Thailand Guide
The central plains
Arrival
The best way of getting to Ayutthaya from Bangkok is by train – there are about thirty a day, concentrated in the early morning and evening; trains continue on to Nong Khai and Ubon Ratchathani in the northeast, and to the north and Chiang Mai. To get to the centre of town from the station on the east bank of the Pasak, simply jump on the cross-river ferry from the jetty 100m west of the station (last ferry around 8pm; B2); it's then a five-minute walk to the junction of Thanon U Thong and Thanon Naresuan. The station has a useful left-luggage service (24hr; B10/piece/day).
The most popular day-trips to Ayutthaya from Bangkok feature only the briefest whizz around the old city's three main temples, rounding the day off with a three-hour river cruise back down the Chao Phraya from the northern Bangkok suburb of Nonthaburi; Grand Pearl Cruise is one of the main operators ( www.grandpearlcruise.com ; B1700, under 11s B1100). You can also cruise the river in more style, spending one or more nights on plushly converted teak rice barges such as the Mekhala ( www.asian-oasis.com ) or the Manohra 2 ( www.manohracruises.com ).