Would you like to knwo how you can move from Bangkok to Ayutthaya? You’re in the right place.
The city of Ayutthaya is one of the most iconic places in the history of Thailand. It is definitely much smaller and livable compared to the capital Bangkok. It is also one of the most popular destinations for a day trip leaving from Bangkok. Ayutthaya really is gorgeous, a city in which to marvel at the past of Thailand and also learn about the history and religion as well.
If particularly interested in these aspects, you could gather some more information from the hundreds of different websites available on the internet. The history, culture and religion of Thailand are undoubtedly very interesting topics, but the purpose of this post is to talk about something else. What we would like to do is give you some tips on how to cheaply visit the beautiful Ayutthaya, without missing any important aspect of it.
When travelling you face many different problems, starting with what kind of transport to go for.
How to get the train from Bangkok to Ayutthaya?
Where does the train to Ayutthaya depart from? The train leaves from Hualamphong station which is easily accessible by tube, taxi, or tuk-tuk. It is quite a big station, but not too enormous so as to make you feel disorientated. With a spacious waiting lounge packed with tourists waiting for their train departure. The station is definitely a quieter and safer place compared to the much dodgier Italian ones.
As in every train station, a big screen with all the departure details hangs above the ticket offices. It’s right here that you’ll find many staff members ready to help you with any questions you might have.
Careful though! As kind as they might seem, they will also be crafty too. What they might try to do in fact, is suggest taking a particular train without listing all the various options available. Guess what…the train that they’ll recommend you will also be the most expensive one.
What a coincidence, uh?
Piece of advice: once arrived at the station, head immediately for the ticket office without listening to any of the staff members. Ask for a third class ticket from Bankok to Ayutthaya and in no time at all, you’ll be holding in your hands a ticket for just 15 baht. Yes guys, just 15 baht (less than 0.50 euros) for a 2-hour journey. As you can imagine, the third class carriage is not the most comfortable you’ll ever travel on. No air conditioning, very old and battered seats…but in all honesty, it doesn’t differ that much from what we are accustomed to in Italy on one of our regional trains.
From Hualamphong, the train travels through the beautiful outskirts of Bangkok. At every stop, passengers, either locals or travellers, get on, each one with their own history and life. We saw many Thai people carrying goods recently bought at the market, mainly fruit and vegetables, but also people that were going to the market to sell their stuff. It starts from Hualamphong and passes through the entire suburbs of Bangkok. At each stop more people get on, each with its own story to tell, each with its own existence linked to that daily train.
Update 2018. The cost of the train has increased to 45 bath for the third class and to 65 bath for the second.
Update 2022 You can also use this search form to find the best travel solutions for you, and you can also buy them directly on the site without having to go to the ticket office*
Update 2018. The cost of the train has increased to 45 bath for the third class and to 65 bath for the second.
Update 2022 You can also use this search form to find the best travel solutions for you, and you can also buy them directly on the site without having to go to the ticket office*
Whilst traveling to Ayutthaya you’ll meet many people that will ceaselessly walk up and down the train coach and try to sell you something. It is nothing like watches, bracelets or miscellaneous jewelry, but rather bananas or fruit in general, all sorts of beverages kept in bags stuffed with ice cubes, crisps and many other things. We even encountered somebody that was trying to sell us some fava beans!
This business tells us a lot about the cultural difference between our country and Thailand. It was fantastic, as if we had dived straight into their everyday life. This is one of the most important things we seek whilst on a journey.
After more or less two hours you’ll get to Ayutthaya.
Once there, the first thing to do is to check when the train back to Bangkok will depart. On the first platform you’ll find a timetable board with all the information you’re looking for. Take note of it and head towards the station exit crammed with tuk-tuks and their drivers.
How to get around Ayutthaya?
There are many different options in this case as well
- On foot: even if you’ve run a myriad of marathons and even if your stride pace is worthy of a Guinnes World Record award, it is highly inadvisable to walk round the city. It is obviously free of charge but you must take into account the considerable distance between the places you want to visit. In Ayutthaya, the numerous places of interest are not always close to one another. Often it’s impossible to reach them without catching a tuk-tuk or a taxi
- Hiring a scooter
- By bike: it is very easy to find places to hire a bike for just a few bahts. This was one of the options we considered whilst planning our trip to Thailand, but once we arrived we gave it up. The reasons why we decided not to opt for a bike are many. First of all the heat is unbearable even just walking around this city. Can you imagine cycling amidst the traffic and breathing in the terrible car fumes? Secondly, you certainly need a map to get to any destination. You’d have to stop more than once to check what street you need to turn into and if you’re going in the right direction. Last but not least, you must not underestimate the traffic. Ayutthaia is certainly not as busy as Bangkok, but it is still a very chaotic and frantic city. Be cautious.
- By tuk-tuk: the means of transport we opted for, even though it was the most expensive one. Do you want to know more about it? Just keep reading.
As soon as you get out of Hualamphong station, do not waste your time trying to bargain with the tuk-tuk drivers outside. As it is a very touristic place, they will be very reluctant to lower their fares. Instead, cross the road and head towards the river right in front of you. It’s here that you will find a long tail boat that will take you to the other side of the river for just 5 baht per person.
Once on the opposite bank, start walking towards the Wat and, if you want to, start searching for a tuk-tuk. Many drivers will stop and offer you similar prices. Usually the price is around 600 baht. As we taught you in our previous post, do start negotiating the fare and try to lower it as much as you can. We managed to pay just 450 baht for a 2 and a half hour tour. We did well, didn’t we!?
The journey on a tuk-tuk is quite exciting. The driver will point out on a map all the temples (Wats) that they will show you. Needless to say, the longer the tour is, the more temples you’ll be able to see. From our experience, 3 hours would have probably been the perfect length of time for the tour: we might have enjoyed a longer stay in the parks in which the archeological sites were situated.
What we really liked were the outsides of Wat Ratcheburana and the Ayutthaya Elephant Centre.
We got off the tuk-tuk to visit the Wat Lokaya Sutharam. We stopped for more than one hour in the marvelous Wat Phra Si Sanphet and Wihan Phra Mongkhon.
The entrance ticket for the Wat Phra Si Sanphet costs 50 baht. It can be purchased at the ticket office beside the temple entrance where you can also admire a reconstruction of what the temple looked like before the battle against the Burmese. We have attached some photos of the Wat Phra Si Sanphet to this post. It is simply jaw droppingly gorgeous.
All around the historical site there is a constant buzzing of tuk-tuks and elephants carrying tourists on their backs. It was really awkward to witness the normality with which such ginormous animals walk on the pavement. What a pity to see elephants exploited as a tourist attraction, don’t you think?
Once the tour is complete, the driver will take you back to Hualamphong station or wherever you want to go.
Don’t forget: if you are back in the afternoon after 4PM, the trains to take you back to Bangkok are at 4.30PM or at 6PM. Buy your return tickets from the ticket office and get on board. An interesting note: the train ticket to go back to Bangkok from Ayutthaya is 5 baht more expensive than the one for the outward voyage. Why?! Who knows…
The visit to Ayutthaya is definitely a must-do, especially for the train journey that will take you there. You will in fact experience a bit of the everyday Thai life that is often missed out whilst traveling to famous tourist places.