Sukhothai is an extremely important part of Thai history! It was the first capital of Siam (the former name of Thailand), even before Ayutthaya, which essentially makes it the birthplace of Thailand. Sukhothai Historical Park is an UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is home to many 700+ year old ruins, as well as being the birthplace of the famous Loy Krathong festival and even the Thai alphabet!
Read my complete guide to Sukhothai Historical Park to learn how to get to Sukhothai, where to stay, and what to do. Continue reading this article to see the best ruins to visit in Sukhothai!
Sukhothai Historical Park has close to 200 ruins spread out over 70 square kilometers (43 miles) so there is a lot to see! The historical park is actually split up into five different sections: the center, north, east, south, and west. The center, north, and west sections each charge a 100 baht entrance fee. These sections are open from 6:30am-7:30pm daily. The east and south sections are free and are open at all times. While most of the main temples are located inside the walled center section, there are gorgeous temples in each section of this huge park.
When we went, we rented bicycles right outside the entrance of Sukhothai Historical Park. We then did the center section followed by the north section. The following day we did the west section and the south section. We stopped by Wat Traphang Thong (the east section) on our first morning to see the amazing alms giving.
The Center Section of Sukhothai
The center section is 100 baht to enter. While you can walk around it, it’s more fun on a bike!
A. Wat Mahathat
Wat Mahathat is one of the largest and most impressive wats in Sukhothai Historical Park. It’s located right inside the center section so you cannot miss it! This wat is full of many ruins including a large stuppa and a big standing Buddha.
B. Wat Si Sawai
Wat Si Sawai is a great temple to see as the style is very different from many of the temples in Sukhothai. It was originally a Hindu temple with three Khmer style prangs. You can even go inside the three prangs!
C. Wat Traphang Ngoen
Wat Traphang Ngoen is smaller than the first two, however it’s so close by that you should see it too! Much of this ruin no longer exists, but you can still see a nice stuppa and the Buddha statue.
D. Wat Sa Si
Wat Sa Si is another gorgeous temple in Sukhothai surrounded by water! The water arround it makes it very picturesque. You can see the huge stuppa as well as a smiling Buddha statue.
North Section of Sukhothai
Next you can bike up north. Unfortunately once you leave the center section you will have to bike along the road to reach the north section. Luckily there are lots of people biking around Sukhothai everyday so the cars should be used to it, however make sure you are safe!
The north section is another 100 baht ticket to enter.
E. Wat Sangkhawat
We actually stumbled upon Wat Sangkhawat accidentally while biking around the north section. When we arrived here we were the only people! It was really neat to see the huge headless, armless ruins. While it’s not the best temple in Sukhothai, try to check it out if you have time!
F. Old Kiln Ruins
While this is a little different from the other ruins, it’s still very interesting to see! Ceramics were very popular in Sukhothai. Some ceramics here date as far back as the 13th century. Pieces of Sukhothai ceramics have also been found as far away as China, Indonesia, and the Philippines! I loved seeing the old kilns and also the little pieces of pottery that people found around the kilns and left there on display.
G. Wat Phrapai Luang
This is a bigger complex as well. While we didn’t find it as interesting as some of the other, you should still stop by as you’ve already paid for a ticket to the north!
H. Wat Si Chum
Wat Si Chum is the most famous Buddha in all of Sukhothai Historical Park and maybe even one of the most famous in all of Thailand! It’s known for it’s long glittery, gold fingers. When we arrived here there was a line of people waiting to take pictures with this famous Buddha statue! You definitely don’t want to miss it!
West Section of Sukhothai
After you finish the north section, you’re back biking along the road until you reach the entrance to the west section. The west section is another 100 baht to enter. While there was only one main ruin, the west section is full of lots of smaller ruins! There were also much less people in the west section. I believe it’s worth the 100 baht just to see Wat Saphan Hin and to bike along next to lots of different ruins.
I. Wat Saphan Hin
When you reach Wat Saphan Hin, you need to leave your bike at the bottom of the hill and climb up a stone path to reach the huge Buddha statue. This was another of our favorite ruins in all of Sukhothai! Even though it’s farther from the center, we thought it was worth it to see the giant Buddha on top of the hill.
South Section of Sukhothai
If you follow the main road through the west section, you’ll pass through the old city wall and end up at a gate that is the back entrance to the Center Section. Turn right and continue to follow the road down to the south section.
The south section is free so you don’t need to pay for an additional ticket. There are also many cute coffee shops and restaurants mixed into the south section of Sukhothai. We enjoyed biking around here as it seemed much more local!
J. Wat Chetupon
Wat Chetuphon is the best temple ruin in the south section of Sukhothai! There are different images on the front and back of the big center section, so make sure to walk around it all. There’s also a fun little bridge to cross to get to the ruins.
K. Wat Chedi Si Hong
Wat Chedi Si Hong is another decent sized ruin in the south section. It’s located directly across the road from Wat Chetuphon. While we preferred Wat Chetuphon, it’s easy to see both while you are there!
East Section of Sukhothai
The east section of Sukhothai is also free to visit. There are some temples dispersed throughout the town, however the most popular is Wat Traphang Thong.
L. Wat Traphang Thong
Wat Traphang Thong is along the main road in Old Sukhothai. This is the temple which has the famous monk alms giving every morning. If you are able to get to Wat Traphang Thong at 6:20am you can actually participate in the alms giving – which we highly recommend! It is free. However you can buy alms baskets to give to the monks if you want to join.
If you still want more information about Sukhothai, read this post!
