Ayutthaya is featured on many Thailand travel itineraries because of its historical and cultural significance. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a must-visit, with a variety of things to see and do.
There are a variety of ways to explore this ancient city. Check out my complete and more in-depth Ayutthaya Day Trip Guide here.
If you are looking to travel to Ayutthaya independently, but are unsure of what to do, how to get around and the costs associated, then see below. I have compiled a perfect step-by-step itinerary for a one-day or two-day trip to Ayutthaya.
How Long to Spend in Ayutthaya
Ayutthaya can definitely be done on a day trip from Bangkok. Trains from Bangkok take approximately one hour. You can book tickets from 12Go Asia here.
However, if you are looking to travel at a more relaxed pace or are an avid history and culture lover, then two days is possibly best. Also, if you are travelling from Ayutthaya onward to Chiang Mai, it might be best to stay overnight in Ayutthaya, and then head on to Chiang Mai the next afternoon.
Whatever your preference, I have compiled a detailed step-by-step itinerary for your 1 or 2 days in Ayutthaya.
Ayutthaya Itinerary: Day Trip from Bangkok
7:30 am
Start your day bright and early by catching the 7:30 am rapid train from Bang Sue Station to Ayutthaya. This train will cost 44 THB for a 3rd-class ticket or 61 THB for a second-class ticket, and get you to Ayutthaya station by 8:37 am. See the train timetable here.
From here, catch a taxi or grab a tuk-tuk and head to your first sight of the day…
9:00 am
Arrive at Wat Chaiwatthanaram. Arriving early will allow you to beat the crowds and have this impressive temple all to yourself. You will need at least an hour to soak up the pure scale of the temples, have a look around and take some pictures.
- Cost: 50 THB per person
- Location: 8GVR+5PX, Tambon Ban Pom, Amphoe Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Chang Wat Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya 13000, Thailand
10:00 am
After exploring Wat Chaiwatthanaram, catch another taxi or tuk-tuk over to Chao Sam Phraya National Museum. This will be the last taxi ride for a while as most activities are within walking distance from here. The taxi will take approximately 10 – 15 minutes.
Explore the museum and learn about some of the history of Ayutthaya Historical Park- it will give you a newfound appreciation for the temples to come. You could spend between 45 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes here, depending on your appetite for museums.
- Cost: 150 THB per person.
- Location: 108 โรจนะ ถนน เทศบาลเมืองอโยธยา Amphoe Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Chang Wat Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya 13000, Thailand
11:30 am
From the museum, walk 20 minutes to the next temple on your itinerary: Wat Maha That. You will need approximately 45 minutes to soak up the pure scale of the temples, have a look around and take some pictures.
- Cost: 50 THB per person
- Location: Wat Mahathat, Naresuan Rd, Tambon Tha Wa Su Kri, Amphoe Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Chang Wat Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya 13000, Thailand
12:40 pm
Congratulations! You have made it to two temples and a museum… all before lunchtime. It is time to reward yourself with a filling meal at Sukunya Somtum. This restaurant boasts a 4.5-star rating on Google with over 368 reviews. It serves traditional Thai meals and most cost between 100 – 200 THB.
There are many delicious restaurants to choose from in this area of the city, so feel free to choose somewhere else if it catches your eye. See Sukunya Somtum facebook page here.
2:00 pm
After being re-energised by your meal, it is time to visit some more temples. Your first stop is Wat Phra Si Sanphet.
To reach this temple, take a short 15-minute stroll through the lovely Bueng Phra Ram Park (complete with its own ruins!). The Wat Phra Si Sanphet temple complex is expansive and mesmerising, so I would recommend that 45 minutes to an hour be spent here.
- Cost: 50 THB per person.
- Location: 9H45+963, Tambon Pratuchai, Amphoe Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Chang Wat Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya 13000, Thailand
3:00 pm
Before you are all “templed out”, try to fit one more stop onto your itinerary. Just a 15 – 20 minute walk away: Wat Lokkayasutha is a must-stop location.
The most impressive thing about this site is definitely the Reclining Buddha, so not much time is needed here. I would recommend around 30 – 40 minutes.
- Cost: Free
- Location: 9H43+65G ถนน อู่ทอง Tambon Pratuchai, Amphoe Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Chang Wat Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya 13000, Thailand
4:00 pm
By now, you’re probably feeling pretty tired, so you may wish to make the trip home to Bangkok, have some dinner and get an early night’s sleep. However, if you still have fuel in the tank, I would make a stop at the nearby Wat Worachettharam, or Wat Thammikarat.
5:00 pm
Before making your way home to Bangkok, be sure to stop for dinner, a snack, or simply a look around Ayutthaya night market! Maybe try some boat noodles, or have a try of any of the many other local Thai dishes.
Then, make your way back to Bangkok, feeling very exhausted but in awe of all the amazing historical sites you got to explore on your day-trip.
Ayutthaya Two-Day Itinerary
Ayutthaya Itinerary Day 1:
10:30 am
Wake up at your own pace, grab some breakfast at your hotel in Bangkok, then make your way to Bang Sue station and travel to Ayutthaya via train. This train will cost 164 THB for a 3rd-class ticket or 241 THB for a second-class ticket, and get you to Ayutthaya station by 11:30 am. See the train timetable here.
From here, catch a taxi or grab a tuk-tuk and head to your first sight of the day…
11:45 am
Arrive at Wat Chaiwatthanaram. Spend 45 minutes to an hour here to soak up the pure scale of this expansive and mesmerising temple complex, have a look around and take some pictures.
- Cost: 50 THB per person
- Location: 8GVR+5PX, Tambon Ban Pom, Amphoe Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Chang Wat Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya 13000, Thailand
12:30 pm
After exploring Wat Chaiwatthanaram, catch another taxi or tuk-tuk over to Chao Sam Phraya National Museum.
Explore the museum and learn about some of the history of Ayutthaya Historical Park- it will give you a newfound appreciation for the temples to come. You could spend between 45 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes here, depending on your appetite for museums.
- Cost: 150 THB per person.
- Location: 108 โรจนะ ถนน เทศบาลเมืองอโยธยา Amphoe Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Chang Wat Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya 13000, Thailand
2:00 pm
Head to the city centre of Ayutthaya for a late lunch. Try a filling meal at Sukunya Somtum. This restaurant serves traditional Thai meals and most cost between 100 – 200 THB.
For Western and Thai options, you could also try Kaffa Bistro, which is rated as the best restaurant in Ayutthaya on TripAdvisor.
There are many delicious restaurants to choose from in this area of the city, so feel free to choose somewhere else if it catches your eye.
3:30 pm
Enjoy your afternoon by visiting another temple: Wat Maha That. You will need approximately 45 minutes to soak up the pure scale of the temples, have a look around and take some pictures.
- Cost: 50 THB per person
- Location: Wat Mahathat, Naresuan Rd, Tambon Tha Wa Su Kri, Amphoe Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Chang Wat Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya 13000, Thailand
4:45 pm
Finish up your sightseeing by heading immediately next door to Wat Ratchaburana. This temple complex is amazing, and you could easily spend another 45 minutes here. Next, feel free to head to your hotel and freshen up a little, before your evening plans.
- Cost: 50 THB
- Location: 9H58+FWF, Chikun Alley, Tambon Tha Wa Su Kri, Amphoe Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Chang Wat Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya 13000, Thailand
7:30 pm
Finish up your day with a sunset dinner cruise along the Chao Phraya River in a converted traditional teak rice barge. Here, you can enjoy a traditional Thai menu and see a variety of historic and local sites, including the Phet Fortress and Wat Phananchoeng. There are many cruises to be found online, and you can check out the website of one such place here.
If a cruise is a bit out of your budget, then you should definitely spend your evening at Ayutthaya night market instead! Try some delicious and cheap food and soak up the beautiful chaos that is a thai market.
Where to Stay Ayutthaya
Finally, head back to your hotel and head to bed, ready for your next day in Ayutthaya. There are a variety of places to stay in Ayutthaya, including:
Budget: Niwas Ayutthaya
Mid-Range: Baan Thai House
Mid/Luxury: Baan Pomphet
Luxury: Sala Ayutthaya
Ayutthaya Itinerary Day 2:
9:00 am
Start your second day in Ayutthaya with a cup of coffee and some breakfast at one of the many cafes.
For somewhere along the riverside, try The Summer House Ayutthaya:
For somewhere in town, try Tewa Cafe:
10:00 am
Next, catch a 30-minute taxi down to Bang Pa-In Royal Palace. Bang Pa-In Palace, also known as the Summer Palace, is a gorgeous palace that was once used by the Thai Kings. The residence dates back to the time of Ayutthaya but was restored by King Rama IV in the mid-19th century.
Here, you will find ornate buildings, sprawling gardens and stunning water features. There are golf carts you can hire to explore the grounds if you wish, but you can also travel by foot. It should take around 1 to 1.5 hours to explore everything this palace has to offer.
- Cost: 100 THB per person.
- Location: Bang Pa-In Royal Palace, Tambon Ban Len, Amphoe Bang Pa-in, Chang Wat Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya 13160, Thailand
12:30 pm
Arrive back in Ayutthaya and sit down for a delicious lunch.
If you are feeling up to it, maybe try some Boat Noodle Soup. Boat Noodles are a Thai dish local to the area of Ayutthaya. This noodle soup is made with a rich, strong broth flavoured with dark soy sauce, spices and cow blood. The soup typically contains both pork and beef.
2:00 pm
After being re-energised by your meal, it is time to visit some more temples! Your first stop is Wat Phra Si Sanphet.
To reach this temple, take a short 15-minute stroll through the lovely Bueng Phra Ram Park (complete with its own ruins!). The Wat Phra Si Sanphet temple complex is expansive and mesmerising, so I would recommend that 45 minutes to an hour be spent here.
- Cost: 50 THB per person.
- Location: 9H45+963, Tambon Pratuchai, Amphoe Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Chang Wat Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya 13000, Thailand
3:00 pm
Before you are all “templed out”, try to fit one more stop onto your itinerary. Just a 15 – 20 minute walk away: Wat Lokkayasutha is a must-stop location.
The most impressive thing about this site is definitely the Reclining Buddha, so not much time is needed here. I would recommend around 30 – 40 minutes.
- Cost: Free
- Location: 9H43+65G ถนน อู่ทอง Tambon Pratuchai, Amphoe Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Chang Wat Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya 13000, Thailand
4:00 pm
For the rest of your day, there are plenty of smaller and less-known temples to look at. Otherwise, go have a coffee or beer and enjoy the afternoon. It is great to watch the sunset at any of the temples mentioned above, so definitely take the time to appreciate the sun going down, wherever you are.
Quick warning: There is an elephant riding place in Ayutthaya near Wat Lokkayasutha. Please DO NOT ride the elephants. DO NOT pay to feed them. Elephant riding is animal cruelty. I know it can be tempting to ride an elephant because it seems like a fun activity, but these animals are tortured and abused. Please, be a responsible tourist and avoid this activity.
5:00 pm
To finish up your second day in Ayutthaya, make sure to stop for dinner, a snack, or simply a look around the Ayutthaya night market! Maybe try some boat noodles if you haven’t already, or have a try of any of the many other local Thai dishes.
Finally, head to bed. I am sure you will be feeling very exhausted but in awe of all the amazing historical sites you got to explore on this Ayutthaya itinerary.
Conclusion
Thank you for reading my Ayutthaya Itinerary for either one or two days. I hope I gave you some ideas on what to do in this beautiful historical city.
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