Ayutthaya, capital of the Kingdom of Siam from 1351 until its destruction by the Burmese army in 1767, still has dozens of ruined temples on its island and riverbanks: bell-shaped chedis, Khmer-style prangs, headless Buddhas and the famous Buddha head caught in the roots of a fig tree. The historical park has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1991 and can be visited in a day from Bangkok. The air-conditioned SRT Bangkok Connex train links Krung Thep Aphiwat station to Ayutthaya in about 1h15; once there, a ferry crosses the river opposite the station and a bicycle takes you from one temple to the next. Each major temple run by the Fine Arts Department costs 50 baht for foreign visitors, or 220 baht with the combined ticket for six temples.
Highlights
Wat Phra Si Sanphet and Wihan Phra Mongkhon Bophit
The royal temple stood within the grounds of the old palace. Its three large chedis in a row, built in 1492 and 1529, held the ashes of Ayutthaya kings; they are the best-known image of the city. Just to the south, Wihan Phra Mongkhon Bophit, an active shrine with free entry, houses a large seated Buddha of bronze and brick covered in gold leaf, about 13 metres high.
Wat Mahathat
Founded around 1374 in the centre of the island, the "Temple of the Great Relic" was one of the kingdom's main sanctuaries and, in the 17th century, the residence of the Supreme Patriarch. The roots of a fig tree have wrapped around a sandstone Buddha head, which has become the symbol of Ayutthaya. To photograph it, crouch down so that your head is not higher than the statue's: this is the rule of respect posted on site.
Wat Ratchaburana
Opposite Wat Mahathat, this temple was built in 1424 by King Borommarachathirat II where his two elder brothers had been cremated. Its central prang, one of the best preserved in the city, can be climbed up to a crypt with old mural paintings. The gold objects found in this crypt in 1957 are on display at the nearby Chao Sam Phraya National Museum.
Wat Chaiwatthanaram
Built in 1630 by King Prasat Thong, it stands on the west bank of the river, off the island, a little over 2 km from Wat Phra Si Sanphet. Its 35-metre central prang, surrounded by four smaller prangs and eight chapels, follows the layout of Khmer temples. It is the most photographed temple in the late afternoon: make it your last stop, by bike across the bridge or by tuk-tuk.
Wat Lokayasutharam and Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon
West of Wat Phra Si Sanphet, Wat Lokayasutharam is an open-air site with free access: a 42-metre reclining Buddha of brick and stucco lies in the middle of a field of ruins. Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon, an active monastery in the south-east of the city, on the other bank, is recognisable by its large chedi and its rows of Buddhas draped in yellow; entry costs 20 baht for foreigners. It is easier to get there by tuk-tuk than by bike.
Opening hours and tickets
The Fine Arts Department temples are open every day from 8:00 to 18:00, and ticket sales stop around 17:00: arrive before then for your last temple. Each costs 50 baht for foreigners, payable in cash at the ticket window. The 220-baht combined ticket covers Wat Phra Si Sanphet, Wat Mahathat, Wat Ratchaburana, Wat Phra Ram, Wat Chaiwatthanaram and Wat Maheyong; it is sold at the ticket window of each of them and is valid for 30 days. Wihan Phra Mongkhon Bophit and Wat Lokayasutharam are free.
Infos pratiques
Tips
The combined ticket only pays off from five paid temples; for three or four temples, pay individually. Bring small baht notes, water and a hat: the sites have little shade. Cover your shoulders and knees, especially in temples that are still active. Bikes usually rent for 50 to 100 baht a day from the rental shops opposite the station and on the island; check the brakes and tyres, and return the bike before the shop closes in the early evening. The evening illuminations are not permanent: in winter 2025-2026, the Ayutthaya Nawa programme lit up Wat Chaiwatthanaram, Wat Phra Ram and other temples from 16:30 to 21:30, every evening from 26 December to 4 January, then on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays until 1 February; the schedule for winter 2026-2027 had not yet been announced on 1 October 2026. Prices checked in October 2026.
How to get there
Ayutthaya Historical Park, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya district, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province 13000, about 80 km north of Bangkok. Since 1 August 2026, the air-conditioned SRT Bangkok Connex (BNEX) train leaves from Krung Thep Aphiwat central station (MRT Bang Sue) and reaches Ayutthaya in about 1h15, stopping at Bang Pa-in: on weekdays, departures from Bangkok at 5:15, 9:05 and 18:15; on Saturdays and Sundays, at 9:05 and 18:15. Return trains from Ayutthaya at 14:40 and 19:45 every day, plus 6:50 on weekdays. The ticket costs at most 50 baht until 31 October 2026 (promotional fare; the later price had not been announced in early October 2026, and times and fares should be checked with the SRT, hotline 1690); it can only be bought at the station, with no reservation, and seats are not numbered. Ordinary trains from Hua Lamphong station, in fan-cooled third class for around fifteen baht, take about 2 hours; many rapid and express trains from the north and north-east also stop at Ayutthaya for the return journey. Minivans leave from the Mo Chit 2 bus terminal and take about 1h30 outside traffic jams. Once there: Ayutthaya station is on the east bank, opposite the historic island. A small ferry, right opposite the station, crosses the river in a few minutes for a few baht; on the other side, Wat Mahathat is less than 2 km away by bike. Wat Chaiwatthanaram, on the west bank, and Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon, to the south-east, are reached by the road bridges or by tuk-tuk, whose price is negotiated before setting off.
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