Buriram is a city in the northeast Isaan area of Thailand. While it isn’t a very popular tourist destination, it is a great place to spend a couple of days! Buriram is famous for having the best football/soccer team in Thailand, the first FIFA level stadium in Thailand, Thailand’s only MotoGP circuit, the famous Phanom Rung Historical Park, and it’s also the home of Lisa from Blackpink.
Read on to see what to do in Buriram, how to get to Buriram, and the best places to stay!
How to Get to Buriram, Thailand
Buriram is located less than 400 km (250 miles) northeast of Bangkok in the Isaan area of Thailand. Luckily there are many options of public transportation to get from Bangkok to Buriram!
Flights to Buriram, Thailand
There are direct flights between Bangkok and Buriram daily. This is the fastest way to get to Buriram as the flight only takes one hour. Usually you can find flights to Buriram for around 1,200 baht ($35 USD) one way. You can search flights to Buriram here on Skyscanner.
Buses to Buriram, Thailand
There are tons of buses between Bangkok and Buriram – usually 40 per day each way! Most buses leave from Mochit Bus Station in the north of Bangkok. It takes around 5 hours to get to Buriram from Bangkok. Buses to Buriram start at 369 baht ($10.70 USD) for the cheapest option, up to 574 baht ($16.70 USD) for the best bus: the First Class Nakhonchai Air bus.
Book bus tickets to Buriram here.
Trains to Buriram, Thailand
There are also many trains to get to Buriram! Trains from Bangkok to Buriram usually take between 5.5-7 hours and run over 10 times per day. The cheapest trains start at 223 baht ($6.50 USD) and go up to 1,500 baht ($44 USD) for a sleeper train with a bed. Luckily the Buriram train station is in the center of the city – walking distance to many hotels and restaurants.
Book trains to Buriram here.
How to Get Around in Buriram
Unfortunately once you arrive in Buriram, there aren’t a lot of public transportation options within the city. You’ll see many taxis, motorbike taxis, and tuktuks around town that are convenient if you aren’t going far (such as to the football stadium or the MotoGP circuit).
When I visited Buriram we rented a motorbike which was easy and gave us the flexibility to visit many places on our own. There are multiple places in the city to rent both cars and motorbikes. Especially if you want to rent a car, I would advice you to contact the car rental agency before you arrive as opposed to walking in and hoping they have something available.
Where to Stay in Buriram, Thailand
There are surprisingly a lot of hotels in Buriram. Here are some of the best hotels in Buriram, both in the city center as well as next to the football stadium and MotoGP circuit.
Usually I find hotels in Thailand to be much cheaper on agoda than on booking, but feel free to check both options!
Best Hotels in Buriram City
Many people head to Buriram specifically for a football game or the MotoGP circuit. Both of those venues are about 5 km south of the city center, so if that is your purpose for visiting Buriram, check out the section below!
These hotels are for people who want to stay in the city center, in walking distance to many hotels, cafes, and bars, but further from the sporting events.
Best Budget Hotel in Buriram City
Klim Hotel is the best budget hotel in Buriram! Located directly next to the train station, it’s perfect if you arrive on a late train or have to leave early in the morning. It also has a gorgeous pool to cool off in!
You can book Klim Hotel on agoda or booking.
Best Midrange Hotel in Buriram City
Green @ Buriram is a tranquil oasis in the middle of the city! The grounds are full of green trees and relaxing ponds, yet the hotel is still walking distance to many restaraunts and cafes. Their unique hotel concept has gotten them many amazing reviews!
You can book Green @ Buriram on agoda or booking.
Best Luxury Hotel in Buriram City
Cresco Hotel has spacious rooms, a big outdoor pool, and one of the best hotel gyms ever! While it’s a little farther from the city center, it’s closer to some of the main attractions in Buriram such as the stadium and volcano park.
You can book Cresco Hotel on agoda and booking.
Best Hotels by Buriram Arena and MotoGP Circuit
These are the best hotels if you want to be RIGHT by the Buriram football stadium or MotoGP circuit. If you aren’t interested in attending a football or MotoGP event, you’re probably better staying in the city center. However, if you are attending either sporting event in Buriram and want to be right by the action – these are the hotels for you!
Best Budget Hotel by Buriram Arena/MotoGP Circuit
Sky View Resort is a 10 minute walk from Chang Arena and the MotoGP circuit entrance. They have both normal hotel rooms as well as Thai style wooden bungalows at an extremely affordable price! This is as close as you can get to the stadium while still choosing a budget friendly option!
You can book Sky View Resort on agoda or booking.
Best Midrange Hotel by Buriram Arena/MotoGP Circuit
Amari Buriram United is the perfect hotel for football fans! It’s a football themed hotel just steps from the Chang Arena and the entrance to the MotoGP circuit. It also has really spacious rooms and a huge pool! By far the best hotel for Buriram United fans (or any football fan coming to Buriram specifically for the game)!
You can book Amari Buriram United on agoda or booking.
Best Luxury Hotel by Buriram Arena/MotoGP Circuit
Modena by Fraser Buriram is probably the best hotel in all of Buriram! It’s located right across from the football stadium and the entrance to the MotoGP circuit. While this hotel is more expensive than the other options, it’s worth it if it fits your budget!
You can book Modena by Fraser Buriram on agoda or booking.
Bonus MotoGP Hotel
There is a hotel called Bric Box Hotel Buriram which is inside the MotoGP circuit! It’s the best hotel for people obsessed with MotoGP that want to be able to watch the races from inside their room!
You can book it here on agoda, however it seems to always be unavailable.
What to Do in Buriram, Thailand
Buriram’s Chang Arena
Chang Arena is one of the most popular places to visit in Buriram! It’s the home of Buriram United – the top football/soccer team in Thailand! The stadium was previously called I-Mobile Stadium, but has since changed to Chang Arena.
Nicknamed Thunder Castle, Chang Arena has a seating capacity of 32,600 people. It’s also the first FIFA recognized stadium in all of Thailand! You can purchase tickets ahead of time on their website, or usually you can also purchase tickets in person on game day.
Before a Buriram game, there are tons of people outside the stadium peacefully hanging out, drinking beers, and supporting their teams! Unfortunately you cannot take drinks into the stadium with you as the security is quite strict. If you’re in Buriram, you should defintiely try to see a football game here!
Chang International Circuit
Chang International Circuit, also known as Buriram International Circuit, is an FIA Grade 1 and FIM Grade A motorsport race track. It’s the only track in Thailand that can host both Formula 1 as well as MotoGP races!
The Grandstand has a seating capacity of 50,000 plus another 50,000 in various locations around the track. This means the total capacity of Chang International Circuit is 100,000 people!
The main entrance to the Chang International Circuit is located right next to the Buriram United Football Stadium. However, the road continues quite a bit until you actually reach the track. You can drive there on your own, take a Grab (Thailand’s Uber), or (on race days) the circuit has a shuttle service.
When I visited Buriram they were having an open track day at the International Circuit! We were able to sit in the grandstand and watch racers from all over drive around the track. Even though I’m not a fan of racing, it was an amazing experience to see!
Buriram Castle
The famous Buriram Castle is located right next to Chang Arena and the International Circuit. It is actually a touristy replica of the nearby Phanom Rung Temple, making it a great option if you can’t visit the actual temple which is an hour away. It’s also the picture on the Buriram United logo.
Buriram Castle is free to enter. You can walk inside the temple replica, as well as the botanical gardens around it. It’s located behind the touristy commercial mall which includes many restaurants, cafes, and a street market area.
This is a must see when visiting Buriram!
Khao Kradong Volcano Forest Park
The Khao Kradong Volcano Forest Park is another must see in Buriram! Located across the street from the Buriram football Arena and International Circuit race track, this is an easy place to check out while attending the Buriram sporting events!
When you arrive at Khao Kradong Forest Park, you will see about 300 stairs leading to the top of the extinct volcano! We walked up the stairs, however you also have the option to drive to the top and avoid all of the stairs. Once you’re at the top, there is a huge gold Buddha as well as a viewpoint platform where you can see all of Buriram.
After admiring the Buddha and the view, you can walk down behind the Buddha to the actual volcano crater. There is a neat suspension bridge over the crater as well as some boards around the park with information on them.
Phanom Rung Historical Park
Prasat Phanom Rung is one of the most popular places to visit in Buriram! Located about an hour drive from the Buriram city center, Phanom Rung is one of the largest and best restored Khmer temples in Thailand! Phanom Rung is also located on top of another extinct volcano! It’s less than an hour away from the border of Cambodia and has a similar design to Angkor Wat.
One of the most famous things about Phanom Rung is the natural phenomenon that occurs four times a year. Twice a year, the sunrise is visible through all 15 doorways of the temple simultaneously. The same phenomenon occurs twice a year with the sunset being visible through all 15 doorways. Many people try to time their visit to witness this amazing event.
Prasat Muang Tam
When buying a ticket to Phanom Rung Historical Park, we were offered a joint ticket that also included Prasat Muang Tam. Prasat Muang Tam is only a 10 minute drive from Phanom Rung. If you’re already visiting one, it’s definitely worth it to visit both locations!
Prasat Muang Tam is another gorgeous temple which has four ponds inside the complex. It’s unique layout is gorgeous to explore! There were also less people here than at the neighboring more famous Phanom Rung.
Try Isaan Food
Isaan (northeast Thailand) food is distinctive and popular throughout Thailand. It’s heavily influenced by neighboring Laos and Cambodia. Isaan food is often dry, spicy, and fermented. Sticky rice and grilled meat are very popular throughout Isaan! But there are many other dishes to try such as Isaan style papaya salad (different from normal Thai papaya salad), laarb (minced meat salads with herbs), and Isaan sausage. There are also lots of interesting options such as ant egg salad and steamed tadpoles!
