Is Sukhothai Worth Visiting?
Sukhothai is a small city in central Thailand most famous for its Historical Park, which was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991. With around 200 ancient ruins spread over 70 sqkm, it is one of the most significant archaeological sites in the country.
While this is the most prominent thing to do in Sukhothai, the area is more than just its historical site…
After backpacking through, I’ve learned it’s also a great starting point to other temples and nature parks in the region, as well as two of the most underrated things to do in Thailand. (Jump to the end to check it out.)
Meanwhile, here are some of the best things to do in and around Sukhothai.
Best Things to Do in Sukhothai Thailand
Know Before You Go! Mosquitoes run rampant here. DEET yourself like crazy.
Things to do in Sukhothai Historical Park
The Sukhothai Historical Park is the main reason why most people come to Sukhothai. It’s a large complex with around 200 temple ruins, stupas, Buddha statues, and palaces dating back to the 13th and 14th centuries.
The ancient kingdom of Sukhothai was once the thriving first capital of Thailand. This Siam Empire rose to prominence during the 13th century, overcoming the Khmer rule. Although it eventually lost its power, it left behind many cultural legacies that make up modern-day Thailand.
Related Post: Visiting Sukhothai Historical Park? Read my complete guide to the park here.
Tours of Sukhothai Historical Park
If you’re looking to pre-book a tour, there are two main tours available to visit the park: a full-day excursion with a guide or a bicycle tour. Here are a few tours to consider:
1 Day Sukhothai Historical Park from Chiang Mai Private Tour
Sukhothai: 7 Hours Historical Park & Countryside Cycling Tour
Sukhothai: 2.5-Hours Guided Countryside Sunset Bike Tour
Sukhothai Historical Park Entrance Fee Structure
At least since the pandemic, the park entrance fee has been divided into three areas: North, West, and Central. Each fee zone has their own separate ticket offices and only allows entry for that area. (Fees pictured below)
Combination tickets are no longer offered; tickets are only good for the day with multiple entries.
Tip! If you were only to visit one area, it should be the central region of Sukhothai historical park. It offers the most and the grandest ruins and is where you’ll find the iconic Wat Mahathat.
What About the Temples Outside the Ticketed Areas?
The three main areas in the Sukhothai Historical Park are not the only temples around. Hundreds more sit outside the ticketed areas and are free to stroll or bike to!
Make sure to see the free Wat Traphang Thong temple, which lies on an artificial island just outside the central fee area.
Central Sukhothai Historic Park Must-See Temples
- Wat Mahathat
- Wat Sa Si Temple
- Wat Trapang Ngoen
- Wat Si Sawai temple
West Sukhothai Historic Park Must-See Temples
- Wat Saphan Hin temple
North Sukhothai Historic Park Must-See Temples
- Wat Phra Phai Luang temple
- Wat Si Chum temple
Take a Bike Tour Around Sukhothai Old City
With an extensive biking route, a guided bike tour is a great way to see the ruins while getting some exercise. You can easily find many places that offer cycling tours, typically lasting around 3 hours to all day.
Sukhothai: 7 Hours Historical Park & Countryside Cycling Tour
Sukhothai: 2.5-Hours Guided Countryside Sunset Bike Tour
Things to do in Sukhothai Besides the Historic Park
Rakhaemhaeng National Museum
Ramkhamhaeng National Museum is good for anyone interested in Thai history, especially the Sukhothai period. The museum is located just outside the park’s central zone and is 150 baht for foreigners.
The museum has a small but diverse collection of artifacts—many discovered during excavations in Sukhothai historical park. Bonus, there are English translations that explain almost everything you’re looking at.
Eat the Signature Sukhothai Style Noodles
Sukhothai is famous for its noodle dish, using a type of rice noodle slightly thicker than the ones used in pho. The noodles are often served in a sweet pork broth with chicken or pork and an assortment of vegetables, topped with peanut sprinklings.
If you want to try some authentic Sukhothai noodles, one of the best places is Tan Puy Noodle in New Sukhothai. The restaurant is always filled with locals, which is a good sign! With pretty small but high-quality portions, try both the dry and the soup versions.
Explore the Local Markets
Near the Wat Traphang Thong temple, a local market offers plenty of fresh veggies and street foods to try.
We also found a market about 25 kilometers from the city. It had a stage with live music and plenty of food options, although it might only be open on weekends or for special events.
Top Things to do Around Sukhothai
Day Trip to Si Satchanalai Historical Park
Si Satchanalai was the second most important city center of the ancient Sukhothai kingdom. The city’s name, Si Satchanalai, translates to “City of good people.”
If you’re looking to explore beyond Sukhothai, the Si Satchanalai Historical Park is located about an hour away via bus. If you have an extra day, many tourists use this attraction as a popular day trip option.
Many hotels and agencies also offer tours here – like this tour here if you are looking for a private customized tour from Chiang Mai.
The park is smaller than Sukhothai but has many well-preserved ruins, including Wat Chang Lom, Wat Chedi Chet Thaeo, and Wat Nang Phaya.
Entry into this park also costs 100 baht for foreigners or 20 baht for Thai citizens.
Gaze at the Sai Rung Waterfall (Khuk Khak)
Sai Rung waterfall (Khuek Khak) is a nice spot to take a dip if you’re looking to cool down after a day of exploring ancient monuments.
The waterfall is located in the Khuek Khak sub-district. This waterfall is only worth visiting if you have your own motorbike or scooter. It will take 30-45 minutes to get to the parking lot, where you’ll have to pay a small fee. The walk to the base of the falls is relatively short and easy.
Watch the Bats Emerge from the Chao Ram Bat Cave
Home to thousands and thousands of bats, watch the bats emerge from the Chao Ram Cave at sunset each day for this breathtaking sight.
The caves are situated approximately one hour from the historical park by car. The best time to see them is between 6:00pm and 6:30pm. Although, it’s always wise to ask a local for verification, as timing may shift depending on the season.
Kamphaeng Phet Historical Park
You could walk around all day visiting the Kamphaeng Phet Historical Park, another ancient kingdom from the Sukhothai empire.
The park is separated into two sections: a zone near downtown and an area about 3.5km outside of town. The admission fee for this site is 100 baht as well.
Kamphaeng Phet is approximately an hour away from Sukhothai by bus. Unfortunately, there are hardly any bicycle rental options close to Kamphaeng Phet, so you’ll either need to take private transportation or bring your own vehicle between the two sites.
Underrated Amazing Places Around Sukhotai
Blue Cave of Mae Sot
In such a touristy country as Thailand, it’s hard to find underrated places that only locals know about. So it was a pleasant surprise when my friend introduced me to the Blue Cave of Mae Sot.
This small cave has similar features to the slot canyons in Southwestern USA, with The Wave-like textures. But instead of shades of vibrant red, the Blue Cave is, well…blue (and grey).
The Blue Cave of Mae Sot is free to enter.
How to Get to the Blue Cave:
Starting from Sukhothai, rent a scooter to drive the approximately 2.5 hours where you are within eyesight from the border of Myanmar. The road is entirely paved, with a good road leading straight to the cave entrance.
As you can see, we had plenty of fun doing an intense photoshoot inside.
Khao Noi
Khao Noi is another underrated site that can be likened to Vietnam’s Ninh Bihn or Cao Bang, but with only one mountain. Most of the journey was uneventful through a bland, flat agricultural desert. However, out of nowhere appears a towering, narrow mountain range that just as quickly disappears.
As soon as you turn in, thousands of monkeys will swarm and scurry around. What was probably once a tourist site with vendor stalls and temple infrastructure now only shows evidence of its past glory days through the overgrown vegetation.
Turn left before entering the temple doorframe, where you’ll begin a steep, straight hike up over 600 stairs, as well as face a few very daunting ladders. However, once you reach the top, the view is more than worth it. Don’t forget to announce your achievement by banging on the bells at the top.
Khao Noi is free to climb.
How to Get to Khao Noi:
Since this place is in the middle of nowhere, you will want your own transportation to drive the approximately 2.5 hours to get to the mountain. Almost all of your journey will be on highway 1, which is well-paved all the way to Khao Noi.
Fun Storytime: Panic struck our faces as we parked at the base of the stairs. “Where’s the motorbike key?”
Our scooter keys had fallen out of the keyhole, leaving us without a way to shut it off or open the gas filler, 2.5 hours from where we had rented it. We had stopped more than an hour ago, and the key could be anywhere during that time period.
As luck was on our side that day, we could do nothing but walk to retrace our steps and hope for the best. Lo and behold, the key had only fallen out within a couple hundred meters from where we were.
Where to stay in Sukhothai, Thailand
Sukhothai is separated into the old and the new city. You are most likely coming into the city via bus, where you will land in the new city, 12 kilometers away from the Sukhothai Historical Park.
When you stay in old Sukhothai, Thailand, you can experience the city’s history and temples outside your window. There are a number of quaint guesthouses and hotels in the old town that offer an authentic Thai experience.
On the other hand, new Sukhothai is much quieter and is conveniently closer to the bus station. If you plan on renting a scooter, you can easily move around the city from here and take advantage of cheaper accommodation options in this area.
Highly Rated Places In New Sukhothai
STYLISH AFFORDABLE LUXURY WITH AWESOME POOL – Foresto Sukhothai Guesthome
MID PRICED PRIVATE BUNGALOW WITH POOL – The Nature
BUDGET DORM IN FRONT OF BUS STATION – Reung Sri Sri
I stayed at Reung Sri Sri, and it was great location-wise as it literally couldn’t be closer to the bus station. The hostel also rents motorbikes and offers tours.
Highly Rated Places in Old Sukhothai
QUIET RESORT WITH AMAZING OUTDOOR SPACE – Sawasdee Sukhothai Resort
LUXURY RESORT WITH POOL AT CRAZY DISCOUNTS – Vieng Tawan Sukhothai Hotel by Thai Thai
For a few more dollars when this resort is on sale, I would recommend Vieng Tawan over any of the cheapest options in Old Sukhothai. You are getting a lot more value for the price.
BASIC PRIVATE ROOM NEAR CENTRAL HISTORICAL PARK – Vitoon Guesthouse
How to get to Sukhothai, Thailand
Get to Sukhothai by Bus
The best way to get to Sukhothai is by bus, and you can find buses leaving for the UNESCO city from Chiang Mai and Bangkok multiple times per day. If you’re looking to save some money, there are also night buses available which will allow you to avoid paying for accommodation one night.
- From Bangkok, reaching Sukhothai takes around 6-7 hours and 360 baht.
- From Chiang Mai, reaching Sukhothai takes around 5-6 hours and 324 baht.
Get to Sukhothai by Train
There are no train stations in Sukhothai.
To take the train, you will have to take one of the two trains that stop in Phitsanulok. From there, busses leave every hour in the daytime to Sukhothai. The final leg of the journey takes around one hour.
How to get around Sukhothai, Thailand
Sukhothai is relatively flat and spread out, so the best modes of transportation are by bicycle or motorbike. A motorbike can be rented for 250 baht per day.
You can rent a bicycle from guesthouses or hotels in the old city for around 30 THB. An extensive bike route extending 15 kilometers between the old and new city and around the temples makes for a pleasant and safe ride around town.
Local red buses, called songthaews, frequently run from old town to new town as well.
How many days visit Sukhothai?
Most people only stop at Sukhothai for an overnight on the way between Chiang Mai and Bangkok. If you are only visiting the historical park, you really only need one day.
If you want to explore the different temples and ruins in the area, every attraction basically requires at least one full day unless you have your own transportation.
The Blue Cave and Khao Noi, two of the most remote underrated things I’ve done in Thailand, both deserve and take at least one day to reach.
Best time to visit Sukhothai
For the best experience, visit Sukhothai Historical Park from October to January when the weather is cooler and more tolerable. However, be aware that the “burning season” occurs in Northern Thailand. This is when farmers burn their crops, and it causes a decrease in visibility due to air pollution. The burning season typically happens during wintertime.
Thailand can get uncomfortably hot and sticky in spring, and the rains during the summer season may put a damper on your outdoor plans. However, the air quality is generally better at these times of the year.
Which is better Sukhothai vs. Ayutthaya?
Both UNESCO World Heritage sites have their pros and cons. If you love temples, then Ayutthaya is for you because it has more of them. If you would rather stay in a smaller city with fewer crowds and tourists, Sukhothai is the place for you.
Both cities are easy to get to from Bangkok and Chiang Mai, so if you can’t decide, visit both!
Bucket List Worthy? Best Things to Do In Sukhothai
If you’re looking for an interesting and off-the-mainstream Thailand itinerary, I would recommend Sukhothai. While the historical park is definitely worth it for those who love history, what really blew me away were the Blue Cave and Khao Noi. Both of these attractions were quite an effort to get to – but they are well worth the visit!
The post 10 Best Things to Do in Sukhothai, Thailand (+2 Secret Attractions) appeared first on Nomadicated.
