Ayutthaya is a UNESCO World Heritage Site situated only 70km from Suvanabhui airport (pronounced soo-va-na-boo-me). Most visitors to the area opt for a day trip. The historical area of Ayutthaya is like Siam Reaps little cousin, so I would recommend staying at least one night to make the most of what the area has to offer.
How to get to Ayutthaya
Taxi – The easiest option should be to take a taxi, unless you are me. Your taxi driver will get lost and you will have to direct him through Thai Villages, paddy fields and over bridges at 1:30am (hurrah for Thai SIM cards and Google Maps) and you’ll arrive two hours later.
On a good day it should take 70 minutes From Suvanabhumi airport and will cost you around 1,4000 bhat.
Minivan – From Mo Chit New Van Terminal or Kaosan Road.
Train – A popular and most scenic option. You can catch the train from Hua Lamphong Station.
Bus – These depart from the Northern Bus Terminal. Be warned, you might save money taking the public bus, but this will be a slower option, because it will make stops along the way.
So now you’ve made it to Ayutthaya, why should you stay?
Beat the crowds
Most day trippers start arriving at the temples of Ayutthaya at around 11:00pm. If you stay overnight, you can get an early start and visit the biggest and most popular temples, before the selfie sticks arrive. I really wanted to see the white temple, before it got busy, so that is where I started my day.
Amount of people when I arrived: 5 (including me)
Amount of people when I left: (an entire coach load)
Other temples that you might like to consider as your first stop of the day could be Wat Maha That, Wat Chaiwatthanaram or Wat Phra Sri Sanphet.
Take some time to explore the lesser known or smaller temples
While day trippers head straight for the most impressive and popular temples (see above), the smaller temples get ignored. What these temples lack in grandeur, they make up for in peaceful ambiance. I really loved wandering around the peaceful Wat Phra Ram. In the middle of the day there were only a handful of people about. Meanwhile, just across the road Wat Pra Si Sanphet was heaving with day trippers.
Sunset is the best time of day
The light reflecting on the the temples around Ayutthaya is too beautiful to miss. Don’t rush back to the city, just so you can spend your evening sitting in evil Bangkok traffic and miss happy hour. Stay and enjoy the Ayutthaya vibe without rushing. Also, the mosquitos are hungry for your ankles and they want you to stay too.
Tip: watch sunset at one of the smaller temples. The popular temples can get crowded, because everyone heads to the same places at sun down. Also, take mosquito repellent for the ‘witching hour’, because I’m not kidding about the mosquitoes wanting you to stay.
Ayutthaya has some tasty night markets worth sampling
Ayutthaya has a few good night markets with delicious food to try. They are far less hectic than the weekend markets in Chiang Mai or Bangkok, but the food is still Thailicious. A big majority of the tourists in Ayutthaya are Thai, so the food is made with them in mind. I’ve noticed all around Thailand that when the majority of tourists are non Thai, the food quality takes a downward spiral. Take Phuket or Koh Samui for instance, it’s really hard to get decent Thai food there, unless you find a local market. Whereas Koh Lipe has a high ratio of Thai tourists and some incredible food. Thai tourist = amazing street food. Stay and sample EVERYTHING at the night market.
Just like the night market, Ayutthaya sizzles
If you’ve ever been to Siam Reap, you’ll know it’s hot and exhausting temple hopping all day. By about 2pm I can hear small bottles of beer calling my name. Ayutthaya is no different. During my trip, I went back to my guesthouse in the afternoon, showered, put fresh clothes on and headed back out again. My days of festering as a traveler are over, I just can’t cope with being stinky dinky for too long. Does this make me weak traveler? Yes, probably, but I got no shame and I got no stink.
Useful Stuff
How to get around: You can hire a bike or a moped, or arrange for a tuk tuk to stay with you all day. The standard rate for a Tuk Tuk Driver is 200 bhat per hour, but you can negotiate a fair rate if you would like transport for the whole day.
What to pack: Long sleeves and mid length skirts/pants. You must cover your shoulder and knees while visiting most temples.
Do: Take the usual sun precautions and drink a ton of water. It’s really freakin’ hot in Ayutthaya.
Don’t: Climb on the temples. This is forbidden by the Thai government, so that they can preserve the ruins.
FYI: Most temples charge a 50 bhat entry fee. Some temples, including Wat Phra Ram are free.
Eco tip: Many temples sell delicious fresh coconuts outside, carry a foldable keyring straw to save on the plastic waste.
Stay:
$$ I stayed at Baan Penny and couldn’t recommend it highly enough. It’s a simple, but good value guest house ran by a lovely couple that really go out of their way to make sure you have a great stay. The room has a hot shower, good air-con, zero mosquitoes and is spotlessly clean. The lovely couple just want you to enjoy your stay at their guest house and Ayutthaya and they will assist you with any problems that you may encounter during your stay.
$$$ For those wanting to spend a bit more and have beautiful views across the river with temples in the distance, then check out iuDia or Sala Ayutthaya.
Update: I went back to Ayutthaya in January 2023 and stayed at Baan Pomphet. Highly recommended for a higher budget.
Disclaimer: I am working directly with the mosquitos of Ayutthaya and will receive a small commission for every tourist bitten after sunset.
Well written and informative article. Thank you. Can’t wait to go next time I’m in the land of Thailicious food!
Great post! It looks like you stayed 2 nights in Ayutthaya – is that right? I heard there are many stray dogs at night – did you encounter this and if so was it a problem? Thanks!
Sorry about delayed reply. I have been neglecting my blog during these coronavirus days. I did not encounter stray dogs at night, but I caught a Tuk Tuk to the night market and then back again, so I didn’t really walk around anywhere quiet to see stray dogs. I didn’t see any dogs while exploring the temples during the day. Yes I stayed 2 nights and was happy with that amount. I hope I can head back to Thailand again soon!