a large group of buildings sitting next to a lush green field

Sukhothai

Sukhothai is the former capital of the first Thai kingdom, and its temple ruins make early Thai history easy to see in one place.

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Sukhothai is a province in upper central Thailand, and the name covers two places. The historic city was the capital of the first Thai kingdom. Its temple ruins, Buddha images and lotus ponds sit inside a historical park that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The modern town, Sukhothai Thani, lies on the Yom River about 12 km (7.5 mi) east of the historic city and has about 37,000 residents.

Travelers can stay in the modern town, which has more services, or closer to the ruins. The historic park is about 12 km from the modern town, so plan your transport for the ruins before you choose a base. From Bangkok, the usual road route is National Highway 101, about 440 km (270 mi).

Sukhothai in five

Hire a bicycle and start at openingThe ruins are spread over a wide, flat area, and cycling is the best way to cover them. Go at opening, before the midday heat and the tour coaches, and rest in the shade of the larger temples.
Ask which zones need a separate ticketThe park is split into zones, and some are ticketed on their own. Ask at the gate which zones you want and what each costs, so you do not pay twice for the same temples.
Choose the old city or the new townGuesthouses near the park gate suit early cyclists, while the new town has the bus station and more restaurants about 12 km away. Songthaews link the two.Phitsanulok
Add Si Satchanalai for quieter ruinsA second historical park about an hour north has fewer visitors and shaded paths. Reach it by hired car or a tour, and combine it with kiln sites if you have a full day.
Go in the cool season and in the morningFrom March to May the heat and glare on the stone are intense. November to February is the comfortable window, and the park holds a lantern festival around Loy Krathong in November.Best time to visit Thailand

Things to do in Sukhothai

See all attractions in Sukhothai

Sight · SukhothaiWat Mahathat

Sight · SukhothaiWat Si Chum

Sight · SukhothaiWat Saphan Hin

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to SukhothaiPut the places you like in Sukhothai on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: Phitsanulok (PHS) is the practical airport, about 1 hr by road
Getting there: Bus from Bangkok about 6–7 hr; Chiang Mai about 5–6 hr
Getting around: Bicycles in the park; songthaews between the new town and the ruins
Best base: Old Sukhothai for the ruins; the new town for transport
Time needed: 1–2 days

Weather by month

Rainy days
Days with storms

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryClear3 rainy daysHigh31°Low20°Cool mornings
FebruaryClear3 rainy daysHigh34°Low21°Dry, warming
MarchClear4 rainy daysHigh37°Low25°Hot
AprilClear9 rainy daysHigh38°Low27°Very hot
MayRain19 rainy daysHigh36°Low27°Rains begin
JuneRain22 rainy daysHigh33°Low25°Green, wet
JulyRain23 rainy daysHigh31°Low24°Wet
AugustRain26 rainy daysHigh31°Low24°Wet, humid
SeptemberRain26 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh31°Low24°Wettest
OctoberRain22 rainy daysHigh31°Low23°Rains ease
NovemberPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh30°Low22°Lantern festival
DecemberClear2 rainy daysHigh30°Low20°Cool, dry

Average daily high and low in Sukhothai, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Sukhothai

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 30°
Humidity: 91%
Wind: 4 km/h
Chance of rain: 41%

Sukhothai

04:57 AM

Tuesday, November 3

GMT+7

Today32°25°41%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 32°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 41%.
Wed32°25°39%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 32°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 39%.
Thu32°25°51%Thursday: Drizzle. High 32°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 51%.
Fri30°24°77%Friday: Rain. High 30°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 77%.
Sat31°25°47%Saturday: Thunderstorms. High 31°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 47%.
Sun32°24°16%Sunday: Drizzle. High 32°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 16%.

Updated 01:18 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 33.76 THB

Amount

Converted to

THB · Thai Baht

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

Day trips by train

Si Satchanalaiabout 1 hour by roadA second historical park with shaded paths and fewer visitors.
Phitsanulokabout 1 hour by busWat Yai and the river, with the area's rail and air links.Read the guide
Lampangabout 3 hours by roadA quieter northern town with horse carriages and old temples.Read the guide

Before you go to Sukhothai

Ruins and Si Satchanalai toursGuided days with transportCompare day trips

Guesthouses near the park gateSmall stays for an early startCheck availability

eSIM for the lower northMaps for rural roads and bus timesRead the guide

Insurance for hot-weather daysMedical cover and delay coverRead the guide

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Rules for Sukhothai, checked

Thailand's entry rules and visa-exemption lengths change and depend on your passport. Check them with the Thai Immigration Bureau before you book.Source
Dress modestly at temples: cover shoulders and knees, and take off your shoes before entering a shrine hall.
Dial 191 for police and 199 for the fire service anywhere in Thailand.
Insulting the monarchy is a crime under Thai law. Do not post jokes or images that mock the royal family, even in private chats.
Thailand has strict drug laws, and some medicines need documents to bring in. Check Thai customs rules before you travel.

Plan around Sukhothai

All of Thailand

Entry rules, regions and costs

Read the guide Phitsanulok

The nearest rail and air hub, an hour east

Read the guide Northern Thailand

How Sukhothai fits the northern route

Read the guide Ayuthaya

The next capital to the south

Read the guide Lampang

A quieter northern town to the north-west

Read the guide Chiang Mai

The northern end of the route

Read the guide

Sukhothai FAQ

How many days do you need in Sukhothai?

One full day covers the central ruins by bicycle, and two lets you add the other zones and Si Satchanalai. Stay one night near the park to catch early light.

Is Sukhothai worth visiting?

Yes for history lovers. The ruined temples among ponds and trees are among the best in Thailand, and the park is quieter than Ayutthaya. It is less appealing in the heat of March to May.

Sukhothai or Ayutthaya: which should you choose?

Sukhothai for a quiet, spread-out park you can cycle, Ayutthaya for a big, busy ruin city close to Bangkok. Visit both if you are traveling north by road.

How do you get to Sukhothai from Bangkok or Chiang Mai?

By bus from Bangkok in about 6–7 hours, or from Chiang Mai in about 5–6 hours. You can also fly to Phitsanulok and take a bus or car for the last hour.

Where should you stay in Sukhothai?

Near the park gate in Old Sukhothai if the ruins are your goal, or in the new town for restaurants and the bus station. Cyclists usually prefer the old city.