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All you need to know to visit Sukhothai
สุโขทัย
Northern Thailand
466 km from Bangkok
Province of Sukhothaï
Northern Thailand
466 km from Bangkok
Province of Sukhothaï
- Budget
- 2/5
- Recommended stay
- 1 to 2 days
- Sightseeing
- 5/5
Travel guide to visit Sukhothai
Ancient capital of Siam and designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site, Sukhothai has retained many vestiges of temples of its glorious past. Most of them are grouped in and around Historical Park. The park is beautifully designed, perhaps a bit too much will say those who love wild nature. But the remains of buildings and stone Buddhas immerse you in the history of Thailand. This is probably one of the most interesting places to visit in the country. The city beside is called New Sukhothai. The name of Old Sukhothai is used by locals and written on the buses to designate the Historical Park. If you can, take one day more to go to Si Satchanalai. The ruins are just as beautiful as in Sukhothai but the nature is wildest.For all the options for getting around Sukhothai, see our section on getting around in Sukhothai.
Accommodations in Sukhothai
In Sukhothai, hotels and guesthouses are located in New Sukhothai, modern city. Old Sukhothai is the Historical Park area. There are two guesthouses in Old Sukhothai, just opposite the entrance of Sukhothai Historical Park but places to sleep there are counted. In New Sukhothai, the guest houses are mostly concentrated in the area near the bridge on Jarodvithi Thong Road which crosses the Yom River. The accommodation rates are very affordable in Sukhothai.Find accommodation in Sukhothai
My recommendations
People often ask me which accommodation I recommend in Thailand. Here are my recommendations in Sukhothai.
Practical information about Sukhothai
On Jarod Vith Thong Road, there is a bus that goes to the Historical Park. The stop is 50m from the Poo Restaurant. It leaves every half hour during the peak season.Transport in Thailand
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How to go to Sukhothai ?
People often wrongly think that they can go to Sukhothai by train. But the nearest town served by the train is Phitsanulok. From there buses leave every hour to New Sukhothai (1:30 drive), the city adjacent to the Sukhothai Historical Park. You can also come by bus of course. From Bangkok, buses leave from Mo Chit Northern Bus Terminal. There are also a few daily buses from Bangkok, Chiang Mai or Ayutthaya, which are very handy as they can drop you directly near Sukhothai Historical Park entrance. These are the buses for which I indicate 'Historical park' offered by Wintour or Transport Co Ltd. Sukhothai also has a small airport and a few flight connections with Bangkok. There is a shuttle that connects the airport to the Sukhothai Bus Terminal in 40 minutes (last price quoted: 18 THB). Sukhothai Airport has a small zoo. Otherwise you can land in Phitsanulok airport and make the rest of the journey by road.My selection of tours & activities in Sukhothai
Historical Park Sunset Bicycle Tour
Offered in English
Visit Sukhothai Historical Park by bike in the afternoon and end up admiring the sunset over its magnificent monuments!
Details & Booking
How to get around in Sukhothai ?
Generally, visitors mainly want to go to Sukhothai Historical Park. There are buses that leave every 20 minutes from Jarot Withiithong Road (after Poo Restaurant, see the bus marker on the map) and take you there for 30 THB (price for one way). Often the return from the park coincides with the end of school, and the bus also becomes a school bus and therefore continues after the initial stop, what can arrange depending on where your accommodation is located. Otherwise, there are tuk-tuks in Sukhothai which are generally more motorcycles with a sort of sidecar. They take you where you want including the bus terminal a little outise the city.
Festivals in Sukhothai ?
Here is a list of the main festivals held every year in Sukhothai. Their dates are published as soon as they are official on the Festivals in Thailand page.
Free Mini Light and Sound Shows Sukhothai
This festival usually takes place in Several times a ye
King Ramkhamhaeng Memorial Day
This festival usually takes place in January
Makha Bucha near Sukhothai Sukhohtai
This festival usually takes place in february
Sukhothai Light & Love: Historical Park Illuminations
This festival usually takes place in February
More about Sukhothai Light & Love: Historical Park Illuminations
Visakha Bucha Day in Sukhothai Historical park
This festival usually takes place in June
Asanha Bucha Day ceremony in Sukhothai Historical park
This festival usually takes place in July
More about Asanha Bucha Day ceremony in Sukhothai Historical park
Sukhothai Loy Krathong and Candle Festival
This festival usually takes place in November
Must-visits in
Sukhothai Historical Park
อุทยานประวัติศาสตร์สุโขทัยMy opinion : 5/5
is one of the prides of the country. By feet or by bicycle (rentals at the entrance), you will discover the remains of the past of this city that dominated the thai kingdom for nearly two centuries. Decks, altars, bas-reliefs, chedis, columns and above all the great stone Buddhas, it is like a living postcard. Most temples are grouped in the park but one of them are a little outside. Wat Chum for instance that includes a massive sitting Buddha is highly recommended.
Si Satchanalai Historical Park
อุทยานประวัติศาสตร์ศรีสัชนาลัยMy opinion : 5/5
About sixty kilometers from Sukothai, in a little less designed nature, it houses the ruins of the same kind that the one in Sukhothai but less numerous.
Wat Si Chum
วัดศรีชุมMy opinion : 5/5
and its huge stone sitting Buddha. This temple is not in the center of Sukhothai Historical Park and is therefore sometimes overlooked by visitors and they really miss something!Other places to see in Sukhothai
Wat Saphan Hin
and its standing Buddha. This is one of the two really interesting temples outside the central area of Sukhothai Historical Park even if compared to Wat Si Chum its interest is much lower.
Wat Chang Lom
This temple located outside the paying area of Sukhothai historical park and 1.5 km from the main park entrance is interesting for its chedi whose base is surrounded by 32 elephant images. It is just behind the Legendha Hotel.
Wat Chetuphon
It is with Wat Chang Lom, the most interesting temple outside the paying areas of Sukhothai Historical Park. Thre you can see 4 large Buddha images in relief. They are damaged and no longer have a head but you will not find such imageswithin the paying areas.
Making Buddha amulet workshop
People mainly Sukhothai for its historical park but there are numerous handicrafts workshops in the province. And among is a making Buddha amulet place which teaches the tourists to make them. It is a nice activity and vsitiors will also get other surprises...
Weather & climate in
Sukhothai has a tropical savanna climate. The winters are dry and very hot. Temperatures rise until April, the hottest month with frequent temperature rises up to at 40 °C and higher. The rainy season runs from May to October with slightly cooler temperatures during the day, although the nights remain warm.In Sukhothai, August and September are the rainiest months.
How to ask the way in Thai to Sukhothai ?
I want to go to Sukhothai / Yak pai thi Sukhothai.Where is Sukhothai? / Sukhothai yu thi nai?
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