Things to Do Outside Bangkok: Day Trips by Province

The best things to do outside Bangkok are day trips into the provinces around the capital: the ruined royal city of Ayutthaya to the north, the floating markets and the Maeklong Railway Market to the southwest, the River Kwai bridge and Erawan's waterfalls in Kanchanaburi to the west, and the forests of Khao Yai to the northeast. Each is a separate province with its own character, so it helps to know where each place actually is before you plan.

Below are the most rewarding trips, grouped by direction, with the correct province for each and the basics of getting there.

At a glance

North: Ayutthaya and Bang Pa-In

Ayutthaya Historical Park

Ayutthaya, in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province, was founded around 1350 and became the second Siamese capital after Sukhothai, until it was destroyed in the 18th century. UNESCO lists the Historic City of Ayutthaya as a World Heritage site for its prang (reliquary towers) and vast monasteries. The ruins, including Wat Mahathat, are spread across the old island city, so most visitors hire a bicycle, a tuk-tuk or a driver to move between them. Ayutthaya is on the northern railway, so the train from Bangkok is a practical way to get there.

Bang Pa-In Royal Palace

Beside the Chao Phraya River in Bang Pa-In district, also in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province, this royal palace complex sets a series of halls in large gardens, among them the Wehart Chamrun, a Chinese-style palace and throne room. It pairs naturally with Ayutthaya on the same day. Dress modestly, as you would at the Grand Palace.

Southwest: floating markets and the railway market

Damnoen Saduak Floating Market (Ratchaburi)

The best known of the floating markets is in Damnoen Saduak district, Ratchaburi province, about 100 kilometers southwest of Bangkok. Vendors sell from boats on the canals, and it is busiest in the morning, which is why most tours leave Bangkok early.

Amphawa Floating Market (Samut Songkhram)

Amphawa is in Samut Songkhram province, on a branch of the Mae Klong River. It is a canal-side market in an old riverside town, and it runs at the end of the week rather than daily, so check the day before you go.

Maeklong Railway Market (Samut Songkhram)

At Maeklong station, at the end of the Maeklong Railway in Samut Songkhram, the market stalls sit right on the tracks, and vendors pull back their awnings and goods each time a train passes. The railway itself runs for about 65 kilometers from Wongwian Yai in Bangkok, with a boat crossing of the Tha Chin River at Samut Sakhon, so you can make the trip by train, though most visitors combine Maeklong and Amphawa by road.

West: Kanchanaburi

The Bridge over the River Kwai

The railway bridge over the Khwae Yai River in Kanchanaburi province was part of the Burma Railway, the 415-kilometer line built during the Second World War between Ban Pong in Thailand and Thanbyuzayat in Myanmar, at the cost of many thousands of prisoners' and laborers' lives. The first 130 kilometers of the line in Thailand still carry trains as far as Nam Tok. Allow time for the town's war cemetery and museums as well as the bridge.

Erawan National Park

Also in Kanchanaburi province, in the Tenasserim Hills, Erawan National Park is known for its tiered waterfall and forest trails. It is further from Bangkok than the bridge, so combining both makes a long day; many visitors stay a night in Kanchanaburi instead.

Northeast: Khao Yai National Park

Established in 1962, Khao Yai was Thailand's first national park. It stretches across four provinces, Nakhon Ratchasima, Saraburi, Prachin Buri and Nakhon Nayok, and the usual approach is through Pak Chong district in Nakhon Ratchasima. It forms the western end of the Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex, a UNESCO World Heritage site that is home to more than 800 animal species, including gibbons and hundreds of bird species. Khao Yai is better as an overnight trip than a rushed day out.

Closer to Bangkok

• Phra Pathom Chedi (Nakhon Pathom): the great chedi in the center of Nakhon Pathom town is the symbol of the province and appears on its seal. It combines easily with Damnoen Saduak.
• The Ancient City, or Muang Boran (Samut Prakan): a privately run open-air museum of about 320 hectares, with more than a hundred reproductions and reconstructions of Thai monuments and buildings.
• Ko Kret (Nonthaburi): a small island in the Chao Phraya River, just north of Bangkok, known for its Mon community and pottery.

Beaches and longer trips

If you want the sea rather than a day of sightseeing, the nearest resorts are Pattaya in Chonburi province, Hua Hin in Prachuap Khiri Khan and the island of Ko Samet in Rayong. Our guides cover how far Pattaya is from Bangkok, getting to Hua Hin and getting to Ko Samet.

Planning tips

• Start early. The floating markets are at their liveliest in the morning, and traffic leaving Bangkok gets heavier as the day goes on.
• Dress for temples. Cover shoulders and knees for Ayutthaya's temples, Bang Pa-In and Phra Pathom Chedi.
• Tour or independent? Ayutthaya and the Maeklong line are easy by train; the floating markets, Erawan and Khao Yai are far easier with a driver or an organized tour.
• Staying in the city instead? Our Bangkok attractions pages and the guide to nature in Bangkok cover green space and sights without leaving town.

Sources: UNESCO, Historic City of Ayutthaya, UNESCO, Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex, Wikipedia articles on Ayutthaya Historical Park, Bang Pa-In Royal Palace, Damnoen Saduak floating market, Amphawa floating market, Maeklong Railway, Burma Railway, Erawan National Park, Khao Yai National Park, Phra Pathom Chedi, Ancient City and Ko Kret. Checked September 26, 2026.