🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
What makes Ayutthaya fun is how compact it is. Most of the major temples sit on the same island, so you can cycle or hop in a tuk-tuk and tick them off in a single day. Bang Pa-In Palace and the floating markets are just off the island, a short drive away, and if you have two days it's a lot more relaxed. We've split things into four groups to keep it clear: temples in the park, palaces, floating markets, and the boat loop around the island.
World Heritage temples in the historical park
Ayutthaya Historical Park has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1991. The park itself is free to walk through, but each main temple charges around ฿50 to enter. If you plan to do several, the combined 6-temple ticket at ฿220 works out cheaper. Most are open 8:00–17:00.
Wat Mahathat — the Buddha head in the tree roots
This is the iconic Ayutthaya shot — a sandstone Buddha head wrapped in the roots of a banyan tree until the two have become one. Everyone stops to photograph it. By custom you should crouch down so your head sits lower than the Buddha's when you take the picture. The rest of the grounds have plenty more old prangs and ruined chedis to wander.
Wat Chaiwatthanaram — riverside Khmer style
One of the most beautiful temples in Ayutthaya. The Khmer-style central prang is ringed by smaller satellite prangs, set right on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River. In the late afternoon the golden light hits it beautifully, and it's a hugely popular spot for people in traditional Thai dress coming to shoot photos.
Wat Phra Si Sanphet — the three chedis
Once the temple inside the old royal palace grounds, with no resident monks. The highlight is the row of three Sri Lankan–style chedis that have become a symbol of the city. It sits in the centre of the island, an easy walk on from the Phra Mongkhon Bophit hall.
Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon — the big robed chedi
You can climb to the top of the large main chedi and look down on the reclining Buddha and the rows of Buddha images draped in yellow robes around the base. People come here to pray and ask for blessings, so it has a livelier feel than the ruined temples. It's off the island on the east side.
Wat Lokayasutharam — the open-air reclining Buddha
A large stucco reclining Buddha lying out in the open, over 40 metres long. People usually come to drape it in robes and pose for photos. It's free to enter and sits on the island not far from Wat Phra Si Sanphet, so it's an easy stop to add.
Wat Ratchaburana — climb down into the crypt
Right next to Wat Mahathat. The draw here is climbing up the prang and then down a narrow staircase into the crypt chamber, where Ayutthaya-era gold treasures were once found. Anyone claustrophobic might struggle with the tight space, but if you like a bit of exploring you'll love it.
A tip on entry fees
If you plan to do 5 temples or more, the combined 6-temple ticket at ฿220 beats paying ฿50 at each one. You can buy it at any of the main temples and just show it when you enter the next one.
Want more out of Ayutthaya? Book tours & activities
Booking online ahead on Klook or GetYourGuide is usually cheaper than the gate and skips the queue. Pick only the experiences you actually want — prices and availability are shown live on each site.
Palaces worth a stop
Ayutthaya was once the royal capital, so it has palaces both inside and outside the old city. These two feel completely different: one is a beautiful summer palace that's still in use, the other an old palace that's now a museum.
Bang Pa-In Royal Palace
A summer palace on the bank of the Chao Phraya, with sprawling gardens and a mix of Thai, European and Chinese architecture, including a photogenic pavilion sitting out on the water. Open 8:00–16:00, ฿30 for Thais and ฿100 for foreigners. It's off the island to the south, and dress is modest — cover shoulders and knees. There are wraps to borrow at the entrance.
Chankasem Palace (the Front Palace)
An old palace in the centre of town that's now a national museum, displaying antiquities and stories from the Ayutthaya period. It's a good fit if you want some historical context before walking the temples. It's on the island in the northeast corner, and closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
Floating markets to graze through
Ayutthaya has several floating markets. They're tourist markets built to give an old-world feel rather than traditional working markets, but they're fun to graze through and photograph, and make a good afternoon stop before an evening boat trip.
Ayothaya Floating Market
The biggest floating market in Ayutthaya, spread over roughly 13 hectares with hundreds of shops and boats selling goods. You can graze on savoury and sweet Thai snacks, watch period performances, and catch historical shows. Open daily 9:00–18:00, off the island on the east side near Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon.
Khlong Sa Bua Floating Market
Smaller and more easygoing, leaning into local snacks and Thai sweets. It's less crowded than Ayothaya, which suits anyone who wants to stroll at a relaxed pace without jostling with big tourist crowds.
Straight talk
The floating markets in Ayutthaya are set up for tourism, not traditional village life. If you come expecting cheap local-market food you might be disappointed, but if you're here for the old-world atmosphere and photos, they're a good time.
A sunset loop around the island by boat
The Ayutthaya island city is ringed by three rivers — the Chao Phraya, the Pa Sak and the Lopburi. Taking a longtail boat around the island in the early evening is a great way to see the city once the sun is lower, catching several riverside temples from angles you can't reach on foot, especially Wat Chaiwatthanaram at sunset.
- Private charter, 1 hour — around ฿1,000–1,500 per boat if you haggle at the pier, seating 6–8 people. Some operators charge ฿2,500–3,000 for a boat with a guide.
- Public boat, 2 hours — around ฿200 per person, cheaper and good if you're travelling solo or as a couple.
- Popular route — loops past Wat Chaiwatthanaram, Wat Phutthaisawan and Wat Phanan Choeng, home to a giant seated Buddha.
- Best timing — set off about an hour before sunset to get both the evening light and the temples reflected in the water.
Agree the price before you board
Charter prices at the pier are negotiable. Settle the price and the route before you get on, and spell out which temples you'll pass and how many stops, so there are no surprises at the end of the trip.
Planning an Ayutthaya trip that fits
- Just one day — do the on-island temples (Mahathat, Ratchaburana, Phra Si Sanphet, Phra Mongkhon Bophit) from morning into the afternoon, then finish with an evening boat loop.
- Two days — day one for the on-island temples plus a floating market, day two heading off the island to Bang Pa-In, Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon, and Wat Chaiwatthanaram in the evening.
- Getting there — from Bangkok it's about an hour by train or minivan. In town, rent a bicycle, hire a tuk-tuk by the hour, or rent a motorbike.
- What to wear — temples and palaces require covered shoulders and knees. Bring a hat and water, since the park gets strong sun with little shade.
See where to stay and the full Ayutthaya travel guide before you head out
See the Ayutthaya guide →