Half a day to a full day at each of these
Ranked nearest and easiest first — Bang Pa-In is the one most people pair with the temples on a single day.
1
If you add one thing to a day of temples, make it this. Bang Pa-In Royal Palace was the kings' summer retreat, about 18 km south of the island — a 30-minute drive. The picture everyone takes is of the Aisawan Thiphya-Art, a gold-roofed pavilion standing alone in the middle of an ornamental lake, its reflection mirror-clear on a still, sunny day.
What makes Bang Pa-In special is how many architectural styles sit side by side: classical Thai pavilions, a European-style royal residence (Warophat Phiman Hall), and the red-and-gold Chinese pavilion, Wehart Chamrun, presented by Chinese merchants. Wandering the riverside gardens feels like stepping between eras in the space of an afternoon. The grounds are large, with bicycles and electric carts to hire; dress modestly with shoulders and knees covered — read our full Bang Pa-In Palace page before you go.
2
Let us be straight first: the Ayothaya Floating Market is a tourist attraction built for visitors, not an old working floating market tied to daily life — but knowing that, you can still enjoy it. Rows of Thai-style wooden shophouses line the canals, with Thai snacks, old-fashioned sweets, stage performances, and a boat ride around the water.
What people like is having photogenic surroundings and lots to eat in one place. It suits families with kids who want a relaxed wander and a bite to eat more than travellers chasing a traditional floating-market scene. For genuinely local food, try the evening stalls at Bang Ian market or Hua Ro market in town, which feel closer to real life. Entry is about 100 baht for foreigners (boat ride included) and less for Thai nationals.
3
In its heyday, Ayutthaya was a trading port where merchants from across the world settled — and the traces survive as a string of sites along the Chao Phraya River, south of the island. The Japanese Village (Ban Yipun) sits on the eastern bank, with a monument to Yamada Nagamasa, a samurai who served the Ayutthaya court, a small museum on Thai-Japanese trade, and a Japanese-style garden — though, honestly, nothing of the original village remains; it is now a memorial park.
Across the river is the Portuguese Settlement, the largest European community in old Ayutthaya, where you can walk among the remains of a Catholic church and its graves. Baan Hollanda is a re-built learning centre on the site of the former Dutch trading post, telling the story of the VOC. The three together suit travellers who enjoy history and want to grasp just how far Ayutthaya's reach extended, more than anyone after a scenic photo.
Ayutthaya's bond with elephants runs deep — the elephant kraal (Phaniat) was a royal stockade for rounding up elephants, registered as a heritage site since 1941, and an elephant camp operates nearby. You will see elephants around the old town from time to time, a familiar sight here.
But we would say plainly, just as we do in Chiang Mai: choose to observe, feed or walk alongside the elephants at a place that cares for them well, rather than riding them. Riding — especially with a heavy seat on the back — takes a long-term toll on an elephant's health and welfare. Before you pick a place, ask whether the elephants get rest, room to roam and time to bathe, and how they are cared for. The places that answer clearly, and do not push you to ride, are usually the ones that put the elephants first. Watching elephants with that in mind is more enjoyable, and easier on your conscience.
5
If you still have energy and want to keep going, the Northern Line train from Ayutthaya carries you on about an hour further to Lopburi, an ancient town that mattered in both the Khmer and Ayutthaya eras. The highlight is Phra Prang Sam Yot, a three-towered Khmer temple in the middle of town that has become home to a troop of macaques — earning Lopburi its "monkey town" nickname — alongside the San Phra Kan shrine close by.
One honest warning: the monkeys here are quick and very cheeky — hold your things firmly, and put away glasses, hats, water bottles and plastic bags; do not hand-feed them. Lopburi works as a same-day add-on if you start early, or as a separate day. Nearby Ang Thong has the giant reclining Buddha at Wat Khun Inthapramun and pretty temples to stop at along the way, good for travellers who like temples and quieter provincial towns.