Things to do and see in Ayutthaya Thailand

At the confluence of the Chao Phraya, Lopburi and Pa Sak rivers in Thailand lies a unique island in the world. We are talking about Ayutthaya, a city with a long history that is reflected in its Historical Park, declared a World Heritage Site in 1991 by Unesco. This park houses the ancient city of Ayutthaya, founded in 1351 and declared capital of the kingdom of Ayutthaya, with its beautiful and countless temples. After centuries of history, devotion and looting, Ayutthaya still offers its visitors that mystical aura of sacred sites that never ceases to amaze. Find out what things to do in Ayutthaya with us, read on!

Organise your travel itinerary with Passporter easy and functional. Get inspired by the experiences of other travellers and choose the places that interest you the most, adding them to the route map.

Temples to see in Ayutthaya

Wat Maha That

Wat Maha That is one of the most significant temples in Ayutthaya and certainly one of the most photographed. It is a temple of royal status and the residence of the Supreme Buddhist Patriarch during the reign of Ayutthaya (14th-18th century). In addition to its impressive pagodas, there is a huge tree whose roots have been growing around a Buddha’s head, which it seems to embrace.

Price without voucher: 50 bats (€1.34) Price of voucher 6 temples: 220 bats (5.89€)

Wat Ratcha Burana

To the north of Wat Maha That is another impressive temple dating from the 15th century. Although part of it is restored due to heavy rains in 2011 that damaged it, much of its stucco and original beauty is still preserved. Its prang tower is one of the largest and most impressive in Ayutthaya.

Price without voucher: 50 bats (€1.34) Price of voucher 6 temples: 220 bats (5.89€)

Wat Phra Si Sanphet

This temple, of royal status and considered the most sacred temple of its time, was the home of royalty when Ayutthaya was the capital of the kingdom of Siam. In 1767, after the Burmese invasion, it was completely devastated, as were many of the city’s temples, but it was restored to its former grandeur in 1956.

Price without voucher: 50 bats (€1.34) Price of voucher 6 temples: 220 bats (5.89€)

Wat Chai Watthanaram

This is one of the most beautiful and impressive temples in the city, as well as being one of the best preserved. Its grandeur is due to a beautiful history, as it was King Prasat Thong in 1630, who decided to build it as a memorial to his mother and its name means “temple of the long and glorious reign. It has 8 impressive pagodas surrounding a 35-metre central one that can be seen from many parts of the city.

Price without voucher: 50 bats (€1.34) Price of voucher 6 temples: 220 bats (5.89€)

Wat Phra Ram

After visiting others such as Wat Chai Watthanaram or Wat Phra Si Sanphet, Wat Phra Ram is less impressive but equally beautiful and captivating. Also, being in the heart of the Archaeological Park, it’s a good place to visit, even if you’re just passing through on your way to visit other temples.

Price without voucher: 50 bats (€1.34) Price of voucher 6 temples: 220 bats (5.89€)

Lokayasuthram

While there is little to see of the temple as such, Wat Lokayasuthram offers one of the most impressive and characteristic images of Ayutthaya. This is its reclining Buddha, a statue some 40 metres long by 8 metres high, absolutely majestic.

Price: free admission

Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.

What to do around Ayutthaya

Visit Bangkok

It’s very likely that if you’re planning to travel to Ayutthaya it’s because you’re going to visit Bangkok first. And that’s only natural, because a trip to Thailand’s capital is something you have to do once in your life. There are few who have visited Bangkok and have not been captivated by its beauty and bustling streets, temples, markets, palaces, nature and dreamy cuisine.

Must-see sights in Bangkok include Wat Arun, the Temple of Dawn, so called because from its tower you can see a beautiful sunrise overlooking the city, and the various Bangkok markets. But above all, the Bangkok Grand Palace, probably the capital’s most important tourist attraction, stands out.

Learn about these places and many more at Things to do and see in Bangkok Thailand

How to get to Ayutthaya from Bangkok

Ayutthaya is approximately 80km from Bangkok, making it a popular destination for visitors. There are different options for getting to Ayutthaya from Thailand’s capital, depending on your time and budget.

Organised tour

If you like to let yourself go and not have to worry about anything, this is the option for you. There are a variety of companies that offer the service of taking you from the door of your Bangkok hotel to Ayutthaya, plus a tour of all the temples and sights with a guide in your own language. Tours last one day and drop you back at your hotel. The most comprehensive tours, including entrance fees, cost an average of 100€.

Train

Although it is possible to travel by ten to Ayutthaya, this is the slowest option. Trains take around 2 hours and the station is 3.3km from the archaeological park. There is a very high frequency of trains that run this route, so if you go directly to the station, you can get on the next one out without waiting too long. Price: from 20 baths (€0.53)

Autobus

From Mo Chit station, buses run to Ayutthaya every half hour. The fare is 50 baht (€1.32) and you’ll be dropped off next to the park in about an hour and a half.

Minivan

For twice the money, but also much more comfortably, you can make the journey to Ayutthaya by minivan. Like the buses, they leave from Mo Chit station, with the disadvantage that they don’t have a fixed timetable, but when the minivan is full, it departs for its destination.

What to do in Ayutthaya in 2 days

First day in Ayutthaya:

• Start with Wat Phra Mahathat
• Then Wat Ratchaburana
• Wat Phra Si Sanphet
• Wat Chai Watthanaram

Second day in Ayutthaya:

If you have the opportunity to stay an extra day in Ayutthaya, these are the places you can’t miss.

• Chao Phrom
• Lokayasuthram and its Reclining Buddha

Where to eat in Ayutthaya

• Chao Phrom: If you enjoy local food and shy away from the more touristy places, this is the place for you. This is the local market in Ayutthaya and you’ll find a wide variety of food stalls offering authentic Thai dishes at a very affordable price. Price range: 30-50 baht (0.79€-1.32€)
• Sukunya Bistro: One of the best restaurants in Ayutthaya, with delicious and hearty traditional Thai dishes, excellent service and a unique iced coffee. Price range: 3-8€

Where to sleep in Ayutthaya

One of the best ways to visit Ayutthaya and get the most out of it is to spend a night in the city and have two full days to see it at your leisure. The best areas to stay in the city are the east area, where the bus station and the Chao Phrom are located, and the area closest to the archaeological park, which is the most touristy.

The average price for accommodation in Ayutthaya is around €26 per night, but of course this will always depend on the area you’re staying in (it’s usually more expensive near the park) and the type of hotel you’re staying in. In Ayutthaya, as elsewhere in Thailand, there is accommodation to suit all budgets and experiences. So you can find everything from hostels, for around €10 a night, to luxury resorts, for around €150.

Tips for your trip to Ayutthaya Thailand

• The currency in Thailand is Thai Baht (1 baht = 0.026€).
• Bring your money beforehand, currency exchange at airports is very expensive.
• It’s cheaper to take out a ticket for the temples than to buy them individually (220THB = 5.89€).
• Carry some cash at all times, as not all shops accept credit cards.
• Be prepared for medical emergencies: travel with insurance.
• The rainiest period in Ayutthaya is October.
• Best to drink only bottled water, as tap water is not always drinkable.
• To enter temples you should be barefoot, wear trousers or skirts below the knees and clothes that cover your shoulders.
• In Thailand, opt for responsible tourism and avoid activities that involve the abuse of animals and humans.

How to organise what things to do in Ayutthaya

Register or download the Passporter App and discover all its possibilities.

• Get inspired by the experiences of other travellers.
• Create your own itinerary and add the app’s suggestions to it.
• Add the stops that interest you most, as well as the restaurants and bars where you want to eat (you can use the points of interest listed in this post as a reference).
• Organise your itinerary by route days according to their location on the map (you can take inspiration from the routes we present in the post)
• Check the travel budget that the app calculates according to your travel stops, restaurants, and leisure activities.
• Make the modifications you need and you’ll be all set for your trip.
• Share your experience. Upload photos of each of the places you have visited on your trip to the app and recommend other travellers what to see in Chiang Mai Thailand.

If you have doubts about how to do it, you can check our post: How to create a travel itinerary in Passporter.

Frequently asked questions