bangkok then Ayutthaya is absolutely worth visiting. You will get a completely different part of Thailand without loads of traveling. The history and the temples are really nice and I appreciated how old some of these temples were.
I would recommend coming here but do not priorotize it over a day tour to a traditional floating market. I do however recommend coming here if you are choosing between here and Pattaya. You will have plenty of time for beaches if you are going to be in Thailand.
If you are planning a bigger Thailand trip, you can also read my guides on how to visit Maya Bay, things to do in Phi Phi Islands and Tiger Cave Temple in Krabi.
