My Ayutthaya Day Trip From Bangkok (Itinerary + Tips)

Last Updated: September 29, 2025

Author: Andrew Stenger

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This is my second time in Thailand. I visited Thailand in 2023, but unfortunately, I didn't get the chance to see Ayutthaya. It was on my bucket list, but due to some emergency, I needed to fly home.

Thankfully, I again got the chance to visit Thailand. And this time, Ayutthaya's is at the top of my bucket list. So I landed in Bangkok on 18th Jan, and left for Ayuthaya on the 20th morning, cause I didn't want to miss by any chance.

I had travelled with VolunteerFDIP (where you are reading this review), and had been told earlier to keep the Ayutthaya trip first, and they did it, thanks to the Team.

A little background: VolunteerFDIP is primarily a volunteer organization. I have once been to Nepal for volunteering, and have visited a monastery (had a great time there). It was a great experience to volunteer with them, and by talking with the team, I got to know they even manage the itinerary, and from that time, I have been using VolunteerFDIP regularly.

If you’re looking for someone to help plan a trip that feels personal and hassle-free, I’d definitely recommend reaching out to them.

But let’s get back to the Ayutthaya day trip.

About Ayutthaya

Before starting the Ayutthaya day trip, first let's talk a little about Ayutthaya. Ayutthaya is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which protects much of its history and monuments. 

There you can see the red brick that is 800 years old, plus Ayutthaya has 40-67 temples that are open to visitors. Now imagine how rich the sight is.

Before Bangkok, Ayutthaya was the capital. It was in 1767 that the Burmese army destroyed the city, temple and many Buddha statues. After that huge destruction, the capital was moved to Thonburi. And later in 1782, Bangkok became the new capital.

This is enough to know for today's day trip.

Ayutthaya Day Trip Starts From Bangkok

We were a team of 6 members and left Bangkok in the morning by bus. But if you can also take the train. The bus was super great, plus the view on the way makes the journey even more interesting, and has increased my hopes for Ayutthaya.

After reaching Ayutthaya, it feels like ahh, finally. Our first stop was the Wai Yai Chai Mongkhon temple, built in 1357. They have an entry fee of 20 THB, which is too cheap to experience such historical statues, destroyed temples and more.

Even though many of the temples are destroyed, this is still an active temple. So following the local etiquette matters like wearing the shoulder and knee covering dress.

|| Read: What to Wear in Thailand?

Our next stop was at Wat Ratchaburana, another historical temple built in the 15th century. Those old painting walls, bricks, statues, temples, everything says their history. You can immediately feel the positivity once you visit the temple.

With a short walk, we went to Wat Mahathat, the most iconic temple of Ayutthaya. The most interesting thing there was the Buddha head entwined in tree roots. I had already seen that in the image, but witnessing that in reality felt something different.

And after that, we went to the former royal Palace temple, Wat Phra Si Sanphet. Those ancient layout, historical buildings feel something different.

By late afternoon, we arrived at Wat Chaiwattharan, built in the 17th century. It has the 35-meter central parang surrounded by a small tower, which was impressive but not enough for me. What I enjoyed there was the sunset and lunch.

I tried roti sai mai, a delicate candy package spun with sugar threads. With this, I also had grilled buttery river prawns. The lunch was simple yet delicious.

After lunch, we got a chance to explore the Bang Lan Night Market. Honestly, even after my lunch, I tried the frilled fish there. It was a good experience.

Some Local Gems Not to Miss

The next day, I decided to explore Ayutthaya on my own, as this is going to be the last day. Till then, I didn't know enough about Ayutthaya, so I took a tuk-tuk, which cost me 200 TBH per hour, and started exploring the city.

The places I visited are:

• Wat Lokaya Sutha, a 42 meter long reclining Buddha.
• Wath Pahan Cheong
• Bang Pa-In Summer Palace, it was a mix of European and Chinese architecture.

Recap

I still remember those beautiful moments in Ayutthaya. If I ever visit Thailand again, I will definitely visit Ayutthaya again, even for a single day. The history, monuments, and temples are great, but what I loved was the roti sai mai and grilled fish of Bangal Lan Night Market.

I had tried to make the roti sai mai from YouTube, but it was not even near the taste of what I tried at Wat Chaiwatthanaram. I don't remember the restaurant name, but you can try anywhere; the taste will be the same.

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