Ayutthaya travel guide: temple ruins, river prawns and an overnight stay

Day trip or overnight?

A day trip from Bangkok works if you leave early and accept that you will see the ruins in the hottest hours. With a night on the island you can visit two or three temples in the morning, rest at midday and return to the ruins in the late afternoon, when the brick turns warm and the crowds thin.

Staying also gives you an evening by the river and an unhurried dinner, which is where much of the town's food culture lies. If your Bangkok days are already full, one night here is a better change of pace than another early-morning tour from the city.

Choose four or five temples, not all of them

Ayutthaya Historical Park is not one fenced site but a spread of temples across and around the island, each with its own entrance. A useful core is Wat Phra Si Sanphet, with its three great chedis, inside the old royal palace grounds; Wat Mahathat nearby; and Wat Ratchaburana, with its tall carved prang.

Across the river to the west, Wat Chaiwatthanaram stands on the bank with its central prang and ring of towers; it is a good choice for late afternoon. Most temples charge a separate small entry fee for foreign visitors; check prices and opening hours at each ticket booth, and remember that these are places of worship as well as ruins.

Many Buddha images here were damaged when the city fell in 1767. Do not climb on statues or pose in ways that treat them as props; some sites post rules about photography and dress.

Getting there and moving around

Trains run north from Bangkok to Ayutthaya station: long-distance services from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal and slower ordinary trains from Hua Lamphong. Check the State Railway of Thailand's current timetable and the station your train uses. Ayutthaya station is on the east bank of the Pa Sak River; the island is across the water.

On the island, a bicycle is the most flexible way to link the temples, but the midday heat is real: plan shade and water. Tuk-tuks can be hired for a few hours — agree the route and the price first. A boat trip around the island at the end of the day shows the riverside temples from the water.

Evenings by the river

Some of Ayutthaya's ruins are lit after dark, and TAT reports that the historic ruins were certified as a World Night View Heritage site in 2021. Check which temples are illuminated and until when before planning an evening walk, and carry a light for uneven ground.

The town's night markets and riverside restaurants are where you find the local dishes listed below. Ayutthaya is also busy during festivals such as Loi Krathong, when hotels fill early.

A day on the island

An editorial suggestion for a first visit; adjust to opening hours and weather.

• Morning: Wat Phra Si Sanphet and Wat Mahathat while it is cool.
• Midday: boat noodles and a rest out of the sun.
• Afternoon: Wat Ratchaburana, then cross to Wat Chaiwatthanaram for the late light.
• Evening: grilled river prawns and roti sai mai at a riverside restaurant or night market.