Plan 01
1 day in Sukhothai
- 01
Day 1: The central zone and a lakeside sunset
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.
Stop Time needed Walking Best time Wat Mahathat 1 to 1.5 hours Easy Early morning or late afternoon; November to February Wat Sa Si 30 to 45 minutes Easy Early morning or sunset; November to February Wat Traphang Ngoen 30 to 40 minutes Easy Early morning or late afternoon; November to February Wat Si Chum 30 to 45 minutes Easy Early morning; November to February Wat Phra Phai Luang 30 to 45 minutes Easy Early morning or late afternoon; November to February Pace: All the stops today are easy on the legs.
Plan 02
2 days in Sukhothai
- 01
Day 1: Inside the walls
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.
Stop Time needed Walking Best time Wat Mahathat 1 to 1.5 hours Easy Early morning or late afternoon; November to February Wat Sa Si 30 to 45 minutes Easy Early morning or sunset; November to February Wat Traphang Ngoen 30 to 40 minutes Easy Early morning or late afternoon; November to February Ramkhamhaeng National Museum 45 to 75 minutes Easy Midday, to avoid heat; any season Wat Si Sawai 20 to 30 minutes Easy Late afternoon; November to February Pace: All the stops today are easy on the legs.
- 02
Day 2: North and west of the walls
Go to Wat Si Chum early, before tour groups. Continue to Wat Phra Phai Luang to see the Khmer-era prangs, and, if energy and weather allow, make the stair climb to Wat Saphan Hin for the view over the plain. Take a long lunch in the new town.
Stop Time needed Walking Best time Wat Si Chum 30 to 45 minutes Easy Early morning; November to February Wat Phra Phai Luang 30 to 45 minutes Easy Early morning or late afternoon; November to February Wat Saphan Hin 45 to 60 minutes Demanding Early morning; November to February Pace: Wat Saphan Hin involves a lot of walking or steps — do it early, and keep the rest of the day light.
With parents at Wat Saphan Hin: A slate path and staircase climb the hill, with no lift and few places to sit. This is the park's most demanding stop. Older visitors should consider sitting out the climb.
Plan 03
3 days in Sukhothai
- 01
Day 1: Central zone
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.
Stop Time needed Walking Best time Wat Mahathat 1 to 1.5 hours Easy Early morning or late afternoon; November to February Wat Sa Si 30 to 45 minutes Easy Early morning or sunset; November to February Wat Traphang Ngoen 30 to 40 minutes Easy Early morning or late afternoon; November to February Pace: All the stops today are easy on the legs.
- 02
Day 2: Si Satchanalai day trip
Hire a car and driver for a day trip to Si Satchanalai Historical Park, about an hour away by road. See Wat Chang Lom with its ring of elephants and Wat Chedi Chet Thaeo, with a long lunch and a break before the drive back.
Stop Time needed Walking Best time Si Satchanalai Historical Park Half to full day Moderate Early morning; November to February Pace: Moderate walking today — plan a sit-down break between stops.
With parents at Si Satchanalai Historical Park: Distances are shorter than Sukhothai but the ground is uneven, shade is limited and temple steps are steep in places. Plan a rest at midday and stick to the main temples.
- 03
Day 3: Outer temples and a slow finish
Wat Si Chum and Wat Phra Phai Luang in the morning, Wat Saphan Hin if you can manage the stair climb, and a late afternoon at Wat Si Sawai before onward travel.
Stop Time needed Walking Best time Wat Si Chum 30 to 45 minutes Easy Early morning; November to February Wat Phra Phai Luang 30 to 45 minutes Easy Early morning or late afternoon; November to February Wat Saphan Hin 45 to 60 minutes Demanding Early morning; November to February Wat Si Sawai 20 to 30 minutes Easy Late afternoon; November to February Pace: Wat Saphan Hin involves a lot of walking or steps — do it early, and keep the rest of the day light.
With parents at Wat Saphan Hin: A slate path and staircase climb the hill, with no lift and few places to sit. This is the park's most demanding stop. Older visitors should consider sitting out the climb.
Read before you go
Guides for the stops on these routes
Pacing
Pacing a Sukhothai trip for parents and children
- Visit the park in the first two to three hours after opening. Shade is limited, and from March to May even a short walk can be tiring.
- Wat Mahathat, Wat Sa Si, Wat Traphang Ngoen and Wat Si Chum are mostly flat. Wat Saphan Hin needs a climb up a stair and slate path, so skip it if stairs are a concern.
- Sit out the middle of the day. Choose a hotel with a pool or a shaded garden so there is somewhere cool to rest.
- Distances inside the 70 square kilometre park are real. Hire a car with driver, or a bicycle, tram or guide if you want to cover more than the central zone.
- Carry water, a hat, a light scarf and your regular medicines. Temple dress asks for covered shoulders and knees.
- Take travel insurance, and note that the nearest large regional hospitals are in Phitsanulok, with a provincial hospital in Sukhothai Thani; confirm cover and the nearest facility with your hotel.
Book the pieces
Stay close to the route
Pick a base near the first day's sights. Our guide to where to stay in Sukhothai compares the areas.
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