🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
Phichit sits in Lower Northern Thailand, wedged between Phitsanulok and Nakhon Sawan, about 4–5 hours' drive from Bangkok — or you can take a Northern Line train straight to Phichit station in the middle of town. The nice thing about this town is that the sights cluster in and just outside the centre, only a few kilometres apart, so a single day of driving around covers nearly all of it, which keeps your fuel and transport costs easy to control.
Phichit stays cheap for three reasons. First, most of the main sights are free — no entry tickets. Second, the food is local-style at honest prices: noodles run 40–50 THB a bowl, rice-and-stir-fry dishes 50–70 THB a plate. Third, in-town rooms range from a couple hundred baht up to small hotels around 700–900 THB. With this plan, the whole trip comes to roughly 1,200–1,500 THB per person (not counting the cost of getting to Phichit), and splitting between two makes it even better value.
Day One — Bueng Si Fai, pay respects to Luang Pho Phet, walk the riverside town
Day one stays in town all day, since everything is close together and only a few minutes' drive apart. Start at Bueng Si Fai in the morning for the cool breeze, then pay your respects to Luang Pho Phet at riverside Wat Tha Luang on the Nan River, walk around for food, and finish at the evening market. The best part: there's almost no entry fee anywhere — you only pay for food and a little parking.
Bueng Si Fai – Wat Tha Luang – riverside town
Tips to keep day one cheap
Many of the old-school noodle shops in town only sell from morning until about 3pm, so if you're set on a famous one, plan lunch before 2pm. For dinner, the night market is cheaper and lets you try more than sitting at one restaurant — buy a little of several things and share, and it works out better value.
Book the activities in your Phichit 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.
Budget eats worth trying in Phichit
Phichit isn't a fancy-food town, but the home-style local eats are tasty and good value. Here's a list you can enjoy without blowing the budget.
Old-school fish-ball noodles in town
A long-running shop around Charoen Si Road that makes its own fish balls — order it as noodles or a clear soup. Mellow, traditional flavour, open from morning till about 3pm. The best-value lunch of the whole trip.
Som tam, grilled chicken & sticky rice at the evening market
Easy-to-find Isan-style dinner across town. Som tam costs just a few tens of baht, a half grilled chicken is plenty to share, and two people can eat their fill for a little over a hundred baht.
Rice-and-stir-fry shops in town
Pad kaprao, fried rice, pad see ew — one plate and you're done. Quick, filling and consistently priced, a solid backup when you can't be bothered hunting for something else.
Grilled & fried snacks at the night market
Grilled meatballs, pork skewers, sausages, fried banana — snacks to nibble as you walk the evening market. Just a few baht per stick or piece, so you can keep topping up.
Tha Khoi pomelo (seasonal)
Phichit's famous pomelo from the Tha Khoi area, with sweet-tart flesh. In season (around late rainy season) you can buy it at markets and roadside stalls at good prices — a nice snack and a small gift to take home.
Coffee & sweets at local cafes
Small cafes around the riverside town where you can escape the afternoon sun. Coffee costs less than the big chains, with the relaxed feel of a small town.
Day Two — Old City Historical Park, the Chalawan legend, old temples around town
Day two heads just outside town for a dose of history and legend. Start at Phichit Old City Historical Park, the site of the original town and the birthplace of the Krai Thong–Chalawan legend, then continue to Wat Pho Prathap Chang, a historical site over 300 years old. All of it is free — you only pay for fuel and food along the way.
Old city – Chalawan legend – moving on
Tips to keep day two cheap
The Old City park and Wat Pho Prathap Chang are in different directions from town, so plan your route to head one way and save on fuel. Bring your own drinking water and an umbrella, since there are few shops at the historical sites. For souvenirs like Tha Khoi pomelo, the roadside stalls are cheaper than the big shopfronts.
Where to stay for the best value
For this budget plan, a single night in Phichit town is just right, since both days circle around the centre and the nearby outskirts. In-town stays range from guesthouses and small hotels at a couple hundred baht up to mid-range hotels around 700–900 THB a night. Pick a place near the market and train station so it's easy to walk out for food and save on transport.
Guesthouse / small hotel in town
The cheapest option, starting from a couple hundred baht. Clean, basic rooms — good for solo travellers or couples who just want a bed and to be out exploring. Close to the market and restaurants.
Mid-range hotel in town
Around 700–900 THB a night, with bigger rooms and parking. Good if you're driving yourself and want to sleep a bit more comfortably — still within budget if you split between two.
See our shortlist of Phichit hotels and compare prices before booking
See Top 10 Phichit Hotels →Rough budget per person (2 days, 1 night)
Here are rough figures based on this plan, assuming two people splitting the room and fuel. Real numbers depend on the season and the places you choose, but it works as a framework for setting your budget.
- 1 night's stay — a few hundred baht for a guesthouse, up to around 700–900 THB for a mid-range hotel; split between two, that's roughly 150–450 THB per person.
- Food for the whole trip — breakfast, lunch and dinner over two days plus snacks, around 350–500 THB per person.
- Sight entry fees — Bueng Si Fai, Wat Tha Luang, the Old City Historical Park and Wat Pho Prathap Chang are all free; only temple donations if you wish.
- Fuel / local transport — circling the town and outskirts, around 200–300 THB; light once you split it.
- Total per person — roughly 1,200–1,500 THB (not counting the cost of getting to Phichit). Stay at a guesthouse and eat at the markets and you can bring it down further.
Extra money-saving tips
Keep drinking water and snacks in the car to cut spending at the sights · carry cash, since many local shops and market stalls mainly take cash · if you come by train and don't rent a car, you can walk or cycle to plenty of in-town spots and save on transport, then just hire a local ride for the outskirts on day two.
Plan a full Phichit trip — where to stay, eat and go
See the Phichit Travel Guide →