Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
AYUTHAYA IN…
Two Days
Visit the interactive exhibition at the
Ayutthaya Tourist Center
and discover why the city was once so great.
Cycle around
Ayuthaya Historical Park
, then stop at
Lung Lek
for the best noodles in town. The following day
hop on an elephant for a short ride among the ruins then finish your visit by sampling locally made produce at the
Ayuthaya Floating Market
.
Four Days
Head out of the city to visit
Bang Pa In Palace
and the nearby
Bang Sai Arts & Crafts Centre
. On the way
back, drop by at
Wat Phanan Choeng
to ensure good luck by releasing fish back into the river and return to the
island in time to visit the brilliantly nostalgic
Million Toy Museum
.
One Week
A week gives you plenty of time to see the temples and nearby countryside. Cycle to
Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon
and mingle in the neighbouring Muslim markets before returning to the island for a
sunset boat trip
with Ayut-
thaya Boat and Travel. With a few extra days spare, you can learn how to be a mahout at the
Elephant Stay
(
Click here
)
.
Sights
At its zenith, 400 sparkling temples stood proudly in the heart of Ayuthaya. Today more
than a dozen restored ruins can be found around the island, along with several working
temples. The headless Buddha images, crumbling columns and battered balustrades recre-
ate images of a once-mighty city.
For simpler navigation, we've divided up the sites into 'on the island' and 'off the is-
land' sections. It is easy to get between the sites by bicycle, and hiring a guide for some
historical detail is useful.
Most temples are open from 8am to 4pm; the more famous sites charge an entrance fee.
A one-day pass for most sites on the island is available for 220B and can be bought at the
museums or ruins.
The ruins are symbols of royalty and religion, two fundamental elements of Thai soci-
ety, so please show respect.
