Knowing how to take the Bangkok to Ayutthaya train is essential before traveling to Thailand. Are you wondering how to get to Ayutthaya from Bangkok? I’m sharing the best option for taking an Ayutthaya tour from Bangkok via the Ayutthaya Bangkok train and other must-know tips.
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How to Get From Ayutthaya to Bangkok
My travel group planned to get a bus from Monument Square to Ayutthaya and take the night train to Chiang Mai that evening. We decided to arrive around 1:00 p.m., giving us plenty of time. Sounds like a good plan, right? Unfortunately, we woke up with the mother of all hangovers, and all we wanted to do was stay in bed and feel sorry for ourselves. Finally, we pulled ourselves together and packed up.
My one tip for dealing with taxi drivers is not to worry about them not turning the meter on, which likely means it will be a fixed price. What you should be cautious of is the driver not knowing where you want to go!
The best thing to do is reserve your transportation online in advance. You can book a Bangkok to Ayutthaya train with Bookaway.com to enjoy your Ayutthaya tour from Bangkok without worrying about transportation and using an Ayutthaya map.
Did You Get Travel Insurance Yet?
The Insurance companies I recommend are Hey Mondo and Safety Wing
Hey Mondo is great if you are looking for a great value flexible policy. They offer single-trip cover, annual multi-trip cover, and long-term travel cover. Safety Wing is great value, with monthly coverage starting at $45.08. It’s super easy to use, and it just renews each month. I currently use them as they offer me free cover for my son as part of my policy.
Read my full travel insurance post here, where I go into detail about all companies.
A Note on Bangkok Taxi Drivers
Once in Koh Phangan, we got dropped off at a beach in the island’s northwest region when we wanted to go east—he left before realizing where we were! We wanted to go to Victory Monument to get a bus to Ayutthaya from Bangkok, but none of the drivers knew where it was. We had to ask the hotel and multiple drivers for transportation from Bangkok to Ayutthaya. Finally, we found a driver willing to take us to Ayutthaya for 1000 tbt. The moral of the story is to ensure your taxi driver understands where you’re trying to go before you hop in!
What to Do With Luggage in Ayutthaya
We asked to be dropped off at the Bangkok Ayutthaya train station. If you aren’t planning on staying the night, there are two options for storing your bags:
- Leave it at a train station luggage dropoff area.
- Hire a room for the day—if you take the night train from Ayutthaya to Bangkok, you can nap and shower before boarding.
Leaving your luggage for around ten tbt is pretty cheap, and you can get a room for about 250-300 tbt.
Booking the Night Train Bangkok Ayutthaya
If you are planning on getting the night train to Chiang Mai, book your seat as soon as you get there since they fill up quickly—or book the train to Chiang Mai online here. Things have changed since I was in Thailand. When I was there, I tried to book the day before in Bangkok, and they wouldn’t let us as you could only buy a ticket at the train station. Thankfully, it can now be done online, which could have saved me a lot of stress!
Top bunks are cheaper than bottom bunks (only slightly) as they are smaller. My upper bunk ticket cost about 600 tbt, while my friend Laura’s bottom bunk was 766 tbt. You are ready to explore once you’ve ditched your bag and booked your ticket!
Getting Around the Temples in Ayutthaya
You have a few options for sightseeing the Ayutthaya temples:
- Walk
- Push bike
- Moped
- Tuk-tuk
My dad, who came here a few years back, paid a taxi driver to drive them to Ayutthaya, around the temples, and to Bangkok from Ayutthaya. He paid the driver around 2000 tbt for two days of driving! That was 10+ years ago, so it likely costs more now.
Since there are tuk-tuks everywhere, getting one won’t be challenging. I’m unsure of the cost because we didn’t choose this option. We decided to travel by bike, which was fun and kept us cool in the sweltering heat. We hired a bike for 40 tbt, and they gave us an Ayutthaya map and directed us to a bridge or a boat. We opted for the boat!
The Ayutthaya map was easy to read, and the roads/paths were fine for cycling, so we felt very safe. It took us several hours to see all of the local temples. There were three on the map we couldn’t visit due to time constraints (and hangovers).
Entry to the Temples in Ayutthaya
Each temple costs 50 tbt, or you can get a joint ticket for 200-250 tbt. I didn’t realize this until after visiting two temples, so don’t make my mistake of getting a joint ticket at the first temple! They’re relatively close to each other and easy to find. The first temple has the best facilities—if you want to eat, do it there, as there are fewer vans/carts at the others.
I loved wandering around the temples and taking pictures. There weren’t many crowds after the first temple, which was busy, so I walked around alone with my camera.
My travel group had some time before our night Ayutthaya to Bangkok train, so we set up camp in one of the cafes close to the train station and had dinner.
Quick Tip: View my full Thailand packing guide here including a downloadable checklist. And check out my Thailand Essentials shopping list here.
Need Transport in Thailand?
I’m a big fan of using BookAway.com when booking transportation in Thailand. I wrote a whole blog post about using them that you can read here. It makes the entire booking process so much easier, plus they have 24/7 support in case you need it!
Looking for somewhere to stay? Check out these options!
CHERN Bangkok
The Moon Night Hotel
Here Hostel Bangkok
Thailand Travel Guide Planning
🧳 Any recommendations on what I should pack for Thailand?
Yes! I have created a whole packing guide to Thailand which you can read here and you can also check out my packing list for Thailand on Amazon here.
👩⚕️ What is the best insurance to have while traveling?
I recommend using Heymondo for a great value policy. The app also offers you 24/7 Dr Chat. For Digital Nomads check out SafetyWing digital nomad insurance. I have also written a blog post covering all my recommended travel insurance here
✈️ Any flight recommendations?
WayAWay offers you cheap flights with cashback. You can use this code CLAIRE22 to get 10% off. Otherwise Skyscanner or Expedia are my go to flight searching platforms.
🚗 Where can I book rental cars or private transportation?
I strongly recommend using 12Go or Bookaway. There are many transport options available such as train, bus, and ferry.
I would strongly advice against driving a car in Thailand but you can easily rent a scooter locally.
🎫 Where can I buy tickets for museums, attractions, and tours in Thailand?
First and foremost check out all of the amazing Thailand tours Where Sidewalks End has. They are a small local company and they have some really special experiences.
For everything else I recommend either Viator or GetYour Guide.
📱What do you use for internet connection while traveling?
I’m a big fan of personal WiFi devices and they have saved my ass so many times when traveling. I wrote a full review of the top travel WiFi devices you can read here. I personally use GlocalMe as I can either pop in a physical sim card or use their local carrier.
With regards to my phone connection, I use e-sims while traveling, so rather than having to swap out my regular sim card I can download the app and buy a virtual sim card. I recommend using either Airhub or Alosim. Both have great coverage of multiple countries and are very easy to use.
🛏️ What is the best platform to use for booking accommodation?
The 3 best platforms that I normally use are Booking.com, Hotels.com, and Expedia. They offer great deals and multiple options. I always check all three to be sure of the best deals. However, Agoda is highly recommended in Thailand and it has the most selection.
🛅 Do you have any luggage recommendations for traveling?
I do have a complete list of the best packing and luggage products that I recommend, you can check the list here. I’m currently traveling with this suitcase and this backpack.
How to Get From Bangkok to Ayutthaya: Final Thoughts
Taking an Ayutthaya tour from Bangkok is a must, and I suggest booking a seat on the Bangkok to Ayutthaya train. While you can drive to Ayutthaya from Bangkok, it can be more expensive. The Bangkok Ayutthaya train is convenient and relatively comfortable. Pack your Ayutthaya map and prepare for an unforgettable adventure!
This post was proofread by Grammarly.
The Travel Ninjas
Tuesday 10th of January 2017
You have a very cool perspective on visiting Ayutthaya. I hate taxi fare scams, but agree that them actually knowing where you want to go is the biggest issue. After a few experiences of drivers getting lost, when we see that a driver seems lost we just ask to get out and find a different taxi.
Tales of Travelling Sisters
Tuesday 10th of January 2017
Thank you for sharing these helpful tips! This would really help us while we are planning our trip to Ayutthaya! How long does it take to tour both the temples?
Jean
Monday 9th of January 2017
Oh dear. Good ol' Khao San Road taking advantage of weary travellers since forever. The Victory Monument is really easy to get to if you have the ride taxi driver or get up and catch a train. At least your taxi ride was rather cheap.
Maja Mexatia
Monday 9th of January 2017
It sounds like a perfect place for a day trip and your tips are more than helpful! Temple hopping is on my do to list when I will be in Thailand one day.
Katie
Monday 9th of January 2017
Ayutthaya is such an awesome place to visit! We visited as part of a tour but when we move over to BKK this year I want to head here early to watch the sunrise over the ruins.