Things to Do in Ayutthaya

If you have more than one day in Ayutthaya and have a serious temple overdose, these sites and activities will help you cope with it.

Floating market

There are three floating markets in Ayutthaya but the one that we recommend you to visit is the Ayothaya floating market. It is located east of the island, close to Mahaeyong temple and Elephant Village.

Although it is not a historical floating market and –like many others in Thailand – has been built mostly for tourists, the good news is that it is aimed particularly at the local Thai tourists and somehow manages to keep a really genuine and less commercial atmosphere and most of all – Thai prices.

A short boat tour will cost you only THB20 and you will have a chance to sample local food – from khao man kai, chicken rice, to pat thai ayutthaya, a local version of the famous Thai dish – buy souvenirs (we loved traditional ankle-length trousers), feed various animals from your boat if you wish and attend one of the multiple daily show (Thai dances and performances).

Admission fee: free
Opening hours: every day 10am–9pm
How to get there: East of the island, taxis and songtaews are available at the train station

Baan Hollanda

Baan Hollanda is a small and nice museum located in the area of the original Dutch settlement. For centuries Ayutthaya has been an important spot for commercial trade between Asia and Europe and the Dutch were the only foreign nation who had a permanent settlement in Ayutthaya. The museum will explain you in details the history of Thai-Dutch relations. One more reason to come here is the excellent Dutch food and coffee served in the attached cafeteria.

Admission fee: THB50
Opening hours: 9am–7pm, closed on Monday and Tuesday
How to get there: The museum is south of the island and close to the Japanese settlement. If you tuk-tuk driver does not know the route as the museum is relatively new, tell him to go to the Japanese settlement.

Muslim quarter

Whilest the overwhelming majority of Thais are Buddhists, there are numerous Muslim communities all around the country. The Muslin quarter in Ayutthaya appeared as the result of centuries of commercial trade with Muslim Indians and Persians eventually establishing their home just outside the island, on the southern bank of the Chao Phraya River. You will not find any museum to explain the history of the Muslim settlement there as it is just a real town quarter. Walk around to have a glance at the everyday life of another culture, taste different food and visit one a few Mosques. To get there, just head south of the island. The Muslim quarter is right on the other side of the river.

Elephant encounters

If you don’t fancy walking around the ruins in the heat and a bicycle doesn’t look like a pleasant option either, you can tour the temples riding an elephant.

There are quite a few different elephant camps in Ayutthaya. Right in the heart of the Historical Park on the island, opposite to Khun Phaen’s Historic House, you will find Ayutthaya Elephant camp. Open daily from 9am till 5pm, it offers rides around the historic sites for THB600 per half an hour. Though we do mention this option, in general we are strongly against elephant rides.

If you want to get to know these creatures better, consider a half-day or full-day training programs at Ayothaya Elephant Village, which is close the floating market. Prices start from THB5000 for the half-day. Check their website for more info.

Boat rides

Three main rivers and a number of canals are what make Ayutthaya so special to deserved it the name of Oriental Venice. No surprise that longtail boats cruise constantly the city waters and offer one of the most memorable activities for tourists. Watching the ruins from the river at sunset, as opposite to watching the river from the ruins, is the best way to take amazing shots of Ayutthaya wonders.

Cheap tours starting from THB200 are offered almost at any guesthouse, but be ready to share the boat with other (many) tourists. A private boat can be hired for THB500/THB1000 for an hour and it’s a much better experience. Just head to the piers and don’t be afraid to bargain on the price.