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Getting to Ayutthaya from Bangkok (and Why You Should Consider Driving)
Scribbled by Claire ⬩ 27 Apr 2026
Are you planning a trip to Ayutthaya, but aren’t sure how to get there? Have a read of how to organise every transport option available to you, and why I think that driving is the best one!
Ayutthaya is a popular day or overnight trip from Bangkok and there are a few different ways to organise your journey there.
I’ve been kind of wearied, reading a plethora of incomplete advice online that seems to neglect mentioning certain travel options in favour of a particular type of organised tour (often for nefarious financial reasons).
I’ve been to Ayutthaya four times: twice by train, twice by rental car. Apparently the latter isn’t even a consideration for most people who claim to know what they’re talking about – which just demonstrates their lack of expertise, in my opinion.
All transport options have their benefits and drawbacks, so here I’m going to explain clearly about how to get the train, as well as tour and driver options. Plus, detail why I think the best option is grabbing a rental car and cruising on your own schedule, for an affordable price.
And, don’t forget, how you arrive determines how you get around – so your transport choice matters and will impact your trip.
Consider this an actual all-encompassing guide to getting to Ayutthaya, not one that conveniently leaves out one of the best options!
IN THIS GUIDE //
Ayutthaya Transport Options
Journey Details
Option 1: Train to Ayutthaya
– Catching the Train
– Buying Tickets
– Arriving at Ayutthaya
– Returning to Bangkok by Train
Option 2: Organised Tour
– Thoughts on Day Trip Tours
Option 3: Rental Car
– Renting the Car
– Costs to Self-Drive
– Is it Easy and Safe to Drive?
– Why Driving to Ayutthaya is a Good Idea
– Bonus Road Trip Benefits
Option 4: Private Driver/Taxi
– Ayutthaya by Grab
– Private Tours/Drivers
Option 5: Bus or Minivan
Getting Around Ayutthaya
Parking in Ayutthaya: Map
Where to Next?
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Travel Info
Distance from Bangkok: 80 kilometres
Train time: ~1.5 hours
Drive time: 1–1.5 hours (depends on Bangkok traffic)
Parking: easy and free everywhere
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Option 1: Train to Ayutthaya
Taking the train is a fantastic option for the budget conscious, adventurous traveller.
I’ve taken the train to Ayutthaya and back a few times when I’ve been looking for an affordable escape from Bangkok and it’s always been easy and fun (if a little warm and not always the most comfortable).
Catching the Train
The train leaves from Krung Thep Aphiwat (the main Bangkok train station – take the blue MRT line to Bang Sue).
This relatively new, modern station is large, air-conditioned, and has absolutely loads of seating and a decent food court. The signs are in English and super clear, so you can’t really get all that lost. It’s very well organised and I’ve never felt stressed there.
The first train of the day to Ayutthaya leaves at 6.10am, with five more departing in the morning and further options after midday.
As the train terminates/departs in/from Bangkok, you’ll very likely get a seat. We’ve always had the third-class hard seats on the way up and it’s never been particularly busy. The seats are not the most comfortable, but not that bad, either.
The journey is around 50-60 minutes for the faster ‘express’ and ‘special express’ trains. The slower, cheaper, ‘rapid’ trains take around 90 minutes. In either case, it’s obvious where to get off.
Buying Tickets
We’ve taken various trains from Krung Thep Aphiwat all around Thailand and have always gratefully found the counter staff to have some basic understanding of English.
The ‘Rapid’ train offers cheaper, fan-only travel in its second and third class carriages, with tickets starting at 20 baht.
The price is the same with the fan only third class ‘Express’ train carriages. More expensive, air-conditioned options are also available on the Express and Special Express trains. You can purchase certain tickets in advance at the train station or on the official Dticket website. The third class carriages can’t be booked in advance.
Arriving at Ayutthaya
On arrival at Ayutthaya’s train station, out of the front will be a sea of tuktuk men. It’s tricky, because they have all the power and you have very few bargaining chips. So, they will likely try to over-charge you as per the tuktuk driver code of conduct. Just be ready to haggle a bit. They’re a mafia gang and will pressure you in groups – be aware. I’ve used the tuktuk dudes’ services only in dire circumstances (like one time when my phone wasn’t working).
Grab taxis are also present in Ayutthaya, so use that instead, or utilise a Grab quote to negotiate with a tuktuk man.
It’s possible to avoid the taxi and tuktuk men by walking from the station to the main island with the temples (it will depend on if you have luggage, though). If you want to walk, the route is entirely flat and you can take a quick boat across the river for 10 baht at the pier opposite the station – they literally go every few minutes. These boats have been known to stop running when it floods, though, so check during the rainy season if they’re functioning.
We walked to the temples on our first train trip to Ayutthaya. It was flaming-hot but otherwise pleasant, over all. However, my Google Maps had stopped working and I’d done zero preparation. We randomly followed some other touristy-looking fellows onto the boat and over the river in the hope that they knew where they were going and had done more research than we had. Luckily, it worked – so just follow everyone else, when in doubt!
Returning to Bangkok by Train
The return journey is straightforward – walk, get a taxi or tuktuk back to the station, buy your ticket from the counter and wait for your train. The waiting area can be very busy, with few available seats if you’re travelling at peak time in the afternoon or early evening. Don’t sit in the dedicated monk seating, even if they’re the only ones left available.
The platforms are marked clearly with the directions of the trains. Be aware that for platforms two and three, there’s currently no shade at all. Everyone waits in the shade at the station and then runs across the tracks to get seats on the train. It’s quite a squeeze and not super fun.
Equally, the train can be extremely busy – we had to stand almost the entire way for one of our journeys back and it was soooo hot (the fans were intermittently not working).
It’s worth noting that Ayutthaya train station does not have air-conditioning, which is pretty stressful during the warmer months after a day of walking.
FIRST TIME VISITOR TO THAILAND?
If this is your first ever trip to Thailand, have a look at our monster-guide to visiting this beautiful country, which includes tips on money, food, transport, logistics, culture and more.
Also, if you’re landing in Bangkok, consider having a look at our overly ambitious one-day Bangkok itinerary (we live here, so we know it well).
Or check out our massive Thai island rundown – to help you choose your ideal one!
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RELATED POST | A SOUTHERN THAILAND ITINERARY
Option 2: Organised Tour
An organised group tour is easily the least hassle of any option, especially if it picks you up and drops you off at your hotel!
They typically comprise a white air-conditioned minivan, carrying maybe 10-ish people. These whizz up to Ayutthaya, take you around a predetermined temple route (often with a guide). Occasionally they include a boat trip of some kind, then speed you straight back to Bangkok.
It’s that simple.
Thoughts on Day Trip Tours
I’d argue that while organised group day trips are straightforward, they are also the worst option.
Most people choose one because a tour is time-efficient on a tight itinerary, or they are intimidated by travelling independently in Thailand. However, these tours aren’t the best – they take you about at the hottest part of the day, crammed in with all the other tours and crowds. They don’t use any of the local facilities in the city, and miss out some of Ayutthaya’s best parts – such as sunset at the ruins and the night market (just to name a few).
Sometimes the day trips include unethical elephant experiences, too. They’re also relatively pricey for what you get.
Option 3: Rental Car
Now, this is obviously the one I’m most keen on (I’ve done five decent-length Thai road trips just in the past four months!). Self-driving is my favourite way to travel around this country. So, let me explain the logistics, and why it might be the perfect option for your trip to Ayutthaya.
Renting the Car
Don Mueang Airport is a convenient spot to pick up a car for the route north to Ayutthaya (although anywhere in Bangkok is fine). There are a few car rental companies in the Amari Hotel across from the airport which are particularly convenient (they have a nice big empty car park with a shaded area to wait for your car, plus the airconned hotel lobby).
If you’re worried about driving in Bangkok, don’t be. It’s so straightforward and Thai people always let you change lanes (they’re not possessive of space like people from the USA or Italy). Going north from Don Mueang, you’ll avoid most of the worst city traffic, anyway (Ayutthaya is less than an hour away by road).
We book all our cars in Thailand (and across the world, actually) with Discover Cars. They have really top-notch insurance and a simple claims process (we know from experience – no incidents in Thailand, though), so we trust them. So far, we’re up to about 100 rentals through the company, and highly recommend them.
Costs to Self-Drive
Renting a car in Thailand is affordable – usually around 800-1500 baht a day including insurance (about £20-35). Fuel is usually around 35-40 baht a litre (about £0.80 – £0.90).
Financially, renting a car for Ayutthaya works out pretty well when travelling with two or more people. It’s particularly useful if you have younger kids who wouldn’t tolerate large crowds or the heat for hours on sweltering trains. It’s also ideal if you need to transport a lot of luggage or are travelling with a buggy/pram/wheelchair.
Self-driving is certainly more affordable than a group of people taking a tour!
In terms of parking fees, we’ve never paid anything outside of Bangkok and a few touristy spots in southern Thailand. Ayutthaya has free car parks for the ruins and every hotel has free parking.
Is it Easy and Safe to Drive?
These are the two questions we are asked (by far) the most.
Simply, the answer is yes, to both. We wouldn’t do it otherwise.
It isn’t enjoyable driving in difficult, hectic, unsafe circumstances. Fortunately, that’s not what driving in Thailand is like (despite what some people’s preconceived impressions may like to fool you into thinking). We wouldn’t do it all the time if we felt it was any of those things – I’m actually pretty risk-averse, generally.
Why Driving to Ayutthaya is a Good Idea
There are loads of benefits to renting a car. So, just to summarise, here’s a list:
⬩ Cost: great for pairs and groups of people.
⬩ Flexibility: you can design your itinerary to include way more interesting stops – like Bang Pa-In Palace, which is on the drive up.
⬩ Aircon: I don’t really need to explain why this is an absolute necessity (Ayutthaya feels like the hottest place I’ve ever been in Thailand).
⬩ Hassle: no haggling with tuktuk or taxi drivers.
⬩ Temperatures: no need to cycle or walk far in the insane heat (although you still can if you want).
⬩ Further afield: the entire of central Thailand has loads to do, so take a bit of a road trip and escape the typical tourist crowds.
⬩ Parking: abundant and free.
⬩ Getting the best light for photography is easier with a car!
⬩ More flexibility and choice around your accommodation location.
Bonus Road Trip Benefits
If you are interested in taking a few different trips from Bangkok, to Kanchanaburi, Lopburi, or Khao Yai National Park, they can all be linked together via road really easily. This saves transiting back through Bangkok on public transport between each destination.
It will actually save days of your time.
For example, from Ayutthaya it’s a 2.5-hour direct drive to Kanchanaburi. Or, if you want to use the train network, it’s a train from Ayutthaya to Bangkok’s central train station. Then you have to traverse across the city by MRT to Thon Buri or Bang Khun Non train station and wait for your several hour train to Kanchanaburi. It’s a warm, tiring day that will take roughly double the length (if you don’t miss anything!).
So, either you put some choons on the stereo and cruise for a few hours on well-signed, maintained roads, and have a car at your destination which saves on getting around in awkward taxis. Or, travel most of the day on public transport to arrive and then have to deal with taxis.
I know I’m being a bit blase, but it’s a no-brainer if you have a car license and 1968 IDP.
There is also the option to drive via Ayutthaya on a road trip north to Chiang Mai, where you can stop at Sukhothai on the way.
The rental car option opens up so many opportunities.
Option 4: Private Driver/Taxi
You can always opt for somebody to drive you to Ayutthaya, either just to take you up, or also be your guide for the day. It’ll be more expensive than a rental car, but you do get a driver!
Ayutthaya By Grab
A driver can be arranged on the Grab app. The service now offers the opportunity to rent a driver by the hour, but you will have to pay toll fees on top.
A four-seater car on Grab is currently:
⬩ 2,500 baht (£57.20) for ten hours;
⬩ 2,100 baht (£48) for eight hours;
⬩ 1,600 baht (£36.60) six hours.
Any length lower than those and you won’t have enough time to travel there, back and take a look around. There are also vans and SUVs available for larger groups (for slightly higher prices).
These prices assume that you’ll return with your driver to the initial destination. So, if you stay overnight, you will need to include the hours it takes for your driver to return back to Bangkok.
The terms and conditions are pretty clear on the app, so have a quick read before booking.
Private Tours/Drivers
Just as Get Your Guide does group day trips to Ayutthaya, it also lists customisable private tours. This is a great way to book since it means you can check reviews for the tour in advance. You’ll also be getting an actual guide, rather than just a driver. They tend to start from US$100 and up.
Your accommodation will also likely be able to arrange something, but I’m not super keen on this option as you have to fully trust your hotel. They tend to massively overcharge for tours, especially if they’re higher end, luxury ones. Also, I don’t trust drivers without references or reviews.
This option is by far the most expensive of all the choices on this list, too.
Option 5: Bus and Minivan
I’ve never taken any of the buses to Ayutthaya – I think most people (including myself) love the romance of travelling by train. However, there are loads of options, and some of them are quick and good value, although they are are not ideal if you have loads of luggage.
It’s easy to get a minivan from the Northern Bus Terminal in Bangkok near the main Bangkok train station (Mochit 2) and the journey takes around 1-1.5 hours. It’s a little more expensive than the train but also a little quicker. To get to the bus terminal ride the blue MRT line to Bang Sue and then take a taxi. The walk is a lot longer than it looks on a map.
There are absolutely loads of pick-up and drop off options throughout the day if you have a browse through 12GoAsia. We use this transport aggregator all the time to book various overland routes when we don’t have a car.
So, for example you can get picked up at Khao San Road and travel to Wat Mahathat for 240 baht (£5.50).
Or, you can get picked up at Mochit 2 and dropped off at Central Ayutthaya for 180 baht (£4.10).
Quick Pros and Cons
Train – cheapest, less flexible, more logistics involved
Tour – easiest, no thought needed, no flexibility
Taxi/driver – pricier, but flexible to a degree
Rental car – easiest, more affordable, most flexible, fast
Minibus – cheapish, less flexible, fast, cramped, not great for large luggage
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Getting Around Once You’re There
Once you’ve arrived at Ayutthaya Historical Park, there are loads of options for getting around. The central temples are spread out, but not so much that you absolutely must have transport.
Foot and Bicycle
The main sites are easily traversed on foot if you like a walk. Alternatively you can rent a bicycle for around 60 baht a day and speed up your day a bit (you’ll probably get given a map, too). Directly outside the train station are places to rent bicycles and scooters, if you are arriving by train.
You can take the bike on the small boats across the river opposite the train station for 5 baht (along with a 10 baht fee per person).
Motorised options
If you’re not a fan of exhausting physical feats in 800,000 degree temperatures with no shade, then you can either hire a private driver, negotiate with a tuktuk man, rent a scooter, or use your rental car.
As we’ve mentioned above, Grab offers hourly rates for driver rental, although we’ve never used that in Ayutthaya. It’s worth considering, though, because the rates in Bangkok are very reasonable for what you’re getting and I can’t imagine Ayutthaya being significantly more.
Hiring a tuktuk for the day varies in price, from around 1000-1500 (or more) baht a day, depending on your negotiation skills, how nice the tuktuk man is, and length of time required. It’s pretty much the same price as a rental car from Bangkok – so bare that in mind!
For scooters, we’d recommend going with Mr Biker Motor Scooter Rental, on the island near the temples. The prices are high at 350 baht per day but they don’t require you to leave a passport and we had a good experience with them a few years back. The place opposite the station asks for a passport as deposit which we do not recommend you do (also, the bikes aren’t great). Scooter parking is available absolutely everywhere.
All these options, including bicycles, are really good ways to get around the central temples. However, if you want to explore a few of the lesser visited spots outside the island, like Phu Khao Thong, St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Wat Chaiwatthanaram, Wat Phutthaisawan, Wat Phanan Choeng Worawihan, Bang-Pa Palace, or Wat Yai Chai Mongkol Worawihan, a motorised option is necessary.
Having a rental car is perfect for this and the most affordable (apart from a scooter if you’re travelling alone).
Parking in Ayutthaya: Map
Below is a Google Map marking the parking lots that we used/found around Ayutthaya Historical Park’s temples. We’ve never struggled to park anywhere apart from at Wat Chaiwatthanaram, where we had to wait around five minutes at 5pm for a space.
All the Buddhist temples, restaurants, and museums in Ayutthaya have no parking fees.
To save this map, select the star next to the title.
Where to Next?
I hope this helps you plan your trip to Ayutthaya! It’s such an easy place to get to, no matter your choice of transport and we hope you have a great time, whatever you choose.
If you’re currently toying with the idea of staying overnight, but can’t decide between that or a day trip, check out why we think that staying overnight is the best way to experience this exceptionally interesting and beautiful area of Thailand.
For a general guide, take a peek at our all-encompassing Ayutthaya post that covers literally everything else you could possibly want to know.
Have a great trip!
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