The train is the simplest and cheapest way from Bangkok to Ayutthaya. Most long-distance trains now leave from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal, slow third-class ordinary trains still run from the old Hua Lamphong station, and since 1 August 2026 a new air-conditioned commuter service, SRT Bangkok Connex, runs from Krung Thep Aphiwat to Ayutthaya for 50 baht.
Ayutthaya lies on the main northern railway, so almost every train heading north or northeast from Bangkok passes through it. You do not need to book ahead for a day trip. The real question is which Bangkok station you start from, because the old advice ("go to Hua Lamphong") is now only half true.
This page covers the train ride and the first ten minutes after you get off. For the temples, the history and how long to stay, read our Ayutthaya city guide first.
Bangkok–Ayutthaya by rail at a glance
- Main Bangkok station
- Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal (long-distance trains since 19 January 2023, and the BNEX service)
- Older station
- Hua Lamphong (Bangkok Railway Station): ordinary and some commuter trains
- New service
- SRT Bangkok Connex (BNEX), air-conditioned KIHA railcars, daily from 1 August 2026
- BNEX fare
- No more than 50 baht to Ayutthaya (promotional fare 1 August to 31 October 2026)
- Ayutthaya station
- On the east bank of the Pa Sak River, opposite the island where the old city stands
- SRT call center
- 1690, 24 hours
Krung Thep Aphiwat or Hua Lamphong: where your train leaves from
On 19 January 2023 the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) moved 52 long-distance rapid and express trains from Hua Lamphong to the new Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal in the north of the city, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand. All the northern and northeastern expresses that stop at Ayutthaya now start there. Krung Thep Aphiwat sits beside the MRT Blue Line and the SRT Red Line, close to Chatuchak, so it is easy to reach from most hotels.
Hua Lamphong did not close. The same TAT notice says ordinary trains, commuter trains and special tourist trains continued to use it, calling at Sam Sen and Krung Thep Aphiwat on the way north. These are the slowest and cheapest trains to Ayutthaya. If you are staying near Chinatown or Silom, Hua Lamphong (MRT Hua Lamphong station on the Blue Line) can still be the closer start.
The practical rule: an express, rapid or BNEX train means Krung Thep Aphiwat; a third-class ordinary train may start at Hua Lamphong and pick up at Krung Thep Aphiwat too. Ask at the ticket counter which platform your train uses, because the big terminal has separate platforms for northern and southern lines. Our guide to the BTS and MRT explains how to get to either station by metro.
SRT Bangkok Connex: the new air-conditioned option
The easiest change for visitors in 2026 is BNEX. SRT ran a weekday-only air-conditioned shuttle from Don Mueang to Ayutthaya from April 2026; from Saturday 1 August 2026 it was extended to start at Krung Thep Aphiwat and to run every day, as reported by Khaosod English from SRT's announcement.
- Weekdays: six trips a day (train numbers 9001–9006), first departure 05:15.
- Weekends: four trips a day (9003–9006), first departure 09:05, timed for day-trippers.
- Stops: Don Mueang, Rangsit, Khlong Phutsa, Bang Pa-in, Ban Pho and Ayutthaya.
- Fare: during the promotion from 1 August to Saturday 31 October 2026, 30 baht to Don Mueang, Rangsit or Khlong Phutsa and no more than 50 baht to Bang Pa-in, Ban Pho or Ayutthaya. What it costs after October had not been announced when we checked.
- Tickets: at the station. SRT says to check the timetable on its 1690 hotline.
The trains are refurbished Japanese KIHA 40/48 diesel railcars. Only the first departure times were published, so ask at the station or call 1690 for the full timetable before you plan a return. Because BNEX also stops at Don Mueang, it is a handy way to go straight from a flight into Don Mueang Airport to Ayutthaya without going into central Bangkok. The stop at Bang Pa-in is useful for the Bang Pa-in Royal Palace.
BNEX at 50 baht is the comfortable bargain until 31 October 2026. Air conditioning and proper seats for about the price of a coffee. Check the fare at the counter after October, when the promotion ends.
Third class, express or a reserved seat
Apart from BNEX you have three kinds of train, and they all reach the same station in Ayutthaya.
Ordinary trains, third class. Wooden or plastic bench seats, open windows and fans. This is the cheapest ticket on the Thai railway and you buy it at the counter on the day, in cash. The ride takes longer because the train stops at every small station, but on a 70-odd km trip that hardly matters. Seats are not guaranteed at busy times; on weekend mornings you may stand for part of the way.
Rapid and express trains. Faster, and often with second-class or air-conditioned cars. Many of these are long-distance trains to Chiang Mai, Nong Khai or Ubon Ratchathani, so seats in the better classes may be sold for the whole journey. A short-hop ticket to Ayutthaya can still be available, especially in third or second class.
Reserved seats online. SRT's D-Ticket system sells seats up to 30 days ahead on most trains. We do not print fares here because SRT's own site could not be reached when we checked and the fare depends on train type and class; check the price on the D-Ticket system or at the counter. Our guide on how to book Thai trains online walks through the system and the agencies. For a day trip, booking is rarely worth the effort; for a seat on an overnight train north, it is. If Ayutthaya is the first stop on a longer rail journey, see our guide to Thailand's night trains.
How long the ride takes
Allow roughly one to two hours, depending on the train. Expresses and BNEX are at the faster end, ordinary trains at the slower end, and any train can lose time waiting for others to pass on the shared track. Third-party timetable sites list exact times, but SRT changes them, and we could not check the official timetable. Read the departure board or ask at the counter on the day.
For the trip back, the last trains to Bangkok in the evening tend to be long-distance trains that come down from the north and can run late. If you have an evening appointment in Bangkok, take an earlier train or a minivan. Our guide to minivans in Thailand explains that alternative.
Arriving: the ferry across the Pa Sak River
Ayutthaya station is not in the old city. The historic temples stand on an island ringed by rivers, and the station is on the east bank of the Pa Sak. You have two ways across.
The cross-river ferry. Walk out of the station, cross the road and follow the lane down to the river, a few minutes away. A small passenger ferry shuttles across to the island side, where the streets lead west toward the main ruins. The fare is a few baht, paid in cash; bicycles can usually go on board for a little more. The crossing takes minutes. In very high water after heavy rain, small boat services anywhere in central Thailand can pause, so have a plan B.
By road. Tuk-tuks wait outside the station and will take you over the bridge to any temple, or for an hourly tour. Agree the price before you get in; our tuk-tuk guide explains how. Grab also covers Ayutthaya.
Renting a bike on the island
The ruins are spread over a flat area too big to walk comfortably in the heat, which is why so many visitors cycle. Bike rental shops are private businesses, found near the station and across the river on the island side; you usually leave an ID or a deposit. The Fine Arts Department notes that private bicycles and trams operate inside the old city walls.
Our advice: rent on the island side if you take the ferry, so you are not carrying a bike across. Check the brakes and lock before you pay, take water, and plan the route in a loop, because the big temples such as Wat Chaiwatthanaram lie outside the main cluster. Our guide to coping with heat applies here more than almost anywhere.
Most temples charge a separate fee. The Fine Arts Department lists 50 baht per monument for foreigners or a 220-baht combined ticket; some travel sites report higher prices, which we could not confirm, so bring cash for either. Shoulders and knees should be covered at the temples that are still active; our guide to temple etiquette explains the dress code.
A simple day-trip plan by train
- Take an early train: BNEX on weekdays, or the 09:05 BNEX at weekends, or an ordinary train from Hua Lamphong if you are staying near Chinatown.
- Cross by ferry, rent a bike or hire a tuk-tuk by the hour.
- See the central ruins in the cooler morning, rest over lunch, and leave the riverside temples for late afternoon.
- Check the return time at Ayutthaya station when you arrive, not when you are ready to leave.
Going further north afterwards? Ayutthaya is on the same line as the trains to Phitsanulok, the rail gateway for Sukhothai, and to Chiang Mai; our guide to Bangkok to Chiang Mai covers that journey. The getting around Thailand section has the other options.
Frequently asked questions
Which station in Bangkok do trains to Ayutthaya leave from?
Most trains, including all expresses and the new BNEX service, leave from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal. Slow third-class ordinary trains still start at Hua Lamphong and stop at Krung Thep Aphiwat on the way, so you can board those at either station.
How much is the train from Bangkok to Ayutthaya?
The BNEX air-conditioned service costs no more than 50 baht to Ayutthaya under a promotion running until 31 October 2026. Third-class ordinary tickets are the cheapest on the network; express and reserved-seat fares vary by train and class, so check them at the counter or in the D-Ticket system.
Do I need to book the Ayutthaya train in advance?
Not for a normal day trip. Third-class and BNEX tickets are sold at the station on the day. Booking ahead only makes sense if you want a specific seat on a long-distance express, or if you are travelling during Songkran or a long holiday weekend.
How do I get from Ayutthaya station to the temples?
Take the small passenger ferry from the riverbank a few minutes' walk from the station across to the old city, then walk, cycle or take a tuk-tuk. Tuk-tuks and Grab cars can also take you over the bridge directly from the station.
Is the train to Ayutthaya better than a minivan?
For most visitors, yes. The train avoids Bangkok's traffic, costs less and runs often. A minivan or a private car is better if you want door-to-door transport, are carrying a lot of luggage, or need to be back in Bangkok at a fixed time in the evening.
Sources
- Khaosod English – SRT launches Bangkok-Ayutthaya commuter rail service (checked October 2026)
- Tourism Authority of Thailand – Long-distance trains to operate from new Bangkok rail hub from 19 January 2023 (checked October 2026)
- Tourism Authority of Thailand – SRT opens 90-day advance booking service (checked October 2026)
- Fine Arts Department – Ayutthaya Historical Park: services and admission (checked October 2026)