Sights and activities in Ayutthaya: Just 1.5 hours from Bangkok, Ayutthaya offers a glimpse into Thai history. It is one of Thailand's destinations with some of the most interesting ancient temples. In the city center, within the Ayutthaya Historical Park, there are numerous ruins to explore. Be sure to visit Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon, located just outside the center. At the end of this page, you will also find a list of recommended tours, excursions, and activities to enjoy in or from Ayutthaya. Click here to view them.

Places you absolutely must visit in Ayutthaya: Wat Phra Si Sanphet (วัดพระศรีสรรเพชญ์) My rating: 5/5 The most visited temple in Ayutthaya, three perfectly preserved chedis make this temple truly special. Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon (วัดใหญ่ชัยมงคล) My rating: 5/5 Perfectly restored, a very beautiful temple with two large Buddhas on each side of the large chedi and a reclining Buddha a little further on. Around the main building is a plaza with Buddha statues. The best time to visit the temple is early in the morning around 8:30-9:00 am, when there are very few visitors and you practically have the temple to yourself. Wat Phanan Choeng วัดพนัญเชิงวรวิหาร My opinion: starstarstarstar4/5 Temple on the outskirts of the city, a huge golden Buddha sits there in Wat Mahathat วัดมหาธาตุ My opinion: starstarstarstarstar5/5 very ruined, especially interesting for its Buddha head trapped in the roots of a tree Wat Mongkhon Bophit วัดมงคลบพิตร My opinion: starstarstarstar4/5 nearby Wat Phra Si Sanphet houses a huge bronze Buddha. Wat Chai Wattanaram วัดไชยวัฒนาราม My rating: 5/5 Khmer-style temple outside the city. It can be reached by longtail boat from Chankasem Palace Pier. Wat Lokaya Sutha วัดโลกยสุธาราม My rating: 3/5 and its reclining Buddha. Wat Phra Ngam วัดพระงาม This small temple is very rarely mentioned in guidebooks, but the "Gate of Time," a ruined arch in the roots of a tree, is probably one of the most photogenic spots in Ayutthaya. I'll leave it to you to judge from my pictures and decide whether you want to go or not. Wat Niwet Thammaprawat วัดนิเวศธรรมประวัติราชวรวิหาร My rating: 5/5 stars. This temple in Bang Pa, 25 kilometers south of Ayutthaya, is unique and surprising for two reasons: it's a Buddhist temple with neo-Gothic church architecture, and the access is unusual.

Other places worth seeing in Ayutthaya: Wat Muang (Ang Thong) Temple, particularly interesting because of its enormous, 95-meter-high seated Buddha – the tallest in Thailand. From a small platform, you can touch its hand. Ayutthaya Night Market: This 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. I especially recommend it for dinner to discover the local cuisine. Bang Pa-In Palace: Bang Pa-In is a town a few kilometers outside Ayutthaya (trains to Ayutthaya usually stop there). This palace was the summer residence of the royal family. Wat Na Phra Meru is particularly known for its columns and brown and gold-decorated ceiling, as well as its unusual Buddha. Wat Thammikarat, often overlooked next to the main temples in the center, is worth a visit for its ancient chedi and gilded Buddha shroud alone. Wat Sam Wihaan, unknown to most tourists, lies behind Wat Phra Neru and houses a beautiful, over 600-year-old reclining Buddha. The rest of the temple is less interesting. This stonemason, who works next to Wat Phra Ngam in Ayutthaya, is one of the few in Thailand still crafting statues and lintels in the Khmer style—a craft passed down from father to son. He enjoys welcoming visitors to his workshop when he is there. Wat Ratchaburana and its very well-preserved prang are also worth seeing. Wat Woratcheta Ram is a small temple. Only a stupa with a Buddha statue in front of it and the walls of a building containing a seated Buddha remain. Wat Phu Khao Thong (Golden Mountain) is located outside the city and is a staircase made of white stone with a golden spire. The Elephant Kraal (Elephant Enclosure), with its tektite pillars, is a short circular walk from which you can observe the elephants. Wat Putthai Sawan (This temple is not 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 its reclining stone Buddha, but the Khmer-style prang, surrounded by a courtyard and a covered enclosure with seated Buddhas, is also worth seeing.) Prasat Nakhon Luang (This temple-palace is notable for the juxtaposition of the ruins of an ancient Ayutthaya-era temple and a more modern building erected on top of those ruins more than two centuries after its destruction. With few tourist attractions in the area, Wat Khun Inthapramun (Ang Thong) is an interesting place for those wanting to venture off the beaten track in Ayutthaya. 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 often decorated with a yellow A patchwork garment covered with the prayers and words of visitors. The Chao Phrom Market is the largest fresh market in Ayutthaya. If you've never visited a local market in Thailand, I recommend a stroll in the early morning hours when the market is busiest and most vendors and customers are present. Wat Phanom Yong, while not a must-see temple in Ayutthaya, does house a reclining Buddha, and the colorful murals in its ordination hall are simply magnificent. New, but great! Ayutthaya's floating market is brand new and not a traditional floating market, but a lovely place to shop and eat that welcomes you every day.

Tours in and around Ayutthaya: This selection includes tours, excursions, and activities in Ayutthaya that I have personally tested or that have been reviewed by trusted individuals, as well as offers from agencies and websites known for their reliability and quality. 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: Private tour to Ayutthaya from Bangkok (English-speaking). Visit Ayutthaya, the former capital of the Kingdom of Siam, and its impressive historical sites, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Also, discover a royal palace on the river. Day trip from Bangkok. Details & Booking: Day trip to Ayutthaya & Lopburi from Bangkok (English-speaking). Discover Ayutthaya and its historical UNESCO World Heritage Sites, as well as Lopburi, the City of Monkeys, on a day trip from Bangkok. An offer for those who want to experience a lot in a short time ;) Details & Booking: Visit Ayutthaya & Ang Thong: Two Ancient Cities in One Day (English-speaking tour) You will see the most important ancient temples in the historical park of Ayutthaya and Thailand's largest Buddha statue in Ang Thong. Details & Booking: Explore Ayutthaya with a History Teacher (English-speaking tour) Join me on this journey and discover Ayutthaya – its splendor and the way of life of its people, closely connected to the water, the temples, and the wooden houses. Visit the Center for Weaving Arts, the Historical Study Center, three ancient temples, and take a boat trip to explore the city. Details & Booking: Activities and Excursions in Ayutthaya

Tours from Ayutthaya Safarine Tours Kanchanaburi: Erawan Falls, Death Railway, and Bridge on the River Kwai. Private day trip with a local guide to the three highlights of Kanchanaburi province: Erawan Falls (one of Thailand's most beautiful waterfalls), a ride on the Death Railway, and a boat trip to the famous Bridge on the River Kwai. Departure from Bangkok or Ayutthaya possible. Details & Booking

Other sights in Thailand: Erawan National Park, with its magnificent waterfalls, is one of Thailand's most beautiful national parks, probably the most beautiful. [arrow_circle_right] View details about Erawan National Park. Wat Pho: Particularly pleasant in the late afternoon. Located directly opposite Wat Phra Kaew, it is famous for its giant reclining Buddha. [arrow_circle_right] View details about Wat Pho. The Golden Triangle in Sop Ruak, 67 km from Chiang Rai and 9 km from Chiang Sean, lies at the border crossing between Thailand, Myanmar (Burma), and Laos. Minivans depart from Bus Station 1 and will take you there. [arrow_circle_right] View details about the Golden Triangle. Samet Nangshe Viewpoint: Discovered by a photographer searching for an ideal vantage point for Phang Nga Bay, Samet Nangshe Viewpoint has become one of the most popular attractions in just a few years. [arrow_circle_right] View details for Samet Nangshe viewpoint.