Sukhothai is where many Thai histories begin. The Sukhothai Kingdom was founded in 1238 and is remembered as the first great Thai-ruled state, and the ruins of its capital now form Sukhothai Historical Park, part of a UNESCO World Heritage listing that was inscribed in 1991 along with Si Satchanalai and Kamphaeng Phet. The park covers roughly 70 square kilometres and has 193 ruins, which is why a visit here is mainly about open air, grass, water and brick.
Two places share the name. The living town, usually called New Sukhothai or Sukhothai Thani, is the provincial capital and lies about 12 km east of the ruins; Rama I founded it in 1793. Most of the restaurants, banks and bus services are there, while the quietest stays and the temples themselves are around the old city. Decide early which side you want to sleep on, because the daily 20 to 30 minute shuttle between them adds up.
The temples reward patience more than speed. Wat Mahathat has the lotus-bud stupa that defines the Sukhothai style, Wat Si Chum hides an 11-metre seated Buddha inside a roofless brick chamber, and Wat Sa Si and Wat Traphang Ngoen sit on water. Wat Saphan Hin sits on a hill and asks for a climb. Plan two half-days in the park, with a long gap in the middle, rather than one exhausting day.
For Indian families and older travellers it is a calm, flat, uncrowded stop, though not an easy one on food. Vegetarian cooking exists but has to be asked for, and the climate from March to October is hot or wet. Add Si Satchanalai as a day trip if you have a third day, and treat Sukhothai as a two-night stop on a longer north Thailand route between Bangkok, Phitsanulok and Chiang Mai.
Before you plan
Sukhothai at a glance
- Best months
- November to February is the coolest…November to February is the coolest and driest. March and April are very hot; May to October is the rainy season, greener but wet underfoot.
- Ideal trip length
- 2 nights covers the historical park…2 nights covers the historical park at an easy pace; 3 nights if you add Si Satchanalai
- Airport
- Sukhothai AirportSukhothai Airport (THS) near Sawankhalok, run by Bangkok Airways with flights to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi only; Phitsanulok (PHS) is the larger alternative, about an hour away by road. Check which flights are running before you plan.
- Railway station
- No station in Sukhothai Thani itselfNo station in Sukhothai Thani itself. The usual railhead is Phitsanulok station on the Northern Line, then about an hour by road or bus. The Sawankhalok branch line is not a practical way to arrive.
- Getting around
- Hire a car with driver for day tripsHire a car with driver for day trips; in the old city many visitors hire bicycles or join a park tram or guided car. Songthaews and motorcycle taxis link the new town to the ruins.
- Daily budget
- Indicative: about THB 2,000 to 5,000…Indicative: about THB 2,000 to 5,000 per person per day (roughly Rs 5,000 to 12,500) excluding the hotel, depending on private car hire and meals; check current exchange rates
- Senior comfort
- Good on flat paths in the park but…Good on flat paths in the park but hot with little shade at midday; Wat Saphan Hin needs a stair climb, and many sights are spread out, so a vehicle matters
- Language
- ThaiThai; English is limited outside hotels and the main park entrance, so a translation app and written place names in Thai script help
- Currency
- Thai bahtThai baht (THB); carry cash for small restaurants, songthaews and entry tickets
Prices, opening hours and weather change. Recheck live details before booking.
Best time to visit Sukhothai: January, February, November, December. Month-by-month weather →
How many days do you have?
Sukhothai itinerary
One good day
1 day in Sukhothai
Start at the park gate soon after it opens and spend the cool hours inside the old city walls at Wat Mahathat, then walk to Wat Sa Si and Wat Traphang Ngoen on their lakes. Break for lunch and rest in the shade or at your hotel. In the late afternoon, go north to Wat Si Chum for its great seated Buddha, and end at Wat Phra Phai Luang if you still have energy. Check opening hours and any evening lighting on the Fine Arts Department site before you go.
Day-by-day plan →Two days
2 days in Sukhothai
Spend the morning at Wat Mahathat, Wat Sa Si and Wat Traphang Ngoen, hiring a bicycle or joining a park tram if the distances are too much on foot. Rest through the heat, then visit the Ramkhamhaeng National Museum for the artefacts these temples are linked to and finish at Wat Si Sawai in softer light.
Day-by-day plan →Three unhurried days
3 days in Sukhothai
Wat Mahathat in the cool of the morning, then Wat Sa Si and Wat Traphang Ngoen. Rest at midday and visit the museum in the afternoon.
Day-by-day plan →
