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Cycling the Temples
of Ayutthaya's Island

Ayutthaya's old town sits on a flat island where roads link every temple together, and the famous ones are only a few hundred metres to a couple of kilometres apart. That makes cycling the way that fits this city best — you stop and shoot photos whenever you want, never hunt for parking, and pay just a few dollars for the bike. This is a 2-day plan with a route that hits all the key temples, and we'll tell you straight which hours get too hot to ride.

🚲 Rentals from ฿50–60/day🎫 6-temple combo ticket ฿220⛅ Skip the afternoon sun
Cycling the Temples of Ayutthaya's Island

🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026

Before you start pedalling, a few basics are worth knowing. Most temples in the historical park open around 8:00–18:00 (the big ones close about 18:30). Entry is ฿10 for Thais and ฿50 for foreigners per temple. If you plan to visit several, there's a ฿220 combo ticket good for 6 main temples, sold at the ticket booths of the participating sites — it pays off once you enter more than 4. And remember: you can't ride bikes inside the ruins, so park and lock up outside every time.

Where to rent a bike, and how much

Bike rentals cluster in two areas: across from Ayutthaya train station (handy if you arrive by train) and inside the old town around the Naresuan–Pa Thon guesthouse strip. The standard rate is ฿50–60 per bike per day with no time limit, and shops hand you a key and a chain lock. Some ask for your ID card or a deposit.

Station side

Rentals by Ayutthaya train station

Walk out of the station, cross the road, and you'll find several shops, starting around ฿50–60/day. Good if you take the train from Bangkok and want to ride on before crossing the river to the island.

On the island

Rentals in the old town (guesthouse zone)

Around Naresuan Road and Soi Pa Thon you'll find both bikes and motorbikes, open roughly 8:00–18:00, ฿60 a bike. Convenient if you're already staying on the island.

Check before you ride

Lift the wheel and spin it to test the brakes and chain before you take the bike. Squeeze both front and back brakes, and check the tyres have enough air. If you rent for a full day and the saddle is rock hard, your back will ache by the afternoon — pick one with a softer seat and you'll last a lot longer.

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Day 1 — Temples in the heart of the island

The first day focuses on the temples in the centre of the island. They sit close together in one cluster, so you can loop around easily — about 6–8 km total for the day.

Day 1

Temples in the island centre

08:00
Pick up the bike, ride to Wat MahathatOpens early at 8:00 — go first to beat the crowds and the heat. The photo spot is the Buddha head wrapped in tree roots. Entry ฿50 for foreigners, ฿10 for Thais.
09:15
Cross the road to Wat RatchaburanaRight opposite Wat Mahathat — just a quick ride across the street. You can climb the tall central prang to see the crypt inside, and it's less crowded than Wat Mahathat.
10:30
Ride south to Wat Phra RamA small temple beside Bueng Phra Ram pond, with water that mirrors the stupa — a good spot to rest your legs and take photos.
11:30
Ride to Wat Phra Si SanphetThree bell-shaped stupas in a row, part of the former royal palace grounds. It's the largest in scale on the island and photogenic all day.
12:30
Lunch break, hide from the midday sunFrom 12:00–14:00 the sun is fiercest. Find a boat-noodle shop or somewhere shaded near Bueng Phra Ram and settle in for a while.
14:30
Ride to Wihan Phra Mongkhon BophitRight next to Wat Phra Si Sanphet. Step in to pay respects to the huge bronze Buddha in the hall — free entry — and there's a market of food and souvenirs around it.
16:00
Ride to Wat Lokkayasutharam for the reclining BuddhaA large open-air reclining Buddha, free to visit. The afternoon sun softens here, so the photos come out nicely. Return the bike before 18:00.

Day 2 — Riverside temples around the island

Day two ventures a little beyond the island centre, to photogenic riverside temples and ones to the southeast. The distance is longer than day one, about 10–12 km. If you'd rather not ride that far across the river, you can swap to a rented motorbike for the day.

Day 2

Riverside and outer temples

07:30
Ride to Wat Chaiwatthanaram (early morning)A temple on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River, with the most beautifully aligned prangs in Ayutthaya. Go early to dodge the sun and the crowds. Entry ฿50 for foreigners. It's off the island, so you'll ride across a bridge.
09:30
Ride back onto the island, stop at temples on the north sideThere are small temples to drop into on the way back. Take water breaks now and then, and don't forget to carry water with you.
11:00
Lunch in the old townPick a shaded spot — boat noodles or Ayutthaya's famous beef noodles — and wait out the harshest sun.
13:30
Ride to Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon (southeast)Off the island to the southeast. You can climb the big chedi for a view all around, and there's a reclining Buddha and rows of saffron-robed Buddha statues.
15:30
Ride to Wat Phanan Choeng WorawihanA riverside temple near Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon, home to the giant Luang Pho To Buddha that people come to pray to. A good final stop before evening.
17:00
Ride back to the island, return the bikeCruise back while the sun is soft, and return the bike before the shop closes. If you've still got energy, hit an evening market for a bite before heading home.

Tips for riding the fun way without burning out

  • Start early, break at midday — Ayutthaya's sun is brutal from 11:00–15:00, so morning and late-afternoon rides are far more comfortable.
  • Carry water and sunscreen — most of the route is open with no shade, so a hat and sunglasses help a lot.
  • Lock the bike every time — park outside the ruins and use the chain the shop gives you to secure it to a post or rail.
  • Allow time for a flat tyre — if you get a puncture mid-route, call the rental shop; most will come help or swap the bike for you.

Straight talk

Day 2's ride off the island to Wat Chaiwatthanaram and Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon is long and crosses bridges with traffic. If you really can't manage the distance, or you're travelling with kids, switching to a rented motorbike or chartering a tuk-tuk just for that day is safer and more comfortable.

Want a place to stay on the island near the bike rentals

See the Top 10 Ayutthaya hotels →

FAQ

How much does a bike rental in Ayutthaya cost, and where's good to rent?

The standard rate is ฿50–60 per bike per day with no time limit. Rentals cluster across from Ayutthaya train station (handy if you arrive by train) and inside the old town along the Naresuan Road guesthouse strip. Shops give you a chain lock, and some ask for your ID card or a deposit.

How many days do you need to cycle the island's temples?

To take it slow and cover the big temples both inside and around the island, we'd suggest 2 days. Day one loops the central temples (Mahathat, Ratchaburana, Phra Si Sanphet); day two heads to riverside temples like Wat Chaiwatthanaram and Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon. If you only have one day, just doing day one is plenty of fun.

What's the entry fee for temples in Ayutthaya Historical Park?

Entry is ฿10 per temple for Thais and ฿50 for foreigners. If you're visiting several, there's a ฿220 combo ticket good for 6 main temples — it pays off once you enter more than 4. Buy it at the ticket booths of the participating temples.

Can you ride a bike inside the temples?

No — you have to park and lock the bike outside the ruins every time, then walk in to look around. Use the chain the rental shop gives you to secure it to a post or rail.

When's the best time of day to cycle?

Riding in the morning 8:00–11:00 and the late afternoon 15:00–18:00 is the most comfortable, because Ayutthaya's sun is very strong from noon to around 3 pm. Take a shaded lunch break from 12:00–14:00, and always carry water and sunscreen.

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