Ayutthaya in Central Thailand is the old capital of Siam (the old name of Thailand) and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. If you are interested in history and architecture, it will be a magnificent place for you to visit. Planning a trip to Ayutthaya in Thailand? This detailed Ayutthaya travel guide with travel tips will help you discover the city and its best things to do.
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Ayutthaya was the richest and biggest city in the country before being destroyed by Burmese. The city is located on an island surrounded by three rivers - Chao Phraya, Lopburi, and Pasak.
Things to do in Ayutthaya
The main things to do in Ayutthaya are related to the historical park, which now is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where you can find still existing temples, palaces, and other buildings, some of them well preserved.
Ayutthaya Historical Park
Ayutthaya was founded around the middle of the 14th century and became the second capital of Siam after Sukhothai. An ideal location of the city made it the trading capital of Asia and it grew up to become the largest city in the world - about 1 million people where living here at the start of 18th century. But the glory of Ayutthaya ended soon as the Burmese invaded and destroyed the city in 1767.
The ruins of the temples and palaces are a part of Ayutthaya Historical Park, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The historical park is the main tourist attraction in the city and a very popular day-trip destination for travelers from Bangkok.
Some of the most important temples of the historical park are detailed below.
Wat Phra Si Sanphet
Wat Phra Sri Sanphet was the most important temple of Ayutthaya, as it was considered the spiritual center of Thais for a long time. Situated within the Grand Palace grounds, Wat Phra Sri Sanphet was the royal temple and served to conduct various royal ceremonies. It is also regarded as a model for Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha) in Bangkok.
Wat Phra Si Sanphet is one of the most impressive sights in the city, as its 3 large and many smaller chedis make this temple very picturesque.
Wat Mahathat
Wat Mahathat was the largest temple of Ayutthaya, where Buddha's relics were enshrined and the leader of the Thai Buddhist monks was residing. The temple is believed to be built during the early Ayutthaya period (in 14th century). This large temple was destroyed by the Burmese.
This large temple complex with its rows of headless Buddha images is very atmospheric. Wat Mahathat is also the site where you can see one of the most popular icons of Ayutthaya - the famous Buddha's head entrapped by the roots of an overgrown tree.
Wat Ratchaburana
Wat Ratchaburana stands out for having a large prang, which is exceptionally well preserved. You can climb up inside the prang for nice views of Ayutthaya or go down to the lower part of the prang, where you can find two crypts with original interesting wall paintings in them.
Viharn Phra Mongkol Bophit
Viharn Phra Mongkol Bophit is a large assembly hall sheltering a large bronze Buddha image, called Phra Mongkhon Bophit. This close to 17 meters high (with the base) Buddha image is one of the most revered Buddha images in Ayutthaya and is attracting crowds of Thai visitors who bring alms and pay respect to it.
Wat Phra Ram
Wat Phra Ram was built as the cremation site for King U-Thong (the first king of the Ayutthaya kingdom). The temple complex houses a large prang and some smaller chedis. There is a large pond in front of the temple.
Wat Lokkayasutharam
The main highlight of Wat Lokkayasutharam is its huge reclining Buddha image, called Phra Bhuddhasaiyart, which faces to the east. This impressive reclining Buddha image is about 40 meters long and is one of the largest, if not largest, in Ayutthaya.
Wat Thammikarat
Wat Thammikarat is a working temple, which contains the ruins of a large chedi with a base of 52 surrounding lions and a huge roofless assembly hall (viharn). Its tall columns and a large tree growing nearby make this temple very picturesque.
The historical park can be explored in several different ways. Most travelers choose to visit it on a guided day tour from Bangkok. When traveling independently, you can walk between some of the most important temples or take a local tuk-tuk. Exploring the historical park by bicycle is also popular, and you can even join the Ayutthaya City and Historical Park Bike Tour that also takes you to other interesting spots in the city. For the most special experience, choose a private longtail boat tour and go on a scenic ride on the Chao Phraya River and visit some riverside temples in Ayutthaya.
Bang Pa-In Royal Palace
Bang Pa-In Royal Palace, located on the way from Bangkok to Ayutthaya, was used as a summer residence for ancient Thai kings. Bang Pa-In Royal Palace was originally built in 1632 by King Prasat Thong. In the palace complex you can find a number of impressive buildings built in different architectural styles of Thai, Chinese and European design. Here you can admire the golden pagodas and serene pools reflecting the region’s glorious past.
As the palace complex is out of the city, the easiest way to visit it is as part of an Ayutthaya day trip.
Where to stay in Ayutthaya
There is a wide range of hotels and guesthouses in Ayutthaya, with some of the best options found along the river.
Some of the best riverfront accommodations:
sala ayutthaya - luxury accommodation in a historic city, perched on the riverbank, overlooking the famous Wat Phutthaisawan.
Baan Pomphet - 8-room boutique sanctuary artfully designed to embrace the natural ambiance of Ayutthaya's Chaophraya Riverfront and the scenic beauty of its namesake Pomphet Fortress.
Loy Manee House - accommodation, which looks out onto the Chao Phraya River and is next to a large temple complex.
If you are wondering about where to stay in the ancient city, here is a shortlist of 15 best hotels in Ayutthaya suitable for various budgets: Best Hotels in Ayutthaya.
To get the best deal on accommodation, make sure to compare hotel deals on Booking.com with often better special offers on Agoda.
How to get to Ayutthaya
Ayutthaya is located in Central Thailand, not far from Bangkok, and can be easily accessed from the capital city on a tour or by bus, train, or private transfer.
Tour from Bangkok
The easiest way to visit Ayutthaya and its main attractions is by joining a tour from Bangkok or even choosing a private one for the biggest convenience. The main places of interest can be visited on a day trip from Bangkok, and you can even enhance your experience by choosing one of the combined tours, such as the Ayutthaya & Ayothaya Floating Market Day Trip or the Ayutthaya Day Tour by Bus with River Cruise.
Train to Ayutthaya
Taking northern line train to Ayutthaya can be the cheapest option for reaching the ancient city. You can just make a half-day stopover here and then continue your journey to Sukhothai or Chiang Mai.
The cheapest commuter and ordinary trains depart about 10 times a day from Hua Lamphong Railway Station in Bangkok. Depending on the train, the trip from Bangkok can take about 1.5 - 2 hours.
Faster and more comfortable express and rapid trains depart from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal station about 15 times a day, and they normally take just a bit more than 1 hour to cover this route.
Train tickets for these trains can be booked online here: Train from Bangkok to Ayutthaya.
Minivan to Ayutthaya
Taking a minivan from Bangkok is another cheap option for reaching the ancient city. The journey takes about 1.5 or 2 hours. Minivans mainly leave from Mochit Van Terminal and from Khao San Road.
Minivan tickets can be booked online here: Minivan from Bangkok to Ayutthaya.
There are minivans going from Kanchanaburi to Ayutthaya as well.
Flights to Ayutthaya
The nearest to the city are the airports in Bangkok.
To get to the ancient city from the airport directly, you can book a private Bangkok Airport transfer.
Private transfer
Even if you want to explore the area and its attractions independently, the most convenient way to get to Ayutthaya from Bangkok City or any of its airports is by booking a private transfer between cities.
Other transportation options
More transportation options for a trip can be found, and transport tickets can be booked by this search form.
Weather in Ayutthaya
In Ayutthaya, the seasons are clearly defined. Between November and May, the weather is mostly dry with little rain expected throughout the region for much of this time. The dry season here is broken up into the periods of cool season (November to February) and hot season (March to May), when it is not unusual for the temperature in central locations to reach even 40°C.
The wet season in Ayutthaya is from May to November. The rain usually comes in the form of short showers, lasting an hour or two. As the rainy season progresses, the rain can become heavier and more constant, traditionally reaching peak levels in August and September.
Destinations after Ayutthaya
Bangkok is the capital of Thailand and the largest city in the country, with tons of things to do and see, so you can easily spend days or weeks there and not get bored.
Pattaya is the nearest large beach destination, infamous for its wild nightlife.
Kanchanaburi is known for its WWII history and beautiful nature, while Sukhothai is another important historical site with ancient temple ruins.
Located not so far away, Lopburi is the city with Khmer temple ruins and a large monkey population. You can actually visit them together on the Ayutthaya & Lopburi Monkey Temple Private Day Trip from Bangkok.
