Ayutthaya Travel Guide: Ayutthaya, the capital of the kingdom for four centuries, and its surrounding area preserve many traces of this glorious past. The ruins of the most visited temples are integrated into the city (this area is often referred to as the Ayutthaya Historical Park), while others are located on the outskirts. Besides Wat Phra Si Sanphet, with its three chedis and the city's landmark, there's the quieter Wat Mongkol Bophit, featuring a reclining Buddha and several temples with seated Buddha statues. Just outside this area is the remarkably well-preserved and beautiful Wat Yai Chai Mongkhol. Its two enormous stone Buddhas flanking the main chedi and the Buddha Square make it one of Thailand's most remarkable temples. A definite favorite of the thailandee team! Be aware that it can get quite cold at night in Ayutthaya, so be sure to bring appropriate supplies. All options for getting around in Ayutthaya can be found in our section "Getting around Ayutthaya".

Accommodation in Ayutthaya: Staying overnight in Ayutthaya is easy and affordable. There are many inexpensive guesthouses and small hotels. Advance booking isn't necessary; you'll easily find a room. Most accommodations are located around Ho Rattanachai Road on the other side of the Pa Sak River. If you arrive by bus, you'll be right in this area. If you arrive by train, simply walk down the street opposite the station and take the boat across for a few baht. Find accommodation in Ayutthaya. Choose a destination: Amphawa Ayutthaya Bang Saphan Bangkok Buriram Cha Am Chachoengsao Chaiyaphum Chanthaburi Chiang Dao Chiang Khan Chiang Mai Chiang Rai Chonburi Chumphon Dan Sai Hat Yai Hua Hin Kalasin Kamphaeng Phet Kanchanaburi Khao Lak Khao Sok Koh Chang Koh Jum Koh Kood Koh Lanta Koh Larn Koh Lipe Koh Mak Koh Phangan Koh Phayam Koh Phi Phi Koh Samet Koh Samui Koh Sichang Koh Tao Koh Wai Krabi Lampang Lamphun Loei Lopburi Mae Hong Son Nakhon Pathom Nakhon Phanom Nakhon Ratchasima Nakhon Si Thammarat Nan Nang Rong Nong Khai Pai Pak Chong Pattaya Phang Nga Phang Nga Phayao Phetchabun Phetchaburi Phitsanulok Phrae Phuket Prachuap Khiri Khan Pranburi Railay Ranong Ratchaburi Rayong Roi Et Samut Songkhram Sangkhlaburi Sattahip Sukhothai Surat Thani Surin Tak Trang Trat Ubon Ratchathani Udon Thani all categories from 300 THB to 500 THB from 500 to 1000 THB from 1000 to 2500 THB from 2500 to 5000 THB plus 5000 THB // Grey The prices that are not available in the city selection ("All prices" are always available) function findAccommodationCategories(citySelect) { var option=citySelect.options[citySelect.selectedIndex]; var price=parseInt(option ? option.getAttribute("data-price") : 0,10) || 0; var categories=citySelect.form.elements["categories"]; if(!categories) return; for (var i = 0; i < categories.options.length; i++) { var val = categories.options[i].value; categories.options[i].disabled = !(val == "all" || val == "-" || (Math.pow(2, parseInt(val, 10)) & price)); } } (function() { var forms = document.querySelectorAll("#form-accommodations form"); var form = forms[forms.length - 1]; if (form && form.elements["cities"]) findAccommodationCategories(form.elements["cities"]); })(); My Recommendations I am often asked which accommodations I recommend in Thailand. Here are my recommendations for Ayutthaya. Sala Ayutthaya Hotel in Ayutthaya 8.3/10 Book now More details Baan Thai House Hotel in Ayutthaya 9.3/10 Book now More details Baan Tye Wang Hotel in Ayutthaya 9.2/10 Book now More details Phuttal Residence Hotel in Ayutthaya 9.1/10 Book now More details Tamarind Guesthouse in Ayutthaya 9.0/10 Book now More details PU INN Guesthouse in Ayutthaya 8.2/10 Book now More details Grandparent's Home Guesthouse in Ayutthaya 8.3/10 Book now More details Baan Are Gong Riverside Homestay in Ayutthaya 8.1/10 Book now More details arrow_circle_right View all accommodations in Ayutthaya

Practical information about Ayutthaya: In my opinion, the most beautiful way to travel from Bangkok to Ayutthaya is by train in third class. You'll travel through much more beautiful scenery than in a minivan, have more space, and the price is incredibly low. Upon arrival at Ayutthaya train station, you'll find tuk-tuks to your left that will take you into town (expect to pay around 200 THB per hour; if you're offered 300 THB, it's best to find another tuk-tuk a little further on) or to your accommodation for 150 THB. Alternatively, you can walk along the road in front of the station. At the end, there's a small pier where you can take a small ferry across the river to the area with guesthouses, hotels, and bicycle rental shops. Note that there is a luggage storage facility at the station (to the right on the platform) where you can leave your luggage during your visit. Luggage storage is limited to one day. Otherwise, the bicycle rental shops will store it for you free of charge. In Ayutthaya, you can also take boat trips. You can either rent a longtail boat at the pier opposite the train station or book a sunset cruise through your hotel or a local travel agency. Ayutthaya has several night markets, some of which are only open on weekends. The night market in front of the Chantharakasem National Museum is open every evening.

How do I get to Ayutthaya? From Bangkok, you can choose between train, minivan (from the Chatuchak minibus station opposite the Mo Chit bus station), or taxi. The journey time is roughly the same for both train and minivan. Third class is the cheapest option. However, note that train tickets for short distances like this cannot be booked online (in some cases, this is possible, but only less than 48 hours before departure and exclusively on the official SRT website). You can, however, buy your tickets to Ayutthaya at the station shortly before departure. There are usually still seats available, at least in third class. Allow plenty of time for ticket purchase. IMPORTANT: Since January 19, 2023, long-distance trains from Bangkok to Ayutthaya depart from the new Krung Thep Aphiwat main train station. Regional trains continue to depart from Hua Lamphong station. You can find train schedules and departure stations between Bangkok and Ayutthaya HERE. View all travel options to Ayutthaya

My selection of tours & activities in Ayutthaya: Private chauffeur in Ayutthaya for transfers or day trips (English-speaking). Do you need a driver with a car or minivan for your transfers to Bangkok airports or other destinations, or for a customized day trip from Ayutthaya? Kitti is your private driver! Details & booking. More tours & activities in Ayutthaya

What's the best way to get around Ayutthaya? There are no taxis in Ayutthaya, but tuk-tuks are everywhere, and they look quite different from those in Bangkok. They're taller and have parallel bench seats in the back, similar to small songthaews. Their curved hood has a distinctive shape, somewhat reminiscent of a frog's head. Drivers offer city tours and excursions to the surrounding area (you decide the route with them, and the price per day or hour is negotiable). They generally charge 200 THB per hour, regardless of the number of passengers. If you don't mind the heat, I recommend renting bicycles to explore the main island and then switching to a tuk-tuk to reach the temples further afield. Many guesthouses and hotels in Ayutthaya provide bicycles for their guests, sometimes even free of charge. Otherwise, there are several bicycle rental shops or travel agencies that rent bicycles for 50–60 THB per day. There is also a very convenient boat service to cross the river at the end of the street opposite the train station, providing easy access to Soi Farang, the street lined with guesthouses and bars. The crossing costs 10 THB, or 15 THB by bicycle. Alternatively, you can order a vehicle using the smartphone app Grab, the Thai equivalent of Uber. To visit the most interesting temples outside of central Ayutthaya Island, you can hire a longtail boat from the Train Station Pier at the end of the street opposite the station (usually 200 THB for 20 minutes). Alternatively, two-hour boat trips are available, departing at 4:00 PM and stopping for 20 minutes at each of Wat Phanan Choeng, Wat Phutthaisawan, and Wat Chai Wattanaram. Advance booking through your accommodation or a local travel agency is required (price: 200 THB per person, including hotel pick-up and drop-off). Personally, I found this cruise somewhat overcrowded and a little disappointing, as no explanations were given and the time allotted for visiting the temples was short, especially if you don't know what's interesting to see. Nevertheless, it does offer the opportunity to visit some temples and take a boat tour in Ayutthaya.

Ceremony of the World Wai Kru Muay Thai Festival. This festival usually takes place in March. More about the World Wai Kru Muay Thai Festival ceremony.

Ayutthaya Aquatic Phansa Festival. This festival usually takes place in July. More about the Ayutthaya Aquatic Phansa Festival

Ayutthaya Longboat Racing Festival. This festival usually takes place in June. More about the Ayutthaya Longboat Racing Festival

Ayutthaya Loy Krathong in the Old City. This festival usually takes place in November. More about Ayutthaya Loy Krathong in the Old City.

Loi Krathong Festival in Ayutthaya, the former capital. This festival usually takes place in November. More about the Loi Krathong Festival in Ayutthaya, the former capital.

Ayutthaya World Heritage Site and Red Cross Fair: This festival usually takes place in December. More about Ayutthaya World Heritage Site and Red Cross Fair

Ayutthaya World Heritage Fair: This festival usually takes place in December. More about the Ayutthaya World Heritage Fair

The Ayutthaya Grand Fair: This festival usually takes place in December. More about the Ayutthaya Grand Fair

Other sights in Ayutthaya include: Wat Woratcheta Ram (a small temple, of which only a stupa with a Buddha statue and the walls of a building with a seated Buddha remain), Wat Phu Khao Thong (Golden Mountain, outside the city, a staircase made of white stone with a golden top), Wat Na Phra Meru (especially known for its columns, brown and gold ceiling decoration, and unusual Buddha), Wat Ratchaburana (a very well-preserved prang), and Wat Muang (Ang Thong) (particularly interesting for its 95-meter-high seated Buddha, the tallest in Thailand). You can touch its hand from a small platform. Ayutthaya's floating market is brand new and not a traditional floating market, but a pleasant place to shop and eat, open daily. Wat Thammikarat: This temple is often overlooked next to the main temples in the center, but is worth a visit for its ancient chedi and gilded reclining Buddha alone. Wat Sam Wihaan: Unknown to most tourists, it's located behind Wat Phra Neru and houses a beautiful, over 600-year-old reclining Buddha. The rest of the temple is less interesting. Elephant Kraal: An elephant enclosure with Tek pillars, which can be quickly visited and observed from a platform. Wat Putthai Sawan: This temple isn't the most famous in Ayutthaya and is rarely mentioned in guidebooks. However, it is one of the oldest, if not the oldest, temples in the city. Visitors often remember the reclining stone Buddha, but the Khmer-style prang, with its courtyard and covered area containing seated Buddha statues, is also worth seeing. Bang Pa-In Palace is located a few kilometers outside Ayutthaya (trains to Ayutthaya usually stop there). It served as the summer residence of the royal family. Ayutthaya's night market offers a very pleasant ambiance and atmosphere. It takes place on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings in the heart of the city, near Ayutthaya's most famous historical temples. It is particularly recommended for dinner to discover the local cuisine. The Prasat Nakhon Luang Temple Palace is striking for its juxtaposition of the ruins of an ancient Ayutthaya-era temple and a more modern building erected on top of these ruins more than two centuries after its destruction. Since it is largely untouched by tourism, it is an interesting excursion for those who want to explore Ayutthaya off the beaten track. Wat Khun Inthapramun (Ang Thong) ★★★ This temple in Ang Thong province, north of Bangkok, dates back to the Sukhothai period and houses Thailand's largest reclining Buddha. It is entirely white and is often draped with a yellow patchwork robe made up of the prayers and words of visitors. Chao Phrom Market ★★★ It's the largest fresh market in Ayutthaya. If you've never visited a local market in Thailand, I recommend a stroll there in the early morning hours when it's busiest and most of the vendors and customers are gathered. Khmer Stonemason ★★★ Located next to Wat Phra Ngam temple in Ayutthaya, this stonemason is one of the few in Thailand still crafting statues and lintels in the Khmer style. His craft and skill are passed down from father to son. He welcomes visitors to his workshop when he's there. While Wat Phanom Yong isn't a must-see temple in Ayutthaya, it houses a reclining Buddha, and the colorful murals in its ordination hall are simply magnificent. New, but superb!

How do I ask for directions to Ayutthaya in Thai? I want to go to Ayutthaya / Yak pai thi Ayoutaya. Where is Ayutthaya? / Ayoutaya yu thi nai?