🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
This trip suits anyone who wants both old cities in one go, without having to choose between Lopburi and Ayutthaya — the two sit on the same northern rail line. You can drive it too: the Lopburi–Ayutthaya stretch is around 66 km and takes a little over an hour. By train, fares start in the low tens of baht and trains run often throughout the day. We've set it as a 2-day, 1-night plan: one night in Lopburi, then down to Ayutthaya the next morning.
Trip overview and getting around
What makes this route easy is that both cities have their train station right in the old quarter. Step off at Lopburi station and you can walk straight to Phra Prang Sam Yot and San Phra Kan. Ayutthaya's station sits on the east side of the city island, and once you cross the river it's a short hop to the historical park. If you'd rather not drive or hunt for parking, taking the train and renting a bicycle or motorbike in town is the most flexible way to do it.
- By train (recommended) — Catch a northern-line train from Bangkok (Hua Lamphong/Bang Sue), get off at Lopburi first, then continue to Ayutthaya once you're done. The Lopburi–Ayutthaya leg takes about an hour; third-class tickets start in the low tens of baht.
- Driving yourself — The most flexible option, with stops at the sunflower fields or Pa Sak Jolasid Dam along the way. But parking is tight in both old quarters and crowds build up on weekends.
- Around Lopburi — The old town is compact and almost entirely walkable; the main sights are within a few hundred metres of each other.
- Around Ayutthaya — Rent a bicycle or motorbike to loop the city island, or hire a tuk-tuk by the hour.
Book your stay in Lopburi
We have you spend the single night in Lopburi because old-town lodging there is friendlier on the wallet, and you can wake up and keep sightseeing before catching a mid-morning train to Ayutthaya. If you'd rather flip it and sleep in Ayutthaya instead, that works too — just budget extra travel time back up to Lopburi if you plan to loop back.
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.
Day 1 — Walking Lopburi's old town and King Narai's palace
Day one covers Lopburi's old town in full, and the best part is that everything is within walking distance. Start at Phra Prang Sam Yot right by the train station, then loop into King Narai's Palace, and wind down at an old-town café in the evening.
Lopburi old town · in King Narai's footsteps
What to know about the monkeys
Lopburi's monkeys cluster around Phra Prang Sam Yot and San Phra Kan, and they're quick and nimble. Don't carry plastic bags, don't eat while walking, and keep your glasses, hat and phone secured. If one latches onto you, don't jerk it off hard — just walk away slowly. Once you're out of this zone, things are back to normal.
Day 2 — Train to Ayutthaya and the historical park
On the morning of day two, catch any corners of Lopburi's old town you missed, then take the train down to Ayutthaya. Once you arrive, head onto the city island, walk the major temples, and finish with food and souvenirs before you leave. Ayutthaya's sights are a bit more spread out, so renting a bicycle or hiring a tuk-tuk is the way to go.
Ayutthaya Historical Park · old-town food
Tweak the plan to your style
With a car + in winter
Slot in Lopburi's sunflower fields or Pa Sak Jolasid Dam on the first morning. The fields bloom around November–January.
For Thai-costume photos
Allow more time in Ayutthaya and rent a Thai costume to shoot at Wat Chaiwatthanaram or Wat Phra Si Sanphet.
Day trip, no overnight
If you're short on time, do half a day in Lopburi and half in Ayutthaya, squeezed into a single rushed day — but it's more tiring.
Rough budget per person
- Train fares — Bangkok–Lopburi and Lopburi–Ayutthaya combined run in the low hundreds of baht in third class; a faster train or higher class adds a bit more.
- Heritage-site entry — In both Lopburi and Ayutthaya, Thais mostly pay in the low tens of baht per site, so the whole trip is just a few hundred.
- One night's stay — A guesthouse or small hotel in Lopburi's old town starts in the low hundreds up to the low thousands of baht.
- Food — Boat noodles, curry rice and cafés come to just a few hundred baht a day.
Always check train times first
Northern-line schedules shift with the season, so before you go, double-check the times on the State Railway of Thailand app or website — especially the mid-morning Lopburi–Ayutthaya train and the evening return. Allow about 20 minutes' buffer to reach the station ahead of time.
Want a Lopburi old-town stay sorted before the trip?
See Top 10 Lopburi hotels →