Ayutthaya or Kanchanaburi?

Ayutthaya or Kanchanaburi are two beautiful cities and popular day trips from Bangkok. These places are full of cultural and historical attractions. They are very well-connected to Bangkok by train.

In this article, I will compare Ayutthaya or Kanchanaburi, focusing on their locations, accommodations, cultural attractions, natural attractions, nightlife, shopping, and food.

I’ve been fortunate to travel throughout much of Thailand, visiting many places, including Ayutthaya and Kanchanaburi. I hope to give you some useful recommendations based on my first-hand experiences to help you to decide which city is better to visit.

Is it better to stay in Ayutthaya or Kanchanaburi?

I visited both Ayutthaya or Kanchanaburi and I enjoyed my stay in both cities. Ayutthaya is packed with spectacular temple ruins, while Kanchanaburi is famous for its WWII related attractions and iconic waterfalls.

River Kwai Bridge — Bicycle in Ayutthaya

In Ayutthaya, I enjoyed renting a bicycle to explore major temples in the old city like Wat Mahathat. I also love the sunset boat trip to visit iconic Wat Chaiwatthanaram. At night, I spend the time exploring the street food at the Ong Gaan Tolasap Night Market.

In Kanchanaburi, I enjoyed hiking at Wat Ban Tham, Wat Tham Suea, and Erawan Falls. I liked to take a train ride to Namtok passing the beautiful Tham Krasae Bridge and River Kwai Bridge. I also had a good time visiting Hellfire Pass to learn about WWII history. The night markets are a must-see in the evening.

Generally speaking, Ayutthaya is a better choice if you want to explore ancient temple ruins, sample famous boat noodles, and take easy day trips from Bangkok. Kanchanaburi is a better option if you are interested in the history of WWII and want to visit Erawan Falls, one of Thailand’s most famous falls.

Ayutthaya is closer to Bangkok, which means it is a more touristy place and the price can be more expensive than Kanchanaburi. If you don’t mind a bit of tourists, head to Ayutthaya. If you want a more local atmosphere, head to Kanchanaburi.

If you’re traveling around Thailand, you can visit both places. On my journey, I take the train from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi, then a bus to Ayutthaya, followed by a train to Khao Yai National Park, and finally trains to Lopburi and northern Thailand.

My recommended accommodations in Kanchanaburi:

Budget: Good Times Resort
Mid-range: Natee The Riverfront Hotel
Luxury: Dheva Mantra Resort

My recommended hotels in Ayutthaya:

Location & How to Get There

Both Ayutthaya or Kanchanaburi are located in Central Thailand, a few hours away north of Bangkok. Ayutthaya is located 70km north of Bangkok. Kanchanaburi is around 12km north west of Bangkok.

Both cities have their own station with direct connections from Bangkok. You can easily take a train ride from the Thai capital to these places. It’s a great way to see the countryside through the train’s open windows and doors and experience the local way of traveling.

Additionally, there are frequent buses and minivan services between Bangkok and these cities. There are no airports in either city, and most people reach these places only by road, using trains or buses.

The train from Bangkok’s Thonburi Station to Namtok, passing Kanchanaburi, is part of the historic Death Railway built to connect Thailand and Burma (Myanmar) by the Japanese military during WWII. Riding along the historic trail is a great experience.

Accommodations

Both Kanchanaburi and Ayutthaya have a wide range of accommodations for all preferences. There are more backpacker hotels and mid-range guest houses than luxury accommodations.

But you can find great resorts and hotels along the river outside of each city center, which is more ideal for a relaxing trip. There are many family-run hotels that offer a more homey experience.

Even though these are both small cities, accommodations fill up very quickly during the high season, from November to May. So always remember to book your hotel in advance to secure your stay, just as you would in other parts of Thailand.

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Ancient Temples

Both Ayutthaya and Kanchanaburi have great temples to explore, but Ayutthaya is better known for its ancient temples and ruins.

Ayutthaya was Thailand’s capital for over 400 years from the mid 14th century to the late 18th century. Many of the ancient temples date back to its foundation. These places have a mixture of Khmer, Sri Lankan, and Thai architecture styles.

The most photographed temple in Ayutthaya is the Wat Mahathat which is famous for the Buddha head entwined in tree roots. Other popular temples are the Wat Phra Si Sanphet (Grand palace temple), Wat Ratchaburana with beautiful pranga, and the stunning riverside Wat Chaiwatthanaram.

The main draw of Kanchanaburi are WWII history, rivers, and waterfalls, not archaeological ruins. But it is home to some beautiful temples like Wat Tham Sua on a hilltop with panoramic views, Wat Ban Tham cave temples, and Wat Tham Suea. Many of those temples are great hiking destinations.

Historical Attractions

Ayutthaya is a great place to learn more about ancient history, royal culture, architecture, and archaeology. Kanchanaburi is a more ideal place for modern history, WWII, and human endurance.

Ayutthaya is home to many ruins, including palaces, temples, and statues. Walking or biking around the Ayutthaya Historical Park gives a sense of the former capital’s scale.

Kanchanaburi has a long history but its most famous historical chapter is WWII. The Japanese occupied Thailand and forced Allied POWs (Prisoner of War) and Asian laborers to build the Death Railway (connecting Thailand and Burma) to supply troops in Burma.

The project was notorious for harsh conditions, disease, and thousands of deaths. Historical sites like the Bridge over the River Kwai, Hellfire Pass, JEATH War Museum, and war cemeteries preserve this history.

Natural Attractions

In my opinion, Kanchanaburi is a better place to go for natural attractions. Ayutthaya is more about ancient cultural and historical attractions than nature.

There are plenty of attractions in the surrounding areas of Kanchanabur such as waterfalls, rivers, caves, and forest hikes, which is ideal for outdoor lovers. The most iconic one is the Erawan National Park, famous for multi-tiered cascades waterfalls in the dense jungle.

Additionally, you can explore the scenic River Kwai, visit Sai Yok National Park, visiting caves and limestone cliffs such as Tham Kra Sae, Tham Phra. Taking the Death Railway train rides also take you through mountains and forests, offering natural views.

Ayutthaya is an island formed by the Chao Phraya, Pa Sak, and Lopburi Rivers. You can take a boat ride along these rivers, visiting iconic riverside temples. It is especially beautiful with the sunset boat ride.

Nightlife

Both Ayutthaya and Kanchanaburi are not places to go in Thailand for parties and vibrant nightlife. But they have enough restaurants, bars, shops, and night markets for a relaxing night out after sightseeing and enjoying outdoor activities during the day.

Kanchanaburi, in my experience, has a bit more nightlife than in Ayutthaya. It has more night markets and bars, which add a livelier atmosphere at night.

There is a night market near the train station and a couple of night markets along Kwai River. Bars and restaurants are concentrated along the main road, River Kwai Road.

Some night markets to look at are the JJ Night Market, River Kwai Bridge Market, Songkhwae Walking Street, and Wat Nuea Floating Market.

In Ayutthaya, there is a small night market called Ong Gaan Tolasap Night Market, located next to Mahathat temple. It is a good place to eat local food, seafood hot pot, and buy some Thai souvenirs.

Shopping

There aren’t big malls in these two cities, but they both have 7-Eleven, local minimarts, and shops, and street stalls at the night markets that sell typical Thai souvenirs.

Ayutthaya has more handmade, artisan, and local craft goods. Kanchanaburi offers both craft items and war‑history themed souvenirs.

Food

Both places are great to eat cheap authentic local Thai food. Ayutthaya is famously known for its Boat Noodle, Roti Sai Mai cotton candy, and grilled giant river prawns. Boat Noodle is a classic Ayutthaya dish which is historically sold from boats on the canals.

In Kanchanabur, I didn’t find any special regional food. You can try regular local Thai classics such as Khao Soi, Massaman Curry, Sticky Rice & Mango.

Getting Around & Transportation

Ayutthaya is relatively small, with major attractions concentrated on one area, so it is easy to get around on foot, bicycle, and tuk tuk. For a bit further attractions, you can use Grab taxi to get around. For riverside temples, you can consider taking 2-3 boat tours to see the most famous ones.

Attractions in Kanchanaburi are quite spread out, so it’s best to rent a scooter, hire a private driver, or take guided tours. I enjoyed hiring a private driver. If you’re traveling with a group or family, it’s an excellent way to save money while still having a private and flexible experience.

I used local buses and trains to visit famous attractions such as Erawan Falls and Hellfire Pass. It is a slow but good way to experience local life. The train also has beautiful scenery especially at River Kwai Bridge and Tham Krasae Bridge.