You might know that Ayutthaya was the ancient capital of the Kingdom of Siam (now Thailand) because it is very close to Bangkok. But Ayutthayawas only the second capital and the first was Sukhothai. Like Ayutthaya, Sukhothai is home to many ancient temples but it has a more peaceful atmosphere.
Sukhothai is located around 400 km from Bangkok, and 300 km south of Chiang Mai. It is impossible to take a day trip from Bangkok or Chiang Mai to Sukhothai, so I recommend staying at least a couple of nights at the city to experience its ancient ruins, night market, and the morning almsgiving ritual.
Sukhothai Historical Park is the main attraction of Sukhothai where all the ancient ruins are located. It has three major zones, including the Central, Northern And Western Zones. The Central area is the most important one to see, but if you have time, you can explore the North And West Zone of the park.
You can check the top things to do, itinerary, and how to get around Sukhothai in these articles:
- 18 Best Things to Do in Sukhothai
- My 1-2 Days In Sukhothai Itinerary
- Getting to and Around Sukhothai
Here are the main content:
My opinion on Where to Stay in Sukhothai?
There are two main areas to stay in Sukhothai, including Old Sukhothai and New Sukhothai. I personally prefer staying in the old town because it allows me to walk to the Sukhothai Historic Park, the night market, and Wat Trapang Thong to witness the almsgiving for monks in the early morning.
Sukhothai New Town, located 13 km away from the old town, has a wide range of hotels and is home to Sukhothai Bus Terminal. This can be convenient for those who want to stay close to the bus station for easy arriving and departing the city by bus.
But, if you travel to popular destinations such as Chiang Mai or Bangkok, the buses will also stop in Old Town to pick you up. I booked my forward travel to Chiang Mai, the bus picked me up at Wintour Office in the Old Town, so I didn’t have to travel to Sukhothai Bus Terminal.
New Sukhothai may offer more affordable hotel options but you’ll need to get extra transportation such as tuk tuk, songthaews, or taxi to get to the historical park and its ancient ruins. Staying in Old Sukhothai, you’ll just need an easy walk or rent a bicycle to get to these iconic temples.
You can consider staying in the nearby city called Phitsanulok, especially if you travel by train from other cities like Bangkok or Lopburi. Phitsanulok Train Station is the closest train station to Sukhothai, located 60km away. From Phitsanulok, you can use a minivan or private taxi to get to Sukhothai.
My top hotel picks in Sukhothai:
- Mid-range: Legendha Sukhothai Hotel
- Mid-range: Le Charme Sukhothai Historical Park
- Budget: OldTown Boutique House Sukhothai
Best areas & places to stay in Sukhothai
1. Old Sukhothai, staying near the Sukhothai Historical Park
Old Sukhothai, also known as Mueang Gao in Thai, is my favorite area to stay in Sukhothai. Due to its convenient location right next to the ancient temples and the historical park, it attracts lots of visitors staying in this area.
For the best access to all tourist amenities, I recommend staying around road 12, at the main entrance to the Central Zone. This area has a high concentration of guest houses, restaurants, cafes, and bike rental shops. If you take a minivan from Phitsanulok Bus Station, the driver will also stop around this area.
A tip when traveling on a public minivan in Thailand is that you can ask the driver to stop near your hotel as long as it is on his route, so you can easily walk to your hotel. Local drivers in the countryside don’t speak English well, so you can use Google Maps to see the nearest stops close to your hotel.
The benefit of staying in the old town is that I can easily walk to the Central Zone and visit the famous Wat Mahathat both early morning for sunrise and late afternoon for sunset without worrying of getting transport to the park.
I can stay late for the night market near Wat Traphang Thong and the Weekend Market inside the Historical Park. It made it easier to stay in the old town, getting up early (around 5.30am), and just walking to Traphang Thong Temple to attend the almsgiving ritual with locals.
Sukhothai Historical Park is a huge park and one of the best ways to explore it is to rent a bicycle. You can rent a motorbike for around 30 baht per day. There are many bike rental shops around the old town. Lots of guest houses offer free bikes for their guests.
Cars and motorbikes are not allowed inside the park. Other ways to explore the park is to hire the Electric Golf carts for a few hours. This is a great way for families and those who want to avoid the heat.
The Central Zone is located within easy walking distance to the old town. It is home to famous temples Wat Mahathat, Wat Si Sawai, and Wat Sa Si. Most visitors who come to Sukhothai will visit this zone.
The West Zone and North Zone are located around 3 km away from the central old town area. You will need a vehicle to reach the temples in this zone. It can be a bicycle, tuk tuk, or motorbike.
There are dozens of temples in the North and West Zone, but Wat Phrapai Luang and Wat Si Chum are the most popular temples in the north zone and Wat Saphan Hin is the most popular temple in the west zone.
In addition to the historical ruins, staying in the old town means you’ll be close to some very nice night markets. There is the daily night market near Wat Trapang Thong, opening from 5pm to 10pm. The market has many stalls selling regular traditional Thai food and local specialty such as Sukhothai noodle.
Sukhothai Night Market is one of the unique night markets in Thailand where vendors put the mat with a small table on the grass along the bank of the lake. It felt peaceful and romantic and you will have beautiful illuminated views of the temple in front of it.
If you are interested in the history of Sukhothai, you can walk to Ramkhamhaeng National Museum. It is located right on the main road of the old town right next to the historical park. The museum houses many artworks and antiques from the Sukhothai period in the 13th century.
Where to stay in Old Sukhothai:
Space Ben Guest House @ Muangkao
This is a budget-friendly hotel and is popular with couples and solo travelers. It is conveniently located on a small alley, right next to Sukhothai Historical Park where you can find iconic temples such as Wat Maha That, Wat Sa Si, Wat Si Sawai, and Ramkhamhaeng National Museum.
From this guest house, you can also easily walk to the old town night market, Wat Trapang Thong for morning almsgiving, as well as many restaurants and coffee shops along the main road.
Smilingface guesthouse
Smilingface is a great value for money guest house located in the central area of Sukhothai old town. It is right next to Wat Trapang Thong and the Sukhothai morning market. You can also easily walk to famous temples, museums, and ruins.
It is also close to the bus office where you can buy tickets for buses to Chiang Mai and Bangkok. Ideal locations for families, couples, and backpackers to explore Sukhothai.
Old City Boutique House
This is a lovely guest house located in the heart of Sukhothai Old Town, within a couple of minutes walk from the main road. It is also near many tourist facilities such as 7-eleven, the night market, and restaurants. Ideal for solo travelers and couples. Rooms have good air conditioning and are clean.
Legendha Sukhothai Hotel
This hotel is located right on the main road 12, around 1.4km from the entrance to the entrance of the Central zone in Sukhothai Historical Park.
If you are families or couples who want a big hotel with an outdoor swimming pool, Legendha is a good choice. You can walk to Ancient Elephant Temple (Wat Chang Lom) and take a short tuk tuk ride to the Historical park.
2. New Sukhothai, staying near Sukhothai Bus station
New Sukhothai, or Mueang Mai in Thai, is a good base in Sukhothai. It has a wider range of accommodations compared to the old town. The downside is it is located 12 km away from the historical park, and you’ll need an additional fee for transportation to get to famous attractions of the city.
Running alongside the Yom river, New Sukhothai offers a more local vibe. It is also home to the bus terminal, the night market, and great value for money accommodations.
Where to stay in New Sukhothai:
Foresto Sukhothai Guesthome
This guest house is located in a quiet area in Sukhothai New City, between the train station and the old town. It has an outdoor swimming pool, an on-site restaurant, and spacious rooms. It is also easy to access restaurants, shops, and 7-eleven. The hotel can help arrange bike rentals, tuk tuk to the old town, or taxi to Phitsanulok.
Lotus Place Sukhothai
Lotus Place is an amazing family-run accommodation for couples in Sukhothai. It is a short walk from the downtown area where you find restaurants and shops. The old town is a short tuk tuk ride away.
Mango House
Mango is a great accommodation located in the downtown of Sukhothai, close to the river. It is a 15 minutes tuk tuk ride to the old town and its historical park. It is in a quiet location but still near the main street.
3. Phitsanulok, staying near the train station
If you are taking a train to Sukhtohai, you’ll like to stop at Phitsanulok to get another transport to Sukhothai. Phitsanulok train station is the closest train station to Sukhothai, around 70 km away.
I took the train from Lopburi (Monkey City) to Phitsanulok train station, then from the train station, I used tuk tuk to get to Phitsanulok Bus Terminal 2 (60 baht) to get a minivan to Sukhothai. It was around 1.5 hour rides and the ticket was 100 baht.
You can consider staying in Phitsanulok, then take a day trip to Sukhothai. To travel between these two cities, you can use both public buses, minivans, or private taxis.
Phitsanulok is a transportation hub of the region, offering easy access to other bigger cities such as Chiang Mai or Bangkok. It is ideal for those who want to be close to the train station, bus station, and the airport for further exploration.
Where to stay in Phitsanulok :
Baan Sithepaban Guesthouse
This is a great value for money homestay in Phitsanulok. It is a traditional Thai house that has air-conditioning rooms. It is close to many amenities close to the main road, and it is within walking distance to Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat and the river.
You can easily get to the bus station for the bus to Sukhothai or the train station to get to the next destinations such as Chiang Mai or Bangkok.
Yodia Heritage Hotel
Yodia is located in a quite central location on the banks of Naan River in central. It has an outdoor swimming pool, and comfortable rooms. Local attractions such as Wat Phra Sri Rattana Mahathat, Chan Palace, and Phitsanulok Bazaar are also easily accessible from the hotel. You can go for a nice walk along the river.
Hop Inn Phitsanulok Mittraphap Road
Hop Inn is a good accommodation located on the main road, within a short drive from the central area of Phitsanulok. Good for families, couples, and business travelers.
My personal experiences staying in Sukhothai
I booked my hotel one day before my arrival in Sukhothai. I didn’t have many quality options, especially during the high season in mid-November.
So, my recommendation is if you are traveling in the high season (November to May), be sure to book in advance at least a week or two to be able to choose a good hotel.
I originally booked my stay at The History Cafe and Guest House but when I arrived at the hotel to check in, the owner told me that it was fully booked. He didn’t notice this to me before my arrival. I didn’t know what to do as most hotels were fully booked.
He arranged for me to stay at his sister’s place, which he claims is much more spacious than his place. I had no choice but to accept it. He reduced the price for me and I paid cash directly to his sister. The first night wasn’t comfortable as I felt itchy lying down on the bed and the room was not clean.
I told the owner that I will pay for one night and refund me other nights, so I can book another place. They refunded me the money and I was lucky to find another good place nearby for my next few days.
Oldtown Boutique House
This is a lively family-run guest house located on a small alley right next to the entrance of the Central Zone in Sukhothai Historical Park. You can walk for around 5 minutes to get to the night market and the main road for a wide range of restaurants, massage shops, and convenience stores.
There is a bike rental shop at the west end corner of the road where you can rent bicycles and electric golf carts to explore the ancient ruins.
The owner was very friendly, she let me store the suitcase when I came early in the morning. And show me how to explore the park. I followed her instructions, rented a bicycle, explored the west zone, north zone, and finished at the central Zone.
My rooms are clean and comfortable. I had a double bed, TV, tables, chairs, and a fridge. There is a kettle with free tea and coffee. The room has both air conditioning and a fan. My room has a window to the garden and plenty of natural light.
The bedroom was also clean with a sink, mirror, toilet, shower, and soap. There are also tables and chairs outside in the front balcony. The wooden floors give the place a classy, upscale feel.
I think this is a very good value for money hotel for families, couples, and solo travelers. I’d definitely stay at Oldtown Boutique House again on my next visit, if it’s available.
These are my suggestions for the best areas and hotels to stay in Sukhothai. In general, you can choose either Sukhothai Old Town, New Town, and Phitsanulok. I prefer staying in the old town, and believe that it is the best option for first-timers and those who want within walking distance to the ancient ruins.
See more: Where to Stay in Thailand
If you want more modern facilities and bigger hotels, choose to stay in the new town. You’ll need to catch tuk tuk to the historical park. If you just want to take a day trip to the Sukhothai Historical Park and want to get close to the train station, Phitsanulok is a great choice.