Ayutthaya Day Trip – Alternative Journey
In this post, I want to show you a different side of Ayutthaya by sharing some hidden gems and local foods that foreign tourists might not be aware of.
These off-the-beaten-path destinations and flavors will give you a unique and authentic experience that only a few foreigners have had the chance to explore all of these places
Be Unique, Be the 1%
I want to show you how to explore Ayutthaya differently, you will visit temples, of course, but also other attractions to fulfill your day.
However, first of all, if you want to travel like a local you need a private vehicle, car or motorbike. If you travel to Ayutthaya by train, then you can rent a motorbike which is only a few hundred baht per day.
Let’s Ayutthaya Journey Begin
10:00 – 10:30 | The Summer Coffee Company
I began my trip by stopping at a café since I usually don’t eat breakfast. It was necessary for me to grab something to eat first. We went to the Summer Coffee Company, a newly opened café in 2021 that my girlfriend really wanted to try. You know how it is, staying trendy…
The signature of the café is the variety of coffee beans and the shop has its own coffee roaster. They are a specialty in coffee and sourcing for the best.
Every month, the café introduces new exotic coffee varieties. Come in as an alternative for customers to taste for another 5-6 menus. For example,
- Colombia – Gesha Finca Monteverde (Yeast Aerobic Natural)
- Honduras – El Danto (Anaerobic Washed 48 hrs)
- Colombia – Pink Bourbon La Cima (Natural Process)
- Colombia – Finca San Luis (Anaerobic Honey Process)
- KENYA – Mchana Factory Kiambu (Natural)
Honestly, I don’t know what those mean lol. I just simply and randomly ordered the best-selling menus. That’s it haha. But for those who are really into coffee, you will love the way they present and offer.
The café offers both indoor and outdoor seating options, with a minimalistic decor. The outdoor zone, featuring a brick wall, is especially popular for taking photos to post on social media.
10:45 – 11:15 | Mae Pranee Boat Noodle
That café is just a starter. Here we come to the main dish, the boat noodle. These types of restaurants are scattered all over Thailand, to the point where they’re almost as common as convenience stores like 7-11.
But why did I choose Mae Pranee Boat Noodle?
Well, besides the fact that it has good reviews, I was intrigued by the restaurant’s claim to be the first in Ayutthaya to offer pork snack, which sounded pretty unique and interesting to me.
Additionally, Mae Pranee Boat Noodle is conveniently located near Wat Mahathat, which was my next destination on the itinerary. So, it made for a perfect lunch spot before continuing with my Ayutthaya exploration.
The taste is good, and the pork snack is delicious. I give it a thumbs up, but still not the best I’ve tried yet 🙂
I know it’s hard for foreigners to tell which restaurants are the best of their kind. However, one thing I can guarantee is that Bangkok is the center of good food.
But hang on, there are two things that Ayutthaya truly beat Bangkok. I will show you soon, they are in today’s tour.
Back to this boat noodles, ordering is not difficult. I have previously written about Local Thai Foods You Must Try which includes boat noodles and a step-by-step guide on how to order them.
The guide is written in English but also translated into Thai so that you can easily communicate with the server and order your preferred dish.
Remember that boat noodles are served in small portions, 15-25 baht per dish, and generally medium spicy. So if you don’t eat spicy food, make sure you tell the server “No Spicy” = “Mai Ped” = “ไม่เผ็ด”
- Open everyday 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
11:30 – 13:00 | Wat Mahathat and Wat Ratchaburana
Wat Mahathat and Wat Ratchaburana are only a few minutes away from that boat noodles restaurant. You may arrive it before the schedule which is good because you will have more time to explore.
Both temples are in Ayutthaya Historical Park. They were built since the 14th century in the period of the Ayutthaya Kingdom. (In case you don’t know, Ayutthaya was a former capital of Thailand).
These two temples became one of the most impressive temples in the Ayutthaya Kingdom for almost 400 years before the destruction from Burma (Myanmar) invasion. The city was ransacked, burned and completely destroyed in 1767, which became the end of the Ayutthaya period.
That is so sad because if there was no war, we would still see the gorgeous of all those temples.
Wat Mahathat and Wat Ratchaburana locate just next to each other. However, Wat Mahathat is bigger, so you’re likely to spend more time here.
- Open everyday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Entrance fee is 50 baht per temple
13.15 – 14:15 | Chao Sam Phraya National Museum
I have visited many temples such as Wat Mahathat and Wat Ratchaburana in Ayutthaya many times, but the Chao Sam Phraya Museum was a new experience for me.
It is not as well-known as the temples, cafes, and others, which are often the top priorities for visitors to Ayutthaya.
However, this time I wanted to do something different and explore beyond the usual places. So, I decided to look for some new places that I had never visited before.
This National Museum caught my attention because I have a deep interest in old artifacts and antiques, and this museum has an impressive collection of them.
As expected, not a lot of people there. I strolled around with my girlfriend peacefully and privately. It’s a lovely place that most people overlook.
What surprised me was that almost every item in the museum had its own QR code, which you can scan to read its history. Alternatively, the museum provides English descriptions of the items, which is very helpful for non-Thai speakers.
Anyway, I didn’t read much because it would take too much time.
This museum is nice and well managed even though it looks a bit run down from the outside.
- Open everyday 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- The entrance fee is 150 baht
14:30 – 15:00 | Baan Pomphet
Baan Pomphet is one of the top check-in destinations for cafe hoppers. The highlight is handmade orange bricks of various sizes were used to build the structure. Because of the size variation, different wall textures appear to collect light and shadow differently.
Instead of ordering food at the café, I opted for a cake and a drink to cool down from the heat after visiting the temples and museum. I saved my appetite for the last destination where I planned to order the famous “Grilled Giant River Prawn” dish.
Although Baan Pomphet also offered this menu item, it was overpriced.
Therefore, this café is for getting drinks and desserts and definitely some awesome pictures for social media lol.
By the way, Baan Pomphet is also a hotel, but if you don’t book a room, you can’t access the hotel area. The price is pretty expensive, about 4,000 – 5,000 baht per night ($120 – $150). I never stayed here before.
In case you like to book a room or see the design, here is the official website of Baan Pomphet
15:30 – 16:30 | Bann Khorng Phor Sufficiency Economy
Not the last destination yet.
Bann Khorng Phor is not popular among tourists at all, neither locals nor foreigners. This website thailandtourismdirectory describes very well in details about this place. So, I cut and quote some to show you below;
“His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, King Rama IX, had intelligence and capability in several fields. For example, for agriculture, His Majesty initiated a new agricultural theory with a sufficiency economy; enough to live, enough to eat and enough to use, to be adapted in the living and was pleased to set up a great number of royal projects to allow the people and those who are interested to learn and apply the given theories to their own work. The inside is systematically allocated with a 30 30 30 10 ratio according to the sufficiency economy which is truly usable.”
You may find the name “Ban Kong Por” spell a little bit different from each source, but it is the same place.
It’s not a big place because it is an example for local people who already have some land or agriculturists that want to live a good simple life. Our beloved King Rama IX had told and provided this sufficiency economy theory to us. It’s practical but sadly not many people listen and follow.
- Open everyday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- No entrance fee
17:00 – 17:30 - Ayutthaya Cotton Candy Crepes (Roti Sai Mai)
As stated earlier, one thing that Ayutthaya is always the no.1 is Thai Cotton Candy Crepes. In Thai, we call Roti Sai Mai [โรตีสายไหม]. This is the most popular dessert in Ayutthaya.
It is a sweet and colorful treat made from cotton candy wrapped in a thin pancake-like crepe, usually flavored with pandan or other natural extracts. The cotton candy is pulled into thin, delicate threads, giving it a unique texture and appearance.
You might see Roti Sai Mai in Bangkok markets or department stores. It’s still delicious, you can try it. However, if you come to Ayutthaya, I would recommend you to get one here.
The location is on U Thong Rd (near Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Hospital), many many shops sell Roti Sai Mai. Some are the original, some are new, and some are copycats.
The most famous one is “Roti Sai Mai Abeedeen”. It open for 70 years. However, on Google Maps, the full name displayed is “Roti Sai Mai Abeedeen-Pranom Sangaroon.” Don’t get confused, it’s the same place.
I usually buy from this shop but also have tried others. To be honest, they are not much different. If you have time you should get one from the Abeedeen, but sometimes the queue is very long. Therefore, you may try nearby shops instead but at least buy it from the shops that have some customers. So it is fresh.
By the way, all are taken away. No dine-in.
One small set of this cotton candy cost about 50 baht, a big set is about 100 baht or something like that.
The problem is if you drive, it is hard to find a parking lot so you might have to park quite far and walk back.
18:00 – 19:30 | Grilled Giant River Prawn, Ayutthaya Premium Menu
First of all, most restaurants offer this Grilled Giant River Prawn, but I went to Ton Nam Restaurant, which is located in the outer part of town, because I’ve been here many times and it’s on my way back to Bangkok. And of course, the grilled prawns are great.
However, if you visit Ayutthaya by train, I highly recommend you go to other restaurants that are not far from the train station, such as BaanMaiRimNum [บ้านไม้ริมน้ำ] or Phae Krung Kao [แพกรุงเก่า]. They are all good, the prawns are fresh and the price is quite the same.
But this Grilled Gian River Prawn is not cheap for the average Thai person’s income rate, but it may be more affordable for foreigners.
For example, a medium size prawn approx. 300 – 400 grams is about 600 – 800 baht
One last thing before I finish this post, to be honest with you again. If you don’t eat prawns, you don’t have to eat seafood in Ayutthaya.
My friends, my family and I have tried many restaurants that sell the grilled giant river prawn, we all agree that Ayutthaya grilled giant river prawn is kind of the best in Thailand. However, other seafood dishes are so-so.
For those who prefer Thai-fusion with a modern twist and a cozy outdoor atmosphere, which also has the grilled river prawn menu, I recommend The Summer House.
End of Ayutthaya Day Trip
I am certain that not many people have visited the national museum and Bann Khorng Phor. They are not the main attractions because people normally go to temples and cafes.
So these two places are the alternative if you want to visit far less touristy places.
🙂