There are a lot of temples, ruins, and places of interest to see within the Historic City of Ayutthaya. Due to our limited time in the city, my itinerary only included the most interesting ones.

One of my criteria is that the site should have a unique feature that differentiates it from other sites in the old capital city.

Be Informed

There are bicycle and motorbike rentals in and around the old city. You may also hire a tuk-tuk for THB 300/hour to take you around. Open to haggling. However, many sites within the Historic City of Ayutthaya are within walking distance.

Remember that most sites are sacred, and some are functioning temples where people offer prayers. It’s okay to take photos, but always be mindful and respectful of the people and structures around you. It can get terribly hot, so bring a sarong as cover from the sun and, if needed, to cover your exposed shoulders and legs. Do not eat inside the temples, and never climb up the statues of Buddha.

Most sites’ Operating hours are from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Wat Lokayasutharam

From our Off-island Ayutthaya tour, we asked our driver to drop us off at Wat Lokayasutharam. We planned to walk eastward from there to the other temples. She insisted on waiting for us at no extra cost, saying the other temples were still some distance away. How kind.

Wat Lokayasutharam has a large reclining Buddha. It’s not as big as the one in Bangkok’s Wat Pho, but it’s still impressive. There are a lot of friendly stray dogs hanging around this area.

Wihan Phra Mongkhon Bophit

Before heading to Wihan Phra Mongkhon Bophit, we had lunch and a bit of shopping at the market beside it.

Wihan Phra Mongkhon Bophit is a working temple. May locals come here to pray. Tourists are welcome. Leave your footwear outside.

Apart from the enormous, gilded statue of a seated Buddha, other artifacts from the Ayutthaya period are on display.

Wat Phra Si Sanphet

Right beside Wihan Phra Mongkhon Bophit is Wat Phra Si Sanphet, a sizeable compound with many fascinating ruins.

The star, however, and the one that draws many people are the three restored chedis that greet you as soon as you enter the compound. You may climb up the towers. It’s a steep climb, so be careful.

Rama Public Park

The other two temples on my list are across the Rama Public Park. There are many smaller ruins on tiny islands within the park. Bridges connect these islands. The park is littered with trees. Shade provides some respite from the heat.

At the north-eastern border of Rama Public Park is our next stop, Wat Mahathat.

Wat Mahathat

One of the most visited sites in the Historic City of Ayutthaya is Wat Mahathat. The temple is famous for the stone Buddha head entwined in the roots of a Banyan tree. This temple is also where most of the visitors congregate.

Some reminders when taking photos of the stone Buddha head: As a sign of respect, you need to keep your head lower than the stone Buddha head. The cords are there for a reason; do not cross it or extend your arms over it.

There are many other interesting things to see in Wat Mahathat apart from the stone Buddha head, the leaning chedis, the main temple, and the galleries with lined Buddha statues, to name a few.

Wat Ratchaburana

Across the street, north of Wat Mahathat, is Wat Ratchaburana.

I added Wat Ratchaburana to my list because it has some of the most intact ruins within the Historic City of Ayutthaya. The walls of one of the halls are still standing. The tower is also one of the most intact in the old capital.

Climb up and inside the tower. Down some steep stairs is the crypt, where you can see original frescoes on the walls and ceilings.

Final Thoughts

There are many other activities to be had apart from the temples and ruins. There’s a floating market off the island. Elephant rides are also a famous activity. Do check first if the animals are treated well. There are also a bunch of markets and night markets in and around the island to satisfy your gastronomic and shopping needs.

One whole day is sufficient to see some temples and ruins on and off the island of Ayutthaya. If you have time, then do stay a bit longer. We spent three days during our first visit to the historic UNESCO World Heritage Site and didn’t run out of things to do.