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My Five Acres. Travel. Adventure. Yoga. My Five Acres. Travel. Adventure. Yoga. - Travel. Adventure. Yoga.

Want to visit the spectacular Gran Paradiso National Park in Italy? In this post, we share the best things to do and how to get the most from your visit. Read on to start planning your to Parco Nazionale del Gran Paradiso!

What’s in our guide to visiting Gran Paradiso National Park?

1. 3. 5.

When you’re in Turin, the Alps call to you. The mountains arc around the city, far away enough to be mysterious, close enough to be incredibly tantalizing. While wandering Torino, for all that I love the city, part of me just keeps thinking “Why aren’t we in the Alps right now?”

The great news is that it’s easy to visit Gran Paradiso National Park (or Parco Nazionale del Gran Paradiso, if you want to practice your Italian) from Turin.

The park is nestled in the Alps on the border with France, not far from the city. Driving takes a little more than an hour, or you can hire a guide to take you, or even go by public transport.

Hiking in Gran Paradiso, you will get to see spectacular views. Photo by Davide Glarey via Parco Nazionale Gran Paradiso.

Whether you want to take a gentle stroll through an Alpine meadow or challenge yourself on an almost vertical hike up above 2,000 m (6,500 ft), you’ll find the opportunity in Gran Paradiso.

The bad news is that there are so many places to hike and so little information available, especially in English, that it can be tough to decide where to go for your day trip!

Start with the Gran Paradiso tourist map — which we didn’t discover until after our visit — which will be big help in planning your trip.

The Gran Pardiso tourist map is very useful to help planning your trip.

We opted for a challenging day hike, taking us to the peak of Punta Quinseina, just above 2200 m high. Luckily we drove up to about 1500 m first, otherwise we never would have made it to the top!

Though the hike was marked as “medium” on all our apps, it was more than enough challenge for us for that day, leaving our legs sore and our knees aching by the end. It was also incredibly rewarding.

So, if you’re interested in exploring the mountains and finding some time to reconnect with yourself through nature, read on to discover…

How to do a Spectacular Day Trip to Gran Paradiso National Park

Before you start reading the details, watch our short video of our day hike in Gran Paradiso to get inspired!

Also don’t miss these posts:

Your complete Torino guide → The best day in Sacra di San Michele → Your guide to visiting Mole Antonelliana →

Don’t forget to stop and breathe deeply and enjoy the views while you’re in the park.

The park’s origin story is a little sad — it all began because people love to kill wildlife. The area had been a hunting ground for the royal family and was also frequented by poachers. It was originally protected by Vittorio Emmanuel as a Royal Hunting Reserve, so that the Alpine ibex would be protected from poachers (and reserved for Royal hunters).

In 1922, the land was donated by the royals to Italy and it became Italy’s first national park. Though the ibex were supposed to be protected, the law was not enforced at first and the population dwindled to dangerously low numbers.

Now, they are properly protected and the ibex population is healthy and thriving! They are also daredevils.

You won’t lack for any amazing views when you visit Gran Pardiso National Park.

OK, you probably climb every mountain in the park, but there are lots of opportunities for rock climbing and ice climbing in Gran Paradiso.

For climbers, basing yourself in Turin or somewhere on the Piedmont side of the park is perfect, as this is where you’ll find the best climbing routes in the park. Check out the Orco Valley and the Soana Valley for incredible climbing opportunities.

Sleep in a Refuge

If you’ve hiked to a refuge hut anywhere in North America, you might be picturing a small wooden hut, with some sleeping bunks, a fireplace, and not much else.

But in Gran Paradiso, many of the huts (refugio) are European-style. That is to say, they are almost full-service hotels, with restaurants and comfortable beds. Your chance to in style.

Different huts offer different services, so make sure you know what to expect and what you need to bring before you go.

Spot the Wildlife

We didn’t get to see a marmot on our trip to the park. Next time! Photo by Dario de Siena via Parco Nazionale Gran Paradiso.

On our hike up Punta Quinseina, we kept our eyes and ears open for marmots. Alas, it was a little early in the season and we didn’t get to se any. The only wildlife we saw, apart from lots of soaring birds, was the not-so-rare Italian hang-glider. They did make for an impressive site, soaring through the air at 1500 m!

Marmots do populate the park though. These plump rodents evolved to deal with the harsh mountain climates, and can hibernate for up to 9 months of the year. You’ll often hear marmots before you see them. They make a high-pitched chirp that sounds a lot like a bird, and, if you get to close, their chirping will increase in frequency.

Deeper in the park, you might see the Alpine ibex (also know as the Steinbock) which is the symbol of the park. As we said in the intro, it’s because of these long-horned wild goats that the park was established in the first place.

You might also spot a chamois, another species of goat that looks like the steinbock but with shorter horns. However, female steinbocks also have shorter horns, so it’s easy to get them confused.

Keep your eyes to the skies to spot golden eagles, impressive birds of prey that feed on marmots and other small mammals — but are sometimes big enough to make off with a small goat. Yikes!

Finally, a wolf pack has recently taken residence in the Aosta Valley. You probably won’t see wolves (which is a good thing) but you may hear them howling at the moon.

Get on Your Bike

If you’d rather roll than walk, there are plenty of bike trails in the park, from fully paved gentle routes to all-out technical mountain bike trails. Many routes pass through some of the historic Alpine villages that skirt the lower edges of the park.

Explore a Winter Wonderland

If you do a multi-day trip, you’ll be in the mountains for sunset. Photo by Martino Nicolino via Parco Nazionale Gran Paradiso.

If you happen to visit Italy in winter, strap on your snow shoes and hit the park trails. You can also cross-country ski, downhill ski, and go ice climbing in Gran Paradiso.

Visit the Botanical Garden

If you want a little less energetic outing, the Paradisia Alpine Botanic Garden is a great destination. Located on the Aosta Valley, this 10,000 square metre garden gives you a chance to see Alpine flora up close.

The best time to go is mid-June to mid-July, when you can take a guided tour or visit independently using the garden brochure to navigate.

Driving in Italy is truly mind-boggling / terrifying!

Once you’re off the busy city streets and fast-moving highways, you’ll also have to contend with winding, narrow roads, often single-lane, that switchback their way up the mountains.

If you don’t have a lot of driving experience and/or nerves of steel, I’d suggest you find another way to get there.

But, if you want drive to Gran Pardiso, here’s how:

From Turin to Valle Orco, point your GPS towards Rivarolo Canavese. From there, take road 460, which follows the route of the Orco River. Turn right at Pont Canavese, onto the SP 47 to reach the Soana Valley.

Getting to Gran Paradiso By Bus or Train

From Turin, you can take the bus to Rivarolo (line 131 Torino to Rivarolo) or the train from Torino Porta Susa to Rivarolo and Pont stations. From there, public bus lines serve Valle Orco (line 137 Rivarolo or Pont to Locana or Noasca) and Val Soana (line 140 Pont to Valprato Soana).

To get to the Aosta Valley from Torino, follow the instructions here →

The day hike we did was up all the way, but you can do flat hikes in the park, too.

If you’re looking for a rewarding day hike within easy reach of Turin, you can try the same hike we did — up Punta Quinseina di Santa Elisabetta. Technically this hike is not inside Gran Paradiso but it’s close enough to get the idea!

The hike starts at the tree line and goes up from there, so you get to experience panoramic views of the foothills and the mountains the entire way. No dull forested trail where you can’t see anything!

If you don’t like climbing, this one is not for you.

It starts with a steep uphill, which takes you to a gorgeous alpine meadow. Spend a little time taking in the views of the Alps and watching the hang-gliders soar above your head. There’s also a small stone hut which is interesting — but resist the temptation to go inside. The structure looks fundamentally unsound.

Past the meadow, the path turns upwards again, and continues on a steep incline until you reach the summit. The trail is rocky and somewhat technical. You’ll need shoes with good grip and support to be comfortable.

As you climb, you’ll be rewarded by the continually incredible views. The most magnificent one is at the summit, where you experience 360 degrees of Alpine perfection.

There’s a guest book at the summit, hidden inside the small cabinet connected to the steel cross. Look for our entry and make sure to leave your own!

If you haven’t had enough after you summit, you can continue along the ridge trail and off into the wilderness. As we took about 3 hours to climb up, we’d had plenty of walking and did not extend our hike!

How to Get to Punta Quinseina

Once you get into the mountains, you may have to contend with narrow steep roads, like this one used in the Giro d’Italia.

The drive from Turin to the Punta Quinseina trailhead is an experience in its own right. The first part is simple highway driving from Turin to Castellamonte (though that didn’t prevent us from getting lost and having to backtrack).

From Castellamonte to Colleretto Castelnuovo, it’s quiet, well maintained country roads. There are lots of speed cameras, especially around the villages, so stick to the speed limit. The fines are around €70, so not worth it!

After Colleretto Castelnuovo, which is a charming sub-alpine town that’s worth a stop, things start to get interesting.

A paved but extremely narrow road leads out of town. Soon you’ll find yourself on a series of (seemingly never-ending) tight switchbacks up the side of the mountain. It is steep and narrow — only wide enough for one car in many places. If you aren’t a confident driver with nerves of steel, you might think twice before attempting it.

We didn’t meet a single car coming down as we were going up, which was a blessing, because I was not prepared to back down that winding ribbon of road.

If you start the drive and feel like it will never end, just think about the cyclists in the Giro d’Italia — this road was part of their route in 2019. It must be absolute murder trying to cycle up here!

Even iPhone photographers will love the photos you can take in the park.

Hike stats. 8 km, 787 m elevation gain, 2,231 m highest elevation, out & back, 4–6 hours for return trip.

Hike summary. There is very little flat terrain on this hike. It’s mostly up, up, up. The trail markers are painted onto rocks along the way, with only a few real signposts.

Go when the weather is clear, as it would be easy to lose the trail in fog. In fact, we managed to lose the trail a couple of times on a perfect, sunny day.

Parking & facilities. There is a small parking lot at the foot of the hike with picnic tables and a public restroom.

Trailhead. The trailhead is a bit hard to find and I think we didn’t manage to start the hike in the right spot. To find the trail from the car park, walk up the paved road until the paving ends.

A road on your left leads to a popular hang-gliding launch spot. Continue past this road on the dirt road that leads toward a small farm. Turn left into what looks like the farm driveway, and you’ll find the trailhead on the left, just before reaching the farmhouse.

There’s an alternative trailhead that starts just behind the hang-gliding launch spot. It’s a little harder to find and starts the hike off with a very steep climb. But it’s do-able, as it’s the one we took!

Use the AllTrails map here to find the directions →

What to bring. As usual, bring all the typical necessities you would bring on any wilderness hike. This includes first aid kit, plenty of water, extra snacks, and warm layers.

We went in early June, and there was still a little snow at the peak, though typically you might find more snow at this time of year. At the bottom, we were in t-shirts and by the time we reached the top, we needed winter hats, gloves, sweaters, and jackets, so be prepared to layer up!

The weather can change extremely quickly up here, so be prepared for any conditions.

Hiking poles would be an asset, for balance and to save your knees on the steep descent. We did the hike without, but I would have loved to have a pair with me.

Also bring a GPS-enabled device and an offline mapping app, so you have assistance in finding your way if you lose the trail (like we did a couple of times). You don’t necessarily need a paper map if you stick to the trail and don’t wander off, but it can be an extra safety asset if your phone dies.

The Alpine Ibex is the originator and symbol of the park. Photo by Dario de Siena via Parco Nazionale Gran Paradiso.

If you’re not comfortable Gran Paradiso on your own, or you just want to increase the quotient, you can hire a guide to organize everything and take you to the park.

Mountain Guides Society of Gran Paradiso

Variety of trip lengths and difficulty

The official park mountain guides organization operates every day all year long. They are based in the Aosta Valley but can organize an activity for you closer to Torino if you don’t want to drive that far.

They can guide you on a huge range of activities, from trekking, canyoning, and rock climbing, to snowshoeing, off-piste skiing, and ice climbing.

Explore Gran Paradiso National Park with Trekking Alps

3 days, €449 per person

Rated as 4/5 on the difficulty level, this exciting tour will immerse you in the wonders of Gran Paradiso and give you a chance to completely disconnect from everyday life (to forge a deeper connection to yourself, naturally).

Accommodation is in mountain huts — which are more like rustic hotels, where you get a soft bed and a hot meal — in the wilderness. You can do this as a private hike, or join a scheduled group tour. You can also arrange a self-guided trek through Trekking Alps.

Whether you just want a few hours outside, or you want to challenge yourself on a multi-day hike or back country skiing trip, Gran Paradiso is ideal. Much less crowded than the French Alps, this spectacular corner of Italy offers a true getaway — a place where you can immerse yourself in nature and truly disconnect from everyday stress.

Whatever you’re looking for, big or small, you’ll find it in Gran Paradiso National Park.

We hope this short guide to Gran Paradiso helps you plan your trip. Leave at least one day in your Turin itinerary to visit this magnificent park in the northwest corner of Italy. But if you have time, we recommend spending at least three days to get the most out of the park.

♥  Happy mindful s, Jane & Stephen

We’re not going to lie, it takes a LOT of work to create guides like this. But it’s easy to help us out! If you book or buy something using one of our personal links in this post, we’ll earn a small fee at no extra cost to you. Of course, we would never recommend anything we didn’t 100% believe in! Huge thanks in advance! –S&J

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My Five Acres. Travel. Adventure. Yoga. My Five Acres. Travel. Adventure. Yoga. - Travel. Adventure. Yoga.

Here’s your guide to visiting Sukhothai, Thailand and Sukhothai Historical Park, where you’ll find the ruins of the majestic temples that once graced this ancient city. For all the tips on making the best of a visit to this designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, read on!

What’s in our guide to visiting Sukhothai, Thailand?

1. 3. 5. 7. 9.

Even if you’re not interested in their historical or religious value, the temples at Sukhothai are remarkably beautiful.

The kingdom was established in approximately 1238 by Phokhun Si Intharathit, the founder of the Phra Ruang dynasty.

The city’s name translates as “the dawn of happiness” and for just over a century, Sukhothai retained its power and its ability to make the local power-brokers very happy. In the late 14th century, the kingdom of Ayutthaya to the south took over power in the region and the sun set on Sukhothai’s happy era.

But now, hundreds of years later, people come from all over the world to see the remains of the grand temples that once stood here.

(Don’t miss: Our complete guide to taking an Ayutthaya day trip from Bangkok) →

Read on for our guide to…

Visiting Sukhothai, Thailand and the Sukhothai Historical Park

This structure is called a chedi or a stupa, which would once have held religious relics.

Also don’t miss these posts:

Your ultimate Ayutthaya guide → 2 amazing days in Bangkok → Temples of Angkor: Angkor Wat & Banteay Kdei →

Mindful travellers and yogis will enjoy the tranquil atmosphere of these Buddhist temples.

It gets very hot during the day in Thailand, so it is best plan for an early morning visit. Even if you plan to leave early, make sure you bring a sunhat, sunscreen, and lots of water (in your refillable water bottle, of course).

Sunrise is a great time to photograph the hundreds of Buddha statues and dozens of stunning temples. The orange glow of magic hour makes them even more magical. The sun rises between 6am and 7am depending on the time of year, so it does make an early start to your day.

On Saturday night, the park stays open until 9pm and the temples in the Central Zone are illuminated with colourful lights, so you can get some great pictures then as well. Plus, it’s a whole lot cooler to walk around the park after dark.

Confirming the exact opening times of the park is challenge as they seem to change without notice.

But, roughly, the Central Zone opens from 6:30am to 6pm, except Saturdays, when it stays open until 9pm. The Northern Zone closes at 5:30pm daily and the Western Zone has slightly shorter hours, open daily from 8am–4:30pm.

Understand the Language of Ancient Temples

If you understand some of the architectural terms related to this era of temple, your visit to Sukhothai will be much more interesting. It’s good to familiarize yourself with some of the key terms before heading out into the hot Thai sun, which will bake your brain and leave you unable to learn anything new.

Wat. In casual usage, the word wat refers to any Buddhist temple.

Stupa. A dome-shaped structure used to house religious relics.

Chedi. Another word for stupa, especially used in Thailand.

Prang. A richly carved tower-like structure, only found in the most important Buddhist temples.

Mandapa. A pillared open-air hall, usually found in Hindu temples.

Stucco. A material used as a decorative coating, can be made into intricate designs applied to walls and ceilings.

Khmer. Ancient (11th Century) kingdom in the Mekong valley.

Central Zone

For fans of temples and ruins, Central Thailand provides an abundance.

The three most impressive temples in the Central Zone are Wat Mahathat, Wat Si Sawai, and Wat Sa Si.

Wat Mahathat

Wat Mahathat (also known as Wat Maha That and Mahathat Temple) is the most important temple in all of Sukhothai Historical Park, because it is said to house authentic Buddha relics. It is not only the epicentre and spiritual centre of the park, but was also the centre of the entire Sukhothai Kingdom.

The temple was built between 1292 and 1347, and its construction was overseen by Sri Indraditya.

The main chedi (conical tower also known as a stupa) has the shape of a lotus bud and was built to enshrine the relics of the Buddha. Its base is adorned with 168 carvings of Buddhist disciples walking with their hands clasped together in salutation.

It is surrounded by 8 smaller chedi. The 4 corners are in Mon Haripunchai-Lanna style and the 4 have a Khmer influence. The temple also includes an assembly hall, ordination hall, and 200 smaller chedi.

To capture the most iconic photos of the temple, head to the eastern side for an incredible view of the giant seated Buddha behind rows of half-collapsed columns.

Wat Si Sawai

This temple (also sometimes spelled Wat Sri Sawai) stands out in Sukhothai for its 3 distinct Khmer-style prangs (towers) reminiscent of Angkor Wat in Cambodia. The towers are surrounded by a double rampart and a moat. It is one of the oldest temples in Sukhothai, constructed in the late 12th or early 13th century.

Like Angkor Wat, Wat Si Sawai was originally a Hindu temple constructed by the Khmer people before it was converted to a Buddhist shrine during the Sukhothai period. Si Sawai was originally dedicate to Lord Vishnu, with the 3 prangs each dedicated to one of the Hindu trinity of Brahma, Shiva, and Vishnu.

The temple is a short walk away from Wat Mahathat and close to the southern gate of the old city walls.

Wat Sa Si

Just north of Wat Mahathat is Wat Sa Si. It is set in the middle of a reservoir (called Traphong Trakruano) and to get to the temple you have to cross a wooden footbridge. It is a simple temple but a stunning setting.

You’ll definitely want a picture of the footbridge, reservoir, and the temple with a Buddha statue sitting in front of it.

Wat Traphong Tong

This is the only working temple in the Old Sukhothai area. The Traphong Tong (“golden pond”) reservoir separates the museum from the temple.

Loi Krathong is a national Siamese festival celebrated each year. It’s on the full moon of the 12th month in the traditional Thai lunar calendar. During the festival, traditional krathong (decorated floating baskets) are filled with flowers, a bit of food, and a candle, and then floated on a river.

Not only is Wat Traphong Tong central to the Loy Krathong celebrations that take place in Sukhothai, but it is said the festival began here on the golden pond!

As well as laying claim to the origins of Loy Krathong, the temple is famous for a stone sculpture of the Buddha’s footprint which dates back to 1359.

Wat Trapang Thong Lang

This temple has 3 intricate stucco relief images of the Buddha performing miracles.

These reliefs can be found on the outer mandapa (a pillared hall) walls, which is easy to find as it is the only structure left standing on the temple grounds. Many of the relief images have been lost to time but the structure still retains its mystical beauty.

Wat Phra Pai Luang

Wat Phra Pai Luang sits on the original spot where the Sukhothai Kingdom was founded. The temple is a mix of Khmer and Lopburi architecture and dates back to the early 13th century.

All but one of the 3 centrepiece Khmer prangs have collapsed, but the remaining tower retains some elaborate stucco decorations, which was an art unique to Sukhothai’s craftsmen.

Northern Zone

Crumbling but still divine, Sukhothai Historical Park.

The Northern Zone is home to a giant “talking” Buddha at Wat Si Chum. It is the main attraction outside the Central Zone.

Wat Si Chum

Also know as Wat Sri Chum, this temple is famous for its giant (15 m high) seated Buddha with golden fingers known as the talking Buddha. This is one of the most famous Buddha statues in the world.

The legend says that King Naresuan (1555–1605) had one of his minions climb the passage that leads up to the Buddha’s head and give a speech to the gathered army to encourage them in their upcoming battle against the Burmese.

The walls of the mandapa that houses the Buddha feature the oldest murals in the country, but sadly most of these are no longer visible.

Because this temple is small, it can get quite busy, so you may want to start your visit here.

Wat Phra Phai Luang

Wat Phra Phai Luang has a Khmer-style prang. This type of prang always looks great in pictures. There is also has a large assembly hall, which would have once had a roof, but now sits roofless.

Luang Pho Petch

Located near Wat Si Chum, this is a very small temple (also known as Luang Po Ta Petch). It is noteworthy for its Buddha statue with diamond eyes. Rumour has it the original diamonds have been replaced with cut glass so that they can’t be stolen.

The temple is just south of Wat Si Chum along the main road and is hidden behind trees at the corner of a courtyard. You’ll probably spot a few monks sitting around and that’s how you know you’re in the right spot. You’ll need to ask a monk to give you access as the temple is locked.

Of course, the monk will want a small donation for the privilege of going inside. Somewhere between 20 and 100 baht is plenty!

Western Zone

Reflecting glory, Sukhothai Historical Park.

Most people come to Sukhothai for one day and most of those people never make it to the Western Zone. So, if you do head here, you will likely have the area all to yourself. The temples here are mostly ruins but are set in the countryside with no traffic. If you’re riding a bicycle around it’s a pretty special spot.

Wat Saphan Hin

The name Saphan Hin translates as stone bridge and there are well preserved remains of the slate stone path that leads all the way from the bottom of the road to the top of the hill. This same path was walked by former kings of Sukhothai on pilgrimage to the temple.

The main temple has collapsed, which leaves the 12 m tall standing Buddha as the main attraction here. Apart from the views, that is! The hill sits 200 m above the surrounding plain, so if you do visit this temple you’ll be rewarded with views over the Thai countryside.

Access the temple by climbing up the steep hill — you’ll need to park your bike and make the climb on foot. It can be quite hard going in the heat but it is totally worth it for the views.

Eastern Zone

Statues in relief, Sukhothai Historical Park.

Wat Chang Lom

This is probably the most noteworthy temple in the Eastern Zone. It has a chedi supported by several elephants. Not real ones! Don’t be silly. They’re sculpted into the base of the chedi.

Southern Zone

Wat Chetupon

While not much is left standing at this temple, the remains are still impressive. There is a large square-based mandapa with some remaining stucco images of Buddha sitting, standing, walking, and reclining on the walls.

Renting a bike is great way to see more of Sukhothai’s less-visited temples.

The best way to get around Sukhothai is on a bicycle.

All the hotels we recommend below will sort you out with a bicycle for either a small fee or no extra charge. Definitely take advantage of this as it can be very hot during the day, and making your own breeze will cool off as you move between temples.

Please note there is a small additional fee to enter each section of the site if you have a bicycle. bicycle tour from Bangkok to Chiang Mai that stops in Sukhothai, Thailand.

This fella followed us for about half an hour at Sukhothai Historical Park.

Although the temples at Sukhothai Historical Park are ruins, they are still Buddhist temples (and one, Wat Traphong Tong, near the museum, is still an active temple) so you need to dress appropriately.

Yes, you’ll see lots of tourists who do not dress appropriately, but you don’t have to be one of them!

Read our simple tips to visit the temples without offending anyone (while feeling superior to the improperly dressed tourists).

Cover your arms and legs. Bring a thin long-sleeved shirt, or light jacket, that you can put on before going into a temple. The easiest way to cover your legs is to bring a sarong and wear it whenever you are on temple property. It’s always hot in Thailand, so you’ll probably be cooler with a sarong than wearing long pants all day anyway.

Don’t point at people or at Buddha. Pointing is considered rude in Thailand. Instead, you can gesture with your whole hand with your fingers together.

Hide your soles. You must remove your shoes before entering a working temple but also be sure that you don’t show the soles of your feet in the temple (or anywhere). This is considered very rude in Thai culture.

Respect the Buddha statues. Of course, you should never climb on or sit next to a Buddha statue, nor should your rowdy gang of kids. Technically, you should never turn your back on the Buddha but that will be difficult in Sukhothai, where there are thousands of Buddha statues.

The local Sukhothai night market is a great place to go when you get hungry from seeing all those temples!

Ramkhamhaeng National Museum

Close to the main entrance to Sukhothai Historical Park, the Ramkhamhaneg National Museum makes interesting stop if you’re into history and are spending at least a few days in Sukhothai. Otherwise we’d recommend spending your time wandering around the park.

The museum is home to archaeological treasures from the Sukhothai Historical Park including stucco reliefs, images of Buddha, ceramics, and Hindu bronze deities. The museum is open daily from 9am to 4pm. Entry fee is 150 baht (~$4.70 USD).

The Royal Palace

At Noen Parast (aka Palace Hill) you can view the remains of the royal palace of the Kingdom of Sukhothai. Noen Prasat was discovered in 1833.

Lak Muang City Pillar

Lak Muang City Pillar is a small shrine which is easy to miss. Each city has a city pillar (lak muang means city pillar) and as with most city pillars, Sukhothai’s is is dressed with fresh garlands of flowers daily and has many figures placed at its base.

The city pillars are said to be the home of each city’s spirit. While the pillar in Sukhothai may look old, the tradition wasn’t started until the 18th century and this pillar likely dates from the early 20th century.

Statue of King Ram Khamhaeng

The monument to King Ram Khamhaeng is an important site where Thai people come to pay their respects to one of the most influential figures in Thai history.

He ruled the Sukhothai Kingdom from 1279–1298, during its most prosperous era, and he is credited for the creation of the Thai alphabet as well as establishing Theravada Buddhism as the state religion of Thailand.

The Sukhothai Historical Park Night Food Market

There is a pretty touristy night market in the Historical Park on the weekends, but the food is high quality as the chefs are specially selected to take part in this food market. Also it’s usually not very busy since few tourists stay at the park until the evening.

The Sukhothai Saturday Night Market

If you’re looking for an authentic Thai night market experience, you need to head into the new city of Sukhothai. There are a few smaller food markets around town, but the biggest night market happens every Saturday night. Find the road next to the Yom River and you can’t miss the Sukhothai night market.

More than just a food market there is also a dance floor, often a public concert, and you’re likely to find local kids busting a move. Most vendors have arrived by 5pm and it begins to shut down around 9pm.

Ramkhamhaeng National Park

If you’re interested in nature, and have had enough of old temple ruins, we suggest you make your way to the 662-metre-high Khao Pha Narai peak in Ramkhamhaeng National Park. From the peak you can see views of Sukhothai city and another nearby city, Phitsanulok.

The park lies to the west and south of ancient Sukhothai roughly 20 km from the Central Zone, so you’ll need to organize transportation.

If you’re interested in visiting the park, we recommend you speak to the staff at your hotel to arrange a tuk tuk driver who can also act as a guide — ask for someone who has been to the park before and knows their way around.

VIP busses are the way to go if you’re travelling Thailand on a budget.

Taking the Train to Sukhothai

There are no trains going directly to Sukhothai. You can travel by train from Bangkok to Phitsanulok (about 7 hours) and then take a local bus ( to Sukhothai, 59 km away (about 1 hour). You can take a tuk tuk instead of the bus, which should cost roughly 60 baht (~$2.00 USD).

Book your train tickets online using 12Go Asia, print the travel vouchers, and then exchange the vouchers for tickets at the train station.

Taking the Bus from Bangkok to Sukhothai

Air-conditioned busses depart from Bangkok’s Northern Bus Terminal (Mo Chit 2) to Sukhothai daily between 9:45am and 10:20pm, departing with greater frequency in the morning. The journey takes 7 hours.

Check 12Go Asia for bus tickets, or contact private bus companies which operate daily bus services to Sukhothai, like Win Tour (Tel: 0 2936 3753 or 0 5561 1039) and Phitsanulok Yan Yon (Tel: 0 2936 2924-5, 0 5525 8647).

Taking the Bus from Chiang Mai to Sukhothai

From Chiang Mai there are ordinary/2nd class and air-conditioned busses that travel through Tak, (5.5 hours). Busses depart frequently between 7pm and 2am.

Taking the Train from Chiang Mai to Sukhothai

Fom Chiang Mai you take the train to Phitsanulok (5.5 hours). From Phitsanulok you then take a local bus ( to Sukhothai, 59 km away (1 hour). You can also take a tuk tuk, which should cost roughly 60 baht (~$2.00 USD).

You can book your train tickets online using 12Go Asia, print the travel vouchers, and then exchange the vouchers for tickets at the train station.

Flying to Sukhothai

There are flights between Bangkok and Sukhothai but we — humans, and travellers specifically — need to fly less if there is to be a world left to enjoy. So please don’t fly to Sukhothai!

The buses are air-conditioned and comfortable, and Thai trains are a great travel experience. Also, Sukhothai Airport is about 40 km north of town, so it’s still a journey to get to the temples once you land.

BaanSuk Sukhothai Resort strikes the right balance between comfortable and affordable.

There are so many temples to visit in Sukhothai that you may want to spend more than one day. We recommend staying in the old city if you can because the modern city of Sukhothai is 12 km from the Central Zone.

If you stay on Saturday night, you can experience the temples lighted up for a night visit. To experience a proper Thai night market you’re going to have to head into the main town though, so that might be a deciding factor for you.

Resting Place Hostel

Rating 8.7, $12 double room, $9 dorm room bed

Just outside the Central Zone, Resting Place Hostel is a great choice for the budget-conscious traveller. You can get a bunk in a dorm room with shared bathrooms for $9 a night. There is air-conditioning in all rooms and breakfast costs $3 extra.

They don’t provide bike rentals, but can direct you towards a bike rental spot very close to the hostel.

See rates and reviews →

Space Ben Guest House @ Muangkao

Rating 9.2, $22 double room, breakfast included

Located just outside the Central Zone, this is an incredibly convenient spot for an affordable stay in Sukhothai. They provide a simple breakfast, but as with most hotel breakfasts, if you’re vegan you’ll probably want to supplement it with something more substantial.

The rooms are pretty simple but for this price who can complain? Guests love the lounge area and cleanliness of the guest house.

They charge a small fee for bicycle rental (30 baht/day).

See rates and reviews →

BaanSuk Sukhothai Resort

Rating 9.8, $44 pool villa, breakfast included

People love it here so if your budget allows for you to splurge a little, check it out! Guests rave about the staff, the pool, and the breakfasts. They have hammocks to relax in, bathtubs in the rooms, and it is in a beautiful setting 2.3 km from the Central Zone.

They also provide free bicycle rental and they’ll drive you to the bus station when you’re leaving. Call ahead to get a free pick-up when you get to the bus station.

See rates and reviews →

Seeing Sukhothai by bike is the best way!

Sukhothai by Bike with Grasshopper Adventures

If you want to visit Sukhothai as part of an amazing cycling adventure, then check out Grasshopper Adventures’ Kingdoms of the North tour. You’ll start in Bangkok and take a sleeper train north.

From there, you’ll explore the ancient city of Sukhothai, other ancient temples, small villages, and incredible countryside.

Get details and book this tour →

One Week in Northern Thailand

For those who want to cycle Sukhothai and then explore northern Thailand, including visiting small homestays, taking a cooking class, visiting Asian elephants and more, take a look at the Explore Northern Thailand tour by Intrepid.

Get details and book this tour →

If you are planning to explore more than just Bangkok and the beaches of Thailand we highly recommend a visit to the Sukhothai Historical Park. You’ve really never seen anything like it before. Rent a bike, and you’ll have an amazing visit as you explore the ancient temples and giant statues of Buddha.

♥  Happy mindful adventures, Jane & Stephen

We’re not going to lie, it takes a LOT of work to create travel guides like this. But it’s easy to help us out! If you book or buy something using one of our personal links in this post, we’ll earn a small fee at no extra cost to you. Of course, we would never recommend anything we didn’t 100% believe in! Huge thanks in advance! –S&J

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