Things to do in Ayutthaya

On a tour

Hundreds of tours from Bangkok take you to Ayutthaya for the day with a guide. If you like, you can book one in Spanish in advance here.

By bus

Buses leave every 30 minutes from Mo Chit Bus Station. The trip takes 1 to 2 hours, depending on traffic. The price is 60 baht.

By train

Trains to Ayutthaya leave every 20 minutes from 4:20 until 22:45 from Bangkok's train station. The trip takes between 1 1/2 and 2 hours.

The trip costs between 15 and 70 baht, depending on the class you choose. Since it's a short trip, there's not much point in going for the most expensive.

Ayutthaya's train station is about 4 km from the ruins. If you're traveling with luggage, you can leave it at the station.

By bike

This is the cheapest way to get around the temples, and it gives you a lot of freedom. The temples are all fairly close to one another. Only two are a bit farther away, and even so, the distance is perfectly doable by bike. Rental costs 50 baht (US$2.50) a day. Lots of places rent them, especially the hotels.

By tuk-tuk

Another, slightly more expensive option is to arrange for a tuk-tuk to take you to the temples. Prices start at 1,000 baht (US$30), but you can always negotiate and get a somewhat cheaper price.

There's no single ticket that lets you into the whole Ayutthaya “complex.” Each temple has its own entrance fee of between 20 and 50 baht.

You can also buy a combined ticket for 220 baht, which includes entry to Wat Mahathat, Wat Ratchaburana, Wat Phra Si Sanphet, Wat Phra Ram, Wat Chaiwatthanaram and Wat Mahe Yong. You can buy it at any of these temples.

As at any sacred place, you need to have your knees and shoulders covered. In Ayutthaya, this rule only applies to women, since men are allowed in wearing shorts and tank tops…

1. Wat Mahathat

This is one of the most famous temples in Ayutthaya, because it's home to the famous Buddha head tangled in the roots of a tree.

This temple was one of the most important during the Kingdom of Ayutthaya, but it was destroyed in the Burmese invasions of 1767. Unusually, it adopts the Khmer style typical of Cambodia.

Something that really struck us about this temple is that almost all the Buddhas have been decapitated. They say that when the Burmese invaded Ayutthaya, they beheaded all the Buddhas because they believed the royals hid their treasures, jewels and relics inside them. Another theory says the Burmese beheaded them to break the will of the Thai people and so keep them from rising up against the Burmese empire in the future.

As for the Buddha head in the tree, they say the roots holding it belong to the sacred tree of life, the same tree where the Buddha sat until he reached enlightenment. The roots are believed to protect the head, and they've lifted it a few centimeters off the ground.

• PRICE: 50 BAHT | INCLUDED IN THE COMBINED TICKET
• HOURS: 8 AM TO 6 PM
• LOCATION ON GOOGLE MAPS

2. Wat Ratchaburana

This temple also shows the Khmer influence on the culture of the Kingdom of Siam. It was built in the 15th century in memory of the brothers of King Boromracha II. When their father died, the two older brothers decided to fight a battle to see who would take the throne. Both died in the battle, and the throne went to the king's youngest son.

What remains from that time are columns, walls and a few stupas, along with the prang, or central tower.

• PRICE: 50 BAHT | INCLUDED IN THE COMBINED TICKET
• HOURS: 8 AM TO 5 PM
• LOCATION ON GOOGLE MAPS

3. Wat Phra Si Sanphet

This is the most important temple in Ayutthaya, and it stood within the grounds of the royal palace. Monks didn't live here: it was used exclusively for important royal ceremonies such as oaths of allegiance. It also served as the royal family's private chapel.

It has three impressive stupas, where the ashes of the kingdom's first three kings were laid to rest.

It once had a 16-meter-tall gold-covered Buddha, which is believed to have been melted down by the Burmese after the invasions. It also held many relics, several of them looted by those same Burmese.

• PRICE: 50 BAHT | INCLUDED IN THE COMBINED TICKET
• HOURS: 8 AM TO 6 PM
• LOCATION ON GOOGLE MAPS

4. Wat Chaiwatthanaram

This is one of the best-preserved temples in Ayutthaya, and it was our favorite during our visit to this incredible place.

It's a Khmer-style temple, so it will probably remind you a lot of the temples of Angkor. It was built in 1630 by King Prasat Thong in honor of his mother.

It's a little far from the other temples, but you can get there by bike or, failing that, take a tuk-tuk.

Tip: It's perfect for visiting at sunset.

• PRICE: 50 BAHT | INCLUDED IN THE COMBINED TICKET
• HOURS: 8 AM TO 6 PM
• LOCATION ON GOOGLE MAPS

5. Wat Phra Ram

It's in Ayutthaya's historical park. This small temple has an imposing prang and quite a few stupas.

Tip: It's perfect for watching the sunrise, since the sun comes up right behind the prang.

The entrance price is 50 baht (US$1.55), and it's included in the combined ticket.

Hours: from 8 AM to 6 PM.

6. Reclining Buddha of Lokayasutharam

This reclining Buddha is 42 meters long and 8 meters high, the largest Buddha image in all of Ayutthaya.

• FREE ENTRY
• OPEN 24 HOURS
• LOCATION ON GOOGLE MAPS

7. Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon

This temple is also very well preserved. It was one of the first to be built, in 1357. It has a 7-meter reclining Buddha, a chedi you can climb to admire the view of the city, and dozens of Buddha statues that are usually draped in yellow robes.

• PRICE: 50 BAHT
• HOURS: 8 AM TO 6 PM
• LOCATION ON GOOGLE MAPS

8. Wat Phu Khao Thong

This temple has an all-white chedi over 50 meters high that you can climb. It was built by the Burmese to commemorate their victory over Ayutthaya.

• FREE ENTRY
• OPEN 24 HOURS
• LOCATION ON GOOGLE MAPS