It had been a while since my last visit to Bangkok, so I thought it would be the perfect starting point for my next travel adventure. I couldn’t wait to explore northern Thailand, including the ancient temples of Sukhothai and the beautiful city of Chiang Mai. My plan was to travel from Bangkok to Sukhothai by bus, explore the historical park and its magnificent temples, and then continue by train to Chiang Mai.
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From Bangkok to Sukhothai by bus
What a trip it turned out to be! After spending a few days in busy Bangkok, I was more than ready to head towards a smaller town—somewhere a little less hectic.
I usually buy my bus and train tickets on the day I travel. That’s what I did in Laos, Vietnam and even Turkey. Luckily, a friend advised me to book my bus and train tickets a month in advance, otherwise they would sell out. She was absolutely right. Had I waited until the last minute, I would have been stuck.
If you’re planning a similar trip, you can book directly through the official Thai railway website or a reputable bus booking platform. For the train journey, I highly recommend booking the Special Express. It’s a comfortable and enjoyable way to travel through Thailand.
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Sukhothai town
After more than six hours on the bus to Phitsanulok, plus another hour on the back of a ute to Sukhothai (apparently all the buses were sold out), I finally made it to Sukhothai. So, what’s next? Let’s explore the Temples of Sukhothai. But first, I needed a scooter.
Having been spoiled by the abundance of scooter rentals in Phuket, I thought renting one in Sukhothai would be just as easy. I was wrong. Sukhothai certainly isn’t built for tourists. It took me a while to spot a small sign next to a coffee stand advertising scooter rentals. I think the owner only had one scooter, and he was certainly happy to rent it out.
It seemed that most people came here on a tour bus, stayed one night, visited the historical city and left again. I, however, spent six days in Sukhothai.
Given how local Sukhothai is, it also took me a while to find some good restaurants, especially after eating some rather interesting authentic Thai food on my very first night. Once I found AJ Grill (owned by a friendly Aussie) and Poo Restaurant (yes, poo!), I ate there almost every day. And I would recommend you do too.
From the lush green rice fields and the night markets to the little island shaped like a heart, Sukhothai certainly has its own charm. Even though you don’t need six days to see everything, I really enjoyed experiencing a more authentic Thai town without all the tourists.
So, let’s visit the Temples of Sukhothai…
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The Temples of Sukhothai
There are plenty of blog posts about the various Temples of Sukhothai. But which wat is actually worth visiting? Remember my blog about Ayutthaya?
Well, in my opinion, the prettiest Temples of Sukhothai are found both inside and outside the historical park. And because entry was free during the New Year holidays, I found myself visiting the temples again and again. The central historical park was perfect to explore by bicycle, while I used my scooter to visit the temples outside the city walls. Both turned out to be equally fun and adventurous.
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The Temples of Sukhothai and the historical city cover a large area, so I highly recommend exploring them by bicycle. It’s fun, something a little different, and there are plenty of bikes available for hire. There’s even a dedicated cycling path to follow.
Rather than writing about all the history, apart from the fact that Sukhothai was founded in the 13th century AD, I’ll let my photos tell the story. The Temples of Sukhothai are home to some truly magnificent Buddha statues. Standing next to them, I couldn’t help but feel very small.
One last tip: If you can, visit the historical city close to sunset. The light is beautiful, and you’ll have the chance to capture some stunning photos.
And, as always, remember to dress modestly when visiting temples.
The historical city
and Wat Phra Phai Luang
+ Wat Saphan Him
final – Wat Chedi Ngam
Wat Chang Lom
The historical city at sunset
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And that’s it from Sukhothai. Besides the main highlights, take some time to explore the many smaller temples. I’m sure you’ll enjoy them just as much as I did.
As for me, let’s see how I get on catching the train to Chiang Mai after travelling from Bangkok to Sukhothai by bus.
Read: The old city of Chiang Mai – what to do?
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