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อยุธยาCentral Thailand14.35° N · 100.57° E
The ruined former capital of Siam, a UNESCO World Heritage site an easy trip north of Bangkok. Here is what to see, how to get around the ruins and whether to stay the night.
For more than four centuries, from its founding in 1350 until it was sacked by a Burmese army in 1767, Ayutthaya was the capital of Siam and one of the great trading cities of Asia. Merchants and envoys from China, Japan, Persia and Europe came up the river to an island city full of palaces and gilded temples. The Historic City of Ayutthaya was listed by UNESCO in 1991.
Today the ruins of brick temples and tall prangs stand among lawns and trees on the island, ringed by rivers, with the modern town built around them. The most famous image is a stone Buddha head held in the roots of a fig tree at Wat Mahathat, but the grander sights are Wat Phra Si Sanphet, with its three chedis, and Wat Chaiwatthanaram on the riverbank, best seen in the late afternoon.
Most visitors come on a day trip from Bangkok, which works well. Staying a night lets you see the temples lit up after dark and visit at sunrise, when it is quieter and cooler.
Every journey below is private and tailor-made, so you can see Ayutthaya on a day trip or stay overnight on the way north.
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The experiences our travellers enjoy most, in order of what we would not miss.
A stone Buddha head held in the roots of a fig tree, the best-known image of Ayutthaya. Crouch down when taking a photo, so you are never higher than the head.
Three tall bell-shaped chedis in a row, once part of the royal palace grounds. The most photographed view in the historical park.
A grand Khmer-style temple on the riverbank, with a central prang surrounded by smaller towers. Especially beautiful in late afternoon light.
A large reclining Buddha lying in the open air among the ruins, often draped in a saffron cloth.
An active temple just off the island with a tall chedi and rows of seated Buddhas in saffron robes.
A longtail boat circles the island past riverside temples and stilt houses. Late afternoon is cooler and the light is best.
The island is flat and the main ruins are close together, so a bicycle is a pleasant way to explore in the cooler morning hours.
A royal summer palace south of Ayutthaya with European, Chinese and Thai buildings set around ponds. An easy stop on the way from Bangkok.
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Customise My TripMost visitors come by car from Bangkok on a day trip, sometimes stopping at Bang Pa-In Palace. Trains from Bangkok are frequent and simple, and Ayutthaya is also a natural first stop when travelling north to Sukhothai or Chiang Mai by road or rail.
The flat island is easy to explore by bike in the cooler hours.
Best for: MorningsIncluded on our journeys, linking the spread-out temples in air-conditioned comfort.
Best for: Hot daysA loop of the island by river past riverside temples.
Best for: Late afternoonPlaces that pair well with Ayutthaya, with approximate travel times.
November to February is the most comfortable time, with drier weather and less intense heat. March to May is very hot, so start at dawn. June to October is the rainy season, with heavy afternoon showers, and the low-lying area can flood after particularly heavy rain.
A general guide. Weather varies from year to year, and we plan each route around the season.
Quick answers from our local team. Anything else, just ask your travel specialist.
Ask us on WhatsAppYes. It is the easiest UNESCO site to reach from Bangkok, and its ruins give real context to Thai history. Even travellers who are not usually interested in ruins tend to enjoy cycling or boating between the temples.
Yes, most people do. Leave early to arrive before the heat, see the main temples by car or bike, and return in the evening. Staying a night lets you see sunset at Wat Chaiwatthanaram and the illuminated ruins.
Four or five is plenty for a day: Wat Mahathat, Wat Phra Si Sanphet, Wat Chaiwatthanaram, Wat Lokayasutharam and Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon. Trying to see more in the heat usually becomes tiring.
Light clothes that cover shoulders and knees, as some temples are active places of worship. Bring a hat, sunscreen and plenty of water, as there is little shade between the ruins.
The main temples are spread across the island and just beyond it, so you need transport between them. A bicycle works well in the cooler morning hours, a private car is easiest in the heat, and a late-afternoon boat trip shows the riverside temples from the water.
Ayutthaya is closer to Bangkok and grander in scale, but busier and set within a modern town. Sukhothai is older, quieter and set in parkland, but further away. If you have time for both on the way north, they make a good pair.
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