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All you need to know to visit Phitsanulok
พิษณุโลก
Northern Thailand
396 km from Bangkok
Province of Phitsanulok
Thai prononciation : Phisanulok
Northern Thailand
396 km from Bangkok
Province of Phitsanulok
Thai prononciation : Phisanulok
Budget
Recomm. stay
1 à 2 jours
Visits
Travel guide to go and visit Phitsanulok
Phitsanulok is one of the largest cities of North Thailand. Crossroads of the roads to north, it was the capital of the kingdom for a quarter of century. There are only a few traces of this glorious past. A few walls and a chedi very poorly preserved. With the exception of Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat that here everyone calls Wat Yai (big temple), there is not much to visit there. Generally, travelers just spend the night here on the road to the Sukhothai 60 km from here. Phitsanulok is the nearest city served by train. However, the edge of the Nan River is nice and other temples like Wat Ratburana beautifully lit at night or Buddha Factory and Garden Birds are interesting to visit. And if your driving, venture out of town in the hills, especially on the highway number 12 towards Lomsak. You will discover rivers and waterfalls. A short stop for lunch in the small bungalows of the Rain Forest Spring perforated will cut the trip nicely.To see all optiosn to get around in Phitsanulok, read our dedicated paragrpah about getting around in Phitsanulok.
Accommodations in Phitsanulok
In Phitsanulok, there are not a large number of hotels and a only a few guesthouses. It is a little suprising for a city of this size. Often in cheap accommodation, the staff speaks little or no English at all. Travelers in Phitsanulok generally intend to go to Sukhothai and do not stop to sleep in Phitsanulok. It is in the neighborhood of the train station that you will find the most accommodation options, some very cheap, others more luxurious. In this area, you wil be close to the Wat Phra Si Ratana Mahatat, the most important temple in Phitsanulok and Wat Ratburana oppositie to it and the night market which is held near the train station.Find accommodation in Phitsanulok
My recommandations
People often ask me what accommodations I recommend in Thailand, here are my recommandations in Phitsanulok.
Practical information about Phitsanulok
Phitsanulok is one of the largest cities in Thailand. Buses to almost all destinations in Northern and Northeastern Thailand or even some destinations in the South leave from one of its two bus terminals. Philok, as Thais often like to call the place, is the last city served by the train before Sukhothai (local buses regularly leave, travel time: 1 hour) and has an airport.How to go to Phitsanulok ?
Phitsanulok is a crossroads of bus lines in the North. So you can easily connect to Phitsanulok from most northern cities but also from cities in Isan (North-East Thailand). From Bangkok, buses leave from Mochit. Every day, many trains also stop in Phitsanulok which is the last city with a train station before Sukhothai. There are three daily flights from Bangkok to Phitsanulok (Don Muang Airport).How to get around in Phitsanulok ?
To go around in Phitsanulok, you either have tuk-tuks or samlaws (trishaw) and very few taxis. From the main bus terminal to your hotel or guesthouse in the station area, a trishaw will ask around 50 THB. There is also a bus network that you can take if you speak a little Thai or find a Thai who speaks English at the stop (many lines pass at the stop near the railway station just behind the market on Ekatossarot Road) in order to know what line to take to go where you want to go.
Festivals in Phitsanulok ?
Here is a list of the main festivals taking place every year in Phitsanulok. I mention their dates as soon as they are official on Thai Festivals page.
Phitsanulok Boat-Racing Festival
This festival generally takes place in the month of September
Must-visits in Phitsanulok
Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat
วัดพระศรีรัตนมหาธาตุ
My opinion :
Giant Water lilies pond
บัวกระด้ง พิษณุโลก
My opinion :
Sukhothai
สุโขทัย
My opinion :
Other places to see in Phitsanulok
Buddha Factory
visitors have free access to the finishing work part of the factory (not to the foundry part) and can buy images and statues of Buddhas of all types and sizes in the shop
Wat Ratburana
right next to Wat Phra Si Mahathat Rattana, the main temple in Phitsanulok, you can see its chedi from the street
Wat Phra Sorn Kaew
This little-known by foreign tourists temple has a series of white sitting Buddhas arranged from smallest to largest, which is simply superb. The setting with the mountains all around is also very nice.
Walking Street
This large night market is held every Saturday evening around 5 pm in Sangkha Bucha Road, closed to traffic for the occasion to let the vendors' stalls and the many customers take place.
Wat Chulamanee
This temple is said to be the oldest in Phitsanulok province. It is an historic place, you can see the ruins of the original brick temple and a newer wiharn with refined details including beautiful window decorations.
Wat Nang Phaya
Located between Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat, the most important temple in Phitsanulok City and the very interesting Wat Ratchaburana, Wat Nang Phaya is much less known and visited. But it houses a magnificent statue of Buddha and worth to make a quick visit.
Phu Hin Rong Kla National Park
This national park located 1h30 drive from Phitsanulok and 1 hour from Phetchabun is known for its plateau with rock formations reminding the back of a huge crocodile on which you walk. It is not the most essential national park in Thailand but a pleasant piece of nature and mountains which is also an important historic place.
Ban Rak Thai
This mountain area offers pretty landscapes with nice coffe shops, restaurants and resorts often with incredible views. Not a must visit from Phitsanulok but a nice getaway for 1 or 2 days. Go there rather on weekends as many places are closed on weekdays.
Weather & climate in Phitsanulok
Phitsanulok has a tropical savanna climate. The winters are dry and very hot. Temperatures rise until April, the hottest month with a maximum average temperature at 37 °C but frequent breakthroughs up to 40 °C and more. The rainy season runs from May to October with slightly cooler temperatures during the day, although the nights remain warm.In Phitsanulok, August and September are the rainiest months.
How to ask in Thai to go to Phitsanulok ?
I want to go to Phitsanulok / Yak paï ti Phisanulok.Where is Phitsanulok ? / Phisanulok you ti naï ?
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