Sukhothai: Visit Guide of the Best Historical Park in Thailand

Sukhothai is a must-visit destination for anyone passionate about history, culture, and the stunning beauty of Thailand’s ancient architecture. As the site of the first capital of the Sukhothai Kingdom in the 13th century, this UNESCO World Heritage-listed site offers an unparalleled glimpse into the past.

Stepping into Sukhothai Historical Park is like entering a living museum, where towering stone temples, serene Buddha statues, and vast ruins tell the story of one of Thailand’s most influential civilizations.

In this guide, I’ll take you through everything you need to know about visiting Sukhothai, from exploring its iconic landmarks like the Wat Mahathat and Wat Si Chum, to practical tips on getting there and where to stay. Whether you're a history buff, an architecture enthusiast, or simply seeking a tranquil escape, Sukhothai offers an enriching experience that will leave you in awe.

In this comprehensive Sukhothai travel guide, I’ll also highlight the best time to visit, share insights into the fascinating Sukhothai Kingdom history, and explain how to make the most of your time at the park. Whether you’re planning a weekend trip or a longer stay, this guide will help you navigate the top attractions, discover hidden gems, and truly appreciate what makes Sukhothai one of Thailand's most remarkable destinations. Prepare to step back in time and immerse yourself in the rich heritage of this ancient kingdom.

What to see and do in Sukhothai

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For me, it was my second time here. I wanted to share with my parents what I saw a few years ago on our first trip to Thailand, and I have to say that it was one of the visits that shook their souls the most.

But what is so special about this place? What you will find in the vicinity of Sukhothai is the best historical park in Thailand , a unique and obligatory visit for anyone who wants to soak up the culture of the country. Keep reading, as I'm going to reveal untold things.

A little bit of history

Sukhothai was no less than the first capital of the Kingdom of Siam , during the 13th century, and this place is to be thanked for what Thailand would become in the centuries to come.

The foundations of Theravada Buddhism were laid, the monarchy was established as a political option and even the Thai alphabet was created. It was a little more than a century of prosperity and cultural and religious flourishing in which countless wonderful temples were built, many of which are well preserved and form the Historical Park, a UNESCO heritage site since 1991.

Sukhothai today

There are two Sukhothais: the old and the new. You guessed it, the ruins are in the “ Old Sukhothai ” which is made up of the park and some hotels and restaurants built just for the visit. The “ New Sukhothai ” is the city itself, about 12 km from the park, without many attractions but with the advantages of any city: restaurants of all kinds and for any budget, night market, varied accommodation…

We have stayed at the New Sukhothai both times and it is what we recommend.

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Sukhothai Historical Park

The ruins of the ancient capital of Sukhothai are located 12km from the new city. The park is made up of two groups of temples : those inside the walls (the central group) which are the most impressive, and those outside them (the northern and western groups), which are more scattered and perhaps of less interest. If you don't have much time and prefer not to make your visit too long, focus on the temples inside, and there are separate entrances to visit the two groups.

Temples to see in Sukhothai

The most important temples within the walls are:

→ Wat Mahathat:

This is the largest and most important temple of all. You can walk among its stupas along brick paths and inside there is a huge statue of Buddha and a main stupa that stands out from the rest.

What to see and do in Sukhothai

→ Wat Si Sawai:

It is one of the oldest temples in the complex and we can call it “ Angkor Wat ’s little brother ” – you won’t have any trouble finding its similarities. It’s our favourite!

What to see and do in Sukhothai

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→ Wat Sasi:

It is located at the other end of the complex and to get to it we will have to cross a wooden bridge. It has a large stupa and a white Buddha figure.

→ Wat Si Chum:

The best temple outside the wall is Wat Si Chum , in the northern enclosure, with a huge statue of Buddha inside.

How to visit Sukhothai Historical Park

The best way to do it is by bike . Before the park entrance there are several shops and restaurants, where you can rent them for 30 baht (less than €1). The park is not big and you can also walk there, but it may be a bit tedious and it is often very hot.

What we did was rent a tuktuk in New Sukhothai to take us to the park and, once inside, we made stops at the different temples. The price was 300 baht and in total we were there for about 2-3 hours.

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Other things to see and do in Sukhothai

There is a typical dish here that you have to try: it is a very tasty soup called Sukhothai noodles. The restaurant “Poo” (which translates from English as “poop” haha but in Thai it actually means “crab”) prepares it very well, and also has other Thai varieties such as massaman curry and western dishes. So “enjoy the poo!”

At night, on the streets near the bridge, they set up little restaurants on the sidewalks , the typical street stalls with an improvised kitchen and a few plastic stools and half-wobble tables, but where the food is delicious and at really cheap prices.

What to see and do in Sukhothai

Useful information for traveling to Sukhothai

How much does it cost to enter the park ? The entrance to the walled enclosure (central enclosure) costs 100 baht (2.50€), they didn't charge us extra for the tuktuk and we think it's 10 baht for the bikes. The rest of the enclosures (north and west) have the same price. The entrance to the museum costs 150 baht, we didn't go in.

How to get to the park from Sukhothai City : There are buses that stop very close to the bridge, on the main road leading to the park (you can see it on the map below). The price is 30 baht per trip and they leave every 30 minutes from 06:30 to 17:00.

How to get to Sukhothai from Bangkok : Both times we went we did it by bus. The buses leave from Mo Chit BTS Station, in the north of the city. The price is 346 baht and it takes about 7.5 hours. You can book through the website 12go.asia . We went with the company “Phitsanulok Tour” and they give you water, food (rice with meat) and some cookies. If you ask at the travel agencies in Bangkok the price will be higher and they don’t include pick up, so it’s better to get it through the website. There is another option which is to combine the train to Phitsanulok (they leave from Hua Lampong station and take about 5-6 hours for a price of 729 baht, plus a bus to Sukhothai for about 50 baht and 1 hour of travel (58 km).

How to get to Sukhothai from Chiang Mai and vice versa : there are direct buses between these two cities, although they are not listed on the 12go.asia website . It is best to check with the station or an agency for information. The journey takes 4 hours and the bus costs approximately 240 baht. These are the schedules:

Chiang Mai -> Sukhothai: 07:00 / 08:00 / 10:15 / 12:00 / 13:30 / 15:00 / 16:30 / 17:30.
Sukhothai -> Chiang Mai: 06:30 / 07:15 / 08:30 / 09:30 / 11:00 / 11:50 / 13:40 / 14:30.

How to get to Sukhothai from Chiang Rai and vice versa : there are also direct buses and as in the previous case, it is best to get information directly at the station (what we do is book the next bus once we arrive at the station, in this case the Sukhothai to Chiang Mai bus as soon as we arrive at Sukhothai station from Bangkok, two days before). The journey takes 8 hours and the bus price is 260 baht. These are the schedules:

Chiang Rai -> Sukhothai: 07:00 / 08:30 / 09:30 / 10:30.
Sukhothai -> Chiang Rai: 06:40 / 09:00 /11:30.

How to get from the bus station to Sukhothai village : The bus station is about 3km from the centre of the village. We took a shared van (even though it was just us) for 20 baht per person.

Accommodation in Sukhothai : We stayed at the Pai Sukhothai Resort for around €25 per night in the superior bungalows. The place is absolutely worth it, great breakfast, small pool and in a good location, right next to the bus stop to Old Sukhotai and 5 minutes walk from the nightlife area.