One of the most popular and most interesting day trips you can take from Bangkok is to Ayutthaya. Ayutthaya was the capital of Thailand for many years between 1351 and 1767 when the city was destroyed by the Burmese army. In its heyday, Ayutthaya was an extremely influential and prosperous city, and is now Unesco World Heritage site. The ruins of Ayutthaya’s majestic temples are fascinating to explore, and the city’s proximity to Bangkok makes it one of the best day trips away from the crowded capital.
Getting to Ayutthaya
There are three main ways to get to Ayutthaya: by train, by bus, or by group tour. The bus is the slowest and least convenient, so I don’t recommend this option unless you plan to spend multiple days in Ayutthaya. The most convenient way to visit is certainly by group tour, which will not only take you to the city, but drive you to the various temple ruins. This was our first time in Thailand, and I almost booked a group tour because I was nervous about trying to navigate public transportation, but I don’t generally enjoy group tours because I don’t like being forced to follow someone else’s timeline. In the end, we chose to visit Ayutthaya by train, and I 100% recommend this option!
The train journey from Bangkok to Ayutthaya takes about an hour and a half and is dirt cheap, like less than fifty cents per person. Getting to the train station and getting our tickets was easy. I just showed the ticket office person the route we wanted on my phone, and he gave us the tickets and told us where to go. Truthfully, this is not the most comfortable train journey I have ever been on. There isn’t any AC, and the benches are hard. However, since the trip is so short, it’s not too tough to grin and bear it. Just try to get a seat by the open window! I loved watching the landscape fly by as we made our way north.
Getting Around
Once you’ve arrived for your day trip in Ayutthaya, the next question is how to get around the city. The archaeological sites are a bit too far apart from each other to walk, so you’ll need some other form of transportation. Immediately upon leaving the train station, you’ll be greeted by a line of tuk-tuk drivers ready and waiting. Hiring a driver for the day is actually quite affordable and a good option for many travelers. If, however, like us, you want something a little more active, it is also possible to rent bikes to get around the city.
We rented bicycles from Ayutthaya Rent a Ride, which is mere steps from the train station. The rate was inexpensive, and the people working were friendly and helpful. It took only a few minutes to get our bikes and be on our way.
If you decide to rent bikes in Ayutthaya, which we recommend with caution, there are a few things to be prepared for. There is a pretty good system of bike lanes, especially within the historical park, but you will be sharing the road with other traffic for large portions of your ride. This includes not only cars, but also tour buses, motorbikes, and even, sadly, elephants. (As a side note, please DO NOT ride an elephant in Thailand. The animals are usually treated very badly.) Riding a bike in Ayutthaya can be a little stressful, so be extra cautious. Also be sure to bring lots of water because the heat can get quite intense during the middle of the day.
Wat Ratcha Burana
With bikes in hand, it was time to start exploring the temples that make Ayutthaya famous. Note that while it is possible to buy a single ticket that will grant you entry into multiple sites, we actually don’t recommend this option because not all of the temples are included, and individual entrance fees are only 20-50 baht.
Our first stop, and possibly our favorite, was Wat Ratcha Burana. Wat Ratcha Burana was founded in 1424 and is famous for its well-preserved central prang. We particularly enjoyed this temple because it is possible to climb up the prang via some rather large steps to see the crypt inside. Just be sure to watch out for all the bats!
Wat Maha That
The next temple we visited, conveniently right next door, was Wat Maha That. This is one of the most visited temples in Ayutthaya because of the unique stone Buddha head engulfed in the roots of a banyan tree. You’ll notice a lot of headless Buddha statues as you wander around Ayutthaya. Some of the statues were decapitated when the Burmese sacked the city, while other heads were stolen by looters and sold to collectors. But this Buddha head survived and is now one of Ayutthaya’s most famous attractions.
It was also while wandering around Wat Maha That that we noticed a huge number of the ruins were leaning, like the Leaning Tower of Pisa. From what we could gather, a combination of soft, unstable ground with centuries of frequent earthquakes is what has left these structures looking like they might topple over at any moment.
Thai Tea Break at Chirp Café
Although it was still early in the day, after only two temples, we were already feeling hot and tired. (Have I mentioned the Thai heat yet?) Luckily, we found the perfect spot to cool off just a couple blocks from Wat Maha That, a coffee shop called Chirp Café. This adorable café features a beautiful Japanese-style garden, which looks lovely, although we chose to sit inside with the AC. We both had delicious, decadently sweet Thai teas, exactly the pick-me-up we needed to keep sightseeing.
Wat Phra Si Sanphet
After our break, we hopped back on the bikes and meandered through Bueng Phra Rom Park to our next stop, Wat Phra Si Sanphet. This temple, with its three main chedis, was another highlight. In fact, it was considered the grandest and most beautiful temple in Ayutthaya in its heyday.
When we visited a stray dog was climbing on one of the chedis, taking advantage of the shade.
Wat Chaiwatthanaram
Our final stop of the day was Wat Chaiwatthanaram. This temple was built in 1630 and is known for its beautiful, large central prang surrounded by a series of small but no less impressive prangs and for its beautiful artwork. This temple is located a bit farther away from the other temples in the Historical Park, on the opposite side of the river. This long, sunny stretch of road was the only time I questioned our decision to get around via bikes, but the beauty and grandeur of Wat Chaiwatthanaram was well-worth the journey.
By the time we reached Wat Chaiwatthanaram, it was midday and hot, hot, hot! After exploring the temple, we made our way to the edge of the grounds, right by the river, and took a break sitting in the grass beneath the shade of a large tree. It’s hard to imagine a more impressive view for a water break!
Conclusion
After leaving Wat Chaiwatthanaram, we rode back to the train station, where we returned our bikes, ate a very late lunch, and caught an afternoon train back to Bangkok. We had a wonderful day trip to Ayutthaya, even if we barely scratched the surface of all there is to see and do in the area.
Overall, I have to imagine this is the single best day trip you can make from Bangkok. Ayutthaya was beautiful and full of so much history. And as if all that wasn’t enough, this entire day trip, including our train tickets, our bike rentals, our meals, and all the temple entrance fees only cost us around $15 USD per person! We highly recommend you include a day trip to Ayutthaya on your Thailand itinerary and hope that this guide has been helpful as you plan your own trip.
Leave a Reply