Locate your stop

Sukhothai ruins map: the park zones and how to cover them

Quick summary

The Sukhothai Historical Park is split into an inner zone and four outer zones, with 66 of its 217 explored sites inside the old rampart.

Map essentials

  • Inner zone THB 200 for visitors from abroad2
  • Northern and western outer zones THB 1203
  • A bicycle costs THB 106

Map of 33 stops

Sukhothai on the map

Choose a route, then tap a pin or stop for its note and a Google Maps link.

Map of Sukhothai Historical Park with Wat Mahathat at the centre, Wat Si Chum and Wat Phra Phai Luang to the north-west, Wat Saphan Hin to the west, Wat Chang Lom to the east, Wat Si Sawai to the south and the Ramkhamhaeng National Museum

  1. TAT calls Wat Mahathat the centre of the historical park, with a grand pagoda ringed by 8 smaller ones as if they were a lotus.

    Google Maps

  2. Home of Phra Atchana, a gigantic seated Buddha image in the main hall.

    Google Maps

  3. The Fine Arts Department names its prasart among the Khmer-influenced works at ancient Sukhothai.

    Google Maps

  4. The temple stands in the Aranyik area, where King Ramkhamheng joined the Kathina ceremony at the end of Buddhist Lent.

    Google Maps

  5. A temple in the eastern part of the park, on the road toward the town.

    Google Maps

  6. South of Wat Mahathat, with 3 Lopburi-style prangs behind a laterite wall.

    Google Maps

  7. The Ramkhamhaeng Museum stands near the park entrance and keeps finds from Sukhothai and Si Satchanalai.

    Google Maps

© OpenStreetMap contributors · map data

Where the historical park sits, how its zones divide the ruins, what each zone charges and when it closes, and a sensible order for a morning on a bicycle.

Editorial team, sukhothaihistoricalpark.click · Updated November 12, 2026 · A 7 min read

Basics

  • Inner zoneThe walled centre holds 66 of the 217 explored sites.1
  • Outer zonesNorth, south, east and west add 30, 39, 24 and 58 sites.1
  • Gate pricesThe inner zone costs THB 200 and the outer zones THB 120.2,3,4
  • Open fromCentre from 06.30 am, northern temples from 07.30 am.5
  • By bicycleA bike costs THB 10 at the gate.6

The Sukhothai ruins on the map

On the map, the Sukhothai ruins sit within Tambon Mueang Kao, part of Amphoe Mueang in Sukhothai Province, and the Fine Arts Department manages the whole area as a single historical park.7 The department set the ancient site at 70 square kilometres in 1975, a size that explains why a visit is more of a journey than a stroll.8 UNESCO counts 7,000 hectares for Sukhothai within its larger property, which also includes two other towns.9

Look at the map above first, because it marks the main stops. Use the tabs to switch between the zones, and the buttons to open any pin in Google Maps for directions. The pins are approximate positions of the main temples, not survey points, so confirm the exact place on your phone when you set off. A paper map from the park office, which is staffed from 08.30 am until 04.30 pm, makes a good backup.10

The Sukhothai Historical Park zones divide the ruins for ticketing and for conservation, and the numbers help you picture the spread. In the department's count, 217 sites have been explored.1 Inside the rampart there are 66, while the northern, southern, eastern and western outer areas hold 30, 39, 24 and 58 respectively.1 The structure of this page follows that split, beginning with the walled centre and moving outwards.

Side by side

The zones at a glance

ZoneSitesFee, visitors from abroadOpens
Inner historic zone661THB 200206.30 am5
Northern outer zone301THB 120307.30 am5
Western outer zone581THB 120408.00 am5
Southern outer zone391Not listedAsk on the day
Eastern outer zone241Not listedAsk on the day

Fees and hours as the Fine Arts Department publishes them; the southern and eastern areas have no separate fee in its list.2,3,4

The inner zone, inside the old rampart

The inner historic zone is the heart of the park and the one with the highest gate price: THB 200 for visitors from abroad.2 It holds 66 of the explored sites, and it is where Wat Mahathat stands, together with Wat Sa Si and Wat Chana Songkhram, the temples the tourism authority named as the focus of a lit-up evening in July 2022.1,11 Our pages on Wat Mahathat and the central temples describe them in detail.

Gates here open at 06.30 am daily.5 Closing time is 07.30 pm from Monday to Friday and on Sunday, and 09.00 pm when Saturday comes around.5 Cars are not admitted inside it, so you arrive on a bicycle, on foot or with a tour that handles the transport.6 The distances between the central temples are modest, which is why the inner zone is the natural place to begin.

Near the entrance stands the Ramkhamhaeng Museum, which keeps the finds from the excavations at Sukhothai and Si Satchanalai.12 It makes a good first stop for orientation, or a refuge from the midday sun. The tour sold on this site reaches the park through the Eastern Gate, rides the central ruins with a guide and later cycles the south area, so the inner zone is the first big block of the day.

Sites by zone

Explored sites in each area of the park

  • Inside the rampart66
  • Western outer areas58
  • Southern outer areas39
  • Northern outer areas30
  • Eastern outer areas24

Counts of explored historic sites as the Fine Arts Department lists them for the whole park.1

The north: the temples beyond the walls

Two of the best-known northern sites are Wat Si Chum and Wat Phra Phai Luang, outside the north wall of the old city. The department counts 30 explored sites in the northern external areas, and it charges visitors from abroad THB 120 for this zone.1,3 Their gate is open for a shorter day than the centre's, from 07.30 am until 05.30 pm, so they fit best into the early part of a ride.5

The history pages explain why the north matters. A stone inscription found at Si Chum temple, north east of Sukhothai, describes the early period of the kingdom, which makes the temple a source for historians as well as a place of pilgrimage.14 The department also lists Wat Phra Phai Luang among the places that show the influence of Khmer art.15

Reach the north by bicycle or by car, since cars are allowed at Wat Phra Phai Luang at THB 50 per vehicle.6 A bicycle costs THB 10.6 Our page on Wat Si Sawai and Wat Si Chum covers the temples one by one, so use the map here to place them and that page to decide how long to stay. Allow extra time for the ride out and back, since the roads in the north are shared with local traffic and the gate for these temples is separate from the one in the centre.

Plan your ride

Which zones to ride today

Weigh up your time and your energy, then see which zones deserve them.

  • If I have a short morning

    The inner zone only

    It opens at 06.30 am and holds 66 sites.5,1

  • If I want the big seated Buddha

    Add the northern zone

    Wat Si Chum opens at 07.30 am, THB 120 extra.5,3

  • If I want quiet temples and countryside

    Add the Aranyik area

    It opens at 08.00 am and holds 58 western sites.5,1

  • If I do not want to plan the order

    Take the guided day

    A 7 hour ride from $49 that reaches the Eastern Gate.

  • If I am arriving in the evening

    Wait for Saturday

    Saturdays are the exception, with the centre open until 09.00 pm.5

Ways around

Bicycle, car or a guided ride

Flexible

Your own bicycle

Hired in town

  • Gate chargeTHB 106
  • Inner zoneAllowed
  • Hire priceSet by the shop
See this option

Limited

A car or motorbike

For the outer areas

  • MotorcycleTHB 206
  • CarTHB 506
  • WhereOuter areas only for cars6
See this option

Park and villages

The guided cycling day

Sold on this site

  • Length7 hours
  • GroupUp to 12
  • EntryEastern Gate
See this option

West, south and east of the walls

Of the outer areas, the west has the most explored sites, 58, and it contains the Aranyik area.1 That area is open between 08.00 am and 04.30 pm and charges visitors from abroad THB 120.1,5,4 The department's own history tells us that Ramkhamhaeng rode an elephant to the Aranyik area, the boundary between city and temple, of Saphan Hin temple, at the end of the Buddhist Lent.13 It is reached by a ride or a short drive from the centre.

The southern zone holds 39 explored sites and the eastern zone 24, and both are free of a separate ticket in the department's published list, which names only the inner, northern and western areas.1,2,3,4 The cycling day on this site spends part of its afternoon in the south area, after the lunch stop. Ask your guide or the ticket window which temples in the south and east are open and whether a ticket is needed on the day.

Because the outer areas are spread out, a bicycle is the practical choice, and the countryside between them is part of the pleasure. At the gate, a car is accepted solely at Wat Phra Phai Luang and in the Aranyik area.6 UNESCO also notes that the towns of the kingdom had engineers who dammed water and built reservoirs, ponds and canals, so many of the old waterworks still shape the landscape you ride across.39

A morning in the park

Following the opening times

  1. 06.30 am

    Inner zone

    First light at the centre, gates open from 06.30 am.5

  2. 07.30 am

    Northern temples

    The northern pair of temples opens its gate.5

  3. 08.00 am

    Aranyik area

    The western outer zone opens at 08.00 am.5

  4. 08.30 am

    Park office

    The office opens for questions and maps.10

  5. 04.30 pm

    Western close

    Both Aranyik and the office shut at 04.30 pm.5,10

  6. 05.30 pm

    Northern close

    The northern pair closes at 05.30 pm.5

Getting around and a sensible order for a morning

A bicycle is a practical way to cover the zones, and the gate charges THB 10 for one.6 The rental itself is a separate arrangement with a shop, and the official page gives no price for it. Bring cash for the ticket, a hat and water, and expect to share the road with other visitors and local traffic. Wear comfortable clothes and shoes, and keep a phone charged for the map on this page, which works as a back-up if you lose the paper one from the office.

For a morning, start in the inner zone as soon as it opens at 06.30 am, while the light is soft and the day is cool.5 Move north when the temples there open at 07.30 am, and keep the Aranyik area for after 08.00 am, when it opens.5 That order follows the opening times, so you never arrive at a closed gate.

If you prefer a guide, the cycling day sold here collects you from your hotel, rides through the villages first and reaches the Eastern Gate before lunch, which saves you from planning the order yourself. The sunset ride and the half-day ride use the countryside rather than the inner zone, so check the itinerary before choosing one for the ruins.

Video

A walking tour of the central park area

nomadraul on YouTube · The video stays unloaded until you press play.

he rode on an elephant to worship Buddha's images and participated in Kathina Khandhaka ceremony at "Aranyik Area" (boundary between city and temple) of Saphan Hin temple.
Fine Arts Department, Ministry of Culture (Virtual Historical Park)13

At the gate

What to carry and what to check

Tickets and hours3

  • Cash in baht for each zone you enter2,3
  • The closing time of the zone you are in5
  • THB 10 for a bicycle6

On the bicycle3

  • A hat, sunscreen and water for a hot day
  • Comfortable clothes and shoes
  • A paper or phone map for the outer zones10

Plan B3

  • A car only at Wat Phra Phai Luang or Aranyik6
  • Free cancellation on the guided day
  • Passport details for the insurance form

What the map cannot tell you

A map shows where things are, not what the day feels like. Heat, dirt tracks and the quality of the light all change a day in the park, and the operator of the ride cautions that it can get very hot. Thailand's tourism authority names November to February, when humidity is lower, as the time to travel, and that spell is kinder to anyone cycling from zone to zone.40

It also cannot tell you what is open on a given day. The park lists hours by area and keeps a late Saturday opening for the inner zone, but events and holidays can change the picture, and the department lists annual holidays when Thai visitors enter free, which can make the park busier.5,41 This year the Loy Krathong festival inside the park is scheduled for 15 to 24 November.42

Use the page as a plan, then check on the day. Our fees page lists every gate charge, our getting-there page covers the road in, and the temple and history pages give the stories behind the pins. Together they turn the map from a drawing into a day you can ride, with times, prices and stories behind each pin. Save the page on your phone before you set off, because signal can be patchy in the countryside between the zones.

FAQ

Fast answers to common questions.

How big is Sukhothai Historical Park?
70 square kilometres.

The Fine Arts Department set that area in 1975, with 217 explored sites inside it.8,1

How many zones does the park have?
Inner, north, south, east and west.

The department counts 66, 30, 39, 24 and 58 explored sites in those five areas.1

Which zone costs the most?
The inner historic zone.

It charges visitors from abroad THB 200, against THB 120 for the outer zones.2,3,4

In which part of the park are Wat Si Chum and Wat Phra Phai Luang?
In the northern zone.

They open at 07.30 am and close at 05.30 pm, shorter hours than the centre.5

Can I cycle between the zones?
Yes, a bicycle is THB 10.

The gate lists the bicycle charge, and the rental price is set by the shop.6

Where does the cycling tour enter the park?
At the Eastern Gate.

Riders enter through the Eastern Gate, and the south area is cycled later in the day.

Is there a museum in the park?
Yes, near the entrance.

The Ramkhamhaeng Museum keeps finds from Sukhothai and Si Satchanalai.12

What is the Aranyik area?
A western outer zone.

A day there starts at 08.00 am and ends at 04.30 pm, and the ticket is THB 120 for visitors from abroad.5,4

Sources

  1. Fine Arts Department, Ministry of Culture (Virtual Historical Park) · Sukhothai: historical background and importance ↩
  2. Fine Arts Department, Ministry of Culture (Virtual Historical Park) · Sukhothai Historical Park: map, hours and admission ↩
  3. Fine Arts Department, Ministry of Culture (Virtual Historical Park) · Sukhothai Historical Park: map, hours and admission ↩
  4. Fine Arts Department, Ministry of Culture (Virtual Historical Park) · Sukhothai Historical Park: map, hours and admission ↩
  5. Fine Arts Department, Ministry of Culture (Virtual Historical Park) · Sukhothai Historical Park: map, hours and admission ↩
  6. Fine Arts Department, Ministry of Culture (Virtual Historical Park) · Sukhothai Historical Park: map, hours and admission ↩
  7. Fine Arts Department, Ministry of Culture (Virtual Historical Park) · Sukhothai Historical Park: map, hours and admission ↩
  8. Fine Arts Department, Ministry of Culture (Virtual Historical Park) · Sukhothai: historical background and importance ↩
  9. UNESCO World Heritage Centre (Wayback copy) · Historic Town of Sukhothai and Associated Historic Towns ↩
  10. Fine Arts Department, Ministry of Culture (Virtual Historical Park) · Sukhothai Historical Park: map, hours and admission ↩
  11. Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom) · Light Up the Night @ Sukhothai Historical Park taking place in July 2022 ↩
  12. Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom) · Sukhothai Mini Light & Sound 2023 show starts 4 February ↩
  13. Fine Arts Department, Ministry of Culture (Virtual Historical Park) · Sukhothai: historical background and importance ↩
  14. Fine Arts Department, Ministry of Culture (Virtual Historical Park) · Sukhothai: historical background and importance ↩
  15. Fine Arts Department, Ministry of Culture (Virtual Historical Park) · Sukhothai: historical background and importance ↩
  16. Tourism Authority of Thailand (archived tourismthailand.org page) · Sukhothai Historical Park or Old Sukhothai City
  17. Tourism Authority of Thailand (archived tourismthailand.org page) · Wat Si Chum
  18. Fine Arts Department, Ministry of Culture (Sukhothai virtual historical park) · Historical Background and Importance
  19. Fine Arts Department, Ministry of Culture (Sukhothai virtual historical park) · Historical Background and Importance
  20. Tourism Authority of Thailand (archived tourismthailand.org page) · Sukhothai Historical Park or Old Sukhothai City
  21. Tourism Authority of Thailand (archived tourismthailand.org page) · Wat Si Sawai
  22. Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom) · Sukhothai Mini Light & Sound 2023 show starts 4 February
  23. Tourism Authority of Thailand (archived tourismthailand.org page) · Sukhothai Historical Park or Old Sukhothai City
  24. Tourism Authority of Thailand (archived tourismthailand.org page) · Sukhothai Historical Park or Old Sukhothai City
  25. Tourism Authority of Thailand (archived tourismthailand.org page) · Wat Sa-Si
  26. Tourism Authority of Thailand (archived tourismthailand.org page) · Sukhothai Historical Park or Old Sukhothai City
  27. Tourism Authority of Thailand (archived tourismthailand.org page) · Sukhothai Historical Park or Old Sukhothai City
  28. Tourism Authority of Thailand (archived tourismthailand.org page) · King Ramkhamhaeng Monument
  29. Tourism Authority of Thailand (archived tourismthailand.org page) · San-Ta-Pha-Daeng or Deity Shrine
  30. Tourism Authority of Thailand (archived tourismthailand.org page) · Sukhothai Historical Park
  31. UNESCO World Heritage Centre · Historic Town of Sukhothai and Associated Historic Towns (archived page)
  32. UNESCO World Heritage Centre · Historic Town of Sukhothai and Associated Historic Towns (archived page)
  33. Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom) · Sukhothai Mini Light & Sound 2023 show starts 4 February
  34. Fine Arts Department, Ministry of Culture (Sukhothai virtual historical park) · Historical Background and Importance
  35. Fine Arts Department, Ministry of Culture (Sukhothai virtual historical park) · Historical Background and Importance
  36. Fine Arts Department, Ministry of Culture (Sukhothai virtual historical park) · Historical Background and Importance
  37. UNESCO World Heritage Centre · Historic Town of Sukhothai and Associated Historic Towns (archived page)
  38. Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom) · Sukhothai Mini Light & Sound 2023 show starts 4 February
  39. UNESCO World Heritage Centre (Wayback copy) · Historic Town of Sukhothai and Associated Historic Towns ↩
  40. Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom) · Thailand’s comfortable, cooler months of November-February are a fantastic time to travel ↩
  41. Fine Arts Department, Ministry of Culture (Virtual Historical Park) · Sukhothai Historical Park: map, hours and admission ↩
  42. Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom) · Loi Krathong 2026 lights up Thailand’s rivers and historic cities ↩

Read next

More to read before you ride

GuideSukhothai Historical Park entrance fee and hoursGuideSukhothai tours comparedGuideHow to get to SukhothaiGuideWhere to stay in Sukhothai

Before you go

Hold a place on the ride.

Keep a seat on the Sukhothai cycling day without paying today; if plans shift, cancel free until 24 hours before.

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