DIY Day Trip to Ayutthaya Thailand

And I thought I was templed out.

Our last stop for our Indochina trip was Ayutthaya, Thailand.

Ayutthaya

The second capital of the Kingdom of Siam after Sukhothai, Ayutthaya, is strategically located on an island surrounded by three rivers connecting the city to the sea. It is one of the must-visit cities in Thailand and is about 80 kilometers north of Bangkok.

Ayutthaya used to be a prosperous international trading port in the 1300s until the war between Siam and Burma in 1767. The ruins now form Ayutthaya Historical Park, dubbed as a UNESCO World Heritage Center. The total area of the World Heritage property is 289 ha.

Getting There

This ancient capital of Siam is only an hour or two away from Bangkok. Going there is quite easy as well. Here are your transportation options:

By Bus – It’s faster and more frequent than trains.
By Train – This option is cheaper than buses. You can get a third-class seat for only 15 THB, that’s less than a dollar.
By Shared Car – You can simply look for planned tours and activities in Ayutthaya through Klook, KKDay and the like. You will be picked up and dropped off in Bangkok.
By Private Car – You can arrange your own private car charter or simply book a car with known travel platforms such as Klook, 12Go, BookAway, etc…

Going Around

If you choose to go to Ayutthaya by bus or train, then you’d probably need a tuk-tuk or bike to go around the city. Tuktuks aren’t hard to find in Ayutthaya. Bikes, on the other hand, can be rented out after you’ve crossed the river or else you’d be tugging the bike while going up and down the docks.

Tuktuks could cost between 400-500 THB while bikes and motorbikes could go from 50 to 150 THB.

If you choose to avail of a private car or planned tour, expect to be spending around 600 to 1100 THB, admission fees included.

Temple Run

Make a list of the temples you want to visit before going to Ayutthaya so you’ll save time, energy, and money. Some temples charge a fee to enter and some don’t. Admission to a temple could cost 50 THB or less. You also have the option to avail of the temple pass that’s good for 6 temples by paying 220 THB.

Sample Route

Wat Chaiwattanaram

Address: Ban Pom, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya District, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya 13000, Thailand

Wat Phra Si Sanphet

Address: Pratu Chai Sub-district, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya District, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya 13000, Thailand

Wat Mahathat

Address: Naresuan Rd, Tha Wasukri, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya District, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya 13000, Thailand

Lunch at Local Restaurant

Best Pad Thai for this trip! Too bad I wasn’t able to get the name of the restaurant. The language barrier is real, hah!

Wat Ratchaburana

Address: ถนน ชีกุน ตำบล ท่าวาสุกรี Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya District, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya 13000, Thailand

Wat Phra Ram

Address: Pratu Chai Sub-district, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya District, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya 13000, Thailand

Wat Phra Mongkhon Bophit

Address: นเรศวร ประตูชัย Naresuan Rd, Pratu Chai Sub-district, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya District, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya 13000, Thailand

Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon

Address: หมู่ที่ 3 40/3 ตำบล คลองสวนพลู Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya District, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya 13000, Thailand

That’s about it! You’d be done in a day unless you want to visit the floating markets and museums. If so, you’d probably need to extend another day to do just that.

I hope this will help you plan your visit to Ayutthaya. If you have any questions or clarifications, feel free to reach out to me.

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xo,