Lopburi is the capital city of the same named province in Central Thailand about 150 km north of Bangkok. The city is influenced by Khmers and a number of Khmer temple ruins still exist in the city. Planning a trip to Lopburi in Thailand? This detailed Lopburi travel guide with travel tips will help you discover the city and its best things to do.
Things to Do in Lopburi
In addition to the Khmer temple ruins, nowadays the city is famous for its large monkey population. You can find many of them staying around Prang Sam Yot Khmer temple or just hanging around the streets of the city. Visiting Khmer temple ruins and interacting with monkeys in the city are the main things to do in Lopburi.
Khmer temple ruins
Lopburi is one of Thailand's oldest cities, as it was developed during from 6th to 10th centuries. The ruins that can be seen in the city today are the architecture of the Khmer and Ayutthaya empires. For some time Lopburi was the second capital of Ayutthaya empire. The influence of Khmers is well noticed in the city as a number of Khmer temple ruins still exist here.
The most famous landmark of the city is Phra Prang Sam Yot, ruins of a typical Khmer-style temple with three huge prangs.
Other remains of Khmer empire in the city are:
Prang Khaek shrine - the oldest monument in Lopburi and the oldest Khmer-style Hindu Shrine in Central Thailand.
San Phra Kan shrine – a Brahman shrine, containing a four-armed Hindu god Vishnu image which is a very important object of worship here. The shrine is located just next to Phra Prang Sam Yot temple.
Wat Phra Sri Rattana Mahathat - a large Royal temple in the center of Lopburi, just near the railway station.
Monkeys
Another famous attraction of Lopburi is its large population of monkeys. Most of them are staying at Khmer temples Phra Prang Sam Yot and San Phra Kan but you will meet plenty of them just hanging around the streets of the city. These monkeys are extremely cheeky so you should take care of your belongings when they are around. Mostly they are looking for food but you can never be sure if some curious buddy won’t get interested in your phone or camera.
Monkeys are the main tourist attraction in Lopburi and the town shows appreciation to them by putting on a Monkey Buffet Festival. A huge buffet of 4 tons of fruits, vegetables and other treats is laid out for the monkeys around Phra Prang Sam Yod on the last Sunday in November every year.
The easiest way to visit the main attractions in the city is by taking Ayutthaya & Lopburi Monkey Temple Private Day Trip from Bangkok, which not only brings you to see the monkey temple but also to explore the old capital and ancient home of the Siamese kings in Ayutthaya.
Where to Stay in Lopburi
The number of accommodations is limited but you still can find some affordable options if you would decide to stay overnight in the city. The best place to stay in Lopburi if you are only looking to visit the main attractions and going to travel by train, is the area around railway station. Otherwise, you can look for options in the city center.
Some of the best accommodations in the city:
Noom Guesthouse - accommodation located in the historical heart of the city, only a 3-minute walk from the railway station
Pee Homestay Lopburi - nice little homestay with a friendly and welcoming host, located a 3-minute walk from the train station in a really silent neighbourhood
Windsor Resort - affordable resort with a garden and air-conditioned rooms not far from train station
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 Lopburi?
From Bangkok, you can reach Lopburi by private car, train or minivan.
Private Car Hire
The easiest and by far most comfortable way to explore Lopburi, the former abandoned capital city of Thailand, now famous for the hundreds of Macaque monkeys that have overrun the area, is by choosing Private Car Hire to Lopburi the Monkey City.
Train to Lopburi
Taking northern line train to Lopburi can be the cheapest option for reaching the monkey city. You can just make a stopover here and then continue your journey to Sukhothai or Chiang Mai.
The cheapest commuter and ordinary trains depart 7 times a day from Hua Lamphong Railway Station in Bangkok. Depending on the train, the trip from Bangkok can take about 3 hours.
Faster and more comfortable express and rapid trains depart from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal station 7 times a day and they normally take just a bit more than 2 hours to cover this route.
Train tickets for these trains can be booked online here: Train from Bangkok to Lopburi.
Bus to Lopburi
Taking a bus or a minivan from Bangkok’s Northern Bus Terminal is another affordable option for reaching the city of monkeys. It takes about 3 hours with a bus and a bit less with a minivan. Minivans leave from Mochit New Van Terminal.
Minivan tickets can be booked online here: Minivan from Bangkok to Lopburi.
Other Transportation Options
More transportation options for a trip can be found and transport tickets can be booked by this search form.
Weather in Lopburi
In Lopburi 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 Lopburi to reach even 40°C.
The wet season in Lopburi 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.
For the best time to visit the monkey city check weather in Lopburi.
Next Destination after Lopburi?
Bangkok is the capital of Thailand and the largest city of 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.
Ayutthaya and Sukhothai are both important historical sites with ancient temple ruins, while Kanchanaburi is known for its WWII history and beautiful nature.
