Just 80kms north of Bangkok, Ayutthaya is close enough to be done on a daytrip and lots of tour companies offer it in combination with other sites in the locality such as Bang Pa In. The trouble with taking a tour is that the bus is always ready to move on before tourists have finished taking in the sights. A more comfortable option is to take a bus or train to Ayutthaya.
There are around 20 trains a day in each direction between Bangkok’s Hualamphong rail terminus and Ayutthaya. Most are third-class services, but a few are special expresses with air-conditioned carriages and average travel times of only 70 minutes.
People staying on the north side of Bangkok may find the bus easier. Frequent buses ply the route between the city’s Morchit Station and Ayutthaya. VIP first-class buses take about an hour to make the trip.
A journey to historic Ayutthaya and its awesome ruins
News in Asia
Ayutthaya 300 years ago was the capital of what was then Siam and was believed to be the biggest city in Asia. In 1767, a marauding Burmese army ransacked and burnt Ayutthaya, yet the magnificent stone and brick ruins that remain are complete enough for visitors to get insightful glimpses of the city in its golden age.