Ayutthaya Travel Guide: Visit on Your Own from Bangkok

Discover how to visit Ayutthaya on your own on a day trip from Bangkok (without going on a tour). Ayutthaya was the old capital of Siam that was destroyed by the Burmese some centuries ago. It features some of the most interesting temple complex ruins in Thailand. Discover how to get to Ayutthaya, how to move around the city, the top sights to visit once you’re there, and tips.

Recommended reading: One-Month Thailand Itinerary

Visiting Ayutthaya: Practical Information

How to get there: the best option is by train from Bangkok.
Train ticket to Ayutthaya: buy before departure or in advance.
Return ticket from Ayutthaya: buy at the train station.
Getting around: tuk-tuk is the most popular option.
Tuk-tuk price: we paid 800 baht for 4 hours (negotiate the price).
Entrance fees: we went to three paid temples for 150 baht.
Our favorite places: Wat Maha That and Wat Phra Si Sanphet.

Exploring Ayutthaya: What You Need to Know

Here’s what we’ll cover in this Ayutthaya Ultimate Guide:

Other Thailand Travel Guides:

What is Ayutthaya Famous For?

Ayutthaya is located approximately 80 km from Bangkok. It served as the capital of Siam from the 14th to the 18th century and is known for its impressive temple ruins. The Ayutthaya Historical Park is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

One of the most famous temple ruin complexes is Wat Maha That, renowned for housing a Buddha head entwined in the roots of a tree.

Wat Maha That, Buddha Head — Ayutthaya Historical Park

Is Ayutthaya Worth Visiting After Exploring Bangkok’s Temples?

Going on a day trip to Ayutthaya from Bangkok is a great idea. If you’re hesitating due to a temple overload in Bangkok, fear not. Ayutthaya offers a unique experience with its predominantly temple ruins, providing a distinct contrast to the temples found in the bustling streets of Bangkok.

Related content: Bangkok Ultimate Travel Guide for First-Timers

How Long Do You Need to Explore Ayutthaya?

It depends on what you intend to visit and the chosen means of transport. If you just want to see the main temples of the Ayutthaya Historical Park, one full day or half day is usually enough. We spent four hours exploring temples, plus one hour on each side for transportation from and to Bangkok.

Wat Maha That Decapitated Buddha Figures

How to Go to Ayutthaya from Bangkok?

A visit to Ayutthaya is a popular day trip from Bangkok. It’s easy to get there and the distance is short. It’s not complex to go to Ayutthaya on your own. You have the option to go by minivan or by train (and of course, by taxi).

minivan: you can book your minivan in advance online on websites like 12GoAsia, or you can buy one at tourism agencies in Bangkok. The journey takes around one and a half hours. Personally, I hate minivans, so whenever there’s a train available, that’s the one I’ll choose.
train: the journey leaves from Krung Thep Ampiwat (Bangkok) and takes around one hour. You can buy tickets directly at the station before departure, but you probably won’t have a seated place. Book in advance if you want a seat

We went by train and everything went smoothly. We’ll provide more details in the following section.

Alternatively, you’ll find several agencies selling organized day trips to Ayutthaya in Bangkok. You can also book such organized tours using apps like GetYourGuide, for example. Some tours also combine Ayutthaya with other places of interest. This is a great option if you are short on time.

Going to Ayutthaya from Bangkok by Train

The easiest way to go to Ayutthaya from Bangkok is to catch the train from the Bangkok Central Train Station (Krung Thep Ampiwat). You can get to the station by metro (Bang Sue station). You can buy the tickets to Ayutthaya at the station or in advance.

We bought our tickets at the station. It was only 20 baht per person for the 3rd class without AC. Because we didn’t book the tickets in advance, we didn’t have seats, and as a result, we had to stand for the entire trip.

Ayutthaya Train Station — Train ticket from Bangkok to Ayutthaya

If you want to guarantee a seat on your trip, you need to buy the tickets with some time. You can use websites like 12GoAsia. The return ticket to Bangkok can be bought at the Ayutthaya station before departure.

Tip: Combining Ayutthaya with the Night Train to Chiang Mai.

The train is old and very noisy, and it can get pretty hot if you don’t get a seat by the window, but it’s all part of the adventure. The journey took about one hour. The train departed and arrived precisely on time. We took the 10:35 train and returned on the 16:36 train.

Getting Around Ayutthaya

As soon as you arrive at the train station, you have several options to explore Ayutthaya:

by tuk-tuk: once you get out of the train station you’ll be approached by several tuk-tuk drivers. Make sure you negotiate the price.

by motorbike: there are several places to rent a motorbike in Ayutthaya. You don’t have to walk far to find a motorbike rental place.

by bike: get out of the train station and continue straight to cross to the other side of the river by ferry (it’s only 10 baht per person). After that, you’ll find several places to rent bikes for the day.

Tip: it’s better to only rent the bike after crossing the river, otherwise you’ll have to pay for the bike to go on the ferry. It’s not much, but it’s not very practical.

Ferry to cross the river Ayutthaya Train Station Pier — Ayutthaya Train Station Pier

The most popular ways to explore Ayutthaya are by tuk-tuk or by bike. Our idea was to do it by bike, but in the end, we ended up renting a tuk-tuk for four hours, and we were glad we chose that option.

While many travel bloggers recommend using a bike to get around (that’s the cheapest option), I don’t think it’s a good idea. Some temples are a bit far away from each other, and in my opinion, it’s just not pleasant to ride a bike in the hot humidity you experience in Thailand. However, it depends on your personal preferences and whether you’re lucky enough to have pleasant weather.

Getting Around Ayutthaya by Tuk-Tuk

Exploring Ayutthaya by Tuk-tuk — Tuk-tuk Ayutthaya

If you want to get around by tuk-tuk, you can easily find them at the exit of the train station. In our case, we were approached by one on the other side of the river, on our way (by foot) to one of the temples.

The driver proposed to drive us to several different places during four hours. In the end, we paid 800 baht for the four hours. I’m not sure if that’s a good price, but at the beginning, he was asking for 1200.

What to See in Ayutthaya? Sample Itinerary

Our tuk-tuk driver did have a predefined route, but you can arrange an itinerary yourself if you have a preference. We didn’t have a specified preference, we just knew we wanted to see the Wat Maha That temple—that’s the one with the Buddha head on a tree. So, we just accepted his itinerary offer and everything went fine.

Some temples are paid and some are free. I read that you can buy a combo ticket, but we just bought the individual tickets at the temples. I don’t think the entry tickets were expensive at all. Check here how much we spent to visit Ayutthaya.

Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon

Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon was the first temple we saw on the itinerary proposed by our tuck-truck driver. The entry fee was just 20 baht per person, making it an incredibly affordable visit.

Wat Yai Chai Monghkon — Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon

The Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon is a historic Buddhist temple dating back to the 14th century. It is known for its tall 62-meter chedi, with accessible stairs that you can climb. The top gives you panoramic views, and there’s a reliquary chamber inside the main chedi.

You’ll also find a big reclining Buddha and the remains of old pagodas and temples, making it an interesting historical site.

Wat Phanan Choeng Worawihan

The next stop was Wat Phanan Choeng Worawihan, located on the east bank of the Chao Phraya River. This is still an active temple and very popular among locals.

It houses Thailand’s largest ancient Buddha image, known as Luang Pho Tho, a massive 9-meter tall seated Buddha statue inside the main building. It is said the statue has been there since 1334 and has been restored several times.

This also appears to be a popular place to feed the catfish in the Chao Phraya River, and you’ll see many locals feeding the fish. Additionally, numerous stalls selling fish food can be found along the side of the road as you approach the temple.

Wat Maha That

We then visited Wat Maha That. It’s a vast ancient temple complex, dating back to the 14th century, where you can find the iconic Buddha head nestled in a tree trunk. The entrance fee was 50 baht per person

If you want to take a picture with the Buddha head, you must be seated or on your knees, as a sign of respect.

The site features various remains of pagodas and stupas, showcasing Khmer-style architecture reminiscent of Angkor Wat in Cambodia.

Unfortunately, Wat Maha That suffered, similar to other temples in Ayutthaya, extensive damage during the 18th-century Burmese invasion, resulting in the decapitation of numerous Buddha figures.

Wat Maha That Temple Ruins — Wat Maha That Decapitated Buddha Figures

Wihan Phra Mongkhon Bophit

This temple has a free entrance and has a different architectural style from the previous temples. It houses one of the largest bronze Buddha images in Thailand. This temple is right next to the entrance to Wat Phra Si Sanphet, so you can easily see both.

Bronze Buddha Figure — Wihan Phra Mongkhon Bophit

Wat Phra Si Sanphet

Wat Phra Si Sanphet was our favorite among all the temples we visited in Ayutthaya. The temple stands out for its three impressive chedis, which have a different style from all the others we’ve seen before. The temple complex is quite big with several ruins. The entrance fee for this temple was 50 baht per person.

Reclining Buddha Sai Yat

Finally, we went to see the reclining Buddha Sai Yat. It is located right next to the road, and there’s no entry fee. There’s not much to see there, but still, I recommend going because the reclining Buddha is huge, approximately 43 meters long, and 15 meters high, making it one of the largest reclining Buddha statues in Thailand.

Other places in Ayutthaya

Other places of interest in Ayutthaya that you might want to include in your itinerary:

Wat Chai Watthanaram
Wat Phu Khao Thong
Wat Ratch Burana
Wat Nah Phramen
Ayutthaya Floating Market

During our trip, we were caught by heavy rain for roughly one hour, so we couldn’t see all the temples that we had agreed beforehand.

To avoid any potential disappointments, we suggest prioritizing the temples that interest you the most. Furthermore, as you visit multiple temples, everything will start looking the same, possibly leading to temple fatigue.

Say “No” to Elephant Riding

Ayutthaya is a popular destination for elephant riding, with a well-known elephant park that attracts many tourists. We didn’t include this in our itinerary because we don’t think this is ethical for the animals and we advise you to also skip this activity.

Dress Code for Ayutthaya

The main places you’ll see in Ayutthaya are temples and temple ruins that are considered holy places. As a sign of respect, opt for modest attire, covering your shoulders and knees.

Women may opt for long skirts, while men can go for knee-length shorts (less strict compared to the Grand Palace in Bangkok). Choose comfortable footwear that is easy to remove, as you’ll be required to take off your shoes when entering specific temples.

Getting Back to Bangkok from Ayutthaya

After the four-hour tour with our tuk-tuk driver, he left us at the Ayutthaya train station, and we bought our train ticket back to Bangkok.

The price of the ticket is only 20 baht per person in 3rd class without AC. There were no seats assigned, but there were plenty of places to sit down on our way back.

Night Train to Chiang Mai from Ayutthaya

If you intend to do the night train to Chiang Mai, which is a quite popular option among tourists, you can consider the following itinerary:

catch the train from Bangkok to Ayutthaya;
spend the day exploring Ayutthaya – you can leave your luggage at the Ayutthaya train station;
go back to the Ayutthaya station and catch the night train to Chiang Mai.

Tip: you need to buy the tickets for this journey way in advance because they sold out quickly. Additionally, by booking in advance, you ensure that you’ll get a better berth. I was looking for these tickets one month in advance and they were already sold out.

Visiting Ayutthaya on an Organized Tour

It’s also possible to visit Ayutthaya on an organized tour from Bangkok. You’ll see several tour agencies selling this tour in many places. You can also book an online tour using Get Your Guide for example.

The advantages is that it will be much more comfortable and you’ll also have a guide to explain everything to you about the place.

However, I absolutely recommend doing the tour on your own. It’s super easy and cheap to get there and you’ll have more freedom and time to explore.

Ayutthaya Organized Tour vs Visiting on Your Own (Price Comparison)

Organized group tours to Ayutthaya will typically cost between 30€ to 40€ per person when booked online; you might find better prices by checking with tourist agencies in Bangkok.

To visit Ayutthaya on our own, we spent 16.50€, which is less than half of the price of a tour. Here’s a breakdown of the costs:

Metro to Bangkok Central Station: 43 baht per person
Train ticket from Bangkok to Ayutthaya: 20 baht per person
Ferry to cross the river (not necessary if you rent the tuk-tuk right at the exit of the train station): 10 baht per person
Tuk-tuk rental (4hours): 400 baht per person
Entrance fee to three temples: 120 baht per person
Ferry to cross the river: 10 baht
Return ticket from Ayutthaya to Bangkok: 20 baht per person
Total per person: 623 baht ~16.50€

Visiting Ayutthaya from Bangkok – Wrapping Up

In summary, here’s the most important information you should know:

how to get there: the easiest way to go to Ayutthaya is by train. The train is very cheap, only 20 baht per person in third class without AC and you can buy it directly at the station on the day of departure.

buy tickets in advance to guarantee a seat: if you want to guarantee a seat on the train, you should buy the tickets in advance either on the train station or on websites like 12GoAsia.

return ticket from Ayutthaya to Bangkok: you can buy the return ticket from Ayutthaya to Bangkok directly at the train station.

getting around: while it’s possible to explore Ayutthaya by bike, I don’t recommend it, especially if it’s hot, as was our case. Exploring by tuk-tuk is one of the most popular options.

renting a tuk-tuk for the day: several tuk-tuk drivers will approach you or you can approach them at the exit of the train station. Agree on a route and price, make sure you haggle the price. You can follow their proposed itinerary or suggest an itinerary yourself if you have a preference.

tuk-tuk price: we paid 800 baht for the two of us on the tuk-tuk for four hours. His initial price was 1200 baht.

how much you’ll spend on entrance fees: we visited three paid temple complexes and spent 120 baht per person. There’s also the option to buy a combo ticket, but I didn’t do much research about it.

our favorite temples were Wat Maha That, and Wat Phra Si Sanphet. Make sure you include these two in your itinerary.

We hope you’ve found this article helpful to help you plan your time in Ayutthaya.

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