When in Thailand most of us end up in Bangkok at some point. Being the capital of Thailand, Bangkok welcomes a lot of visitors every year. I first visited Bangkok in 2016. There’s a lot of fun things to do in Bangkok. Although, if you’re planning on avoiding the busy capital and want to visit other places around Bangkok, why not consider a day trip to Ayutthaya?
Ayutthaya is a historical city where you can find ruins and temples. As it’s not too far from the capital, it becomes the perfect day trip from Bangkok. Let’s take a look at why you should visit Ayutthaya and how to make the most of your trip while you’re there.
Ayutthaya Travel Guide
Where’s Ayutthaya?
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The distance from Bangkok to Ayutthaya is only about 80 kilometres. Ayutthaya is located in the north of Bangkok. It takes about an hour to get there by car depending on the traffic situation.
Getting to Ayutthaya
The easiest way to get to Ayutthaya from Bangkok is with a tour. The tours usually include a pick-up at your hotel which makes everything go smoothly.
You could also get to Ayutthaya by train if you decide to spend a bit more time in the area. This would also be the cheapest option. You could also take the bus but the train is still cheaper! If you decide to take the train you can find a tuk-tuk driver to get to your destination, hire him for the day or even hire a bicycle to ride around the temples.
You can read about general transportation tips in Thailand here.
What’s so interesting about Ayutthaya?
Vacation in Ayutthaya
Ayutthaya is known because of its temples and ruins. It’s a great option if you want to learn more about the history of Thailand as well as visiting the beautiful temples in Ayutthaya. You should also know that the historical park was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
I’m not the best person to explain the whole history of Ayutthaya but I’ll try my best to keep it short and sweet. Back in the day Ayutthaya Kingdom was the Siamese Kingdom. During the 16th century, the city of Ayutthaya was under attack. There was a big war between the Siamese and Burmese. These attacks and wars lasted for a pretty long time. Nowadays, the ruins, temples and palaces of Ayutthaya remain and it became a pretty interesting place to travel to from Bangkok.
Ayutthaya Day Trip Itinerary
The perfect day trip to Ayutthaya should include the most beautiful temples and ruins. Here’s a list of the Ayutthaya temples I visited.
Note that all temples have an entrance fee which is TBH 50 unless stated otherwise. (The tour I booked included all entrance fees.)
Most Beautiful Temples in Ayutthaya:
Wat Chaiwatthanaram
Wat Chiwatthanaram is a Buddhist temple located in Ayutthaya. It’s the most popular temple in the city.
Wat Phra Si Sanphet
Wat Phra Si Sanphet was the holiest site located in the Old Royal Palace of Thailand. It’s also one of the most beautiful temples in Ayutthaya.
Wat Mahathat
Wat Mahathat is another Buddhist temple. This one also has something very special. It’s where you’ll find the famous Buddha head covered in tree roots.
Visiting a Buddhist Temple for the First Time | Etiquette
If you’re visiting a Buddhist temple for the first time, here are a few things to keep in mind so you can visit the temple in a respectful way.
- Dress respectfully – your clothes should cover your shoulders and knees. You can bring a sarong if you don’t know how to cover yourself properly!
- Take off your shoes (you can keep your socks on if they are clean).
- You should not step on the threshold (the thing that separates the inside from the outside). According to Thai culture, it’s bad luck to step on it!
- If you decide to sit, do not point your feet towards the statue. Take a look at how the locals are behaving, that might help!
- Do not climb or sit on the ruins.
Going Beyond Ayutthaya | Making the Most of Your Day Trip From Bangkok
Why should you go beyond Ayutthaya? What are the other cool places to visit around Bangkok?
Once you visited a few temples you might be ready for some more,or for some amazing foodie experiences.
Ang Thong Province
Did you know that in the Ang Thong Province (about 30-40 minutes from Ayutthaya) you can find the biggest Buddha of Thailand? (It’s also one of the biggest in the world.) While you’re in the area you could also visit San Chao Rong Thong Market. I personally love markets! It’s an excellent way to experience culture in a different way – you can meet locals, try different food experiences as well as stimulating your nose with all these smells!
Sing Buri Province
Sing Buri is known for its delicious and huge river prawns. I had the pleasure to enjoy a fantastic meal at Kung Phao Mae Thong Chup as part of the project Local Table.
What was on the menu?
- Gigantic Shrimp
- Stir-fried coconut shoots with shrimp
- Sour and spicy fish soup
- Steamed rice
Should you do-it-yourself or book a day trip?
When it comes to traveling some day trips can be easy or quite challenging to organize. If you’re planning on doing a day trip from Bangkok to Ayutthaya you could do it on your own. Although, if you’re planning on going beyond Ayutthaya and experiencing a day similar to the one I just described, why not book a Bangkok day trip to Ayutthaya…and beyond!
This perfect day trip to Ayutthaya from Bangkok was organized via TakeMeTour. It was the perfect mix between a typical Ayutthaya day trip and extra bonuses such as markets and Thai foodie experiences.
If you’d like to experience this Ayutthaya itinerary, check out this amazing day trip.
What are the advantages to go on an Ayutthaya day tour with TakeMeTour?
- My local expert, Arnon, brought me to all the places that should be on an incredible Ayutthaya itinerary.
- Arnon picked me up in Bangkok and dropped me off after the tour.
- He had great recommendations for food and surprised me with extra desserts during the day!
- It allowed me to go further than I would have managed on my own.
- As he speaks Thai, it makes everything easier when it comes to traveling around – especially when it came to ordering our meal in Sing Buri.
Where to stay in Bangkok
I had the pleasure to stay at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 4. Located right in the middle of the business centre, it’s an ideal location if you’re into shopping, nightlife and street food. The area is quite busy, which means you could be stuck in traffic! That being said, you might have to do a bit of planning if you’re hiring a driver, etc.
My room was modern, clean and provided amazing views over the city. The staff was lovely and there is a restaurant on site which serves International food. On the 25th floor, there’s also a rooftop bar as well as a pool. The views are pretty incredible, especially at night time.
You can also browse other accommodation options in Bangkok here or check on Booking.com or via HostelWorld if this one is outside your budget.
Check out all the day trips from Bangkok!
Other things to consider when you arrive in Bangkok
Getting a SIM card in Thailand
When in Thailand, stay connected! As soon as you get through the customs at the airport you’ll find plenty of options when it comes to SIM cards. To be fair, it’s actually overwhelming. You can also book your SIM card in advance via TakeMeTour and pick it up when you arrive. It’s affordable and very useful!
Getting to your hotel from the airport
I personally used Grab to get to my accommodation in Thailand. You can choose between a motorbike or a car, although the price difference isn’t much.
Disclaimer: I was invited to Thailand as part of a trip organized by TakeMeTour, Local Table and Tourism Authority of Thailand. As always, all opinions are my own.
