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Wat Chaiwatthanaram seen from above, with the Chao Phraya and the town of Ayutthaya behind
The red and yellow Ho Withun Thasana lookout tower at Bang Pa-In Royal Palace
The brick walls of Pom Phet fortress at the river junction on the south side of Ayutthaya island
Seated Buddhas in saffron robes in front of the great chedi of Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon
The great white chedi of Wat Phu Khao Thong rising over the fields north-west of Ayutthaya

Things to do in Ayutthaya: 9 experiences

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Photo: Average trinmo, CC BY-SA 4.0

Bang Pa-In, Ayutthaya

Walk the lake gardens of Bang Pa-In Royal Palace

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Photo: Rdsmith4, CC BY-SA 2.5

Ayutthaya island

Circle Ayutthaya island by long-tail boat at the end of the day

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Photo: Daniel R. Witte, CC BY-SA 4.0

Ayutthaya, south-east of the island

Climb the victory chedi of Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon

Tours in Ayutthaya

Photo: Mr.Peerapong Prasutr, CC BY-SA 4.0

Ayutthaya, north-west of the island

Climb the white chedi of Wat Phu Khao Thong in the rice fields

Photo: Ddalbiez, CC BY 3.0

Ayutthaya was the capital of Siam for four centuries, until the Burmese sacked it in 1767, and in the 17th century it was one of the great trading cities of Asia. Its ruins, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1991, are spread over an island ringed by three rivers, 76 km north of Bangkok.

The core of the historical park, with Wat Phra Si Sanphet, Wat Mahathat and Wat Ratchaburana, is easy to cycle. Beyond it, the temples off the island are what make a second day worth it: Wat Phanan Choeng and Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon to the south-east, the white chedi of Phu Khao Thong in the fields to the north, the old foreign quarters on the river, and the royal summer palace at Bang Pa-In.

9 things to do in Ayutthaya

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The red and yellow Ho Withun Thasana lookout tower at Bang Pa-In Royal Palace

Walk the lake gardens of Bang Pa-In Royal Palace

Bang Pa-In, Ayutthaya

2 to 3 hoursGo alone or with a tour

The royal summer palace on the Chao Phraya: a Thai pavilion in a lake, a Chinese mansion and a striped tower.

Check dates and pricesDay trip from Bangkok: temples, Bang Pa-In and river
Been there?
The brick walls of Pom Phet fortress at the river junction on the south side of Ayutthaya island

Circle Ayutthaya island by long-tail boat at the end of the day

Ayutthaya island

1 to 2 hoursGo alone or with a tour

The old capital is an island ringed by three rivers, and its riverside ruins look best from the water at dusk.

Check dates and pricesAfternoon trip from Bangkok with boat and tuk-tuk
Been there?
Brick foundations of Wat Lokaya Sutha leading to the reclining Buddha in the open air

Stand at the feet of the open-air reclining Buddha at Wat Lokaya Sutha

Ayutthaya Historical Park

30 minutesFree

A reclining Buddha some 40 metres long lies under the open sky among the brick ruins, west of the old royal palace.

Been there?
The halls of Wat Phanan Choeng seen across the temple forecourt at dusk

Join the worshippers at the giant seated Buddha of Wat Phanan Choeng

Ayutthaya, south-east of the island

45 minutesNo booking needed

A working temple older than Ayutthaya itself, where a gilded seated Buddha 19 metres high fills the hall and Thai-Chinese families pray.

Been there?
Seated Buddhas in saffron robes in front of the great chedi of Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon

Climb the victory chedi of Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon

Ayutthaya, south-east of the island

45 minutes to 1 hourNo booking needed

A chedi about 62 metres high, raised by King Naresuan for a victory over the Burmese, ringed by rows of Buddhas in saffron sashes.

Tours in Ayutthaya
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The restored Khmer-style prang of Wat Ratchaburana against a blue sky

Go down into the crypt of Wat Ratchaburana, then see its gold

Ayutthaya Historical Park

2 hours with the museumNo booking needed

A staircase inside the prang leads to a crypt with very old Thai murals; the gold found there is a short walk away.

Tours in Ayutthaya
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The exhibition hall and garden of the Japanese Village, on the site of the old Japanese settlement

Visit Ayutthaya's old Japanese and Portuguese quarters

Ayutthaya, south of the island

1 to 2 hours with the Portuguese siteNo booking needed

Two riverside sites south of the island tell how Japanese samurai and Portuguese traders lived beside the Siamese court.

Been there?
The great white chedi of Wat Phu Khao Thong rising over the fields north-west of Ayutthaya

Climb the white chedi of Wat Phu Khao Thong in the rice fields

Ayutthaya, north-west of the island

45 minutesNo booking needed

A chedi of 50 metres alone in the fields, begun by a Burmese conqueror and finished by the Siamese prince who threw him out.

Been there?
The Buddha head grown into the roots of a fig tree at Wat Mahathat, Ayutthaya

Cycle between the ruined temples of Ayutthaya

Ayutthaya

A full dayGo alone or with a tour

Pedal paved paths between the ruins of Siam's old capital, from a Buddha head grown into fig roots to sunset over Khmer-style towers.

Check dates and pricesGuided bike ride through the historical park
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Traveller picks

Hidden gems suggested by travellers. We check each one before it goes up; the words are theirs, not ours.

No traveller picks for Ayutthaya yet. Know a place most visitors miss?

Plan your trip

  • Getting there

    Trains run all day from Bangkok and take about 80 minutes to two hours: the faster ones leave from Krung Thep Aphiwat, and cheap third-class trains still go from Hua Lamphong. Minibuses leave from the Northern Bus Terminal in Bangkok, and many day tours from Bangkok include Ayutthaya and Bang Pa-In.

  • Getting around

    The ruins on the island are close enough to cycle; bikes are rented opposite the station and at guesthouses. For the temples off the island, hire a tuk-tuk by the hour or a scooter if you hold the right licence. Long-tail boats run around the island from three piers.

  • How many days

    In must30's view, one long day covers the main ruins on the island and a boat at sunset. Stay a night to add the temples to the south-east, Bang Pa-In and the Japanese settlement without rushing, and to see the ruins in the early morning.

  • When to go

    November to February is the coolest and driest time. From March to May the heat is fierce in the shadeless ruins, so start at opening time and rest at midday. In the rainy season, roughly June to October, showers are usually short but the rivers can flood the low-lying sites.

  • Where to base yourself

    Most guesthouses are on the island near the station and Chao Phrom Market, around Naresuan Road and Soi 2, where the traveller bars are. A few quieter hotels sit along the rivers.

Questions travellers ask

Is one day enough for Ayutthaya?

For the main ruins on the island, yes, if you start early and take a bike or tuk-tuk. The temples off the island, Bang Pa-In and the foreign settlements need a second day or a night in town.

What is the combined ticket?

The Fine Arts Department sells a 300 baht ticket that covers the main ruins it runs, such as Wat Mahathat, Wat Ratchaburana and Wat Phra Si Sanphet, each 80 baht on its own. Some sites, like Wat Lokaya Sutha, are free, and temples still in use charge their own small fees.

What should I wear at Bang Pa-In Palace?

Cover your shoulders and knees: the dress code is enforced at the gate for everyone, and shorts and sleeveless tops are turned away. Sarongs can be rented at the entrance.

Can I see Ayutthaya by boat?

Yes. Long-tail boats are chartered at the piers in front of the Chantharakasem National Museum, at Pom Phet and at Wat Phanan Choeng. Agree the route and the price first; late afternoon is the best time.

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