How do you get from Bangkok to Ayutthaya?

Bangkok to Ayutthaya at a glance

Last checked 27 October 2026. Fares are approximate; dollar figures convert at our committed exchange-rate snapshot.

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Train from Krung Thep Aphiwat: the fastest rail option

Most long-distance trains on State Railway of Thailand's Northern and Northeastern lines now leave from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal (formerly Bang Sue Grand Station), and every one of them stops at Ayutthaya. That gives you well over a dozen departures a day, with journey times of roughly 50 minutes to 1 hour 20 minutes depending on the train type.

Krung Thep Aphiwat is on the MRT Blue Line (Bang Sue station) and the SRT Red Line, so it is easy to reach from Sukhumvit or Silom by metro. Fares depend on class: third-class seats on rapid trains cost only a few tens of baht, while air-conditioned second-class seats on express and special express trains cost more. Booking sites in 2026 list seats from about ฿20 (≈ $0.59).

Tickets are sold at the station counters and through SRT's own D-Ticket online system. For a day trip you can normally buy on the day; on Friday evenings and before long weekends, seats on popular trains north can sell out, so buy ahead if your time is fixed.

The new Bangkok Connex commuter train

From 1 August 2026 SRT extended its air-conditioned commuter service, branded Bangkok Connex (BNEX), to run between Krung Thep Aphiwat and Ayutthaya, stopping at Don Mueang, Rangsit, Bang Pa-in and Ban Pho on the way. It uses refurbished Japanese diesel railcars.

• Weekdays: six services a day, trains 9001 to 9006, with the first leaving at 05:15.

• Weekends: four services a day, trains 9003 to 9006, with the first at 09:05.

• Fares: promotional fares until 31 October 2026, ฿30 (≈ $0.89) for nearer stops and up to ฿50 to Bang Pa-in, Ban Pho and Ayutthaya.

These are launch-period details and may change after October, so check the current SRT timetable before you go. Because it calls at Don Mueang, it is also handy if you are flying into Don Mueang airport and want to go straight to Ayutthaya.

Ordinary trains from Hua Lamphong: the cheapest

Some slower ordinary trains still run from the old Hua Lamphong station near Chinatown, on the MRT Blue Line. They take around 1 hour 40 minutes to 2 hours, have fans and open windows, and cost roughly ฿15 to ฿20 (≈ $0.44–0.59). They suit you if you are staying in Chinatown or the old town and are not in a hurry.

The catch is that trains have been moved between Hua Lamphong and Krung Thep Aphiwat in stages since 2023, so check which station your train leaves from on the day. Both stations are on the same metro line, about 20 minutes apart.

Minivan, bus, taxi and boat

Minivans leave from the Mo Chit (Northern) bus terminal area and from some tourist agents around Khao San Road. They take about 1.5 to 2.5 hours, depending on Bangkok traffic, and 2026 guides list fares of roughly ฿150 to ฿220 (≈ $4.4–6.5) for the tourist services. They drop you in Ayutthaya town on the island, closer to the ruins than the train station, but you are at the mercy of the expressway.

A taxi or Grab takes about 1 to 1.5 hours outside rush hour. Agree a flat fare or use the app's quote, and add expressway tolls. Split between three or four people for a full day with waiting time, a hired car becomes reasonable value.

River cruises up the Chao Phraya to Ayutthaya, usually one way by boat and back by coach, are sold as tours. They are a pleasant outing but leave less time at the ruins.

Arriving in Ayutthaya and getting around

Ayutthaya's railway station is on the east bank, across the river from the historical island. A small ferry crosses from the jetty a short walk from the station for a few baht, and bicycle rental shops cluster on the island side. Tuk-tuks wait outside the station and can be hired by the hour.

The main temples, Wat Mahathat (the Buddha head in tree roots), Wat Phra Si Sanphet and Wat Ratchaburana, are close together in the middle of the island; Wat Chaiwatthanaram is across the river on the southwest side. A bicycle covers the central group easily; a tuk-tuk is better in the midday heat. Ticket prices for individual temples have changed in recent years, so check at the gate. Cover shoulders and knees: see our temple dress code guide.

Day trip or overnight?

A day trip works. Leave Bangkok by about 08:00, ride to the central ruins by bicycle or tuk-tuk, have lunch, see Chaiwatthanaram in the late afternoon, and take an evening train back. Our day trips from Bangkok guide ranks Ayutthaya first, and our 3-day Bangkok itinerary treats it as a fourth day.

Staying a night or two is better if you are heading north anyway. You see the ruins early and late, outside the worst heat, and continue by train to Lop Buri, Sukhothai or Chiang Mai without going back to Bangkok. That is the order our route took: Bangkok (6 days), Ayutthaya (3), Lop Buri (1), Sukhothai (2), then Lampang and Chiang Mai. See our Sukhothai guide and the Bangkok guide for the rest of that corridor, and where to stay in Bangkok to pick a base near a metro line to the station.

Frequently asked questions