Ayutthaya: The Ancient Capital of Thailand

This trip will mostly consist of temple touring...so come ready to walk and explore all of these ancient sites in the Thailand heat.

Temples

• Wat Phra Mahathat: One of the most important temples of its time and recognized for preserving a tree that has grown around a sculpture of Buddha's head...who can spot it first?

• Wat Phra Si Sanphet: The largest temple in Ayutthaya and considered the holiest temple on site of the old Royal Palace before the city was destroyed.

• Wat Yai Chai Monghon: More Buddha, but a reclining Buddha!

• Wat Lokaya Sutha: A bigger and even better reclining Buddha, notable for also having the best sunrise...so get there early if you can.

• Wat Chai Watthanaram: A popular sunset spot for tourists; conceived as a replica of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Angkor Temple, in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

• Wat Ratchaburana: Designed with all bricks and cement, renovated mural paintings, and principal Buddha images.

• Wat Phra Ram: Situated next to a panoramic view of the lake with intricate carvings of Buddha images.

These temples are the most "talked about" in Ayutthaya's Historical Park, but there are still SO many more worth exploring if you have the time.

To get from the first temple to the last, it will take you about 50 minutes driving overall...I decided to rent a bicycle with friends instead, and I highly recommend taking the time to bike for a scenic view of the city while transferring between temples!

Other Excursions

• The Ancient Palace: An immense royal complex increasingly damaged with time but features unique throne halls with many ornate designs.

• Chao Sam Phraya National Museum: Showcases artifacts and valuables found in the temples of Ayutthaya Historical Park.

• Temple Touring Boat Cruise: Experience a sunset boat cruise to take in many vantage points of Ayutthaya's most notorious temples...don't forget to bring a Chang beer for the ride.

Restaurants

• Rak Na Ayutthaya: Custom bamboo-built area with an endless supply of instagrammable spots to explore while waiting for your meal.

• Ayutthaya Retreat: Traditional Thai house serving locally grown products and has some of the best coconut cake.

• The Summer House Ayutthaya: Relaxing riverside café with a garden terrace and incredible French pastries.

• Sala Ayutthaya: Nestled right along the banks of the Chao Phraya River and serves up an international selection of wine, beer, spirits and well-renowned dishes to enjoy during sunset.

• Pa Lek Boat Noodles: A street food vendor and now a MICHELIN GUIDE after serving up this delicious pork/beef noodle broth for over five decades.

• Coffee Old City: A cozy atmosphere and low prices with a wide selection of Thai staples and desserts.

Markets

• Chao Phrom Market: The main traditional produce market that reaches peak hours in the early morning...so set the alarm clock to be ready for the full local experience of food shopping!

• Wat Tha Karong Floating Market: Weekend market offering community products, food, and souvenirs. Mixed reviews on this place and as I didn't get here myself, I recommend reading reviews in full before booking a trip here.

• Bang Lan Night Market: Series of food stalls with traditional curry and rice dishes (I recommend the glass noodles with prawn!).

Bars

• The Story: Neon lights everywhere, live music, beautiful cocktails in a club-like setting.

• Camping Bar Ayutthaya: Rustic, outdoor setting with picnic tables for sipping, dining, and listening to live music.