Updated: 30 October, 2024
All the details of what to see in Sukhothai in 1 day, how to get there by public transport, prices, where to stay and lots of tips.
A visit to Sukhothai is one of the great essentials in Thailand, a historical park that is halfway between Bangkok and Chiang Mai and can be visited in 1 day.
The word Sukhothai means "dawn of happiness" and was the capital of the kingdom during the 13th and 14th centuries of the same name, considered the origin of today's Thailand.
It was a period of flowering of culture and establishment of Buddhism after a long domination khmer and practice of Hinduism, a true Golden season.
Likewise, it is believed that the current Thai alphabet emerged there.
Later, they were invaded by the kingdom of Ayutthaya and finally absorbed towards the end of the 15th century.
Today, it is a small historic town that It preserves more than 30 temples from that time, some are still in operation.
Sukhothai Historical Park was opened in 1988 and in 1991 it was declared Heritage of humanity by unesco.
👍 In this other article you can read more about Ayutthaya Excursion: Thailand's Ancient Capital.
Sukhothai areas and how to visit it
The archaeological zone of temples could be divided into the inner area of walls, which is the main and then the outer one towards all the cardinal points (north, east, south and west).
The interior part covers about 4 km² and in total there are about 70 km².
Although, the distance is not too far from one temple to another, if you want to visit everything, the ideal is to rent a bike (50 bahts per day), motorbike or negotiate with someone. tuk tuk.
If you can, I recommend going with a guide to enjoy and better understand the fabulous history of this archaeological park.
What to see in Sukhothai?
The most interesting places you can see are:
Inside the Walls
- Wat Mahathat: It is the main temple in the central area, the most striking thing is the immense Buddha sculpture surrounded by 4 stupas that represent each of the cardinal points. Its name means "temple of the relic" because the remains of Buddha were kept there.
- Wat Si Sawai: It is a Hindu temple and its construction has influence khmer, this makes it unique within Sukhothai, it is also the oldest.
- Wat Sri Sri: It is very beautiful especially for taking photos at sunrise and sunset, because it is located on a small island surrounded by a pond and is accessed through a wooden bridge.
- Wat Traphang Ngoen: It is known as the temple of the silver lake, a lake full of beautiful lotuses. It is one of the most famous during the Loy Krathong festival, which are the little boats with incense and flowers that Thais leave in ponds, lakes and rivers.
- Wat Saphan Hin: It is on a hill and the 12-meter-high statue stands out.
- Wat Sorasak: It is very beautiful because of the sculptures of the large elephants at the base of the pagoda that are very well preserved.
Exterior of the Walls
- Wat Chedi Si Hong: it is in the southern area, the most notable thing is its great chedi or pagoda.
- Wat Si Chum: Located in the northern area, another of Sukhothai's must-sees is the impressive 15-meter sitting Buddha sculpture embedded inside, it is said that it was formerly venerated by warriors before going to war. The original statue dated back to the 13th century, but it was destroyed. There is currently a new statue, but it is still impressive.
- Wat Phra Phai Luang: It is the largest temple on the outside, where there is sculpture of Buddha in different postures. It is a good example of the construction transition khmer Thai style.
How to get to Sukhothai?
Sukhothai is much further from Bangkok than Ayutthaya, which is why many people skip visiting it.
If you want to go on your own and make a 1-day visit, the ideal is to do it on the way to Chiang Mai or vice versa.
To go from Bangkok to Sukhothai (or from Chiang Mai) you can go by:
- By Bus: The buses leave from Mochit Station and take a little more than 7 hours, prices start at 10 euros to change. Honestly, it is the option that I least recommend because it can be very long and uncomfortable, the train if you go at least in second gear you will be more comfortable.
- Train: It is the same train that goes from Bangkok to Chiang Mai and stops in Ayutthaya with departures from Hua Lamphong and Bang Sue, the price starts at 20 euros and takes between 5 and 7 hours.
An excellent option is to go with the night train, make the visit and then continue on the night train to Chiang Mai, this way you save 2 hotel nights.
Of course, book at least in second class because in third The seats are very uncomfortable to sleep on.
To buy train or bus tickets you have to go to the station, otherwise a good alternative is this website where you can see the schedules and book tickets without moving.
🚂 In this article you can read more details about the Travel by night train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai (and vice versa) and other travel alternatives between those two cities.
How many days to dedicate to Sukhothai? Where to stay?
To visit Sukhothai 1 day will be enough to see the main temples, especially if you rent a bike or motorcycle. Although, if you want to take it easy, stay at least 1 night in this beautiful ancient city.
In Sukhothai, in addition to the Historical Park, there are more interesting places to visit nearby, such as rice fields.
If you decide to spend the night I can recommend the Sawasdee Sukhothai resort, are beautiful bungalows that overlook the garden, have a magnificent outdoor pool and are within walking distance of the walled area.
Depending on the season, they are very cheap per night per couple with breakfast included, it is the best hotel in Sukhothai for quality and price.
Excursions in Sukhothai
Although this is a visit that you can perfectly do on your own, an excursion to Sukhothai is a good way to save time, avoid complications and make the most of the visit.
One of the options is to go on your own and do this bike tour with guide which includes a visit to the most important places in the historical park and its ruins.
In addition, they take you to see the surroundings to visit the rice fields, the artisanal manufacture of wooden furniture and includes lunch. In short, a very complete visit.
Another good option is to make a 5-day tour from Bangkok to Chiang Mai like this one from the link that is with a guide in Spanish.
The price may seem expensive, but it includes transportation, accommodation and visits to Ayutthaya, Sukhothai, Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai with zero complications and they explain everything to you in Spanish, it couldn't be better.
Final Thoughts
These are all the essential things to see in Sukhothai, which you can see in just 1 day of visiting, a place not to be missed.
In case I have left any topic untouched, leave me a comment below and I will help you in any way I can. And if you found the article useful, share it with other travelers. Have a good trip!
More about Bangkok and Thailand
- What to see in Bangkok: 21 must-sees
- What to bring to Southeast Asia: 47 Essentials in your Backpack
- 6 Best Hotels in Bangkok at a good price
- Guide on How to Rent and Drive a Motorcycle in Thailand
- What to see in Chiang Mai: 14 best plans
Hello, I’m Andrea, the creator and writer of Viajeros Activos (Active Travelers). I’m a nomad, so I consider myself a full-time traveler. I’m passionate about good food and always looking for new adventures.