Ayutthaya was the capital of the Kingdom of Siam until the end of the 18th century, and today is one of Thailand's most important historical destinations. Although much of the city was destroyed during the Burmese invasion, the ruins of its temples and palaces are still standing, making Ayutthaya a true open-air museum. It is located only 80 km north of Bangkok, which makes it perfect for a day trip or for a stop along the way before continuing on to northern Thailand (which is what we did).
In this guide we tell you what was our route, the temples we visited and the places where we we ate to help you organize your perfect route. At one day can be seen perfectly Ayutthaya must-see so don't miss our tips to make the most of the day.
How to get to Ayutthaya
If you are doing the typical tour of Thailand you will probably do the Bangkok-Ayutthaya route so here we leave you the different options to make this tour:
Grab
This option is not the cheapest, but it is the best option faster and it was the one we chose because we were late to take the train which was our initial plan. Also, although it is not the cheapest option, it is still quite cheap since it cost us 12/pp (400 baths approx) and picked us up at the hotel and dropped us off directly in the city in 1 hour and a half.
Train
So that it doesn't happen to you like us who went crazy because most of the blogs are outdated, you should know that northbound trains leave from Bangkok for the last two seasons:
- Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal Stationis the new season and is intended to replace Hua Lamphong as Bangkok's main train station. The journey from here is about 1h to which you will have to add the time it will take you to get to the station from your accommodation.
- Hua LamphongThe old station from where trains used to depart to the north of the country.
Depending on the train you take, it will take you more or less time and the price will vary a little (but all of them are very cheap). The "suburbs"are around 20-30 baths (0.5-0.8 cents) and they take 1h30min and the faster trains cost between 150-300 baths (4-8€) and take 1h. Of course, here you will gamble that the train will be delayed and you will have to wait several hours (some friends had a delay of 3 hours and almost missed their connection).
Bus or minivan
Taking a shared bus or minivan is another good option to get from Bangkok to Ayutthaya. Both depart from Mochitwhich is the most important bus station in the capital city, and the trip takes between 1h and 2h depending on the traffic. The downside of this option is that you can catch traffic, especially leaving Bangkok, and in the case of minivans, you will have to wait for it to fill up to leave.
For both train and bus or minivan we recommend you to check the schedules and buy the tickets through the website of 12GoAsia. We bought them there to go from Ayutthaya to Chiang Rai and then to go to Chiang Mai and we had no problem. They are a little more expensive than at the ticket office but you make sure you have the seat reserved and you don't have to go so far in advance to buy them.
Organized excursion
There are several excursions with which you can make a visit to Ayutthaya The packages are designed for those who do not want to waste time or worry too much about transportation. In addition, they include guide in Spanish which is a plus since it is probably someone local who can tell you many things. Here are the ones we find most interesting:
In our case, we did with civitatis the excursion to the floating market and the train market without including Ayutthaya as we then wanted to go directly to Chiang Rai, but we recommend you the experience of going with a guide on an excursion because they teach you many things that you wouldn't know on your own.
Getting around Ayutthaya
Getting around Ayutthaya is quite simple, but the option you choose will depend on how much time you have y which temples you want to visit. Here are the most common options:
- Bicycle Although it is an economical and ecological way to move around, we do not recommend it if you are only going to stay one day. Some of the temples are quite far from the center, and with the heat and the short time available, you may end up exhausted. Even so, if you prefer this option, you can rent bicycles for a few euros 50-100 baht (1,5-3€) per day.
- Tuk-tuk One of the most popular ways to get around. Tuk-tuks are easy to find and you can negotiate prices for tours, a good idea if you are in a small group. Depending on how many stops you want to make, a tuk-tuk can cost between 500 and 1,000 baht (14-30€).
- Motorcycle: We opted for the motorcycle and highly recommend it but only if you are a frequent driver (don't do the touristy thing of driving in Asia on the left lane without having ever ridden a motorcycle in your life). Rent a motorcycle costs about 300 baht (about 9€) per day, and is the best way to move freely between the temples, especially if you want to visit those that are farther away. Be sure to bring a helmet although the locals don't always do it. We rent it at this siteIt was with him that we hired the bus to Chiang Rai.
- Private driver If you prefer comfort or you go in group, you can hire a private driver. This option is more expensive, but it will allow you to move with more peace of mind without worrying about the route and with air conditioning. Prices are usually between 1,500 and 2,000 baht (40-50€) per day, depending on stops and length of service.
Our route through Ayutthaya
Here we are going to tell you about the tour we did around the temples of Ayutthaya, which was the one that was recommended to us at the place where we rented the motorcycle. The temples we saw were the following (in that order):
- Wat Phanan Choeng
- Wat Maha That ❤️✅
- Wat Phra Ram
- Wat Phra Si Sanphet ❤️✅
- Wihan Phra Mongkhon Bophit
- Wat Lookayasutharam
- Wat Phukhao Thong
- Wat Chaiwatthanaram ❤️✅
We have marked with an emoji the temples we liked the most, so those would be our Ayutthaya must-sees.
Wat Phanan Choeng
Our tour of Ayutthaya began in Wat Phanan Choeng It was also our first experience driving a motorcycle in Thailand. If you are going to rent a motorcycle in the area, keep in mind that Google Maps can be a bit treacherous.... We took a few extra turns because we didn't quite understand the directions! It seems that motorcycles in Thailand have more flexibility than cars in some cases, including some 360º turns that we didn't dare to do until we saw more people with motorcycles doing them. So if you get lost, don't worry, it's part of the experience.
Upon arrival, the first thing that caught our attention was that the temple was full of Thai children who seemed to be on a hike. This already gave us the feeling of being in a more local place than a touristy one, and indeed, that was the case Wat Phanan Choeng is not the typical Thai temple full of tourists taking pictures. It is a rather quiet place, where people come to make donations and ask for luck, health or money. We saw several people writing their wishes on colored papers that they then left in a kind of urn. The atmosphere was quite special.
Wat Phanan Choeng is one of the oldest temples in Ayutthaya. It is believed to have been built in 1324 The temple was built before the founding of the Kingdom of Ayutthaya. It stands out for its huge statue of seated Buddha, Luang Pho Tho which measures about 19 meters of height. This statue is one of the most revered in all of Thailand, and every year many people come to honor it and make offerings.
- Schedule The temple is open every day from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m..
- Price: The entrance fee is around 20 baht (less than 1€).
Wat Maha That
Afterwards, we returned to the center of Ayutthaya to see one of the most famous temples in the city: Wat Maha That. I'm sure you have seen it in many photos because here is the famous Buddha's head embedded in the roots of a tree. It is one of the most representative icons of Ayutthaya and, undoubtedly, an obligatory stop if you are visiting the city.
Wat Maha That was one of the most important temples during the period of the Kingdom of Ayutthaya, and its construction dates back to the XIVth century. During the Burmese invasion in the 18th century, the temple was looted and destroyed, which explains its current state in ruins.
Although this temple already has a more touristy atmosphere, most of the tourists were concentrated around the Buddha's head, waiting their turn to have their picture taken classic picture. No one knows for sure how he ended up there, but it is believed that after the destruction of the temple by the Burmese some parts of the statues were scattered, and with the passing of the years nature reclaimed its place.
When we started to walk around this temple we were already feeling the heat, and it was still early! If you visit Ayutthaya in the warmer months, always bring water and something for protect yourselves from the sun because there is not much shade in the temples.
- Schedule Open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m..
- Price The entrance fee is about 50 baht (approximately 1,30€).
Wat Maha That has a special energy, and its atmosphere of ancient ruins, combined with the famous Buddha's head, makes it one of the most photogenic places in Ayutthaya.
Wat Phra Ram
After visiting the most well-known temples, we made a brief stop at Wat Phra Ram Although, frankly, we found it a bit dispensable. Its design is fairly typical of the temples of the time, with a large prang central, surrounded by chedis and ruins. Although it has undergone many restorations over the centuries, much of what you see today are ancient remains and ruins.
We found it a rather simple temple compared to the previous ones. Still, if you have time to spare and want to continue exploring the ruins of Ayutthaya, you can check it out. The good thing is that it is usually less crowded, which makes it a quiet place to stroll around. In addition, the surroundings we really liked as there are a few huge ponds and precious.
- Schedule: Open for 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m..
- Price: 50 baht.
Wat Phra Si Sanphet
Our next stop was Wat Phra Si Sanphet one of the most iconic temples in Ayutthaya, thanks to its three large chedis lined up. The three chedis contain the ashes of three kings of the Kingdom of Ayutthaya: the king Trailok the king Borommatrailokanat and the king Ramesuan. Although much of the temple was destroyed during the Burmese invasion, the chedis have been restored and are an essential part of the historical tour of Ayutthaya.
As soon as we arrived, we passed through a series of galleries filled with food stalls and souvenirs. Although the stalls were not the cleanest we had seen in Thailand, we decided to eat there so as not to waste time. We jumped in with a soup which did not look bad and, fortunately, everything felt good (see below the site). If you are short of time and you are not very picky, it is a practical option.
The temple itself is quite impressive, and the three chedis The main attraction is the three kings of Ayutthaya, which represent the three kings of Ayutthaya. As we were starting to feel the weight of the heat (and a lot!), we decided to try the umbrellas that they lend you in some temples to protect you from the sun, and they were a relief. If you visit Ayutthaya on a sunny day, we recommend you to take one of these umbrellas, they are a life saver!
- Schedule Open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m..
- Price: The entrance fee is 50 baht.
Wihan Phra Mongkhon Bophit
Right next to Wat Phra Si Sanphet Within the same enclosure, the following is located Wihan Phra Mongkhon Bophit. It is a more modern temple compared to the ancient ruins of Ayutthaya, and although it is not essential, it is worth entering as you will be a few steps away.
The highlight of this temple is its enormous statue of Bronze Buddha One of the largest in Thailand, which impresses with its size. The atmosphere is more modern and orderly than in the older temples, which gives it an interesting contrast.
If you've made it this far, we recommend you take a few minutes to see the statue and take a quick walk around, as it is a very quick stop.
- Schedule Open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m..
- Price: Free admission
Wat Lookayasutharam
The Wat Lokayasutharam is a temple known only for its enormous Reclining Buddha. Unlike other reclining Buddhas that are inside temples or buildings, this one is in the open air, which allows a perfect view of its impressive size, which reaches 37 meters long and 8 meters high. The contrast between the statue and the open sky is what makes this place so special.
Although it is not a place to spend much time, we recommend a brief stop to contemplate this giant Buddha and take the opportunity to rest a little after the tour of the other temples. The atmosphere is much quieter and less touristy, which makes it a relaxing place to regain strength.
- Schedule Open all the time as it is an open-air site.
- Price Free admission.
Wat Phukhao Thong
Another of our stops was Wat Phukhao Thong and the truth is that we liked it because it is quite different from the rest white temple. Part of the charm of this place is that it feels like you get a little off the beaten tourist track in Ayutthaya. To get here, we drove the motorcycle through some stunning scenery, full of little houses and open fields that gave us a sense of tranquility and incredible adventure.
The temple itself is a large white chedi located on a small hill, from where you have some pretty cool views of Ayutthaya in the distance. Although the temple is not as well preserved as others, the relaxed atmosphere and the views make it a highly recommended stop, especially if you want to escape the hustle and bustle of the more touristy temples.
- Schedule Open daily, normally from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m..
- Price Free admission.
Wat Chaiwatthanaram
We ended the day with a visit to Wat Chaiwatthanaram a temple that had been recommended to us especially for the hour of the sunset and the truth is that it did not disappoint. The temple, located on the banks of the Chao Phraya River, has an impressive structure with its great prang surrounded by other smaller ones, which makes it perfect for enjoying the sunset lights as they bathe the ruins.
We encountered many Thais dressed in traditional costumes We were also able to take pictures among the ruins, which added a very picturesque and authentic touch to the place. Of course, we warned you that being so close to the river, there were many mosquitoes. If you go in the afternoon, do not forget to bring repellent because you will need it.
Despite the mosquitoes, the atmosphere at sunset is beautiful, and it is one of those moments when you really feel the magic of the place. Definitely one of the best ways to end the day in Ayutthaya.
- Schedule: Open for 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m..
- Price: The entrance fee is 50 baht.
Where to eat in Ayutthaya
As we have mentioned before, we ended up eating in a kind of market set up in some galleries before entering the Wat Phra Si Sanphet. The truth is that no place convinced us too much but we assure you that you are not going to eat at a more local site than this one. In addition, eating here you will not lose a minute in the route through Ayutthaya. Something that was very important for us since we only spent one day there.
We ended up choosing a site that obviously is not on google maps, so we leave you a approximate address near the market and below is a photo of our veal soup and the sign of the place in case you are convinced. We have to say that despite the look the soup was delicious and very cheap (only 50 baths!).
We also tested what we thought was some sort of pandan pancake (tropical plant widely used in Asian cuisine) with coconut chips for 20 baths. Simply spectacular.
Tips
- Go to cap, sunscreen and plenty of water because most of the temples are in ruins (there is no roof) and it is very hot.
- In some temples, they tell you to go with the shoulders and knees covered but they are not very demanding, which is appreciated because of the heat.
- There is a bonus 220THB per person which includes entrance to Wat Maha That, Wat Racha Burana, Wat Phra Sanpetch, Wat Phra Ram, Wat Chai Watthanaram, Wat Mahe Yong. We ended up paying for the temples separately as we decided to include others on our route.
Map with the best temples of Ayutthaya
If you want to read other articles ideal for your trip that complement What to see and do in Ayutthaya in one day you can visit our posts about Thailand.
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