I stayed in Ayutthaya for 2 nights and had 1 full day to explore the city. I think it’s generally enough to see most major sights. In this travel guide, I will share my opinion on how many days you need in Ayutthaya and my itinerary for 1-2 days in this beautiful city.
Ayutthaya is the ancient capital of Thailand, located about 80 km north of Bangkok. It was founded in the 14th century and served as the capital of the Kingdom of Ayutthaya for over 400 years until its destruction in the 18th century by Burmese invaders.
The city is now best known for its impressive ruins and ancient temples. It is located only 1.5-2 hours from Bangkok, making it a popular day and weekend trip from the Thai capital.
How Many Days in Ayutthaya is enough? day trip or overnight?
In my opinion, one full day is usually enough to explore major temples and attractions in Ayutthaya. You can do this by taking a day trip from Bangkok or stay a night in the city. If you take a day trip, you’ll need additional 3-4 hours for travel back and forth between Bangkok and Ayutthaya.
If you stay a night in Ayutthaya, you have more time to explore the city and experience the nightlife. I stayed 2 nights in Ayutthaya and felt it was enough to see famous temples, take the sunset boat ride, and explore the night market.
How long is enough really depends on your available time. If you have a short time, a one day trip from Bangkok is enough. If you are a slow traveler, you may spend 2-3 days in the city to see everything at a more relaxing pace.
Here are my recommendations on things to do in Ayutthaya and how I spend time to do these things:
#1. Temples within Ayutthaya island. I recommend spending at least a half day renting a bicycle to explore famous temples in Ayutthaya Old Town such as Wat Mahathat, Wat Ratchaburana, Wat Phra Ram, Wat Phra Si Sanphet, and Wat Lokaya Sutha.
#2. Temples along the river. The banks of Chao Phraya and Pasak River are home to several famous temples, including Wat Chaiwatthanaram, Wat Phanan Choeng Worawihan, and Wat Phutthaisawan. I recommend taking sunset boat tours to explore these temples, the boat tours usually last for a few hours.
#3. Other attractions outside of the old town and along the river. You can spend another day visiting other attractions that are located away from the old town such as Bang Pa-In Palace, Japanese Village, Portuguese Archaeology Museum, Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon, or the floating market.
See more: 20 Best Things to Do in Ayutthaya
Getting to Ayutthaya:
You can reach Ayutthaya from Bangkok easily by train, mini bus, and private transfer or Grab. The journey is around 1.5 to 2 hours. Taxi and Grab are great options for a group of friends or family. Trains and buses are cheaper options but you will need additional transport to get to the train/bus station.
You can also consider taking guided tours for day trips from Bangkok to Ayutthaya. This option can be cheaper than taking private transfer and The tour will handle all transport options for you.
Getting around Ayutthaya:
Ayutthaya Historic center is quite small, only 4 km long and 2 km wide. The majority of temples are located inside Ayutthaya island and there are some temples off the island, only 5-10 drive away.
You can easily explore the old town on foot, by bicycle, motorbike, and tuk tuk. It is a bike-friendly town and cycling is a popular activity to explore the temples. Tuk tuk are comfortable ways to get around, especially on a hot day. Remember to bargain the price with drivers before getting in the car.
See more: How to get to Ayutthaya & Get Around
Famous dishes in Ayutthaya:
Not only famous for its ancient temples, Ayutthaya is also known for several local dishes. You can try:
- Boat Noodles, a small bowl of noodle in a rich soup. I recommend the local restaurant called Mae Pranee Boat Noodle, they serve delicious and cheap noodle soup.
- Roti Sai Mai, a popular dish which is a wrap with Thai-style cotton candy.
- The fresh Giant River Prawns and seafood.
Best areas to stay in Ayutthaya:
I recommend staying in Ayutthaya Old Town or the Riverside area. If you stay inside Ayutthaya Island, you’ll be surrounded with famous temples in Ayutthaya Historical Park such as Wat Mahathat, Wat Ratchaburana, and Wat Phra Si Sanphet.
The riverside area also offers easy access to the iconic attractions, but has beautiful river views. It has a more peaceful atmosphere than the old town. See more at Best places to Stay in Ayutthaya.
Be mindful that the weather can be very hot, be sure to bring the hat with you or use the free umbrella at the entrance of each temple. Also try to cover your shoulder and knee when visiting the temples.
There are hundreds of temples and ruins in Ayutthaya, so before you go, have a look at the temples that you want to see and add them to your itineraries.
This is my 1-2 Days in Ayutthaya Itinerary:
How to Spend 1-2 Days in Ayutthaya Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival and Ayutthaya night market
I arrived Ayutthaya in the late afternoon and only had a chance to explore the town center and the night market.
Arrival
I came to Ayutthaya from Kanchanaburi. I left Kanchanaburi at 1.30pm in a minivan and arrived at my hotel, Tamarind Guesthouse, in Ayutthaya old town, at 4pm.
After checking in and getting some information about the town from the staff at my hotel, I headed outside for a little exploration. My hotel is centrally located in the old town, just opposite the famous Wat Mahathat, and a short walking distance to the night market.
I was just wandering around the area near my hotel, checking out the 7-11 nearby and withdrawing some cash from ATMs. Speaking about the money, I used a Wise card, created a Baht Thai balance, then withdrew money from there.
I found Wise has a better conversion rate than converting directly from an ATM. The transaction fee is still 220 baht/ transaction though.
Ayutthaya Night market
I spend most of my evening at the Ong Gaan Tolasap Night Market. It is open daily from 4pm to 9pm. The market is located on Banglan Road near Wat Mahathat.
Like many other night markets in Thailand, this market has many food stalls, and souvenir shops.
If you walk all the way to the end of the market, you will see several stalls selling seafood and hot pot. There are chairs and tables to sit.
Day 2: Temple hopping on bicycle and boat tour
On my 2nd day in Ayutthaya, I rented a bicycle from my guest house. I will spend the morning exploring the temples inside the Ayutthaya island on bicycle, and back to the hotel around 2pm for the boat tour (at 3.30pm) to see other temples along the river.
Morning: Temple Hopping on a Bicycle
Wat Mahathat
I started my day at around 8am, heading to Wat Mahathat. I parked my bike and bought the ticket at the entrance. The ticket to Wat Mahathat is 50 baht. The temple is open daily from 8.30 am to 6.30pm. The temple ground is not so big, you can spend one hour or so wandering around.
Wat Mahathat was built in the 14th century and is believed to have been the center of Ayutthaya’s royal and religious life. It is most famous for its Buddha Head in the roots of a banyan tree – one of the most photographed spots in Ayutthaya.
It is recommended that when taking a photo with Budda head, your head should be lower than the Buddha’s head.
Wat Ratchaburana
My next stop is Wat Ratchaburana, located on the same road as Wat Mahathat. It is just a couple of minutes’ cycle away. This temple is open daily from 8am to 6.30pm. The ticket can be bought at the entrance of the temple. It cost 50 baht.
Wat Ratchaburana was built in the 15th century by King Borommarachathirat II in memory of his two brothers, who died in a battle for the throne.
The main structure of the temple is a Central Prang, a tall, Khmer-style tower. You can hike up several stairs to go inside the prang. It has great views of other structures in the complex. You can spend 30 minutes exploring and taking photos of Wat Ratchaburana.
Wat Thammikarat
Next, I headed to Wat Thammikarat, just 10 minutes by bicycle from Wat Ratchaburana. This temple is located on U Thong road and is less visited than other temples. It is open from 8am to 4.30pm. It is free to enter.
If you want to avoid tourist crowds, Wat Thammikarat is a great place to explore. I spent 20 minutes at this temple. There are lots of roosters on its ground.
Wat Phra Ram
After Wat Thammikarat, I headed to Wat Phra Ram. It is open daily from 8am to 6.30pm, and the ticket is 50 baht. It is another beautiful temple in Ayutthaya with a very tall Prang and a lovely lotus pond next to it. I recommend spending 45-60 minutes on this temple ground.
Wat Phra Mongkhon Bophit
Opposite Wat Phra Ram is Wat Phra Mongkhon Bophit, an active temple where locals still come to pray. It is free to enter. There was a huge seated Buddha image inside the building. It was being renovated at the time of my visit.
Wat Phra Mongkhon Bophit has stunning views of Wat Phra Si Sanphet. You can buy drinks and souvenirs at the Wat Phra Mongkhon Bophit. Coconut water is a must on a hot day.
Wat Phra Si Sanphet
Right next to Wat Phra Mongkhon Bophit is Wat Phra Si Sanphet and Grand Palace. You can spend 1 hour exploring both Mongkhon Bophit, Wat Phra Si Sanphet, and the royal Palace. To enter Wat Phra Si Sanphet, you need to pay 50 baht for a ticket at the entrance.
Wat Phra Si Sanphet is one of the most iconic temples in Ayutthaya. It was located on the site of the royal palace. It is known for its Three Iconic Chedis, holding the ashes of Three Kings in the Ayutthaya period. It housed a large golden Buddha statue, but was destroyed later under the Burmese invasion.
Wat Lokaya Sutha
After Wat Phra Si Sanphet, I cycled to Wat Lokaya Sutha. On the way, I stopped at several small temples. They are all free to visit. These include Wat Wora Pho, and Wat Worachettharam.
I arrived at Wat Lokaya Sutha at 1.30pm. This temple is best known for its large reclining Buddha statue, which measures approximately 42 m in length. It was being renovated at the time of my visit. It was free to explore.
There are several nice local restaurants near Wat Lokaya Sutha. I had nice fried rice there. The price is quite affordable. The food was delicious.
Sunset Boat trip along Chao Phraya River
I got back to my hotel around 2.30 pm, relaxed, and waited for the driver to pick me up at 3.30pm for the boat tours to see other temples along the river.
This sunset boat trip will take around 2 hours, visiting famous temples such as Wat Phanan Choeng Worawihan, Wat Phutthaisawan, and Wat Chaiwatthanaram.
Wat Phanan Choeng Worawihan
The first stop on the boat tour is the Wat Phanan Choeng Worawihan. This is a beautiful temple located near the intersection of Pasak River and Chaophraya River. It is open daily from 8am to 5pm. The entrance is 20 baht. We had 20 minutes to explore this temple.
You can see the enormous seated Buddha Statue inside the temple, the colorful Chinese temple outside, and lots of fish on the bridge where you can feed them.
Wat Phutthaisawan
The 2nd stop on the boat trip is the Wat Phutthaisawan. It is located on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River, home to a beautiful Khmer-style prang (tower). You can enter one of those prang, but be careful with the bad smell from bat’s poop and urine.
It was a quite big temple and we had only 30 minutes there. You can look for the White Central Prang and the reclining Buddha, which are the highlights of this complex.
Wat Chaiwatthanaram
The last stop on the boat trip is the Wat Chaiwatthanaram. We reach this temple around sun set time. The entrance to the temple is 50 baht. Lots of people, both locals and tourists, rent traditional Thai clothes to take photos here.
After Wat Chaiwatthanaram, the boat driver took us back to the pier, then we transferred to the tuk tuk to get back to the hotel. I spent another evening at the night market nearby again.
Day 3: Boat Noodle & Train to Khao Yai National Park
As I planned to get to the train station around 11 am for the train to Pak Chong at 11.30am, I still have mornings in Ayutthaya. I planned to take Grab Bike to visit Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon, but for some reason I didn’t make it.
Chao Phrom Market & ferry to the train station
I walked around the old town, checked out Chao Phrom Market, then walked to the pier for the ferry to the train station. I bought a ticket for the train later. After that I came back to the old town by taking another ferry and walking.
Mae Pranee Boat Noodle
I searched for nice restaurants near me to eat and this restaurant, Mae Pranee Boat Noodle, came up. It was recommended on Lonely Planet. I gave it a try and it was very delicious. The restaurant is clean, and the price is affordable. The staff were friendly.
Take Grab Taxi to Ayutthaya Train Station
I then walked back to my hotel, order Grab Taxi to get to the Train station. I was with my suitcase and I didn’t want to walk under the heat again. It was a 10 minute taxi ride and 100 baht for the ride from Tamarind Guesthouse in Old Town Ayuthaya to the train station.
Other things to do in Ayutthaya:
Bang Pa-In Palace
Bang Pa-In Palace was the summer palace of the royal family. It is located 15 km south of Ayutthaya and is now open to the public to visit. This complex has beautiful European and Thai architecture style buildings and is situated on the large park.
You can reach this palace by taking a train from Ayutthaya train station to Bang Pa-in Train Station. From Bang Pa-in Train Station, take a tuk tuk or motorbike taxi to get to the palace.
Portuguese Village/ Japanese Village/ Holland Village
These villages are located just a few km south of Ayutthaya island and are great places to visit to explore local culture and history. Ayutthaya was a bustling trading city in major Southeast Asia from 1351 to 1767. It attracts lots of traders from all around the world including China, Japan, Portugal, and Holland.
From Portuguese Village, you can take a boat to a Japanese village, which is situated just opposite the Portuguese village.
Ayutthaya Floating Market
Ayutthaya Floating Market is not really as impressive as the markets in Bangkok but a good place to check out if you are curious about the local floating market.
It is a 10 minutes drive from the old town and easily reachable by Grab Bike or tuk tuk. You need to pay an entrance fee, 200 baht, if you are foreigner.
Ayutthaya Day trip Itinerary from Bangkok
Many visitors choose to take day trips to Ayutthaya either by train, guided tours, or using private taxis. Train is quite a popular option as it is a cheap and easy way to travel between these two cities. Train departs from Hula Lamphong station in Bangkok to Ayutthaya train station. The journey is usually 1 hour.
As you have only one day in Ayutthaya, I recommend planning well in advance to optimize your time. Maybe have a look on the internet and choose 4-5 temples that you want to visit during the day.
While most visitors choose to take a day to Ayutthaya from Bangkok, I recommend spending overnight here for more relaxing exploration. You’ll have time to sunset river cruise or explore the night market.
I had 2 wonderful nights and 1 full day in Ayutthaya. I saw most things that I wanted to see, tried local food, cycling, taking the boat tour, and enjoyed the night market. I hope you found some useful information from my itinerary for 1-2 days in Ayutthaya.