Short answer
Ayutthaya works with children who can walk in the sun and sit in a vehicle for a long day: our trip lasts about 9 hours, with about 1.5 hours of driving each way. The Thai Meteorological Department's normals for nearby stations give mean daily highs of 31.7 to 36.8 degrees Celsius, and the NHS advises SPF 30 sunscreen, extra care with children and keeping babies under 6 months out of strong sunlight. Expect steep steps at some temples. We found no official child rate for the temple tickets, so tell us your children's ages when you book.
How long the day is for a child
Ayutthaya is a day of travelling and walking more than of any single attraction. The details we hold for our tour put the drive at around 1.5 hours each way and the whole day at about 9 hours. The group meets in the morning at a central point near a BTS or MRT station, and the guide takes you through four temples with a lunch stop, so the long stretches are in the minibus and in the sun.
Children who cope with a long school day and a car journey usually manage this. Toddlers who nap, need frequent snack stops or cannot walk far will find it hard, and a shorter outing is kinder to them. The details we hold set no age limit and list no child fare for this tour, so tell us your children's ages when you book and we will say honestly whether it suits them.
Getting there with children: train, tuk-tuk or minibus
If you travel on your own, the BNEX train takes just over an hour from Krung Thep Aphiwat, according to The Nation. Seats are not reserved and are first come, first served, and Wikivoyage warns that you may have to stand. For a family with small children, that is a reason to avoid the busiest times and to arrive at the station early.
In town, Wikivoyage says Ayutthaya's tuk-tuks are larger than Bangkok's and seat up to six on facing benches. It also names a bike shop that rents child seats for bicycles. Our guide to getting around by bike or tuk-tuk lists the rates. On our guided day, the minibus covers the distance between temples, which saves little legs the walk between sites.
Heat and sun: what the NHS says for children
The Thai Meteorological Department's 1981 to 2010 normals have no Ayutthaya station, so the nearest are Bangkok and Lop Buri. Their mean daily maxima run from 31.7 to 36.8 degrees Celsius, with April hottest and December mildest. For children the NHS says their skin is much more sensitive than adult skin, babies under 6 months should be kept out of direct strong sunlight, and sunscreen should be at least SPF 30 with at least 4-star UVA protection, reapplied about every 2 hours.
The NHS says the symptoms of heat exhaustion are often the same in adults and children, and the treatment is to move the person somewhere cool, give plenty of water and cool the skin. To prevent it, it advises more cold drinks, light-coloured loose clothing and avoiding the sun between 11am and 3pm. Plan a shaded lunch in the middle of the day, and give children their own hat and water bottle.
Steps, stairs and little legs
Some temples involve climbing. The Tourism Authority of Thailand's 2016 article says you can climb the steep steps at Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon to the base of its 62-metre chedi. Wikipedia describes Wat Chaiwatthanaram's central prang as 35 metres high, with hidden entrances halfway up that are reached by steep stairs. Decide with older children whether the climb is worth it, and keep younger ones by the hand on the steps.
Wat Ratchaburana has a crypt reached by a narrow staircase; the Ayutthaya Historical Research website says it is warm inside, the lower cell is tiny, and the descent is not recommended for people with claustrophobia. Wikivoyage noted the crypt closed in January 2020, so ask at the gate. Wikivoyage also says the toilet at Wat Chaiwatthanaram is outside the site and costs 5 baht, so carry coins.
The rules children need to know
Wikivoyage asks visitors to the ruins to refrain from clambering up Buddha statues, and that is the first rule to explain to children. The Tourism Authority of Thailand's etiquette note adds: do not touch or point at a Buddha image, do not raise yourself higher than it, keep your voice low and switch phones to silent. The same note says to point your feet away from the statue when sitting in front of it.
At Wat Mahathat the Buddha head in the tree roots is the one place children are likely to want to pose. The rule there is to kneel so that your head is lower than the Buddha's; our guide to the Buddha head explains the rules and the queue. Tell children before you arrive, because the queue is not the moment to learn it.
Easier ideas for smaller children
Wat Lokayasutharam has a very large reclining Buddha and is free to enter, according to Wikivoyage; it is easy to see and needs no climbing. Wikivoyage also lists the Ayutthaya Floating Market, which in 2024 charged 200 baht per person for entry including an optional motorboat ride, with theatre shows three times a day on weekdays and four at weekends. Prices and show times change, so check them.
At Bang Pa-In Palace, Wikivoyage says you can rent a golf cart for 400 baht for the first hour, and Lovethailand notes that the carts suit families and older visitors. Lovethailand also suggests at least 3 to 4 hours there. These are not on our guided route, so tell us if one of them matters more to your family than the ruins. Our Bang Pa-In guide has the details.
Our Ayutthaya day with children, and who should choose something else
Our Ayutthaya day trip from Bangkok is from $25 per person, with transport from a central meeting point, an English-speaking guide and drinking water. Temple tickets, about 280 baht on the details we hold, and lunch are paid on the day. We found no published child rate for the Fine Arts Department temples, so ask at the gate. The group waits up to 10 minutes at the meeting point, and hotel pickup is possible at extra cost.
Who should not book: families with a baby or a toddler who cannot manage 9 hours with about 3 of them on the road, or who will not wear a hat in the heat. For them, a half day at a nearer sight, or two shorter days in Ayutthaya, is a better plan. Our guide to Ayutthaya in one day shows how little fits in a day, which helps you pick.
Practical checklist
- Tell us your children's ages when you book, and ask whether the day suits them.
- Pack SPF 30 or higher sunscreen with 4-star UVA protection, a hat for each child and a water bottle each.
- Wear comfortable shoes for walking over brick ruins; avoid sandals without a back strap.
- Explain the rules before the temple: no climbing on statues, no touching, kneel at the Buddha head.
- Carry coins for toilets and small notes for the temple tickets.
- Plan a shaded lunch and a rest in the middle of the day.
Questions and answers
Is Ayutthaya suitable for young children?
It suits children who can walk in the heat and sit in a vehicle for a long day. Our trip lasts about 9 hours with about 1.5 hours of driving each way; toddlers who nap or tire quickly will find it hard.
How do I protect children from the sun in Ayutthaya?
The NHS advises sunscreen of at least SPF 30 with 4-star UVA protection, reapplied about every 2 hours, plus shade, light loose clothing and a hat. It says babies under 6 months should stay out of direct strong sunlight.
Can children climb on the ruins?
No. Wikivoyage asks visitors to refrain from clambering up Buddha statues, and Thailand's tourism authority says not to touch Buddha images. Visitors may climb the steps at some temples, such as Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon; follow the signs.
Do children pay for the Ayutthaya temples?
We found no published child rate for the Fine Arts Department temples; the rate for foreigners is 80 baht per temple according to the Ayutthaya Historical Research website. Ask at the ticket booth.
Is there a shorter way to see Ayutthaya with kids?
Two or three temples on the island, with a long lunch break, is easier than four on a fixed schedule. A visit to the free reclining Buddha at Wat Lokayasutharam needs no climbing.