Getting to Phitsanulok
how do I get there?

If saving time is your top priority, flying into Phitsanulok is the fastest option. Phitsanulok Airport (code PHS) mainly serves domestic flights from Don Mueang, taking about an hour in the air. Airlines that fly this route include Nok Air, Thai AirAsia, and Thai Lion Air (schedules and carriers can change seasonally, so check the airline's website before planning). One-way fares are usually in the low thousands of baht and much cheaper if you book ahead. What's convenient is that the airport sits only about five kilometers from the city center — a taxi or shuttle into town takes just ten to fifteen minutes. This suits travelers coming from other regions or with limited days off who'd rather spend their time sightseeing than sitting on a bus or train.

The limitation to understand is that flying only gets you to Phitsanulok city itself. The natural sights up in the mountains, like Phu Hin Rong Kla and Thung Salaeng Luang, are further out along mountain roads, and there's no public transport running directly from the airport up there. Travelers who fly in need to plan their onward transport up the mountain in advance. The usual approach is to rent a self-drive car in the city, or charter a car with driver for a full day to go up the mountain. If your goal is sightseeing within Phitsanulok itself and using it as a base for Sukhothai or nearby spots, flying in and connecting onward is a great use of time. But if you're planning to stay overnight up at Phu Hin Rong Kla for several days, factor the cost of onward transport up the mountain into your budget from the planning stage.

Phitsanulok is a major stop on the northern rail line — almost every train heading to Chiang Mai passes through and stops here, so there are trains running at many points throughout the day and night. From Bangkok (you can board at either Hua Lamphong station or Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal), the distance is about 380 kilometers, taking roughly 5–7 hours depending on the train type. Special express trains are faster than express and ordinary trains. Fares range from 3rd class seating for a few hundred baht up to pricier air-conditioned sleeper cars. The advantage is that the train stops right in the city center, making it easy to walk or take a short ride to riverside hotels along the Nan River and Wat Yai. This suits travelers who want to save money, enjoy the train atmosphere, and aren't in a rush.

The upside of the train is a relaxed view of rice fields and towns along the way without having to drive yourself. An overnight sleeper car saves you a night's accommodation and gets you there right on time when you wake up. The thing to understand is that the train is much slower than flying and can sometimes run late, especially trains coming a long way from northern terminals — leave buffer time and don't schedule a tight onward connection. During festivals and long holidays, tickets — sleeper cars especially — sell out fast, so book ahead through the State Railway's system. And like the other methods, the train only gets you to the city; if you're heading up to Phu Hin Rong Kla or Thung Salaeng Luang, you'll still need to connect with a rental car or chartered ride.

The bus is the most affordable option with the most frequent departures for travelers coming from Bangkok without their own car. Buses leave from the Mo Chit 2 terminal for the Phitsanulok bus terminal, taking about 5–6 hours. Because Phitsanulok is a junction that many routes pass through (both routes continuing to Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, and some northeastern routes), there are departures throughout the day and night. Well-known operators on this route include Nakhonchai Air, Win Tour, and affiliated BKS operators. Fares run roughly three hundred to five hundred baht per person depending on seat class. The advantage is not having to drive yourself — you can rest or sleep along the way, and overnight buses save you a night's accommodation.

What's worth knowing is that the bus drops you at the terminal in Phitsanulok city, which is a fair distance from the city center and the riverside hotel area — you'll need to connect with a songthaew, taxi, or Grab from there. And like the other methods, the bus doesn't run directly up to Phu Hin Rong Kla or Thung Salaeng Luang; getting up the mountain still requires a rental car or chartered ride. Travelers arriving by bus should plan their onward connections — both into the city and up the mountain — in advance. Ask your accommodation whether they offer terminal pickup or can help arrange transport up the mountain. During winter and long holidays, seats fill up fast, so book both your outbound and return tickets ahead.

If you're traveling as a family or group of friends, having your own car is the most independent way to see Phitsanulok's mountain side. Sights on Phu Hin Rong Kla — like Lan Hin Pum, Lan Hin Taek, Pha Chu Thong, and the former political-military school site — are spread across the park and can't all be reached on foot in one go. Thung Salaeng Luang, along the Phitsanulok–Lom Sak route (Highway 12), also has grasslands and camping spots that a private car reaches easily. Having your own car lets you stop wherever you like and catch the beautiful morning mist. You can pick up a car in the city or at the airport; a standard sedan or eco car runs about 1,000–1,800 baht per day plus fuel. Split among a group, it's great value and more flexible than chartering rides trip by trip.

The thing to be upfront about is that the road up to Phu Hin Rong Kla from the Nakhon Thai side, especially the stretch on Route 2331, is a continuously steep and winding mountain road, taking about three hours from the city center. The key to driving it safely is using low gear on both the way up and the way down. Going downhill, use low gear (auto transmissions should use L or 2) and let engine braking slow you down instead of riding the brakes, since prolonged braking on a steep descent overheats the brakes until they fade or burn out and stop working properly. Leave plenty of following distance, sound your horn before blind curves, and during early mornings or after rain when fog rolls in thick and visibility drops sharply, turn on your headlights, slow down, and never stop in the middle of the road to take photos. If you're driving a small-engine sedan or aren't used to mountain roads, drive with extra caution or consider chartering a local driver instead for the climb.

For travelers without a car who don't want to drive mountain roads themselves, using Grab or chartering a taxi is a comfortable option. In Phitsanulok city, which is a sizeable city in the lower north, there's decent Grab availability around the city center, airport, train station, and riverside hotel area — well-suited to short in-city trips, like getting from the bus or train station to your hotel, or to Wat Yai and the markets. During off-peak times cars may be scarce, so it's worth having a backup plan of songthaews or local taxis.

For heading up to Phu Hin Rong Kla and Thung Salaeng Luang, which are far from the city on mountain roads, there's almost no Grab running trip-by-trip pickups. The popular approach is to charter a car with driver for the day, agreeing on a total price, route, and stops before setting off. Full-day charter rates usually run in the low thousands of baht depending on distance and number of stops. The advantage is having an experienced local driver handle the mountain driving for you — no need to risk driving yourself — and you can stop for photos at agreed spots. Just be sure to use a driver or service recommended by your accommodation or locals, agree on a clear price before getting in to avoid disputes later, and if you're planning to catch the morning mist, arrange your pickup time in advance.

Songthaews are cheap local transport running within Phitsanulok city limits, suited to travelers with errands or sights within the city, like Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat (Wat Yai), the riverside along the Nan River, the markets, or moving between spots in town. Fares are very cheap, in the low tens of baht per trip depending on distance, paid when you get off — the most budget-friendly way to travel like a local. Renting a motorbike is another option for confident riders who want the flexibility to explore the city and nearby flat-terrain spots. Rental runs about 250–350 baht per day plus fuel. By law you need a driver's license and must wear a helmet at all times.

The limitation to understand is that both songthaews and motorbikes are only suited to in-city sightseeing and nearby areas. Songthaews don't run up to Phu Hin Rong Kla or Thung Salaeng Luang, and their frequency isn't as high as transport in bigger cities — they're more available during the day, with fewer running in the evening or at night. As for motorbikes, we want to be very clear: never attempt to ride up steep mountain roads like Route 2331 to Phu Hin Rong Kla. The road is steep and continuously winding, brakes overheat easily on the way down, and morning and post-rain fog can make it nearly impossible to see the road. Tourists unfamiliar with mountain roads are especially prone to accidents. If you're heading up the mountain, switch to a rental car or a chartered driver instead — it's far safer.