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The ruins of Wat Mahathat, Ayutthaya

Ayutthaya, Thailand

Ayutthaya

The ruins of the old Siamese capital, a UNESCO World Heritage Site about 80 km north of Bangkok: brick prangs and chedis, the Buddha head in the tree roots at Wat Mahathat, and riverside temples best seen by bicycle or boat.

Favourite places

Historical places

Local food

  • Boat noodles (kuay teow ruea)

    Ayutthaya, Thailand

    Small bowls of rich, dark beef or pork noodle soup — once sold from boats on the canals.

  • Roti sai mai

    Ayutthaya, Thailand

    Ayutthaya's famous sweet: thin roti wrapped around colourful strands of spun sugar.

  • River prawns

    Ayutthaya, Thailand

    Giant freshwater prawns grilled over charcoal at riverside restaurants.

Where to eat

Where to stay

Culture

Ayutthaya is the cradle of Thai classical culture: its court arts, architecture and language shaped modern Thailand. The Ayutthaya World Heritage Fair in December brings light-and-sound shows to the ruins.

History

Ayutthaya was founded in 1350 by King U Thong on an island where three rivers meet. For more than 400 years it was the capital of Siam and one of the richest cities in Asia, trading with China, India, Persia, Japan and Europe — European visitors in the 1600s compared it with London and Paris.

In 1767 the city was captured and burned by the Burmese army, and the capital later moved to Thonburi and then Bangkok. The ruins were declared the Historic City of Ayutthaya UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991.

Travel information

  • Country: Thailand
  • Language: Thai; English is widely used in tourist areas.
  • Currency: Thai baht (THB).
  • Time zone: Indochina Time, UTC+7.
  • Suggested stay: One full day from Bangkok, or one night to see the temples lit up.

Tour plans

Ayutthaya day trip from Bangkok

1 day

  1. Step 1: Morning

    Early train from Bangkok, rent a bicycle near the station ferry, Wat Mahathat and Wat Ratchaburana.

  2. Step 2: Afternoon

    Wat Phra Si Sanphet, boat noodles for lunch, then an afternoon river boat tour.

  3. Step 3: Evening

    Sunset at Wat Chaiwatthanaram, then the train or a minivan back to Bangkok.

Map

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Travel information

Best time to visit

November to February, when it is cooler and dry. The ruins have little shade — start early in the hot months (March to May).

How to get there

Flights: The nearest airports are Bangkok Don Mueang (DMK), about 1 hour by road, and Suvarnabhumi (BKK), about 1.5 hours. Trains: Frequent trains from Bangkok (Krung Thep Aphiwat or Hua Lamphong) take about 1.5–2 hours; the station is across the river from the island. Minivans and boats: Minivans run from Bangkok's Mo Chit area; some cruises sail up the Chao Phraya from Bangkok.

Getting around

Bicycles are the classic way around the island; tuk-tuks can be hired by the hour; Grab is available. Boats circle the island in the afternoon.

Travel tips

Wear clothes covering shoulders and knees, carry water and sun protection. Many temples sell a combined ticket. Some ruins are lit up in the evening.

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