The closest airport to Ayutthaya is the Don Mueang International Airport (once known as Bangkok International) is located 37 miles away from the center of the city Ayutthaya. This is one of the two international airports serving the greater Bangkok area and the city of Ayutthaya. The second is Suvarnabhumi Airport, which is 65 miles away from Ayutthaya and takes a 2-hour drive to connect the cities.

There are a few options for transportation from both airports to the city of Ayutthaya including trains, buses, taxis, and rental cars.

A train ride takes approximately 2 hours from the airport to reach Ayutthaya and costs around 330 baht ($10). The SRT Dark Red Line and Airport Rail Link depart from the airport, the train station is located connected to the airports Terminal 1 by an elevated walkway.

There are taxi stands located in front of the Arrivals Halls Terminal, taxis charge by the meter and there is a 50 baht airport surcharge applied along with a tollway fee. This can be an expensive option but is also the only option after 11 pm.

Hiring your car and driving along the four-lane Highway 1 and Highway 32 which connects Bangkok to Ayutthaya, a journey that takes around an hour depending on traffic.

Some buses run between the airport and Ayutthaya, which can be a long and sometimes uncomfortable journey (many buses don’t have air conditioning). The bus stops are found outside the terminal building just past the taxi line at the end of the building.

The Ayutthaya Station is the main railway station in the city province located on the east bank of the island, served by the Northern Line and the Northeastern Line. The station serves 77 trains a day with approximately 10-12,000 passengers passing through each day. There are tuk-tuks available outside the station that will cost around 100 baht, there are mini-buses available too.

Tuk-tuks are motorized three-wheelers and are the main form of transport in Ayutthaya that can fit up to six passengers. The cost for a tuk-tuk is approximately 200 baht per hour and they can be found outside the main train and bus station, hotels and attractions.

Cyclos and songteows are similar options for transport in the city and great for sightseeing. Cyclos can seat two passengers, prices can be negotiated. Songteows are large pickup trucks used as shared taxis and circle the inner city.

Mini-buses are available for hire in the city, they can be caught outside the railway station costing around 400-500 baht for a day. The main station for minivans is on Naresuan Road.

Boats offer travelers the opportunity to explore the beautiful scenery of the Chao Phraya River, the Pa Sak River and around the island of Ayuttaya. Many longtail boats can be hired from the Pom Phet Pier, fares are based on distance and duration. There are cruises that run from Ayutthaya to Bangkok along the river with stops at Ko Kret and Bang Pa-In made along the way.

Walking around the Ayutthaya Historical Park is the perfect way to see the ancient sites and temples covering the massive park.

Riding a bicycle around Ayutthaya is one of the most popular ways to see the ancient sites. Taking a bike ride around the ruins is a very enjoyable ride, Ayutthaya Historical Park is easily navigable on a bike with paved paths and distances between the temples being close. Bicycles can be rented around town for around 50-100 baht for a day, with several rental places located around the ferry crossing by the Chao Phraya River.

The Ayutthaya Historical Park is a great location to explore on a bicycle, it opens at 7:30 am and is a beautiful location to see first thing in the morning. The ruins in the park are spectacular and viewing them while cycling is a fun way to spend your day.

The ancient city of Ayutthaya is a safe city to visit, there are very few incidents of violence, theft or harassment. Tourist police do a good job of maintaining the safety of the city. Travelers should still use caution when exploring the city and be aware of pickpockets in crowded tourist areas as well as scam artists. Keep your personal belongings close to you, especially at night.

Tap water should not be consumed, always drink from sealed bottles. Ice is ok in restaurants as they use professional ice-making machines and is considered safe.

Ayutthaya offers some great shopping options with unique handmade items for sale. Handicrafts are sold at many open-air markets in the ancient city, the most popular markets are the Ayodhaya Floating Market which is a unique place with 14 market zones spread over an island with wooden bridges that can be accessed via a boat ride. The market offers quaint souvenir shops, cultural performances, food, and noodle boats. The Night Markets are a great place to visit to fill up on delicious street food, sip on a drink and try a sweet treat along with exploring the interesting stalls. The Bangsai Arts and Crafts Center is the place to pick up Thai crafts along with tours of different workshops where the pieces are made from scratch. Some popular items found in Ayutthaya are amulet, palm leaf fish mobile, bamboo fans, and palm-leaf hats.

Chao Phrom Market is a bustling marketplace next to the river, brimming with a large concentration of shops and stalls selling everything including amulet. This is an excellent location to try some of the delicious street food for a low price and take in the authenticity of the locals.

The Thai Baht is the currency used in Ayutthaya and you will need to exchange your dollars to Baht. Try to avoid major banks and popular tourist areas as you tend to get the worst exchange rates.

Tipping is not a common practice in Thailand and is not customary. There is no requirement to tip but small gratuities for great service are appreciated, and most restaurants and hotels will include a 10% service charge on your bill.

For more detailed information, consult our guide to tipping in Thailand by clicking here Thailand

Ayutthaya offers some of the best food in Thailand with a diverse mixture of culinary delights from around the world including Thai, Indian, Japanese, Chinese and European delights. The city has so much to offer including sticky rice noodles, baked goods, and rice-flour sweets all of which can be found inside restaurants, outside dining areas, market places, and street food stalls. Boat Noodles `Kuay Tiao Reua` is a specialty staple in the ancient city, an aromatic soup made of pork broth with rice noodles that were once made and served from vendors in small boats on the canals and rivers. Ayutthaya is also known for its famous gigantic king river prawns measuring around 30 cm which are grilled and served with a spicy seafood sauce.

The nightlife in Ayutthaya is mainly quiet and can be found in the Night Markets filled with food, culture, shopping, and beer stalls. The ancient ruins are a sight to see in the evening time all lit up contrasting against the night sky. Night river cruises are a relaxing way to spend the evening seeing the city from a different perspective. The Grand Market area outside of the city is considered to be the city`s red-light district with several bars, pubs, and karaoke. Hotels situated along with the riverfront offer nice bars with terraces which are great to relax and watch the world go by.

The official language spoken in Thailand is Thai, however, English is widely spoken by people working in the service and tourism industries. We recommend that you get a good English-Thai guidebook and familiarize yourself with a few common phrases, such as hello, goodbye, please and thank you, excuse me and numbers 1-10.

In case of an emergency or fire dial 911 or 191. For medical emergencies and tourist police dial 1155.

Hospitals:

Phra Na Khon Sri Ayutthaya Hospital tel. 66-35-211-888

Wat Phrayat Health Center tel. 66-35-213-019

Navanakorn Hospital tel. 35-335-555