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From Bangkok
By Car:
Alternative I: Take Highway No. 1 (Phahonyothin Road.) then
take Highway No. 32 to Ayutthaya.
Alternative II: Take Highway No. 304 (Chaeng Watthana Road.) or
take Highway No. 302 (Ngamwongwan Road.); turn righ to Highway No.
306 (Tiwanon Road.), then take Highway No. 3111 (Pathum Thani -
Samkhok - Sena) and turn right at Amphoe Sena to Highway No. 3263
Alternative III: Take Highway No. 306 (Bangkok - Nonthaburi - Pathum
Thani Road.) then take Highway No. 347
By Bus:
Ordinary buses run between the Bangkoks Northern Bus Terminal (Mochit
2 Bus Terminal) and Ayutthaya's main terminal on Naresuan Rd. every
20 minutes between 5 a.m. and 7 p.m. The fare is 30 bahts and the
trip takes around 2hours. Air-conditioned buses operate the same
route every 20 minutes from 5.40 a.m. to 7.20 p.m. (every 15 minutes
between 7a.m. and 5p.m.) at the rate of 47 bahts, the trip takes
1.5 hours when traffic to north of Bangkok is light, otherwise it
will take two hours.
By Train:
Trains to Ayutthaya leave Bangkok's Hua Lamphong Station approximately
every hour between 4.20 a.m. and 10 p.m. The 3rd class fare is 15
bahts for the 1.5 hour trip. Train schedules are available from
the information booth at Hua Lamphong Station. Alternatively, call
0 2223 7010, 0 2223 7020, or 1690 or visit www.railway.co.th for
reservations.
By Boat
There are no scheduled or chartered boat services between Bangkok
and Ayutthaya. However, several companies in Bangkok operate luxury
cruises to Bang Pa-In with side trips by bus to Ayutthaya for approximately
1,500 bahts to 1,800 bahts per person, including a sumptuous luncheon.
Longer two days trips in converted rice barges start at 4,800 baht.
Travelling around Ayutthaya and from Ayutthaya to nearby attractions
Song taew and shared tuk-tuk will go anywhere for 10 to 30 bahts/person
depending on the distance/destination. A tuk-tuk from the train
station going to any point in the old Ayutthaya zone is approximately
30 bahts. Note that the trip on the island (old Ayutthaya city)
itself costs 20 bahts/trip maximum.
To tour the ruins, the most economical and ecological option is
to rent a bicycle from one of the guesthouses (40 to 50 bahts/day).
Walking is also an option, but not recommended during the hot or
rainy seasons. It is possible to charter a sam lor, tuk tuk or song
taew by the hour or by the day to explore the ruins but the prices
are relatively high by Thai standards (150 bahts/hour, or 500 bahts
for the entire day).
Another interesting activity is chartering a boat from the Tha
Chan Kasem (Chan Kasem Pier, next to Hua Ro Market) for a semicircular
tour of the island and seeing some of the less accessible ruins.
A long tailed boat with a capacity of up to 8 people can be hired
for 400 bahts for a 2 to 3 hour trip with stopovers at Wat Phutthaisawan,
Wat Phanan Choeng and Wat Chai Wattnaram.
Mini - bus services operating from the railway station into the
city are also available. Hiring a mini - bus within Ayutthaya costs
250 - 300 bahts/day. If you wish to travel between Ayutthaya and
Bang Pa - In, mini - buses regularly leave Chao Prom Market (on
Chao Prom Road). Daily schedules start from 6.30 a.m. with a fare
of 30 bahts. The trip takes approximately 50 minutes.
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