Phimai Historical Park, in Nakhon Ratchasima province, protects what the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) calls the largest stone Khmer temple in Thailand. It stands in the middle of a small Isaan town, far from the Cambodian border, and makes an easy trip from the provincial capital, Nakhon Ratchasima, better known as Korat.
For travelers who want to see a great Khmer temple without worrying about the closed border zones further east, Phimai is the obvious choice. It is open every day from 07:00 to 18:00, and foreigners pay 100 baht (Fine Arts Department, checked October 2026). Korat itself is a big, busy city with fast trains from Bangkok, which makes it a practical base. This guide covers the temple, the newly renovated museum, the town around it and how Korat fits into a trip.
Phimai Historical Park at a glance
- Run by
- Fine Arts Department (FAD)
- Opening hours
- Daily 07:00–18:00, including public holidays
- Entry
- Foreigners 100 baht, Thais 20 baht
- Facilities
- Free car park; information center with leaflets in Thai, English, French, German, Japanese and Chinese; student guides at weekends
- Museum
- Phimai National Museum, fully reopened on Wednesday 27 May 2026 after renovation
- Base
- Korat (Nakhon Ratchasima), on the north-eastern railway from Bangkok
- Rain
- Wettest September (238.8 mm); December 2.6 mm (TMD, Nakhon Ratchasima, 1991–2020)
Inside Phimai Historical Park
Phimai was an important town of the Khmer Empire, and Prasat Hin Phimai, its stone sanctuary, was one of the empire's major temples, according to TAT. Today the walled temple sits among the streets of the modern town, so you walk straight from everyday Isaan life into the gateway of a centuries-old monument.
You enter from the south. The Fine Arts Department's own guide names the parts in the order you meet them:
- Phlab Phla Pleuang Khreuang, a building in front of the southern gateway.
- The Naga Bridge, a raised walkway with serpent balustrades.
- The Arched Gateways and Boundary Wall, which enclose the outer court, with ponds in its four corners.
- The Gateways and the Gallery, the gallery around the inner court.
- The Main Prasat (Principal Tower), the sanctuary at the center.
- Prang Hin Daeng (the Red Stone Temple) and Prang Brahmathat, a laterite tower in front of the main sanctuary, together with Ho Brahm (the Brahman Shrine) and the Banalai (library).
Allow two hours to walk the courts slowly and look at the carved lintels over the doorways. Early morning, when the park opens at 07:00, gives soft light on the stone and the coolest air; by noon the open courts are very hot, so bring a hat and water.
Phimai opens at 07:00, an hour earlier than many online guides say. The Fine Arts Department's page gives 07:00 to 18:00 every day, including public holidays, and 100 baht for foreigners. Arrive at opening time for empty courts and the best light.
The fee follows the Fine Arts Department's two-tier system: Thais pay 20 baht and foreigners 100 baht. Our page on dual pricing in Thailand explains why. The department's list of exempt visitors includes people aged 60 and over, but such exemptions are normally applied to Thai citizens, so expect to pay. Dress as for any temple, with shoulders and knees covered; our guide to temple etiquette has the basics, and please do not climb on fallen stones.
Phimai National Museum, newly renovated
In the same town, the Phimai National Museum reopened in full on Wednesday 27 May 2026. According to the museum, this was the biggest renovation since it first opened in 1993, carried out in two stages from 2023. It is worth seeing before or after the temple, because it explains what you are looking at.
The main building now has nine galleries. They follow the story of the Korat plateau from prehistoric life and burial customs, through the Dvaravati period and the early Khmer settlements, to the height of Khmer culture from roughly the 10th to the 13th century, and on to Phimai's later history. A second building holds carved stone pieces from temples across the lower north-east, including lintels and other architectural parts.
The museum is at 8 Moo 2, Tha Songkran Road, Phimai (tel. 044-471167). We could not find its current opening days or fee on the Fine Arts Department's site; most national museums close on some weekdays, so call ahead or ask at the historical park.
Around Phimai town: Sai Ngam and the festival
Phimai is a small town, and after the temple and the museum there is time to eat by the river. Just outside town is Sai Ngam (the name means "beautiful banyan"), a well-known banyan grove. We found no official page with details, so ask locally how to get there and whether there is anything to pay.
Each November, Phimai holds a festival with a light-and-sound show at the historical park and a long-boat race on the Chakkarat (Mun) river. In 2024 it ran from Wednesday 6 to Sunday 10 November, according to TAT. As of 19 October 2026 TAT had not published the 2026 dates, so check its event calendar before you plan around the festival.
Korat: a city base with silk and noodles
Nakhon Ratchasima is one of the largest cities in Isaan and the gateway to the region from Bangkok. Most visitors use it as a base rather than a destination, but it has enough to fill an afternoon.
- Thao Suranari Monument, in the city center, honors the local heroine known as Ya Mo, who, as TAT tells the story, led Thai forces to victory when the country was attacked in 1826. A big fair in her memory is held each year; in 2018 TAT listed it from 23 March to 3 April.
- Pad mee Korat, the city's stir-fried rice noodles, are the local dish to try. Our guide to Thai dishes by region covers the wider Isaan menu.
- Silk and pottery. TAT promotes Korat as a city of fine silk, and the province's Dan Kwian clay is known for its pottery.
Getting around Korat is easy with ride-hailing: Bolt lists Nakhon Ratchasima among its Thai cities, and Grab says it serves all regions of Thailand. Our comparison of Bolt and Grab explains the differences. TAT's Nakhon Ratchasima office is on +66 (0) 4421 3666.
Getting there: the double-track train to Korat
The railway from Bangkok to Korat is now double-tracked, and the fastest trains take about three and a half to four hours. All long-distance trains leave from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal. The October 2026 timetable includes:
| Train | Departs Bangkok | Arrives Korat |
|---|---|---|
| Special Express 21 | 06:10 | 10:01 |
| Rapid 135 | 07:10 | 12:12 |
| Express 71 | 10:35 | 14:25 |
| Ordinary 233 (from Hua Lamphong) | 12:00 | 17:24 |
Going back, Express 72 leaves Korat at 10:18 and Special Express 22 at 18:47, the fastest at about three and a half hours. There are also night trains in both directions. These times come from a secondary timetable source, because the State Railway's site could not be reached when we checked, so confirm them in D-Ticket; our guide to booking Thai trains online shows how. A high-speed line from Bangkok to Korat is under construction, but in August 2026 the target opening was 2031.
From Korat to Phimai, local buses run from the city's bus terminal, but we could not confirm the current times or fares on an official page, so ask at the terminal or your hotel. With a car or a hired driver you can combine Phimai with Sai Ngam in half a day. Our guide to long-distance buses explains the bus classes and terminals.
Where Phimai fits: border safety, Khao Yai and the rest of Isaan
The UK FCDO advises against all but essential travel within 20 km of the Cambodian border, where land crossings have been suspended since June 2025 (as of October 2026). Nakhon Ratchasima province does not border Cambodia, and Phimai lies far inland, well over 100 km from the border by our estimate, so it is outside those zones. Our page on what UK and US travel advice says has the full picture, and our page on the Thailand–Cambodia border explains what is closed.
Phanom Rung, the other great Khmer temple of Isaan, lies further south-east in Buriram province, closer to the border; our Isaan guide covers it and the rules for the southern temples. In the south-west of the same province, Khao Yai National Park reopened on 6 October 2026 after floods, with some areas still closed. To continue north, Khon Kaen is the next big city on the railway.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the entrance fee for Phimai Historical Park?
Foreigners pay 100 baht and Thais 20 baht, according to the Fine Arts Department (checked October 2026). The park is open daily from 07:00 to 18:00, including public holidays, and parking is free.
Is Phimai close to the Cambodian border?
No. Phimai is in Nakhon Ratchasima province, which does not border Cambodia, and it lies far inland. The UK's advice against travel within 20 km of the border does not cover it, but check the latest advice before you go.
How do I get from Bangkok to Phimai?
Take a train from Krung Thep Aphiwat to Korat, about three and a half to four hours on the fastest services, and continue by local bus, car or hired driver. Confirm train times in D-Ticket and bus times at Korat's terminal.
Is Phimai or Phanom Rung better?
Both are outstanding. Phimai is easier to reach from Bangkok and sits in a town with hotels and restaurants. Phanom Rung, on a hilltop in Buriram, has the more dramatic setting but is closer to the Cambodian border and further from the railway.
Sources
- Fine Arts Department – Phimai Historical Park: hours, fees and services (checked October 2026)
- Fine Arts Department – Phimai Historical Park: the monuments (checked October 2026)
- Fine Arts Department – Phimai National Museum (reopening notice, May 2026) (checked October 2026)
- TAT Newsroom – Light-and-sound show at Phimai Historical Park (2023) (checked October 2026)
- TAT Newsroom – November 2024 festivals, including the Phimai Festival (checked October 2026)
- TAT Newsroom – Thao Suranari Memorial Fair 2018 (checked October 2026)
- UK FCDO – Thailand travel advice (updated 12 October 2026) (checked October 2026)
- Thai Train Guide – Timetable search, North-eastern Line (secondary source, October 2026) (checked October 2026)
- Thai Meteorological Department – Climate normals 1991–2020 (checked October 2026)