The cheapest and most scenic way of reaching Ayutthaya is by train. It regularly departs from Bangkok's Hualamphong Train Station and stops in Ayutthaya. The trip takes about 2 - 2.5 hrs depending on the type of service. Second class seats(A/C) cost 245 baht, third class is just 20 baht (!) (no reservations and seats are not guaranteed). (Fares in July 2011). Check time table here:
(Please note that fares listed on the Thai railways site are out of date and incorrect). Although in the past railway employees prefered not to sell 3rd class tickets to foreigners, as of 2011 the employees were explicitly offering 3rd class seats to western tourists as a standard option. Also note that some train stations (for instance Bang Khen) do not appear on the sites map, and that tickets may even be cheaper.
If you have local friends, they may have some good advice.
The railway station is not on the island but across the river a short ferry ride away. Walk across the main road and down the small street straight ahead. Ferry boats run every few minutes and cost 4 baht.
The Most Frequently Asked Travel Questions about Ayutthaya
Where To Stay & Best Hotels in Ayutthaya - updated Apr 2024
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Ayutthaya Travel Guide from Wikitravel. Many thanks to all Wikitravel contributors. Text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0, images are available under various licenses, see each image for details.
