A great way to see the ruins in the Sukhothai Historic Park is by bicycle, which can be rented from a shop opposite the main park entrance or within New Sukhothai.

Our Sukhothai transportation guide will give you information on getting to and around Sukhothai. To help you see the magical ruins within the historical park we have a number of Sukhothai tours on offer. We also have general Thailand travel information if you want to know more about travelling to and within magnificent Thailand.

Sukhothai Transportation Guide

Getting To Sukhothai

By Air

If you want to fly to Sukhothai you can board a Bangkok Airways flight that is available everyday and takes one hour. Your other option is to fly the Chiang Mai-Sukhothai route. The airport at Sukhothai is situated at a distance of 40 km from the town.

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Flights to Sukhothai

By Bus

Air conditioned buses ply between Sukhothai and the Mochit 2 Bus Terminal in Bangkok everyday. The first bus starts at 9.45 am and the last service is at 10.20 pm. The services are more frequent in the morning hours. The journey takes seven hours and costs around 250 baht. Daily buses operated by private bus companies are also available to reach Sukhothai.

If you are not pressed for time then buses are a good way to travel in Thailand. You get to choose between government run buses and private buses. The fares are calculated on a per kilometre basis. The bus drivers also drive ‘Thai style' with gleeful disregard for road rules. It would be best to travel with your attention on something other than the road!

There are air conditioned buses that make overnight journeys. These buses are generally equipped with toilets and they also provide blankets to the passengers. Stopovers are also given to enable passengers to refresh themselves at a restaurant. Most air conditioned buses also serve soft drinks and snacks to passengers. The seats on these buses are just like aircraft seats and can be reclined. There are a few VIP buses which are large ones and ferry less than 20 passengers. The ticket rates are proportionately higher, going up by 20-50 % of usual ticket charges. Round trip tickets are given a 10% discount by some bus operators.

By Train

There is no direct train service to Sukhothai. The farthest that you can travel by train is still Phitsanulok, and then you must board a bus for Sukhothai which is 50 km away.

Getting Around Sukhothai

By Bicycle

If you are reasonably healthy, check out the bicycle option for taking in the sights at Sukhothai. Bicycles are easily available for rent and needless to say are an eco friendly mode of travel. Several bike rental outlets greet you in the old city of Sukhothai. It's easy to ride these around as you will not encounter too many hilly tracks. Rentals will cost you around 30 baht per day.

By Road

The road network in Thailand is quite good, so tourists often hire cars and drive around by themselves. Reputed car rental companies like Budget and Hertz have operations here. If you are not too fond of driving, there is also the option of hiring a driver along with the car. The rates charged for chauffeur driven limousines are very reasonable. An important bit of advice to those who plan to drive in Thailand - be prepared for ‘Thai style driving'. Road rules are not heeded by most road users. So if you feel this is something you will not be able to handle, better get a driver who also drives ‘Thai style'.

Vehicle Hire (FAQs)

What kind of driving licence do I need? 

It is best to have an international driving licence with you. A valid licence from your own country might also work for short stays. Rental companies might not bother to check your licence before hiring out their vehicles, but you do run a risk of being fined by the police if your licence is found wanting on any count. You may have trouble with insurance cover, too, in the event of any mishap. If your stay is going to stretch to 3 months or more, a Thai licence becomes essential, especially if you drive a private car. Make it a point to arm yourself with all relevant information, as even insurance companies are known to give out policies without checking this point. It is highly possible that this detail becomes an issue in the event of a claim being made.

Do I need a licence to drive a motorcycle?

You can hire motorbikes easily without showing your licence. But you had better not get caught driving one without it. An international licence or a valid licence from your country is sufficient. Large bikes and small Hondas can be easily rented out here. However, be warned that the driving conditions are not very conducive for inexperienced drivers and insurance cover for mishaps, if any, is just not available.

Are there car seats available for children in hire cars?

Car seats for children are provided by most international hire car agencies on request. You may of course be charged extra for this. You may not get such seats if you hire cars from smaller agencies; however, you may strike it lucky.

Where can I hire a car?

Almost all the main hotels have a car hire desk where major car rental companies like Avis, Hertz and Budget are represented. In addition to these counters, travel agencies in all the main tourist areas also take car rental requests.