Ayutthaya is one of the easiest and most beautiful day trips from Bangkok. In a relatively short time, you travel from the bustle of the capital to a historic city full of temple ruins, Buddha statues and remains of old palaces. We visited Ayutthaya as a day trip from Bangkok and found it a very pleasant way to get a first impression of this special place.
Ayutthaya was once the capital of the Siamese kingdom, and you can still clearly see that in the many ruins spread across the city. Do not expect one compact sight that you can quickly walk through, but a large historic area with temples in different locations. That is why it is useful to think in advance about how you want to visit Ayutthaya.
Why visit Ayutthaya from Bangkok?
Ayutthaya is located north of Bangkok and makes a lovely change if you are spending a few days in the capital. Bangkok is busy, modern, chaotic and impressive. Ayutthaya feels completely different. The city is more spacious, more historic and calmer, although it is of course still a popular place for day visitors.
Especially if you are interested in culture and history, Ayutthaya is worth visiting. The temple ruins clearly show how important this city once was. You walk among old chedi, Buddha statues, walls and temple complexes that have a completely different atmosphere from the shiny temples in Bangkok.
Within a trip through Thailand, Ayutthaya fits well at the beginning. You can visit the city while you are still staying in Bangkok, without immediately having to move on with all your luggage. That makes it an easy cultural addition to your itinerary.
Ayutthaya as a day trip or overnight stay?
We visited Ayutthaya as a day trip from Bangkok and found that enough for a first impression. In one day, you can see several important temples, have lunch and return to Bangkok at the end of the day. Especially if your itinerary is already quite full, this is a very convenient option.
Of course, you can also stay overnight in Ayutthaya. That is especially interesting if you want to take things more slowly, enjoy cycling or visit the temples at a different time of day. Early in the morning and late in the afternoon, the atmosphere is often nicer and it is less hot. With an overnight stay, you can also include more smaller temples and local places.
Our day tour to Ayutthaya
We did an organised tour from Bangkok that was very similar to this Ayutthaya temple tour from Bangkok with lunch. During this kind of tour, you visit several well-known temples, travel in air-conditioned transport and usually have lunch included.
For us, this was a nice way to see Ayutthaya. You do not have to figure out how to get from temple to temple yourself and you get explanations about the history along the way. That makes the ruins more interesting, because you better understand what you are looking at.
Another advantage is that the day stays easy and organised. Ayutthaya is quite spread out and the temples are not all right next to each other. If you arrange everything yourself, you still need to find local transport or rent bicycles once you arrive. That is definitely possible, but with a tour it is easier.
This way of travelling is especially suitable if you want to visit Ayutthaya as a day trip and do not want to spend too much time planning. You will not see everything, but you will see enough for a good impression.
View the Ayutthaya day tour from Bangkok
What do you see during a day trip to Ayutthaya?
During a standard day trip, you usually visit some of Ayutthaya’s best-known temples. The exact route can differ per tour, but often the same highlights are included. That makes sense, because together these temples give a good impression of the old city.
Wat Mahathat
Wat Mahathat is one of the most famous temples in Ayutthaya. The Buddha head grown into the roots of a tree is especially well known. This is probably the place you see most often in photos of Ayutthaya.
It is also one of the temples where you really feel the atmosphere of the old city. Everywhere you see ruins, brick walls, Buddha statues and the remains of towers. It is impressive, but also a place where you should walk around respectfully. Especially near the famous Buddha head, it is important to keep your distance and not position yourself higher than the image.
Wat Phra Sri Sanphet
Wat Phra Sri Sanphet was an important temple within the former royal palace area. The three large chedi are very recognisable and give this place an impressive appearance. For us, this was one of the places where you really feel how large and important Ayutthaya must once have been.
The temple is less about small photogenic details and more about scale. You walk among the remains of an important royal complex, which gives you a different impression than the smaller temple ruins.
Wat Lokayasutha
Wat Lokayasutha is known for its large reclining Buddha. This is a very different stop from the temple ruins with towers and chedi. The statue lies in the open air and is impressive because of its size.
This kind of variety makes a day trip enjoyable. You are not visiting the same type of temple four times, but seeing different sides of Ayutthaya. One place is more about ruins, another about a statue or a location by the water.
Wat Chaiwatthanaram
Wat Chaiwatthanaram is one of the most beautiful temple complexes in Ayutthaya. The temple is located by the river and has an impressive layout with high prang and a symmetrical design. This is one of those places where you really want to walk around slowly.
For many travellers, Wat Chaiwatthanaram is a highlight of Ayutthaya. The architectural style, the location and the scale make it one of the most photogenic places in the city. It can be especially beautiful towards the end of the afternoon, although that of course depends on the schedule of your tour.
Travelling to Ayutthaya independently
You do not necessarily need to book a tour to visit Ayutthaya. Travelling independently is also very possible, especially if you like flexibility or want to keep costs lower. From Bangkok, there are several ways to travel to Ayutthaya.
- By train: often the cheapest and most local option. You travel from Bangkok towards Ayutthaya and arrange local transport there.
- By minivan: usually faster and more practical than the train, depending on your departure point and traffic.
- By private transfer: comfortable and convenient if you are travelling with several people or have limited time.
- With an organised tour: the easiest option if you want transport, a guide, temples and lunch arranged in one go.
If you travel independently, you still need to decide how to visit the temples once you are in Ayutthaya. Many travellers rent a bicycle, arrange a tuk-tuk or agree on a price with a local driver. Cycling sounds lovely, but keep the heat in mind. Ayutthaya can get very hot and the distances between some temples are larger than you might expect.
For travellers who like to decide everything themselves, going independently is a good option. For travellers who mainly want an easy first impression, we found a tour more convenient.
Ayutthaya by bicycle, tuk-tuk or tour
Ayutthaya is often mentioned as a cycling destination. That can definitely be nice, especially if you start early and it is not too hot. You can cycle at your own pace past different temples and stop more easily wherever you like.
Still, cycling is not ideal for everyone. The heat can be intense and the traffic on some stretches may be less relaxed than you hope. Not all temples are directly next to each other either. If you want to cycle comfortably, choose a route with temples that are close together and try to avoid the middle of the day.
A tuk-tuk or local driver is more comfortable. You usually agree which temples you want to see and how many hours you want to be out for. This gives you more freedom than a fixed tour, but less hassle than doing everything by bicycle.
An organised tour is the easiest. You follow the programme, get in and out at the temples and do not constantly have to think about transport. For us, that was exactly right.
Is Ayutthaya crowded?
Ayutthaya is popular, so you will definitely meet other travellers at the best-known temples. Still, we did not find it comparable to the crowds at some places in Bangkok. Because the temples are spread out, it often feels less crowded.
At the famous Buddha head in Wat Mahathat, it can be busier, because almost everyone wants to take a photo there. Wat Chaiwatthanaram can also feel lively, especially at beautiful times of the day. But in general, Ayutthaya remains very manageable, especially if you do not expect to have the temples completely to yourself.
What to bring to Ayutthaya
A day trip to Ayutthaya is not complicated, but a little preparation makes the day more comfortable. You spend a lot of time outside and there is limited shade at some temple sites. Especially the combination of sun, heat and stone ruins can feel intense.
Bring at least:
- light clothing suitable for visiting temples;
- covered shoulders and knees, or something to cover yourself with;
- sunscreen and sunglasses;
- enough water;
- comfortable shoes or sandals;
- cash for small expenses;
- a camera or phone with a full battery.
Because you are visiting temples, respectful clothing is important. Even though many places are ruins, they are still religious and historical sites. So do not dress as if you are going to the beach.
How much time do you need for Ayutthaya?
For a first visit, one day is enough. You will see the most important temples and get a good impression of the city. Especially if Ayutthaya is part of a longer Thailand itinerary, I would not necessarily plan a separate overnight stay for it.
If you want to travel more slowly, take photos, cycle or also visit museums and lesser-known temples, you can stay one night. That way, you experience Ayutthaya outside the busiest day-trip hours too. But for most travellers, a day trip from Bangkok is the most logical choice.
We liked that we simply returned to Bangkok after the tour. That meant we did not have to pack again and could still include Ayutthaya in our route.
Does Ayutthaya fit into your Thailand itinerary?
Yes, Ayutthaya fits very well into a Thailand itinerary, especially at the beginning of the trip. You can easily combine it with Bangkok and immediately see a completely different side of Thailand. After Bangkok’s modern neighbourhoods, markets, temples and busy traffic, Ayutthaya is a beautiful historical addition.
In our route, Ayutthaya was not a separate overnight destination, but a day trip. I would do it the same way again. It is efficient, enjoyable and interesting enough to give your trip more depth. After that, you can continue from Bangkok towards the south, for example to Khao Lak, Krabi and the islands.