Best Day Trips From Bangkok

A day trip costs you a whole day of your Bangkok trip, plus an early start and a tiring journey home. It needs to earn that. Ayutthaya does, comfortably. Some of the others are better as overnight trips, and one or two are worth knowing about mainly so you can make an informed decision to skip them.

Day trips ranked

Ayutthaya

The capital of the Siamese kingdom for more than four centuries until it was sacked in 1767, Ayutthaya is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site of temple ruins, brick prangs and Buddha images spread across an island in the river. It's the most rewarding day trip from Bangkok by some distance.

What to see: Wat Mahathat (with the famous Buddha head entwined in tree roots), Wat Phra Si Sanphet with its three chedis, and Wat Chaiwatthanaram on the riverbank, which is particularly beautiful in the late afternoon.

Getting there independently: trains run regularly from Bangkok. Most faster services now leave from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal (MRT Bang Sue) and take about an hour; slower, cheaper ordinary trains still leave from the old Hua Lamphong station. Check the State Railway of Thailand timetable for your departure. At Ayutthaya, hire a tuk-tuk by the hour or rent a bicycle to get between the ruins.

On a tour: worth it if you want the history explained. Choose one that gives you at least four hours at the ruins.

Dress code: Ayutthaya's temples are religious sites — cover shoulders and knees.

Our step-by-step Ayutthaya from Bangkok guide covers the train, the ruins and a day plan.

Maeklong Railway Market and Damnoen Saduak

Two of Thailand's most photographed sights, usually combined in one day. At Maeklong, a working market is laid out along the railway track, and vendors pull back their awnings and produce just in time for the train to pass. Damnoen Saduak is the most famous floating market near Bangkok, where vendors sell from boats on the canals.

Be realistic: Damnoen Saduak is now aimed largely at tourists, with souvenir stalls and paid boat rides. Treat it as a spectacle. Maeklong depends entirely on the train timetable, which can change — see Maeklong Railway Market for current times.

How to do it: a tour or a private driver is the easiest option because the timings are tight. Start early.

The Ancient City (Muang Boran)

A huge open-air park in Samut Prakan, south-east of Bangkok, filled with full-size and scaled replicas of Thailand's most important buildings and monuments. It sounds like a theme park; it's actually a thoughtful, beautiful place to understand Thai architecture, and quiet compared with the city. Rent a bicycle or a golf cart to get around — it's big. It's near the eastern end of the BTS Sukhumvit Line, from where a short taxi ride gets you to the entrance.

Not sure which floating market? Our floating markets comparison covers Damnoen Saduak, Amphawa and the weekend markets inside Bangkok.

Amphawa Floating Market

Near Maeklong, Amphawa's market runs on weekend afternoons and evenings and is popular with Thai visitors. It's more about food and atmosphere than shopping. Some tours combine it with Maeklong in the afternoon instead of Damnoen Saduak in the morning.

Kanchanaburi

Home to the bridge on the River Kwai and the cemeteries and museums of the Death Railway built by prisoners of war during the Second World War, plus waterfalls and national parks further out. It's a long day trip; with a night there you can see the history and the countryside properly. See Kanchanaburi from Bangkok.

Tour or independent?

Before you go

• Start early. Heat and crowds both build through the day, and road traffic out of Bangkok is lighter before 7am.
• Dress for temples on any trip that includes them: shoulders and knees covered.
• Check transport times the day before. Train timetables change, and Maeklong's market depends entirely on train times.
• Carry cash, water and sunscreen. Ruins and markets have little shade.

How to choose

• One day trip only? Ayutthaya.
• Want the classic photos? Maeklong and Damnoen Saduak, on a tour.
• Interested in architecture, or want something quieter? The Ancient City.
• Want a beach? Pattaya is two to three hours by road and better as an overnight stay; see Bangkok to Pattaya.
• Short trip (three days or fewer)? Stay in Bangkok. See our 3-day itinerary.

Our 5-day itinerary includes Ayutthaya on day 5, and the itinerary planner will add a day trip when your trip is long enough.

For markets in the city itself, see the best markets in Bangkok; for more temples, see the best temples in Bangkok.