Lopburi travel guide: Khmer towers, King Narai's palace and the monkeys

A small old town with a long history

Lopburi was an important centre long before Ayutthaya, and its Khmer-style monuments show that earlier layer. In the 17th century King Narai made it his second capital, building the palace that now holds the town's national museum.

Everything in the old town is close to the railway station, which makes Lopburi an easy day trip from Bangkok or a stop on the way to the north. The modern town spreads east; the historic sights are not there, so choose a hotel near the old centre if you stay.

Phra Prang Sam Yot and the monkeys

Phra Prang Sam Yot, three laterite towers joined by passages, is Lopburi's emblem. It and the nearby San Phra Kan shrine are where the macaques have traditionally gathered, sitting on the ruins, the railings and the roads.

Numbers are changing. In February 2026 Khaosod English reported that the municipality and the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation were trapping, sterilising and moving monkeys from these sites and the town centre to a municipal nursery outside town. How many you see depends on when you visit; do not plan the trip around a guaranteed encounter.

The monkeys are wild animals. Do not carry food or plastic bags in your hands, keep sunglasses, hats and phones secured, and do not feed or touch them. Follow any instructions posted by the shrine or the local authorities; where staff hand out sticks or advise you to stay outside an area, take the advice.

TAT describes the annual Monkey Buffet Festival, normally held on the last Sunday of November, when tables of fruit are laid out for the macaques at both sites. It is crowded and lively; if you prefer a quiet visit, avoid that day.

King Narai's palace and the national museum

Phra Narai Ratchaniwet, King Narai's palace, is a walled compound of brick halls, gateways and lawns in the centre of town. Its later buildings house the Somdet Phra Narai National Museum, with collections from Lopburi's Dvaravati, Khmer and Ayutthaya periods.

The museum does not open every day; check current opening days and hours before planning around it. The palace grounds are a good place for the hottest part of the day, with shade and benches between the ruins.

The ruins by the station and other stops

Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat, directly opposite the railway station, is the largest of the old temple sites: a tall central prang surrounded by brick halls and chedis. It is quieter than Phra Prang Sam Yot and has far fewer monkeys.

With more time, Ban Wichayen, the ruined residence built for foreign envoys in King Narai's reign, adds a story of 17th-century diplomacy. All of these sites can be linked on foot in a few hours, with a long lunch in between.

Sunflower season

From roughly November to January, sunflower fields bloom in the countryside of Lopburi Province, mostly well outside the town in districts such as Phatthana Nikhom. They are farmland, not a single attraction: fields change from year to year and some charge a small entry fee.

You will need a car, a driver or a tour to reach them. Combine the fields with an overnight stay rather than squeezing them into a day trip from Bangkok.