Ayuthaya Transportation

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As mentioned by other VTers, getting to/from Ayutthaya can be done either by train, bus or minivan. I wanted to try the train but when I was in Bangkok (Oct. 2010), recent rains flooded some of the train's route so the service was suspended. So I took the minivans that wait at the Victory Monument, paid 60 baht, wait till it filled up (max of 15 passengers) and got to Ayutthaya in an hour. It stopped at the market area where one could hire tuktuks to tour around the ruins.

For the return trip just head back to the exact place where you arrived and the minivans will be waiting for you.

Hi,
I have been to Ayutthaya last week. Train from Bangkok to Ayutthaya is from Hualampong Rail Station. You can choose 1st class to 3rd class train. I took 3rd class train. It costs 20 bath. Train will depart at 7am, 8.30am, 10.50am etc. The journey will take 2 hours.
From Ayutthaya station, you can choose by rental bike (40 Bath a day), motorcycle (150 bath a day) or rent tuktuk. Tuktuk drivers will greet you at the station. They will offer to take you around the ancient city. i heard it costs 200 bath per hour. But i m not really sure because that time i was cycling around the old city.

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The train station is located across the river on the eastern side of town. The cheapest and most colourful way of reaching Ayutthaya is by train. All north and north-east line trains depart from Bangkok's Hualamphong Train Station and stop in Ayutthaya, a trip of about 1.5 hours - 2.5hrs depending on the type of train service. I took a train from here to Lopburi which only 45 minutes. Check the website below for timetables and fares:

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In order to get across the river to Wat Phanan Choeng from the south-east of the island, there is a convenient ferry (small powered boat - see first photo). It costs 5B. Another ferry crosses the river from the pier near the Chao Phrom Market on the eastern side of the island to the road that goes up to the train station. This saves you walking across the bridge which is further along the river (see second photo).

The best way of getting around the island and beyond, is by hiring a bicycle. I hired one for an afternoon when I first arrived for 30B and then again for the whole of the next day for 50B from a place opposite Tony's Place in the heart of the traveller/backpacker area along Soi 1 near the Chao Phrom Market.

It's possible to get to Ayutthaya from Kanchanaburi by bus without having to go into Bangkok and back out again. Simply take a bus from Kanchanaburi to a town called Suphanburi, which takes about 2hrs and cost me 50B. Then from here take another bus to Ayutthaya which takes about an hour and cost me 60B. The bus brought me to the main bus stand along Th Naresuan, to the east of the island near where all the cheap backpacker hotels and guesthouses are, which was very useful.

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BY TRAIN:....I took the train to Ayutthaya from Hua Lamphong ..Bangkok Central Railway Station...trains leave every 45 minutes or so..I chose to travel on the ordinary local train..board early to get a soft seat..journey is about an hour cost was about one AUS dollar..great trip with the locals..

BY CAR: Take Highway 1 (Phahonyothin Road) then take Highway 32 to Ayutthaya..

BY BUS: Busses leave the Bangkok bus terminal on Kamphaeng Phet Road every half an hour for Ayutthaya from 5-30 am till 7.20 pm

Tuk tuk in Ayutthaya is slightly different looking than the others ones around Thailand but it is nevertheless a tuk tuk. The rides here are much cheaper compared to the ones in the city. Remember to bargain the price before you get on it.