Sukhothai: The birthplace of Thai Culture
What to know before going
- To reach Sukhothai you can take the bus from either Bangkok or Chiang Mai as there is no airport close by.
- I would recommend staying in the historical park since that’s where you will find all the temples and you can easily cycle around.
- If you want to go for an evening drink in the new city you might have issues finding taxis late at night. This happened to us, but luckily one of the locals we met at the bar offered us a ride back.
Exploring the Historical Park
Sukhothai Historical Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that has over 190 ruins, including ancient temples and Buddha statues. The park was opened to the public in 1988 and is one of Thailand’s most important historic attractions.
Getting around
The main part of the park can easily be explored on foot, but I highly recommend renting a bicycle to easily explore all the ruins. The city is bike-friendly and you can cycle to all the attractions. If you do not wish to cycle you will find golf cars for rent.
Costs of visiting (2024):
The park is divided into three zones (Central, North and West) and entry is 100 THB per zone. You can also choose to get a combined ticket which is 220 THB.
Additionally, you will have to pay an extra 10 THB per zone to bring your bicycle in.
Renting a bicycle costs between 30 THB – 50 THB, but ask at your accommodation as most of them offer free bicycles.
If you would rather opt for the golf cart prices range from 150 THB (a 2-seater) to 350 THB ( a 6-seater) per hour plus another 50 THB entrance fee per cart for each zone.
Top Attractions in Sukhothai Historical Park
1. Wat Mahathat (The Temple of the Great Relic)
Located in the central zone, the Wat Mahathat features a massive seated Buddha and is the most important temple in Sukhothai.
2. Wat Si Chum
My personal favourite, Wat Si Chum features a “Phra Achana” Buddha statue that is partially hidden inside of a temple. Also, make sure the check out the 500-year-old Mango tree next to the temple.
3. Wat Sa Si
This beautiful temple is located on a small island surrounded by a lotus-filled pond.
4. Wat Phra Phai Luang
Wat Phra Phai Luang is the oldest temple in Sukhothai and features Khmer architecture, very similar to Angkor Wat.
5. Wat Saphan Hin – The Hilltop Temple
Wat Saphan Hin is located in the Western zone and is famous for its standing Buddha statue. It’s important to know that you will have to walk up a 300-meter-long pathway to get to the temple.
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