Ayuthaya Travel Forum

During our next stay in Thailand we would like to visit Ayuthaya starting from Bangkok. There are any suggestions how to do it? Boat? Car?

You can get a train from Bangkok to Ayutthaya and from the station you will be able to get motorcycle taxis to take round the sites. Or almost every travel agent in Bangkok will be able to get you on an organised tour.

The organised tours will probably be a day trip either in a minibus or you can get a barge up the river.
Sorry don't know how much it costs

i'd suggest a bus...and heck if u come here at the right time, i can even drive u there :)

car is best - then you can stop at as many places (wats or whatever you fancy) you like.

Boat - i think it is coach there and boat back. The boat ride is boring at first...you see some local life then after a while it is same scene but back towards the city - it is very nice.

I sitll think car - i like the idea of stopping as and when you lik e- you see much more - but please buy yourself some maps and guidebooks - unless you hire a guide!

Bangkok traffic is a nightmare, so I would avoid a car. Same with the bus - even though you're not driving, can get stuck in gridlocks and the bus station for Ayuthaya is a long way out of the centre.
Train is the simplest - couple of hours and pretty regular. Getting round Ayuthaya is straightforward - you can walk and see a number of the main sites (which is what we did) or you can hire bicycles or motor scooters. If you want to hire bikes, remember to take your passport as you have to leave it as a 'deposit' (we forgot, hence the walking! -:))
Enjoy
Keith

Actually there's no traffic at all...there's a highway that goes directly to Bang Pa In, it takes less than an hour to get there.

totally agree with littlevoice...when I did that in January - it was eve of Chinese New Year...hey it is supposedly mad rush...but the highway leads to it = and yes do stopover at Bang Pa In summer palace - it is quite pretty (i have pics in my pages) and then make your way to Ayutthaya. If you go on your own you can ride the elephants as well. If you take a tour chances are you do this and not that...and you have less time to do many visits to the many many wats. Each has its glory.
there are tours you may want to visit the website
http://www.riversuncruise.com

but again - i highly recommend doing on your own. If you wanna take a bus, then when you reach Ayutthaya try to book a tuk tuk for your entire day trip. bargain hard and bargain for entire day and for all pax and not per pax...that is the tourist trap bit.

Do consider driving there... the traffic bit is only within Bangkok city- weekends are a good idea

we got stuck in traffic in Bangkok itself - more than an hour to get from the outskirts of the city to the bus station. It was virtually gridlock all the way, and then to discover the bus station was a considerable distance from the city. The train journey out was a joy - and very straightforward.

We were there in July 02 and the best way to do it is by local bus from the Northern bus terminal. As soon as we got off the bus there were loads of drivers all vying for our trade. The one we agreed to go with had a little book with lots of references from other tourists. I had a list pre prepared compared it with his list agreed on the price of 800bt for as long as it took to get around which was about 5 hours. Of course did not include entrance fees but they are minimal. However you decide to go don't miss Ayutthaya it is truly an amazing place while we were there we hardly saw another tourist. We found it to be very hot don't forget your hat!!!!

the best way...do both...

get there by car (if you have the budget, get a chauffered limo...go in style and comfort)....

have lunch there...and check out the sites and history...

mid afternoon, take a cruise back...

two birds with one stone?

i found this one in one of the brochures i've got

7.45am depart bkk by air-con coach visiting bang pa-in palace, wat phra si sanphet and wat chai watthanaram in ayuttaya.
12.30pm embark at wat potangtai, a buffet lunch is served while cruising along the chao phraya to bkk.
3.00pm coffee and tea served
4.30pm arrive bkk

they used to have a website at www.pearlofsiam.com but it doesn't seem to work now. their email addy is p_ofsiam@ksc.th.com

littlevoice -
it is very similar to the riversuncruise i recommended.

If you are a lazy tourist, who wants to be pampered with limited budget, then please take the cruise. They will take you to both the palace, and then to a souvenier store, and then to Ayutthaya and see 3 wats. After that you board a river barge and get a scenic view of the Chao Phraya. It was a pleasant experience to me. Food on board is average - plenty to eat - but you pay for drinks. The tip is they have 3 pm (after lunch) happy hour, and more discount as you near the Bangkok city pier at Rivercity.

The bad point is you see only 3 wats,....when there are so many other wats worth seeing as well. I have done that trip b4 - I do recommend to people with limited budget (it is also not cheap anyway), but if you have plenty extra...i recommend hire a car with driver and get to be taken around. Best is to buy a guide book (you can get a cheap one at Bang Pa In gift shop) and it will be enough to guide you to some wats, and you also can take an ele ride as well. More flexibility. Forget about the river cruise bit - it is boring the first part but becomes nice nearer the city.

I suggest this trick...as I stayed at Marriot Spa further down end of the river - take their river taxis from near Oriental hotel pier (free for all potential hotel guest...just do not look like a backpacker be OK) to the hotel, and each 1/2 hour they have same barge going to rIver city...nice and free - do it sunset time

i myself wouldn't take any cruise that is longer than an hour :) i don't feel too comfortable being on the water :)

Sorry to barge in... but I am a bit confused.
I am going to Bangkok in April and want to spend one day in Ayudhya. I wanted to travel by river at least one way. How long is the river trip...? I don't care about lunch cruises... just want to get there (preferably on water).
Is it possible to come back to Bangkok quite late at night? When does the last boat leave?
The alternative is train... how far is Ayudhya train station from the ancient city?
Where does one catch the boat from in Bangkok to get to Ayudhya?
Sorry about all the questions, but my time in Bangkok will be limited so am keen to get to Ayudhya...
Thanks.