Ayutthaya or Sukhothai?

Ayutthaya and Sukhothai are two ancient capital cities of Thailand that are full of temples and historical attractions to explore. If you enjoy a slower pace of life along with beautiful ancient ruins and temples, these places are well worth a visit.

In this article, I will compare Ayutthaya and Sukhothai, focusing on their locations, accommodations, ancient temples & historical attractions, nightlife, shopping, and food.

I’ve been lucky to travel around Thailand, visiting many places, including Ayutthaya and Sukhothai. So I hope to give you some useful recommendations based on my first-hand experiences.

Is it better to stay in Ayutthaya or Sukhothai?

I enjoyed my visit to both Ayutthaya and Sukhothai. Both cities have one big thing in common: they were the ancient capitals of Thailand and are home to large historical parks filled with ruins and temples. Both are great for photography.

Sukhothai is considered the first capital of the Kingdom of Siam (now Thailand) from the 13th to14th century. Ayutthaya was the second capital city of the country from the 14th to the 18th century. Each city’s ruins reflect Thai art, architecture, and culture of their era.

Both cities also have good food scenes and are known for their local dishes. Ayutthaya is famous for the Boat Noodle, while Sukhothai is famous for the Sukhothai Noodle. Both places are also bike-friendly cities, so you can easily rent a bicycle to explore its ancient ruins.

Ayutthaya has an advantage of being closer to Bangkok, making it a more popular tourist destination than Sukhothai. It is easier and quicker taking the train from Bangkok to Ayutthaya. It also has a livelier atmosphere and tends to be more crowded.

Generally speaking, Ayutthaya is better than Sukhothai if you want a convenient location close to Bangkok for an easy day trip, and visit the iconic temples such as the statue of Buddha heads in trees.

I recommend going to Sukhothai if you want a more peaceful atmosphere, more local feel, and less touristy. It is a bit further away from Bangkok but it is well worth a journey.

Sukhothai is an ideal stop over when traveling between places in the North Thailand such as Chiang Mai to the Central and South Thailand such as Bangkok or Phuket.

On my journey from Central Thailand to North Thailand, I visited Kanchanaburi first, followed by Ayutthaya, Khao Yai, Lopburi, Sukhothai, and finally Chiang Mai.

My recommended hotels in Ayutthaya:

My top hotel picks in Sukhothai:

Location & How to Get There

Ayutthaya is located in Central Thailand, around 70km north of Bangkok. Sukhothai is located in Lower North Thailand, 400km north of Bangkok and 270 south of Chiang Mai.

Ayutthaya is closer to Bangkok, making it a more popular day trip from the Thai capital city. It is also easily reachable by train, only around 1 hour train ride. It is also hiring a private taxi, minivan, and bus from Bangkok to Ayutthaya.

Sukhothai has a small airport, located 40km north of the old town. There is only a direct flight from Bangkok to Sukhothai airport. So, you can take a flight from Bangkok to Sukhothai.

You can also reach Sukhoothai by road. There are bus and train services from Chiang Mai and Bangkok to this town. If you want to take the train, you need to get off at Phitsanulok Train Station, located 70km east of Sukhothai. From the train station, you can take a taxi, minivan to Sukhothai.

Accommodations

Both areas have a wide range of accommodations for all preferences. There are mainly budget and mid-range options. You can find more family-run guest houses rather than big chain hotels, which offer a more homey atmosphere.

Both Ayutthaya and Sukhothai are popular destinations in the high season from November to May, so make sure to book your accommodations well in advance to secure a good hotel.

Sukhothai celebrates the Loy Krathong festival in early November. This is a well-known event in the region, attracting many visitors. You might see a sharp increase in hotel prices during this period.

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Ancient Temples

The highlights of both Ayutthaya and Sukhothai are the ancient temples. Temples feel more spiritual and meditative in Sukhothai. Ayutthaya has large-scale ruins and a more urban atmosphere.

Sukhothai is considered the first Siamese capital from the 13th to14th century. The temples here reflect early Thai style with lotus-bud chedis, calm Buddha images, and brick with stucco details.

Ayutthaya was the second capital from the 14th to 18th centuries. Temple architecture here has strong influences from Khmer, Sri Lankan with massive prang towers, bell-shaped stupas, and massive ruins.

A famous iconic temple in Sukhothai is the giant sitting Buddha (Wat Si Chum). A famous iconic temple in Ayutthaya is the Buddha head in tree roots (Wat Mahathat).

Other popular temples in Ayutthaya Historical Park are Wat Phra Si Sanphet, Wat Chaiwatthanaram, Wat Ratchaburana, Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon, Wat Phanan Choeng, and Wat Lokayasutharam.

Other popular temples in Sukhothai Historical Park are Wat Mahathat, Wat Sa Si, Wat Saphan Hin, Wat Trapang Ngoen, and Wat Phra Pai Luang.

A popular way to explore temples in both cities is to rent a bicycle. You can also take a sunset boat ride in Ayutthaya to see famous riverside temples.

Nightlife

Both cities have relaxing nightlife with night markets, restaurants, and some bars. Ayutthaya has a bit of a livelier atmosphere. The main nightlife scene is finding a good restaurant to eat. Most places close quite early, around 10–11 PM.

In Sukhothai, you can sleep early and wake up early around 5.30 am to get to Wat Traphang Thong to witness the morning alms given to monks. It’s not to miss the experience in Sukhothai.

In Ayutthaya, you can take the sunset boat ride along Chao Phraya River to see the iconic riverside temples at sunset such as Wat Chaiwatthanaram and Wat Phanan Choeng Worawihan. Dinner cruises are also available, adding to the area’s unique nightlife experience.

Shopping

Both cities are not destinations for shopping in Thailand. There aren’t any large malls in either city. Both places have night markets, 7-Eleven, and independent shops where you can buy basic daily essentials and typical Thai souvenirs.

In Ayutthaya, you can shop at the Ong Gaan Tolasap Night Market or the local Chao Phrom Market. There is a floating market outside of the old town with many shops and stalls selling T-shirts to souvenirs.

In Sukhothai, you can shop at the night market near Wat Traphang Thong and the weekend night market inside the historical park.

Food

Both cities are known for their local food. The boat noodles originated from Ayutthaya, and Sukhothai Noodle originated from Sukhothai. You can find food at the street food stalls in the night markets or at many restaurants in their old town.

Ayutthaya’s other famous dishes are Roti Sai Mai (sweet cotton candy wrapped in a thin pancake) and River fish/prawn dishes (grilled or in curry).

Activities & day trips

The main activities in both cities are sightseeing, visiting the temples, and learning about its history and taking photos. In Sukhothai, you can take part in the early morning giving alms for monk rituals and in Ayutthaya, you can take the sunset boat ride.

Additionally, you can explore the night market, try regional dishes like noodle boats in Ayutthaya or Sukhothai Noodles in Sukhothai.

In Sukhothai, you can take a day trip to Si Satchanalai Historical Park, located 50km from Sukhothai. This place is the sister city of Sukhothai, with more forested ruins and fewer crowds, offering an untouched, atmospheric experience.

If you want to take a break from temples and take part in some outdoor activities, you can visit Ramkhamhaeng National Park where you can explore hiking trails, waterfalls, and enjoy views of Sukhothai valley.

In Ayutthaya, you can take an easy day trip to Bang Pa-In Royal Palace (Summer Palace) or the Lopburi where you can find more ancient Ruins and many monkeys roaming free in the old town.

Getting Around & Transportation

Both Ayutthaya and Sukhothai are popular places for cycling. Renting a bicycle to explore the historical parks with its ancient temples and ruins are some of the best things to do in both cities. The bike rental is quite cheap, around 40-50 Baht a day.

There are tuk tuk, and local taxis available in both places. In Sukhothai, you can rent Electric Golf carts to get around the historical parks. Grab taxis are available in Ayutthaya, but I didn’t use them in Sukhothai. Being a more remote area, Grab rides are less common in Sukhothai.

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So, there you have it, my comparison between Ayutthaya and Sukhothai. Both are beautiful cities that have laid back atmosphere, good food, and a wide range of ancient temples.

Overall, Ayutthaya is a better option if you want an easy day trip from Bangkok, livelier atmosphere, and see some of the most iconic temples in Thailand such as Wat Mahathat and its tree with the sculpture of Buddha’s head.

Sukhothai is a better choice for those who want a quiet atmosphere and less tourist destinations. It is located between Chiang Mai and Bangkok, making it more ideal for those traveling between North and Central/ South Thailand.