Brick prangs at Wat Mahathat in Ayutthaya. Photo above: 정skybyc1 via Google
Ayutthaya is the nearest of Bangkok's big historical day trips: TAT puts it 86 km north of the city. You can see it three ways: a guided day tour, the State Railway of Thailand's new commuter train from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal, or a private car. A tour is easiest for one day, the train is the cheapest, and a car gives you the most control over the order of the temples. Our Ayutthaya day trip guide covers the sites and the Bang Pa-In Palace; this page compares the ways to go.
The facts below come from the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), the Fine Arts Department's virtual historical park page, the Ayutthaya provincial tourism site and news reports of the railway announcements, read on October 3, 2026. The State Railway of Thailand's own website and the UNESCO page were unreachable from our server that day, so where a fact rests on a news report we say so.
BangkokVacay earns a commission from Klook and Viator if you book through the links in this article, at no extra cost to you.
How far is Ayutthaya from Bangkok?
TAT says Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya is 86 km north of Bangkok. The old city sits on an island formed by the Chao Phraya, Pa Sak and Lopburi rivers. TAT lists the Historical Park, Wat Mahathat, Wat Phra Si Sanphet, Wat Chaiwatthanaram, Wat Phra Ram, Wat Kudi Dao and the ancient royal palace among the province's highlights. The Ayutthaya provincial tourism site says the park covers about 1,810 rai and was listed as a World Heritage Site on December 13, 1991.
What do entry fees and hours look like?
The Fine Arts Department's virtual historical park page for Ayutthaya lists the park as open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. It lists foreign visitors at 80 baht per site or 300 baht for a flat-rate ticket, and Thai visitors at 10 baht per site or 40 baht flat. The page is undated and each site's ticket booth shows the current price, so check on the day. The park's phone number on the page is 035 242 286. If you book a tour, check whether the entrance fees are included.
Can you visit Ayutthaya by train?
Yes, and since August 1, 2026 the service starts at Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal. According to Nation Thailand's reports of the State Railway of Thailand's announcements on July 17 and August 2, 2026, the commuter trains now run between Krung Thep Aphiwat and Ayutthaya, extended from the earlier Don Mueang to Ayutthaya service. Weekdays have six trains a day from 5:15 a.m., and weekends have four a day from 9:05 a.m. The railcars are air-conditioned diesel cars from Japan. A promotional fare of up to 50 baht to Bang Pa-in, Ban Pho or Ayutthaya applies from August 1 to October 31, 2026; the reports do not give the regular fare or the journey time, so check both before you rely on the price after October 31.
The train ends at Ayutthaya station, and the temples are spread across the old city island, so plan how you will get between them once you arrive. Our Ayutthaya day trip guide has more on the stations and the older train services.
Which guided Ayutthaya tour should you book?
Compare the pickup point, the return time, whether entry fees and lunch are included and which temples are on the route. We link one provider per tour and have not compared prices. The Klook tours below are the day-tour options. The Viator ones are small-group tours, apart from the last, which adds a second province.
| Tour | Built around | Style | Book |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ayutthaya must-visit tour with a summer palace stop | Temples, a summer palace and a floating market stop, per its title | Day tour | See it on Klook |
| Ayutthaya temples one-day tour | Temples only | Day tour | See it on Klook |
| UNESCO Ayutthaya Historical Park full day | The historical park | Small group | See it on Viator |
| Ayutthaya UNESCO temples, small group | Temples with a summer palace stop | Small group | See it on Viator |
| Ayutthaya temples with lunch | Temples and a lunch stop | Small group | See it on Viator |
| Lopburi monkey temple and Ayutthaya old city | Ayutthaya plus Lop Buri | Guided day tour | See it on Viator |
Is the Lopburi add-on worth it?
Lop Buri is a separate province north of Ayutthaya, so the combined tour is a longer day with less time in Ayutthaya. TAT describes Phra Prang Sam Yot there as a Bayon-Khmer style stupa with three connected prangs, and Phra Kan Shrine next to it as a place to watch the monkeys. Choose that tour if Khmer-style architecture and the monkey shrine matter more to you than extra hours among the Ayutthaya ruins.
Tour, train or private car?
- One day, no planning: a guided tour, with transport and the order of the temples set for you.
- Lowest cost, flexible time: the train, if your day suits the timetable and you are happy to arrange local transport on arrival.
- A group or a fixed plan: a car with driver, which lets you add Bang Pa-In or skip temples. Agree the hours and the stops first.
- Only half a day: stay in the city with Wat Pho, Wat Arun and the Grand Palace.
For more day trips, see our guides to the Kanchanaburi day trip and Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, or browse Bangkok attractions.
For a guide who plans the route with you, see private guides and custom tours in Bangkok; for other long days out, see our Erawan Falls day trip guide and our comparison of Damnoen Saduak, Amphawa and Maeklong.
Sources: TAT, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Fine Arts Department, Virtual Historical Park page for Ayutthaya (virtualhistoricalpark.finearts.go.th, no secure link), Go Ayutthaya, Ayutthaya Historical Park, Nation Thailand, July 17, 2026, Nation Thailand, August 2, 2026, TAT, 10 things to do in Lop Buri. Checked October 3, 2026.
TAT says Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya is 86 km north of Bangkok. The old city is on an island between the Chao Phraya, Pa Sak and Lopburi rivers.
The State Railway of Thailand's commuter train. Nation Thailand reports a promotional fare of up to 50 baht to Ayutthaya from August 1 to October 31, 2026. The reports do not give the regular fare, so check the current price at the station.
Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal, according to Nation Thailand's reports of the State Railway of Thailand announcements. Weekdays have six trains from 5:15 a.m. and weekends four from 9:05 a.m.
The Fine Arts Department's virtual park page lists 80 baht per site or 300 baht for a flat-rate ticket for foreign visitors, and 10 baht or 40 baht flat for Thai visitors, with the park open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The page is undated, so check at the ticket booth.
Yes. TAT says the Historical Park has World Heritage status from UNESCO, and the Ayutthaya provincial tourism site gives the listing date as December 13, 1991.
TAT lists Wat Mahathat, Wat Phra Si Sanphet, Wat Chaiwatthanaram, Wat Phra Ram and Wat Kudi Dao among the province's highlights, along with the ancient royal palace.
A combined tour exists, but it is a long day. Lop Buri is a separate province, and TAT's best-known sights there are Phra Prang Sam Yot and Phra Kan Shrine, where monkeys gather.
A tour handles transport and the order of the temples, so it suits one day with no planning. The train costs less and suits flexible travelers, but you arrange your own transport between the temples. Check what each option includes before you decide.
