Sukhothai was the capital of the first great Thai kingdom in the 13th and 14th centuries, and its ruins are among the most beautiful in Southeast Asia. Lotus-bud chedis rise from moats and ponds, serene walking Buddhas glide across stucco walls, and early mornings bring soft light and almost no crowds. The old city and its sister site at Si Satchanalai are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the province is also said to be where Loy Krathong began. It suits history lovers, photographers and cyclists, and anyone who wants a slower, greener alternative to Ayutthaya. Sukhothai sits roughly 430 km north of Bangkok: about 6\u20137 hours by bus or car, or around an hour by air.<\/p>\n
Buses from Bangkok’s Mo Chit terminal run throughout the day and overnight to New Sukhothai town. A small private airport serves Sukhothai with flights from Bangkok, and many travellers instead fly or take the train to Phitsanulok, then ride a bus west for about an hour. Note that most hotels, the bus station and the night market are in New Sukhothai, about 12 km east of the historical park; blue songthaews and ride-hailing cars link the two. Inside the park the best way to explore is by bicycle, rented cheaply from shops near the central gate. Si Satchanalai is around 60 km north, so plan on a hired car, a tour or a slow local bus.<\/p>\n
The spiritual heart of the old capital: a grand lotus-bud chedi surrounded by rows of columns, seated Buddhas and smaller stupas, all reflected in the surrounding ponds. Come at opening time for golden light and the calmest atmosphere. Map<\/a><\/p>\n Two of the most photogenic temples sit on islands in lotus ponds near Wat Mahathat. Wat Sa Si has a bell-shaped Sri Lankan-style chedi and a graceful walking Buddha; at dusk the reflections are superb. Map<\/a><\/p>\n Just outside the central zone, this museum explains how the Sukhothai kingdom grew and displays fine bronze Buddhas, ceramics and stone inscriptions. Visit before the ruins to make sense of what you will see. Map<\/a><\/p>\n A towering square mondop hides a huge seated Buddha, Phra Achana, nearly 15 metres tall, whose elegant hand you glimpse through a narrow opening as you approach. It is one of the most memorable images in Thailand. Map<\/a><\/p>\n Older than most of the city, this temple has a Khmer-style prang and traces of the Angkor period, a reminder that Sukhothai grew out of an earlier Khmer outpost. It is quiet and shady, perfect for a cycling break. Map<\/a><\/p>\n A slate path climbs a low hill to a standing Buddha gazing back toward the city. The short walk is steep in the heat, so go early, wear good shoes and take water. Map<\/a><\/p>\n Just east of the park gates, this working temple sits on an island reached by a footbridge and is a focal point during the Loy Krathong festival. Map<\/a><\/p>\n The kingdom’s second city lies in a wooded setting by the Yom River. Highlights include Wat Chang Lom with its ring of stucco elephants and Wat Chedi Chet Thaeo with its many small chedis. Fewer visitors make it feel delightfully undiscovered. Map<\/a><\/p>\n Near Si Satchanalai, excavated kilns and a small museum tell the story of Sangkhalok ceramics, once exported across Asia. Pottery workshops around the province still make celadon-style pieces you can buy. Map<\/a><\/p>\n For nature, this mountain park south-west of town offers waterfalls and a demanding hike to the summit of Khao Luang. Check access and trail conditions with the park before going, especially in the rainy season. Map<\/a><\/p>\n Day 1:<\/strong> Rent a bicycle at sunrise and ride the central zone: Wat Mahathat, Wat Sa Si, Wat Traphang Ngoen and Wat Si Sawai. Escape the midday heat at the Ramkhamhaeng National Museum, then cycle to Wat Si Chum and Wat Phra Phai Luang in the late afternoon. Return to New Sukhothai for the night market.<\/p>\n Day 2:<\/strong> Drive to Si Satchanalai early and explore the wooded temples and the Sangkhalok kilns. Stop for a bowl of Sukhothai noodles on the way back, and finish with sunset at Wat Saphan Hin or a quiet evening by the ponds.<\/p>\n Festival dates follow the lunar calendar and local announcements, so check with the Tourism Authority of Thailand before you travel.<\/p>\n In 1584, after Ayutthaya declared its independence from Hanthawaddy, King Naresuan secured Sukhothai and Sawankhalok and moved the people of the northern towns south to defend the capital. Follow the story and the route on the Phraya Phasim campaign page at naresuan.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n One full day covers the central and north zones of the old city. Two days let you add Si Satchanalai and enjoy the ruins at a relaxed pace.<\/p>\n Ayutthaya is easier as a day trip from Bangkok. Sukhothai is more spacious, greener and quieter, with a more harmonious layout and gentler crowds.<\/p>\n Yes. Buses take about an hour, so Phitsanulok makes a good base if you arrive by train or plane. See our Phitsanulok travel guide<\/a>.<\/p>\n November to February is cool and dry, and November brings Loy Krathong. March to May is very hot; the rainy season is green but can bring downpours.<\/p>\n King Taksin’s campaigns passed through this province: Azae Wungyi’s siege of Phitsanulok<\/a>. The full story with maps is on our King Taksin trail site (in Thai).<\/p>\n Cover photo: Sukhothai Historical Park Wat Mahathat 02.jpg<\/a> \u00b7 Ninaras \u00b7 CC BY 4.0<\/a> \u00b7 Wikimedia Commons<\/small><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The best things to do in Sukhothai, from Wat Mahathat and Wat Si Chum to Si Satchanalai, with a two-day route, Loy Krathong and practical tips.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":5284,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[172],"tags":[],"province":[198],"class_list":["post-5283","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-attractions-en","province-sukhothai-en"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/songkran.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5283","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/songkran.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/songkran.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/songkran.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/songkran.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5283"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/songkran.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5283\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5360,"href":"https:\/\/songkran.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5283\/revisions\/5360"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/songkran.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5284"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/songkran.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5283"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/songkran.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5283"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/songkran.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5283"},{"taxonomy":"province","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/songkran.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/province?post=5283"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}2. Wat Sa Si and Wat Traphang Ngoen<\/h3>\n
3. Ramkhamhaeng National Museum<\/h3>\n
4. Wat Si Chum (north zone)<\/h3>\n
5. Wat Phra Phai Luang<\/h3>\n
6. Wat Saphan Hin (west zone)<\/h3>\n
7. Wat Traphang Thong and the Loy Krathong site<\/h3>\n
8. Si Satchanalai Historical Park<\/h3>\n
9. Sangkhalok kilns<\/h3>\n
10. Ramkhamhaeng National Park (Khao Luang)<\/h3>\n
A two-day Sukhothai route<\/h2>\n
Festivals and events in Sukhothai<\/h2>\n
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On King Naresuan’s trail<\/h3>\n
Practical tips<\/h2>\n
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Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n
How many days do I need in Sukhothai?<\/h3>\n
Is Sukhothai or Ayutthaya better?<\/h3>\n
Can I visit Sukhothai from Phitsanulok?<\/h3>\n
When is the best time to visit?<\/h3>\n
On King Taksin’s trail<\/h2>\n
More Sukhothai and northern Thailand guides<\/h2>\n
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