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Lopburi 2 Days 1 Night
Old Town + Sunflowers + Pa Sak Dam

Lopburi sits about 150 km from Bangkok, close enough to reach in a single day by train or car. But if you want to cover the whole package — the old town from King Narai's era, the monkeys in the middle of the city, the sunflower fields up on the hill, and Pa Sak Jolasid Dam — one day is cutting it far too close. This 2-day 1-night plan gives day one to an easy walk around the old town with no car needed, then heads out of the city for the nature side on day two. The timings are built from actually going, so you can hit every stop without rushing.

🏛️ Old town all walkable🌻 Sunflowers in cool season🚂 Pa Sak Dam + floating train
Lopburi 2 Days 1 Night Old Town + Sunflowers + Pa Sak Dam

🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026

What makes Lopburi fun is that you get two completely different trips in one province. The first is the old town around the railway station, where the ruins from King Narai's reign are nearly all within walking distance of each other — step off the train and you can start sightseeing on foot, no car required. The second is the nature side outside the city, around Phatthana Nikhom district, with the big dam and the sunflower fields up on the hill — and for that you do need wheels. So this plan keeps day one inside the city and saves the out-of-town stuff for day two, which means no driving back and forth.

Lopburi is at its best in the cool season, roughly November to January: the sunflowers are in bloom, the weather is comfortable for walking the old town, and it's the only window when the floating train runs. Come at other times of year and you can still do the old town and the dam — you just won't get the flower fields or the special train.

Before you go — how to get there and where to stay

If you're set on doing the old town car-free on day one, taking the train from Bangkok (Hua Lamphong) or Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Station to Lopburi station is the easiest move. It runs about 2–3 hours depending on the service, and the moment you step off you can walk straight into the ruins. But if you want to reach the dam and the sunflower fields on day two, it's best to drive your own car or rent one, since the out-of-town spots are spread apart and public transport is thin.

  • Stay in the old town — within walking distance of Phra Prang Sam Yot, Narai's palace and the food. Ideal if you arrive by train; get up early and walk before the sun gets harsh.
  • Stay in the new town (near Sa Kaeo roundabout / Central) — newer hotels with easy parking. Good if you drive in and plan to head out of the city on day two.
  • Stay near Pa Sak Jolasid Dam — there are riverside resorts around Phatthana Nikhom, good if you want to wake up to the dam view first thing. Just note it's far from the old town.

Book ahead in the cool season

November to January is Lopburi's high season. Old-town and dam-side rooms fill up fast on long weekends and on the Saturdays and Sundays the floating train runs. If you're planning to come during this window, booking your room and train tickets several weeks ahead will save you a lot of stress.

🎟️

Book the activities in your Lopburi trip ahead

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.

🎟️ Top tours in LopburiHighlights, guided Klook 🎟️ Lopburi attractions & ticketsSkip-the-line entry tickets Klook 🚐 Day trips from LopburiOut and back in a day Klook 🌎 Lopburi activities (GetYourGuide)Global tour marketplace GetYourGuide
🎟️ See all Lopburi tours & activities (Klook)

Day 1 — Narai's Old Town + the monkeys

Day one is all within walking distance. The main ruins sit around Lopburi railway station — start a little early for nicer light and before the sun gets strong. Entry fees at each spot are only a few tens of baht, and the whole day still comes in under 100 THB.

Day 1

Walk the old town, watch the monkeys, sip coffee in heritage buildings

08:30
Start at Phra Prang Sam Yot, three Khmer-style towers in a row — the city's landmark and the spot where the long-tailed macaques are most densely packed.Entry 50 THB · keep glasses, hats and plastic bags well out of reach — the monkeys are quick grabbers
09:30
Cross the road to Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat, right opposite the railway station, to see the big central prang and the ruined assembly halls.Entry around 10 THB · great for photos
10:30
Stop at San Phra Kan shrine to pay respects — a city-center shrine that locals hold dear, and another spot where the monkeys gather.Free entry
11:30
Enter King Narai's Palace (Phra Narai Ratchaniwet) and walk through the palace grounds and the Somdet Phra Narai National Museum.Thai entry 30 THB · museum open Wed–Sun · shady and pleasant, easy to spend a while
13:00
Lunch in the old town — try Lopburi-style boat noodles or a made-to-order shop around Vichayen Road.Boat noodles are just a few tens of baht a bowl, so order several
14:30
Walk on to Ban Vichayen, a cluster of European-style brick buildings that was once the home of Constantine Phaulkon — a completely different feel from the Thai temples.Thai entry 30 THB · a short walk from Narai's palace
16:00
Settle into a heritage-building cafe around Vichayen Road and Sri Suriyothai roundabout, rest your legs and have a coffee.Several cafes occupy old buildings, with that old-quarter atmosphere
18:00
Walk the Kai Fa walking street in the evening (open Fri–Sun) for local food and souvenirs. If your dates don't line up, find a dinner spot in the new town instead.Plenty of street snacks to graze on as you stroll

What you need to know about the monkeys

The monkeys in Lopburi's old town are smart and very fast. Don't walk around holding plastic bags or sweet drinks, and keep your phone and bag held tight. Feeding them yourself isn't a good idea — they'll swarm and can turn aggressive. If a monkey climbs onto you, stay still and slowly walk away; don't flick it off or hit back.

Day 2 — Pa Sak Dam + the sunflower fields

Day two heads out of the city toward Phatthana Nikhom district. It's about an hour's drive from town to Pa Sak Jolasid Dam, and the dam, the sunflower fields and the viewpoint are all in the same area — easy to loop in one day before heading back. You'll need a car for this part.

Day 2

Big dam, fields of yellow, hilltop viewpoint

08:00
Check out and leave the city heading for Pa Sak Jolasid Dam in Phatthana Nikhom district.About a 1-hour drive · leave a bit early to dodge the midday heat
09:00
Walk the crest of Pa Sak Jolasid Dam — the longest earthen dam in Thailand — taking in the wide reservoir and the spot where the floating train crosses through.Free entry, small parking fee · trams and bikes available to rent
10:30
If you come on a cool-season weekend, wait for the floating train, which stops mid-dam for photos in the late morning (the train reaches the viewpoint around 09:20).Special service runs Fri–Sun, Nov–Feb · to ride it yourself you'll need to book tickets ahead
11:30
Lunch at a riverside restaurant near the dam — order river fish and grilled prawns and sit out in the breeze.There are several riverside places in the zone in front of the dam
13:30
Drive to the Khao Jeen Lae sunflower fields, hundreds of rai of flowers spread across the hill, with a viewpoint looking down over a whole hillside of yellow (cool season only).Small entry fee depending on the plot · check ahead which plots are currently in bloom
15:00
Head up to the Khao Jeen Lae viewpoint for photos of the town and the surrounding fields — the late afternoon light starts to turn lovely.Free entry · you can drive up to the top
16:00
Pick up Lopburi souvenirs — custard apples, roasted sunflower seeds — then start the drive home.Lopburi custard apples are well known; plenty around from late rainy season into early cool season

When do the sunflowers bloom?

Lopburi's sunflowers don't all bloom across the province at once — each plot is planted at a different time. Before you go, check the Facebook page of the specific plot or TAT Lopburi to see which fields are in bloom right then, so you don't show up to a plot that's already been harvested. The surest window is mid-November to early January.

Want to take the floating train instead — how to adjust the plan

If you'd rather have the experience of riding the floating train than drive, you can rework the plan. The special service leaves Bangkok (Hua Lamphong) around 06:00, reaches the mid-dam viewpoint around 09:20, stops for photos, then pulls in at the Pa Sak Jolasid Dam halt around 10:35, leaving you time to explore the dam through midday. The return leaves the dam around 15:30 and gets back to Bangkok around 18:50 — a day trip out in the morning and back in the evening.

  • Runs Fri–Sun only, Nov–Feb — it's a seasonal special service, not daily. Check that year's schedule with the State Railway first.
  • Round-trip 3rd class (fan) around 350 THB — air-conditioned coaches (OTOP Train / JR-West) run around 620 THB.
  • Book via D-Ticket or at the station — tickets go on sale in advance and sell out very fast, especially the air-con cars, so book the moment they open.
  • If you take the floating train, you only get the dam zone — there's no onward transport from the dam to the sunflower fields. If you want the fields too, drive yourself instead.

Which should you pick?

If you're traveling with a couple of people and want both the sunflowers and the dam in one day, driving yourself is more flexible and better value. But if you want the experience of riding the train and taking in the views without driving, the floating train is more fun — you just trade it off against only being able to see the dam zone.

Rough budget per person

Lopburi can be done cheaply — ruin entry fees are low and food isn't expensive. The biggest chunks are accommodation and transport. Here's a rough estimate for 2 days 1 night if you drive yourself.

  • Day-one ruin entry fees — Phra Prang Sam Yot, Narai's palace, Ban Vichayen and Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat together, around 120–150 THB.
  • 1 night's accommodation — old-town guesthouses start around 500–800 THB; mid-range hotels around 900–1,500 THB per room.
  • Food over 2 days — eating at local spots, around 400–600 THB per person; add a bit more if you sit down at a riverside place by the dam.
  • Sunflower-field entry + parking — around 50–100 THB.
  • Rough total — around 1,500–2,500 THB per person (not counting fuel / getting to Lopburi), for an easy, no-frills trip.

Combining Lopburi with other provinces

Lopburi connects to several provinces. If you have more than two days or want a longer route, it links up easily.

History route

Lopburi + Ayutthaya

Two historic cities right next to each other — you can do a continuous ruins trip, driving or taking the train on the same line.

On the way

Lopburi + Saraburi

Saraburi is right on the way between Bangkok and Lopburi — add a stop at Wat Phra Phutthabat or the Saraburi sunflower fields.

Long trip

Lopburi + Phetchabun

Drive further north to Khao Kho and Phu Thap Boek, building on Lopburi's nature side — good for a longer multi-day trip.

Find the right Lopburi hotel to match your plan

See the Top 10 Lopburi hotels →

FAQ

What can you see in Lopburi in 2 days and 1 night?

Day one, walk the old town around the railway station — Phra Prang Sam Yot, Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat, San Phra Kan shrine, King Narai's Palace and Ban Vichayen. Day two, head out of the city to Pa Sak Jolasid Dam and the Khao Jeen Lae sunflower fields. Come in the cool season and you can add the floating train too.

Do you need a car to do Lopburi in 2 days?

Day one in the old town doesn't need a car — everything is within walking distance of the railway station. But day two, out at Pa Sak Dam and the sunflower fields, you really want a car or a rental, since they're outside the city and public transport is thin. With no car, you can take the floating train to the dam instead, but you won't get to stop at the sunflower fields.

When is the best time to visit Lopburi?

The cool season, roughly November to January, is the prettiest: the sunflowers are blooming, the weather is comfortable for walking the old town, and it's the only window when the floating train runs, on Saturdays and Sundays only. It's busy then, so book accommodation and train tickets ahead.

What's the budget for a 2-day 1-night trip?

If you drive yourself and eat at local places, it works out to roughly 1,500–2,500 THB per person, covering accommodation, ruin entry fees and food — not counting fuel or getting to Lopburi. The day-one ruin entry fees all together come to under 150 THB.

How do you book the floating train to Pa Sak Dam?

It's a special service running Saturdays and Sundays only, from November to February, leaving Bangkok station around 06:00 and returning in the evening. Round-trip 3rd-class tickets are around 350 THB, air-con cars around 620 THB. Book through the D-Ticket system or at the station well ahead, because it sells out very fast.

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