Kayiwa · · 1 min read
Most people do Ayutthaya as a day trip. Temples in the morning, more temples in the afternoon, train back to Bangkok before dark. I get it. I also think it’s a mistake.
When the sun goes down, the locals head to the night market on Bang Ian Road, right in front of the TOT office, and some of the best street food I’ve had in Thailand is there.
What to eat
- Oyster omelette, sizzling on the griddle
- Grilled meats, on skewers, straight off the charcoal
- Boat noodles, small, rich bowls you order two or three of at a time. Ayutthaya is one of the places they’re most associated with
- Thai desserts, to finish
Why stay the night
The temples are the reason to come. The night market is the reason to stay. You get to see the city go from a heritage site back to being a town where people live, eat dinner and meet their friends.
If you have more than a day, here’s my 48 hours in Ayutthaya, with temples, floating markets and more food.
The practical bit
- Where: Ong Gaan Tolasap (Bang Ian) Night Market, Bang Ian Road, Tha Wasukri, Ayutthaya 13000
- When: evenings
- Order first: boat noodles, two bowls minimum
- Getting there: Ayutthaya is roughly one and a half to two hours from Bangkok by train
The Thailand guide has more places worth staying the night for.