Searching for ways to go from Bangkok to Ayutthaya?
Getting to Ayutthaya from Bangkok is pretty straightforward because there are various transportation options to reach the UNESCO world heritage site and historical park of Ayutthaya.
Many tourists doing an Ayutthaya full day trip take the train, a scenic slow moving train delivering a unique Asian experience and throwing you directly into Thai culture.
But there’s also minivans going from Bangkok to Ayutthaya throughout the day. While taxis and private transfers are another option.
This guide covers everything you need to know to reach Ayutthaya from Bangkok. Here you’ll find how to get to Ayutthaya by: Train – Minivan – Taxi – Private Transfer. Or if you’re short on time, maybe consider a tour.
Bangkok to Ayutthaya Overview
Here is a quick overview to help you decide what is the best transportation option for you depending on your travel style.
If you’re on a budget: your best and cheapest option is to go by train.
Budget 2nd options: your 2nd budget option is by minivan (more convenient but also more expensive than trains)
If you want convenience: private transfer (price is $50 – great for a group up to 3 sharing costs)
If you don’t want to plan a thing: book a tour – either private tour or a cheap alternative is to book an affordable join-in tour
Want a tour recommendation? Book this 12 hour Bangkok to Ayutthaya tour – it has a near perfect rating from over 430 reviews!! And also includes Free lunch and entrance fees for temples
Bangkok to Ayutthaya Train
If cheap and convenient is on your mind, then the Bangkok to Ayutthaya train is your best option. Using trains in Thailand is an experience in itself as it throws directly into Thai culture. Vendors come onboard selling quick bites before your scenic, and slow moving, ride through the countryside.
A limited number of trains do the journey between Bangkok and Ayutthaya every day. And tickets start from just ฿70 ($2) for a basic non-ac seat.
The 70km (44 miles) journey between Bangkok and Ayutthaya takes around 90 minutes to 2 hours to complete. But these trains are known to have delays so it isn’t uncommon for the journey to take around 2-1/2 hours.
Tip: The listed travel times for trains from Bangkok to Ayutthaya often indicate a duration of around 1 hour. However, this is never (or very rarely) the case.
Trains from Bangkok to Ayutthaya depart from the new Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal Station (Bang Sue Grand Station).
Tickets can be bought directly from the cashier booth at the train station. Or, if you already know your travel dates you can book online.
Arriving in Ayutthaya by train
Ayutthaya train station is located outside the heritage site and separated by a river. To get across, walk out the train station and towards the river. There are boats that will cross you over to the other side for ฿10.
However, this ferry boat service stops at 6:00pm. The alternative is to take the bridge which is quite a detour and isn’t as scenic as the ferry.
Click here to view train station location and ferry
Bangkok to Ayutthaya Bus & Minivans
Another option which most tourists prefer for its convenience are buses from Bangkok to Ayutthaya. Or more common are minivans.
In contrast to the limited number of trains, minivans have a frequent schedule everyday. You’ll find minivans going from Bangkok to Ayutthaya about every hour. And the journey time is around 90 minutes.
While minivans cost more than trains they’re still affordable. Minivans departing from Mochit new van terminal (near Chatuchak) start at just ฿150 ($4.50).
If you’re in the Khaosan area, there are vans to Ayutthaya leaving from near ‘Khao San Mama’. This van costs ฿350 ($10) and the last departure is around 12:00pm (noon).
If you’re only spending the day in Ayutthaya, it would be best to organize a pick up from Ayutthaya to take you back to your Hotel/Hostel in Bangkok.
✔️ IN CASE YOU’RE SPENDING A NIGHT IN AYUTTHAYA
Useful Information
Consider spending a night or 2 in Ayutthaya. You’ll have more time to explore and you’ll also get to experience the temples without any crowds at sunrise or sunset.
Here are a 3 highly recommended places to stay.
Baan Pomphet ($$$$) for its simplistic and luxurious design and its location
Homey Hut Ayutthaya ($$) for its location near the temples, clean rooms and free breakfast.
Room Story Hostel ($) for the affordability, social vibe and central location
Bangkok to Ayutthaya Private Transfer
Private transfers from Bangkok to Ayutthaya cost around ($50) for a 1 way trip and can accommodate up to 3 people.
Considering all the perks: hotel pick up, A/C car, comfort – a private transfer is quite affordable. This option is only expensive if you’re traveling solo and can’t find 2 other friends to share the cost which would work out ฿600 ($17) each.
In contrast to trains and minivans which require going to a specific location to start the journey, a private transfer will have a driver pick you up from your hotel in Bangkok at your desired time and drop you off in Ayutthaya.
Unless you plan spending the night in Ayutthaya, it would be best to also organize a pick up from Ayutthaya to take you back to your Hotel/Hostel in Bangkok.
Bangkok to Ayutthaya Tours
Overwhelmed by all the temples? Or just don’t know how to organize your Ayutthaya itinerary? Book a tour and enjoy the day!!
Booking a tour from Bangkok to Ayutthaya is a convenient way to explore the Siam Capital and world heritage UNESCO site.
While reaching Ayutthaya from Bangkok is quite easy, planning what to do in Ayutthaya can be rather confusing. There are loads of temples and ruins scattered over a large area. So planning which temples to see and then organizing the logistics for getting around can feel stressful.
Ayutthaya’s historic site is big. While it’s possible to visit the main temples on foot, there is no way of doing it in a single day.
Sure, there are tuk-tuk drivers in Ayutthaya who will be happy to drive you around. But as you may know, prices are usually unreasonable.
So if you’re planning a day trip to Ayutthaya, our advice would be to book a tour. You won’t need to worry about planning how to get from Bangkok to Ayutthaya, or organizing an Ayutthaya temple itinerary, and in most cases not even where you’ll eat.
With a tour you get everything in one price. And tours are relatively cheap if you go for join in tours which start at around $50. But if you want something more personal, there’s also quite a few private tours from Bangkok to Ayutthaya.
About Ayutthaya
Is Ayutthaya worth visiting?
Absolutely, Ayutthaya is definitely worth visiting!! If you’re a history buff and want to know more about Thai culture, then Ayutthaya will be a highlight of your trip to Thailand. You may also want to consider doing a guided tour to know more about this place from a local.
The city served as the second capital of the Siamese Kingdom, and today, it is renowned for its UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Ayutthaya Historical Park.
Even if you’re not into all the cultural and historical aspects of Thailand, Ayutthaya is still worth visiting. The ancient brick temples, some barely holding up and others wrapped in the roots of trees are really interesting. You’ll also get some really cool photos here.
How far is Ayutthaya from Bangkok?
Ayutthaya is located approximately 70 kilometers (44 miles) north of Bangkok. By car or bus/minivan, it takes around 90 minutes to get there from Bangkok. The slow moving trains often takes over 2 hours to do the journey.
How many days in Ayutthaya?
Deciding on the amount of days to spend in Ayutthaya can be a bit confusing. There’s loads of temples spread over a large area.
If you’re a true history geek
If you’re a real history geek and want to visit every single temple in Ayutthaya, then plan spending at least 3 days. Having 3 days will allow you to wander around the temples at your own pace. And since most tourists come to Ayutthaya as a day trip, you can explore the park in peace and quiet as the sun rises before the crowds arrive. And during sunset after the crowds have the left.
Being here with no tourists during sunrise and sunset is truly magical!!
If you just want to see the temples
If you’re not really into all this history and cultural stuff, then visiting Ayutthaya as a day trip is enough. There are various tours from Bangkok to Ayutthaya where you’ll get to visit the most important temples.
How much does it cost to go to Ayutthaya temples?
Entering Ayutthaya historical park is free. You are free to walk around all the streets and see the temples from the outside. You can even walk inside certain temples for free.
However, if you want to enter the main temples there is a fee of ฿50 or ฿20 depending on the temple.
Bangkok Midnight Food Tour by Tuk Tuk
⭐️ RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ DURATION: 4 Hours | ↳ BOOK NOW
Slightly off topic because this isn’t a Bangkok to Ayutthaya tour. However it is a unique culinary experience and is a great way to end day.
Note: this tour starts at 7:00pm not midnight.
This evening tour throws you straight into Bangkok’s legendary street-food scene as you ride the colorful city’s backstreets and hidden spots. And what better way than do this on fun Tuk-Tuk.
“Gimao was an amazing tour guide; funny, informative, and patient! The tuk-tuk experience at night was so cool. And the food was fantastic, especially the rice noodle dish at Ann Guay Tiew Kua Gai. I highly recommend you book this tour for a fun night out in Bangkok!”
Your Tuk-Tuk driver whizzes through the traffic and stops you at some incredible local restaurants to sample some of the best Thai cuisine. This tour is a complete package including all food and Tuk-Tuk transport. And the evening ends at a secret roof-top bar.
Note: You’ll get a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hour(s) before the activity starts.
Wondering where to Stay in Bangkok?
Bangkok is a huge City and is very diverse from 1 place to the other. With that in mind, it’s important to plan ahead and choose the right place or area to stay in.
Read this article for an overview about the areas to stay in Bangkok.
How we efficiently plan our trips.
Planning a holiday can be overwhelming, especially for those hands-on in the process. Thankfully, technology has simplified the task, making it easier to organize trips to destinations like Thailand. Here are the resources we swear by:
BOOKING.COM: Our go-to for booking accommodation. It’s user-friendly, offers the best prices*, and boasts the largest selection of online properties.
*After trying various methods to find the best prices, including direct booking, calling accommodations, and comparing with other sites, Booking.com consistently provided the lowest prices. Guest reviews on the platform are invaluable for decision-making, especially regarding accommodation and tour bookings.
KLOOK: Our go to resource for planning activities is KLOOK. Here we find loads of interesting activities for the destinations we’re visiting. And it’s really easy. Just enter the name of the destination in the search bar and a list of activities with prices and review score comes up.
It’s almost like shopping for something Amazon and the prices are also really competitive.
GET YOUR GUIDE: Another website for tours booking in Thailand and around the world is Get Your Guide. Here you’ll find a wide range of tours at great prices and most often have free cancellation up to 24 hours before the tour.
HEY, just so you know…
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