🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
If you've ever driven up to Khao Yai along Thanarat Road, you've probably spotted the cluster of buildings in brick orange, mustard yellow, and pastel blue lined up by the roadside around KM17. That's Palio — a project that borrowed the look of a small town in Italy's Tuscany region and turned it into a place to stroll and take photos. It's been around for years and has become a Khao Yai landmark, and the draw is a miniature slice of Europe less than three hours' drive from Bangkok.
Let us be honest up front: Palio today isn't at the peak it hit more than a decade ago, when hundreds of shops filled every lane. It has changed owners and been through a slow patch, so some shops have closed or don't open every day. A lot of people who visit find it quieter than they expected. But if you go specifically to photograph the architecture and stroll for 30–60 minutes, it still does the job well. Free entry, free parking, nothing to lose — it makes a tidy stop on the way up the mountain.
What and where is Palio Khao Yai
Palio is an open-air community mall on roughly 7 rai (about 1.1 hectares). One- and two-storey buildings are laid out as a walking street wrapped around a central plaza, with a clock tower and a fountain as the focal points. The design references Siena, a World Heritage town in Tuscany, so you get that Italian feel in the wall colours, the wooden shutters, the arches, and the cobblestone paving. It sits right next to Juldis Khao Yai Resort & Spa and is easy to spot because it's right on the main road.
- Location — Thanarat Road KM17, Mu Si subdistrict, Pak Chong, Nakhon Ratchasima (146/1 Moo 4)
- Entry fee — Free, no admission charge
- Parking — Lot out front, free
- Opening hours — Roughly 9:00 AM–7:00 PM (some shops stay open later on weekends/holidays), but individual shops open and close at different times
- Time needed — About 30–60 minutes, just right for photos and a coffee
An honest heads-up before you go
Don't expect every unit to be open and buzzing like in the old promo photos. On weekdays it's fairly quiet and not all shops are open. If you want more cafes and food stalls running, go on a Saturday or Sunday or a long weekend, when it's livelier. And be ready for the fact that some shops you saw in older reviews may have closed by now.
Want more out of Khao Yai? 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.
What there is to do on a walk
The heart of Palio is just wandering and taking photos through the lanes, which are designed to feel like an old European town. Turn any corner and you'll find a colourful wall, concrete steps, a wrought-iron balcony, or a vintage-style shop sign. Most of the shops still open fall into these groups.
Coffee shops & cafes
A few small cafes where you can sip coffee and shoot the Italian-style corners — a good rest before walking on. Menus start around 60–120 THB.
Bakeries & desserts
Baked goods, cakes, and sweet snacks to eat as you walk. Some shops also have ice cream and cold drinks.
Wine & Khao Yai souvenirs
Local Khao Yai wine, grape juice, and farm products from the area — good for picking up gifts to take home.
Home decor & craft shops
Decor pieces, handmade goods, accessories, and clothing — fun to browse between photos.
Beyond the shops, the central plaza with its clock tower and fountain is where most people end up shooting, because you can fit several buildings into one frame. The quieter inner lanes, meanwhile, often turn out to be the prettiest photo corners with hardly anyone in the way.
Photo spots not to miss
- The central clock-tower plaza — Palio's iconic spot; frame the clock tower with the coloured buildings around it
- The pastel-building lanes — step into a lane and shoot down its length to catch the row of colour-graded facades for a clear European feel
- Concrete steps and arches — good for standing or seated shots, solo or as a pair; the light is nicest in the morning and late afternoon
- The plaza fountain — a classic backdrop, great for family or couple photos
- Wrought-iron balconies and wooden shutters — small details that look great in close-ups
Best times for photos
Midday sun is harsh and hot, and the building shadows fall too sharply. We'd suggest morning (9:00–11:00) or late afternoon before dusk, when the light is softer and there are fewer people. If you visit in the rainy season the cobblestones can get slippery, so watch your step.
Getting there from Bangkok and around Khao Yai
Palio sits on Thanarat Road (Highway 2090), the main route up to Khao Yai National Park on the Pak Chong side. Driving yourself is by far the easiest option. From Bangkok, take the motorway/Mittraphap Road to Pak Chong, then turn onto Thanarat Road — about 2.5–3 hours in total. Palio is on your left around KM17, and the cluster of Italian-style buildings is easy to spot.
- Private car — easiest and best value, since Khao Yai's attractions are spread along Thanarat Road and you can pull in at Palio with no hassle
- Van/coach from Bangkok to Pak Chong — get off at Pak Chong, then take a local taxi or motorbike taxi onto Thanarat Road
- Car rental in Pak Chong — a good option if you came by train or coach and want to cover several spots in one day
Take care driving up to Khao Yai
The stretch of Thanarat Road inside the park is winding and steep, and in some parts wild animals like deer or monkeys cross the road, especially at dawn and dusk. Drive slowly, keep your lights on, and don't feed the animals. If you plan to enter the park itself to see the waterfalls, there's a separate park entry fee (a few tens of THB for Thais, higher for foreigners) — Palio is outside the park checkpoint, so there's no entry fee here.
Where to go next nearby
The nice thing about Palio is that it sits on Thanarat Road, surrounded by Khao Yai's most popular attractions, so it pairs well as one stop on a single-day trip rather than somewhere you'd come for on its own.
Primo Piazza
Another Italian-themed village, this one with sheep, ponies, and alpacas — kids love it, and it's not far away.
FarmFarm Chokchai
Khao Yai's legendary cattle farm, with farm tours, cow milking, steaks, and fresh-milk ice cream.
Cafe & wineKhao Yai cafes & wineries
Khao Yai is wine and mountain-view cafe country, easy to carry on to after Palio.
Plan your whole Khao Yai trip — where to stay, eat, and go
See the Khao Yai travel guide →