Ayutthaya travel guide
Temple ruins of the old Siamese capital. Most people stay Day trip or 1 night. Best months: Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb.
Highlights
- Wat Mahathat Buddha head
- Wat Chaiwatthanaram
- Wat Phra Si Sanphet
- Bang Pa-In Summer Palace
Things to do in Ayutthaya
- Ayutthaya temples day trip · 9 h · about ₹2,500 per person. Trains from Bangkok take ~1.5–2h; a van tour or private car is easier in the heat. Temple entry ~50 THB each.
- Wat Mahathat Buddha head in tree roots · 1 h · about ₹125 per person. Crouch for photos so your head stays below the Buddha head.
- Wat Chaiwatthanaram at sunset · 1 h · about ₹125 per person
- Bang Pa-In Summer Palace · 1.5 h · about ₹250 per person. Royal-site dress code applies; golf carts can be hired inside.
Where to stay in Ayutthaya
- Historical park guesthouses (budget, ₹1,500–₹3,000 a night): Cycle to the ruins at dawn if you stay over.
- Riverside boutique stays (mid, ₹3,500–₹7,000 a night): Temple views and sunset boats from the door.
What to eat
- Boat noodles (kuay teow reua): Riverside noodle shops
- Roti sai mai (candy-floss roti): Roadside stalls on U Thong Road
Getting there
- Van or train from Bangkok ~1.5–2h
- Hire a tuk-tuk by the hour between temples
Good to know
- Mar–May midday heat is harsh; start by 8am.
Thailand itineraries with Ayutthaya
- Bangkok city break with Ayutthaya · 5 days · 5 days, Bangkok · from ₹21,700 per person, base estimate before flights. One hotel, four full days: temples, markets, food and a day in the old capital.
- Bangkok, Ayutthaya & Kanchanaburi history · 6 days · 6 days, Bangkok → Kanchanaburi · from ₹28,900 per person, base estimate before flights. Royal Bangkok, the Ayutthaya ruins and the River Kwai war history, all by road.
- North culture: Bangkok, Chiang Mai & Chiang Rai · 8 days · 8 days, Bangkok → Chiang Mai → Chiang Rai · from ₹38,375 per person, base estimate before flights. Temples old and new, from the Ayutthaya ruins to Chiang Rai's White Temple, with a night-market every evening.
- Grand tour: Bangkok, the north and the Andaman coast · 15 days · 15 days, Bangkok → Chiang Mai → Chiang Rai → Krabi → Phi Phi → Phuket · from ₹82,100 per person, base estimate before flights. Two weeks covering the capital, the old capital, the northern temples and three Andaman bases.