Thailand’s former capital is an easy day trip from Bangkok. It’s a great way to get away from the teeming traffic of Bangkok. The relaxing 1.5 hour train trip sets the tone for the sleepy town. I actually spent a couple days here. When I arrived, they were having a huge festival, but this is Thailand. There is always a festival so perhaps you’ll get lucky too.

Regardless of entertainment, there are a few sites to see in town. Wat Maha That reminded me of Angkor Wat in its architectural style and, frankly, it was a much more pleasant experience. It’s not entirely coincidental as it was also built by the Khmer people. It just receives thousands fewer tourists! Here you will also find the famous Buddha head enveloped in tree roots.

There is a giant city park in the center of town, and not far from the train station, you can visit the floating market. My favorite site in Ayutthaya (and favorite odd temple in all Asia) is Wat Tha Ka Rong. Without  question, this temple houses the most eccentric collection of statues I’ve ever seen anywhere in the world. After the Buddha head, this is the most important must see in Ayutthaya.

Getting around is easy since you can rent a bicycle right across the street from the train station and drop it off before you depart on your return train. The entire city is flat, so other than the stifling heat, it’s pretty easy to get around by bike.

There is a great night market where you can try all kinds of Thai street food. After your visit to Ayutthaya, you can either catch the train to Chiang Mai or back to Bangkok.