Ayutthaya travel blog — The fullest Ayutthaya travel guide & How to visit Ayutthaya in a day?

Thailand is not only has colorful, bustling, vibrant Bangkok; romantic, peaceful Chiang Mai; many beautiful white sandy beaches with clear blue water… but also there is also a gentle, deep and nostalgic ancient capital of Ayutthaya. So, what to do in Ayutthaya and how to visit Ayutthaya in a day? Let’s check out our Ayutthaya travel blog (Ayutthaya blog) with the fullest Ayutthaya travel guide (Ayutthaya guide) from how to get to ayutthaya, what to eat, and top things to do in Ayutthaya as well as the details of Ayutthaya itinerary for 1 day to find out the answer!

Built in the fourteenth century (XIV), Ayutthaya became one of the largest cities in the world at the time and with its beauty and prosperity, it was also known as the Venice of the Orient. In the eighteenth century (XVIII), Ayutthaya was almost completely destroyed in the Siamese – Burmese war and today we can see only a few remnants, but still cannot hide the beauty of its golden age.

Ayutthaya (Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya) was the ancient capital of Thailand for 400 years (from the 14th to the 18th century) before gaining independence from Burma (Myanmar). In 1991, it was recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Although it used to be the “capital” of a country, Ayutthaya is not as large as Hue in Vietnam or Angkor Wat of Cambodia but rather small and peaceful like a suburban countryside. Therefore, it only takes about half a day to visit, explore all corners of this land.

Ayutthaya travel guide: How to get to Ayutthaya from Bangkok?

Ayutthaya is about 85 km from the north of Bangkok. There are many means of transportation from Bangkok to Ayutthaya and back, depending on your “budget” that you can choose to getting to here by taxi, train, bus or hire a private car.

Taxi

If you do not want to spend a lot of time for traveling and want absolute convenience, hire a taxi is the best means of transportation, costing about 1.000 baht. You can also negotiate with the driver to take you there, takes you to anywhere you want and then return to Bangkok with cost ranging from 2.500 – 3.000 baht.

Train

If you choose to ride by train, you go to Hua Lamphong train station to buy tickets (ticket price is about 20 – 30 Baht/person/one way. This is the vehicle with the longest travel time. It will takes about 2 – 2.5 hours to travel from Bangkok to Ayutthaya but in return you will be enjoyed the scenery and daily life of Bangkok suburban people on the way and also experience the train ride in Thailand. In particular, this is the cheapest means of transportation to Ayutthaya.

When taking the train to Ayutthaya, you will have to take a ferry from Ayutthaya station to getting to the central area with the fare of about 4 baht/way.

Minibus

From central Bangkok, you can take the MRT, BTS or bus to the Victory Mounment station then get off, then walk through the park for about 20 minutes or take the buses 3, 16, 26, 49, 77, 96 , 104, 134, 136, 138, 145, 170, 509, 517, 529, 536 to reach Mochit Bus Terminal. There are many vehicles to Ayutthaya ancient capital during the day. The ticket price is 60 baht/way/person and every 15 minutes with a trip, 6PM will be the last trip.

Bus

If you want to take the bus, you also go to Mochit bus station, then walk to the Nothern Bus Terminal and choose the bus to Ayutthaya, every 30 minutes with a trip, and the travel time is 90 minutes. Bus fare is 50-100 baht/ticket. Traveling by bus also will give you an interesting sightseeing trip.

Rent a private car

Based on our Ayutthaya travel experience, if you go in a group, have a specific itinerary of places to visit, and want the privacy, convenience, you should use the full-day tour private car rental service. Typically these services will include driver, fuel, bridges fees … with rental time ranging from 8 to 10 hours (possibly longer with surcharges). Here is the private car rental service you can refer to and book: Private Car Charter Between Bangkok and Ayutthaya.

Ayutthaya blog: Day tours to Ayutthaya

Because you can visit Ayutthaya during the day, the day tours are the choice of quite a lot of visitors, because you will be completely guaranteed travel, eating, and accompanied by the guide (English speaking) to provide information about places you visit. Thailand tours in general and Ayutthaya in particular are quite diverse, including river boat tours departing from Bangkok.

Here are some Ayutthaya day trips you can refer to:

• [SALE] Ayutthaya Day Tour from Bangkok: Bang Pa-In Summer Palace, Wat Mahathat and more
• Ancient Ayutthaya Tour: Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon, Bang Pa-In Royal Palace & More by AK Travel
• Ayutthaya City Tour from Bangkok with Traditional Thai Dress and Tuk Tuk Ride
• Ayutthaya 2-Day Private Tour from Bangkok
• Ayutthaya Private Day Tour with Traditional Thai Dress from Bangkok
• Private Ancient Ayutthaya Full or Half Day Tour

Ayutthaya travel blog: Getting around Ayutthaya

To getting around Ayutthaya, you can rent a tuk tuk, bicycle or motorike to explore the most attractive spots here. Tuk tuks are both convenient and fast, but the price is quite expensive, ranging from 1000 – 1200 baht/4 main attractions. Bicycles are much more economical, only 40 baht/bicycle, motorbikes are 150 – 200 baht/motorike, with no time limit.

You can rent a bicycle or motorbike at the shop of Mr. Chang, very friendly and reasonably priced: 40 baht for a bike and 200baht for a motorbike. Address: T.W.T. Tour With Thai, 10/29 Naresaun Soi2, Ho Rattanachai, Amphoe Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya 13000 and website or Google Map.

Ayutthaya travel blog: Best places to visit in Ayutthaya and what to do in Ayutthaya?

Wat Phra Si Sanphet

This is the largest Ayutthaya temple complex built in the 14th century, a place you should not miss. The attraction is the huge of three chedis (stupa) in a row – this is also the typical symbol you will see quite a lot everywhere in Ayutthaya. These stupas are actually quite large, and in particular, quite “photogenic” too!

Wat Phra Si Sanphet was also the site placed a giant Buddha statue inlaid with 0.3 tons of pure gold, before being destroyed by wars and invasions.

Wat Yai Chai Mongkol

Wat Yai Chai Mongkol is not as old as other temples, just over 100 years old. The staircase to the top of the stupa is very steep, almost 90 degrees, and it will be difficult to reach the stupa. Although not “old”, but many parts of this architecture bring ruinous exposed bricks inside. But because of that dilapidation, Wat Yai Chai Mongkol increased the attraction.

Wat Phra Mahathat Relics

Wat Phra Mahathat is famous for the image of the Buddha head in the root of the Bodhi tree, an impressive image and attracts many visitors. However, according to my Ayutthaya travel guide, the other remnants here are also worth a visit, which is a must-see if you like taking beautiful photos to save memories.

Wat Chaiwatthanaram

Wat Chaiwatthanaram was built in the traditional Khmer style, similar to the Angkor Wat temple in Krong Siem Riep, Cambodia. Ayutthaya’s previous travel guide tells me that this is one of the most beautiful photo-hunting temples in Ayutthaya, with a stupa in the central, surrounded by small temples. Normally, you can climb to the top to see the city, especially the sunset scenery.

Wat Ratchaburana

Wat Ratchaburana can be considered to be the best preserved ruins in the area of Ayutthaya Historical Park. King Borommarachathirat II decided to build the temple in 1424 on the cremation area of his two brothers who died in the battle for their throne.

If compared with the scale of the work, Wat Ratchaburana is just a small temple, but this is one of the famous temples in Ayutthaya with the combination of typical Hindu temple decoration in the form of Buddhist temples that is a trending in the ancient capital at that time.

Temple of the Reclining Buddha (Wat Lokayasutharam)

Wat Lokayasutharam is a famous pilgrimage site for Thai Buddhists and a must-visit destination for tourists. The giant reclining Buddha statue, symbolizing the Buddha when he passing into nirvana, is a familiar symbol of Buddhism.

Ayutthaya guide: What and where to eat?

Giant river prawn

This will be a highlight dish of your Ayutthaya tour of the day. When coming to the ancient capital, do not miss the delicious fresh shrimp with this “big size”. The super-rich head meat of shrimp combined with the salty dipping sauce is the taste of paradise cuisine we are talking about! Because of its size and mesmerizing taste, this dish is not inexpensive, but it is worth the money.

Where to eat? Restaurants along the river in Ayutthaya

Boat Noodles

You can not leave Ayutthaya without enjoying the boat noodles, the specialty in this ancient capital of Thailand. The starting point of this dish is simply the noodles that are sold and served on boats circulating through canals and rivers; Later, due to demand, it was also sold in street eateries. Boat noodles are usually served in small bowls and you can choose the ingredients to put into the bowl, creating your own flavor. Because of this, the noodle dish is quite unique, attracting many visitors to Ayutthaya.

Where to try?

Krung Kao Noodles (Address: 13000, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya District, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Thailand / Hours: 9AM–3PM).

Roti Sai Mai

If you are a sweet food fan, you will probably like Roti Sai Mai. This is a typical sweet dish not only in Ayutthaya, but also for Thailand tourism. There are many types of Roti but the most typical ones are made of cotton candy with different colors wrapped in salty crepe cake. Moreover, you can also have the opportunity to try making a cake for yourself right at the stall here.

Where to eat? U thong Road.

Tom kha kai (Tom kha gai)

A day tour to Ayutthaya will be more perfect when “present” Tom Kha Kai. Tom kha kai is a very popular Thai dish. This dish is a bowl of hot and sour chicken soup cooked with coconut milk. The ingredients are simple but make you non stop eating.

Where to eat?

Malakor Café and Restaurant (Address: Tha Wasukri, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya District, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya 13000, Thailand / Hours: 10AM–10PM)

Tom Yum

One of the most famous dishes of Thai cuisine, if you have time, you should try Ayutthaya’s Tom Yum. A bowl of quality Tom Yum soup will have noodles cooked with crab meat, shrimp, scallops, with minced meat and boiled eggs, broth …

Where to eat?

Wat Yai Noodle (Address: 40/2 Moo 3, Ayuddhaya-Bang Pa In Sai Nai Road, Khlong Suan Phlu Subdistrict, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya District., Ayutthaya, Thailand)

Pad Thai

It is also a famous Thai dish, although it is simply with fried noodles with eggs, tofu, shrimp, etc., but it brings a mouth-catching flavor. Accompanied by a small amount of vegetables and the slightly sour taste of lemon, do not miss enjoying Thai Pad at the ancient capital of the land of millions of elephants!

Where to eat? Local restaurants.

Ayutthaya travel blog: Activities you should try with the trip to Ayutthaya in a day

Take a boat around the island of Ayutthaya

You can easily find long-tail boats at the boat dock located in the northeast of the island, near Hua Ro market. You should take a boat in the evening, when the temples are illuminated creating a splendid and wonderful scenery.

Elephant riding at Ayutthaya Elephantstay

According to my Ayutthaya travel guide, it will be very interesting if your day schedule includes elephant riding. At Ayutthaya Elephantstay, you will experience this typical activity of Thailand tourism. An elephant will take you around several ancient ruins, interact and learn about how the elephants are trained and cared for.

Address: Royal Elephant Kraal and Village, 74/1 Moo 3, Tumbol Suanpik, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Thailand

Visit the floating market

Although it is a tourist market, the floating market still brings the unique and local characteristics of Thailand. Here, you can see many people wearing traditional Thai costumes, buying and selling and exchanging local items. Highlights of this market are clothing, souvenir shops, local stalls and food. You can enjoy trying the food on the boat or on the dock.

Ayutthaya blog: Some useful travel tips for visiting Ayutthaya

• You should bring hats, umbrellas and bottled water because you will have to move quite a lot between the sights, and the general climate of Thailand is often sunny and hot.
• You should bring polite clothes, pants over the knee and cover your shoulders when visiting some temples here.
• According to Ayutthaya travel experience, the best time to visit Ayutthaya is from November to February. From about March to May is the hottest time of the year, while
• June to September is the rainy season.
• If you plan to stay in Bangkok for 3 days or more, you should spend 1 night in Ayutthaya to explore more.

Some best day tours, trips, activities and transfer services, tickets in and from Bangkok you can refer to

• [SALE] Ayutthaya Day Tour from Bangkok: Bang Pa-In Summer Palace, Wat Mahathat and more
• Ancient Ayutthaya Tour: Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon, Bang Pa-In Royal Palace & More by AK Travel
• Ayutthaya City Tour from Bangkok with Traditional Thai Dress and Tuk Tuk Ride
• Ayutthaya 2-Day Private Tour from Bangkok
• Ayutthaya Private Day Tour with Traditional Thai Dress from Bangkok
• Private Ancient Ayutthaya Full or Half Day Tour
• Private Car Charter Between Bangkok and Ayutthaya.
• [SALE] BTS Skytrain Rabbit Card
• Chao Phraya Tourist Boat Bangkok Hop-On-Hop-Off Sightseeing Boat
• [SALE] Chao Phraya Princess Cruise
• [SALE] 4G Sim Card (Thailand Pick Up) for Thailand
• 4G SIM Card (BKK Airport Pick Up) for Thailand (Unlimited Data)
• 4G Pocket WiFi (Bangkok and Phuket Airports Pick Up) for Thailand
• 4G Portable WiFi for Thailand from Uroaming (Unlimited Data)

Are you looking for more Bangkok travel guide and top things to do in Bangkok: Tours, activities, attractions and other things? Read more: Bangkok travel blog — The fullest Bangkok travel guide blog for a budget trip to Bangkok (BKK), Thailand.