Wat Chaiwatthanaram, a Khmer-style royal temple in Ayutthaya Photo above: Sarawut Kururatphan via Google
The Ayutthaya day trip from Bangkok is the classic heritage outing from the capital: the ruined temples of Thailand's former royal city, about 90 km north of Bangkok, with Bang Pa-In Palace on the way. You can do it cheaply by train, comfortably by car with a driver, or on a guided tour. Whichever you choose, start early, because most of the day is spent outdoors among brick ruins with little shade.
Why Ayutthaya matters
The Historic City of Ayutthaya is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, inscribed in 1991. It lies in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya District of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province, and the protected property covers 289 hectares. UNESCO describes a city founded in 1350 as the second Siamese capital, after Sukhothai. It grew into one of the world's largest and most cosmopolitan cities and a center of diplomacy and trade, on an island ringed by three rivers that linked it to the sea. The Burmese army sacked and burned it in 1767, and the capital was never rebuilt there.
The link to Bangkok is direct. UNESCO notes that when the capital moved downstream, builders from Ayutthaya were brought in to recreate its layout and architecture. Bangkok's formal Thai name still includes the word "Ayutthaya". Visit the Grand Palace before or after, and you will see the connection.
The ruins are managed as the Ayutthaya Historical Park by Thailand's Fine Arts Department.
The main temples
You cannot see everything in a day, and TAT itself warns that seeing every temple would take several days. These are the sites most day trips build around, with details from TAT and UNESCO.
Wat Phra Si Sanphet
The most important temple of the old city stood inside the royal palace grounds and was reserved for the royal family. TAT notes that it was badly damaged after 1767 but served as the model for the Temple of the Emerald Buddha in Bangkok's Grand Palace. UNESCO names it, with Wat Mahathat, as evidence of the capital's wealth and building skill.
Wat Mahathat
This is the temple of the stone Buddha head held in the roots of a bodhi tree, the most photographed image in Ayutthaya. TAT dates the temple to around 1374, making it one of the city's oldest and most important, and says traces of old murals remain. Allow time to walk the rest of the grounds, not just the tree.
Wat Chaiwatthanaram
One of the royal temples where Ayutthaya's kings held ceremonies, Wat Chaiwatthanaram is built in the Khmer style. TAT says its central prang rises 35 meters and represents Mount Meru. TAT notes that traces of the original carved ceiling pieces survive in the corner galleries.
Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon
In the southeast of the historic city, TAT describes this as one of the best preserved temples, with a 62-meter chedi dating to around 1357. Steep steps climb to the base of the chedi for views over the city. Rows of Buddha images line the foot of the chedi, and a reclining Buddha lies in the grounds.
Wat Phanan Choeng
TAT says this temple predates the founding of the city. It houses a seated Buddha nearly 20 meters tall, known as Luang Pho Tho, which TAT says was visited by the Chinese admiral Zheng He in 1407.
Bang Pa-In Palace
Bang Pa-In Palace, in Bang Pa-In district of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province, sits beside the Chao Phraya River near Ayutthaya. Many day tours combine it with the temples. TAT says the site was first built around 1630 by King Prasat Thong and fell into decay after 1767. It was restored from the reign of King Rama IV, then redesigned between 1872 and 1889 under King Rama V as a European-style summer palace with Thai and Chinese buildings. Look for the Aisawan Thiphya-Art pavilion standing in the lake, and the Chinese-style Wehart Chamrun throne hall.
It is a royal palace, so dress as you would for the Grand Palace, and check that it is open before you go. Royal palaces can close for ceremonies.
Getting there by train
Ayutthaya is on the main northern railway, which makes the train the cheapest independent option. There are two Bangkok stations to know about. According to the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) announcement reported by TAT in January 2023, long-distance rapid and express trains now leave from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal, near Chatuchak Park and close to BTS and MRT stations. Ordinary trains, suburban trains and special tourism trains continue to leave from Hua Lamphong. They call at Sam Sen and Krung Thep Aphiwat on the way out.
TAT's own Ayutthaya guide gives the trip as about two hours by train from Hua Lamphong. That guide dates from 2016, so treat it as a rough guide. We could not reach the SRT website when we checked on September 26, 2026, and we do not print unofficial timetables. Check which trains stop at Ayutthaya, and when, with the SRT (railway.co.th) or the TAT Call Centre on 1672. If you are starting near Chatuchak Weekend Market, Krung Thep Aphiwat is the convenient station.
From Ayutthaya station, you will need transport around the ruins. TAT suggests renting a bicycle, since the land is flat, or hiring a tuk-tuk or minivan for a few hours for the temples farther out. Walking only works if you stay among the central temples.
Getting there by road
Minivans and buses also run from Bangkok. TAT's 2016 guide pointed to vans near Victory Monument. Departure points have changed over the years, so confirm the current one with the TAT Call Centre before you travel. By car, TAT's route runs up Highway 1 (Phahon Yothin), then Highway 32 and Highway 309 into Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya.
A car with a driver is the most flexible way to combine Bang Pa-In, and several temples spread across and around the island, including those too far to reach by bicycle. Klook sells an Ayutthaya private car charter with driver from Bangkok. Our guide to hiring a car with a driver in Bangkok covers how these charters work.
Boat options
Ayutthaya is surrounded by rivers, and TAT recommends a sunset boat ride on the Chao Phraya there as a way to see the riverside temples. If you want to travel between Bangkok and Ayutthaya by river, ask tour operators whether their itinerary includes a boat leg, because itineraries vary. Do not assume a boat unless the booking says so.
Guided tours
A tour handles the logistics and usually adds a guide to explain what you are looking at, which helps at sites that are now mostly ruins. Two options on Klook:
- An Ayutthaya day tour with Bang Pa-In Palace and the main temples, for the full classic day.
- An Ayutthaya must-visit temples tour, if you want to focus on the ruins.
Check what is included before you book: pickup point, entrance fees, lunch, and whether Bang Pa-In is on the route.
Heat, dress and timing
- Heat. The hot season runs roughly March to May, and even in the cooler months the ruins offer little shade. TAT's advice is simple: wear sunscreen and a hat. Carry water, and plan the most exposed temples for the morning or late afternoon.
- Rain. The rainy season runs roughly June to October. Bring a light layer and allow for slower roads.
- Dress code. These are sacred sites. Cover shoulders and knees at temples. At Bang Pa-In, follow the standard used at the Grand Palace, which bars sleeveless shirts, see-through tops, shorts, mini skirts and torn or tight trousers.
- Respect the images. Buddha images, including the head at Wat Mahathat, are objects of reverence. Do not climb on ruins or images.
- Staying later. TAT notes that the historical park often hosts light-and-sound shows after dark. If one is running, staying the night in Ayutthaya is worth considering.
For more to see back in the city, browse our Bangkok attractions guide.
BangkokVacay may earn a commission from Klook bookings made through links in this article, at no extra cost to you.
Sources: UNESCO World Heritage Centre, Historic City of Ayutthaya, Fine Arts Department, Ayutthaya Historical Park, TAT Newsroom, Ayutthaya feature (2016), TAT Newsroom, SRT move to Krung Thep Aphiwat (2023), TAT Newsroom, palaces of Thailand (2018), TAT Newsroom, Romantic Thailand (2025), TAT Newsroom, Thailand after dark (2025), The Grand Palace, practical information. Checked September 26, 2026.
About 90 km north of Bangkok, according to the description on the UNESCO World Heritage Centre page for the Historic City of Ayutthaya. It is in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province.
Yes. The Historic City of Ayutthaya was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1991. The property covers 289 hectares in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya District.
Both main stations can serve Ayutthaya. Since January 19, 2023, long-distance rapid and express trains leave from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal, while ordinary, suburban and special tourism trains still leave from Hua Lamphong, according to the SRT announcement reported by TAT. Check current times with the SRT or the TAT Call Centre on 1672.
TAT has given the journey from Hua Lamphong as about two hours, in a guide published in 2016. Times vary by train, so check the current SRT timetable.
Yes. Bang Pa-In is in Bang Pa-In district of the same province, and many day tours and private car charters stop there on the way to or from the temples. Check that the palace is open on your date, because royal palaces can close for ceremonies.
Cover your shoulders and knees for the temples, and dress to Grand Palace standards for Bang Pa-In Palace: no sleeveless shirts, see-through tops, shorts or mini skirts. Add a hat and sunscreen, as TAT advises, because the ruins have little shade.
TAT suggests renting a bicycle, since the land is flat, or hiring a tuk-tuk or minivan for a few hours to reach temples farther out. Walking is only practical for the central temples.
