Thailand Guide
The central plains
Getting Around
Busloads of tourists descend on the sights during the day, but the area covered by the old capital is large enough not to feel swamped. Distances are deceptive, so it's best not to walk everywhere: bicycles (B30–50/day) can be rented at the guest houses, at a few of the shops in front of the train station or from the tourist police. If even that sounds too much like hard work, some of the guest houses and a few cheaper outlets in front of the station rent small motorbikes (B150–250/day). Otherwise there are plenty of tuk-tuk taxis around: their set routes for sharing passengers are more useful for locals than for tourists, but a typical journey in town on your own should only cost B50. Motorbike taxis charge around B40 for medium-range journeys.
If you're pushed for time you could hire a tuk-tuk taxi for a whistle-stop tour of the old city for B200 an hour (the current going rate set by the tourist police), either from the train station or from Chao Phrom market. Sunset tuk-tuk tours organized by guest houses are also popular, taking in some of the illuminated ruins (the main five central ruins are lit nightly from 7–9pm) and ending at the night market (about 2hr; B160 per person), or there are the guided bicycle tours run by Ayutthaya Boat & Travel ( www.ayutthaya-boat.com ), whose itineraries include the ruins by day or night, a combination cycle and boat tour and a dinner cruise.
Circumnavigating Ayutthaya by boat is a very enjoyable way to take in some of the outlying temples, and possibly a few lesser visited ones too; many of the temples were anyway designed to be approached, and admired, from the river, and you also get a leisurely look at 21st century riverine residences. All guest houses and agencies offer boat tours, typically charging B300 per person for a two-hour trip.