By Kylian Dev
Bangkok to Ayutthaya: the options compared
Four ways to get there, from cheapest to most comfortable.
| Option | From Bangkok | Time | Price per person |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ordinary train (3rd class) | Krung Thep Aphiwat or Hua Lamphong | 1.5 to 2 h | About 20 THB |
| Bangkok Connex train (air-con) | Krung Thep Aphiwat | About 1 h | A few dozen baht |
| Rapid or express train | Krung Thep Aphiwat | 1 to 1.5 h | From about 200 THB |
| Minivan | Mo Chit van terminal | 1.5 to 2 h | About 100 THB |
| Taxi or private car | Your hotel | 1.25 to 2 h | 1,500 to 2,500 THB per car · Book |
The train wins on almost every count: it skips the traffic leaving Bangkok, costs the price of a coffee and drops you minutes from the historic island. The minivan only makes sense if you are already near Mo Chit. A private car pays off from three people, especially if the driver stays with you between temples.
By train: the best option
Departures all day, a predictable ride and very cheap tickets.
Most trains to Ayutthaya leave from Krung Thep Aphiwat, Bangkok’s big central station opened in 2023 in the Bang Sue area and served by the MRT (Bang Sue station). A few ordinary trains still use the old Hua Lamphong station. Check which station your train leaves from: it is the most common mistake on this route.
- Ordinary train: 3rd class with fans and open windows, about 20 THB, bought at the counter on the day.
- Bangkok Connex: an air-conditioned commuter train between Krung Thep Aphiwat and Ayutthaya, running since August 2026, for a few dozen baht.
- Rapid and express trains heading north: reserved air-conditioned seats from about 200 THB, bookable on the SRT app or website.
The ride takes 1 to 2 hours depending on the stops. There is no catch: every northbound train stops at Ayutthaya, and the station is announced. Keep your ticket until you exit, as a conductor checks tickets on board.
By minivan from Mo Chit
Handy if you stay in the north of the city, less comfortable than the train.
Minivans leave from the Mo Chit van terminal, near the Northern Bus Terminal (Chatuchak). They leave when full, roughly every 30 minutes during the day, and cost around 100 THB. The ride takes 1.5 to 2 hours depending on traffic leaving Bangkok.
- Travelling with a large suitcase: there is little room at the back.
- Counting on a precise time: vans leave once full.
- Leaving on a Friday evening: traffic can double the journey.
Agencies on Khao San Road also sell direct minibuses, pricier but with hotel pick-up. In Ayutthaya the minivan drops you in town, often near Chao Phrom market, a short hop from the temples.
Taxi, Grab or a car with driver
The comfortable way, good value for groups and families.
A taxi or a ride-hailing car connects Bangkok and Ayutthaya in 1.25 to 2 hours, for 1,500 to 2,500 THB per car depending on where you start and on tolls. Agree on a total price, tolls included, before setting off.
The real deal is a car with driver for the day: the driver waits at each temple, takes you to outlying sites such as Wat Chaiwatthanaram or Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon and brings you back to Bangkok in the evening. For four people it costs about the same per head as a group tour, with far more freedom.
Arriving in Ayutthaya and crossing the river
The old city is an island; the station is on the east bank.
Ayutthaya station is across the Pa Sak river from the historic island. Two options: the small ferry just opposite the station, for a few baht, or a tuk-tuk going round by the bridge. The ferry is quickest, and bike rental shops wait on the other side.
- 1Leave the station and cross the road towards the river.
- 2Take the ferry to the island, a few minutes across.
- 3Rent a bike or agree on a tuk-tuk for your loop.
- 4Start with the central temples, Wat Mahathat and Wat Phra Si Sanphet.
How to get around the temples
Bike, tuk-tuk or driver: it depends on the heat and your pace.
By bike
Most freedomAbout 50 THB a day, ideal on the island where the main temples are close together. Start early, afternoons are hot.
By tuk-tuk
EasiestThe driver knows the loop and waits at every stop. Handy for temples off the island.
The big temples each charge a small entry fee of around 50 THB, and a combined ticket covers the main ones. For a first visit, the essentials are Wat Mahathat and its Buddha head caught in tree roots, Wat Phra Si Sanphet and its three chedis, then Wat Chaiwatthanaram by the river, superb late in the day. More on our Ayutthaya page.
Day trip or a night there?
A day covers the essentials; a night changes the experience.
On a day trip, leave Bangkok around 7 or 8 am to enjoy the cooler hours, visit until late afternoon and head back by train or car. Most visitors do this, and it is one of the best day trips from Bangkok.
Staying the night lets you see the temples lit up in the evening, Wat Chaiwatthanaram at sunset and near-empty ruins at dawn. It is also a logical stop if you carry on north. To pick an area, see where to stay in Ayutthaya.
- Water, a hat and sunscreen: the sites have little shade.
- Cash for entry fees, the ferry and small restaurants.
- Comfortable shoes: you walk a lot between ruins.
How to get back to Bangkok
Same options as on the way out, with trains until the evening.
Trains run back to Krung Thep Aphiwat and Hua Lamphong until the evening: return to the station by tuk-tuk or ferry. If you are tired, minivans to Mo Chit leave from the town centre, and taxis wait outside the station.
Where next?
Ayutthaya is on the way north: no need to go back through Bangkok.
- Night trains to Chiang Mai stop in Ayutthaya: see our Bangkok to Chiang Mai guide.
- For another old capital further north: Sukhothai.
- For nature nearby, with elephants and waterfalls: Khao Yai national park.
Many travellers make Ayutthaya the first stop of a northern loop: one night here, then the train to Sukhothai or Chiang Mai. Our itinerary planner works out the travel times for you.