Ayutthaya vs Nakhon Si Thammarat
See how these destinations compare for your trip.
Choose two different destinations to compare.
Not sure where to go? Find my destination
Copyright of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)
A small advantage for cultural experiences
The UNESCO-listed former capital has an exceptional concentration of temples, ruins and Siamese history.
A small advantage for food
Southern curries, khanom jeen, coffee shops and markets give the city a strong regional dining identity.
Side by side
What feels different
Our editorial assessments · Select a factor to see how we scored each place.
Why we rate Ayutthaya 0/10
Ayutthaya is inland, so there are no sea beaches.
Why we rate Nakhon Si Thammarat 2/10
Provincial beach outings are possible, but the city is a cultural base with no immediate beach-holiday setting.
What we assess
Beach appeal, convenient access and variety during a beach-focused stay, within the destination itself.
Why we rate Ayutthaya 4/10
Rivers and flat lowland surroundings give Ayutthaya a pleasant setting, but dramatic natural landscapes are not a main reason to visit.
Why we rate Nakhon Si Thammarat 5/10
Nearby green countryside provides outings, while the normal city stay is primarily an urban experience.
What we assess
The visual impact of natural surroundings and how central those landscapes are to a typical stay.
Why we rate Ayutthaya 10/10
The UNESCO-listed former capital has an exceptional concentration of temples, ruins and Siamese history.
Why we rate Nakhon Si Thammarat 9/10
Wat Phra Mahathat, historic streets and living shadow-puppet traditions give the city exceptional cultural depth.
What we assess
The variety, depth and practical access to historic places, temples, architecture, traditions and cultural experiences during a typical stay.
Why we rate Ayutthaya 7/10
Central Thai dishes, river prawns, markets and local sweets give visitors distinctive food to seek out.
Why we rate Nakhon Si Thammarat 8/10
Southern curries, khanom jeen, coffee shops and markets give the city a strong regional dining identity.
What we assess
Food quality, variety, distinctive local cooking and how readily visitors can find good places to eat, regardless of price.
Why we rate Ayutthaya 2/10
Evenings are quiet, with a small choice of bars and restaurants rather than a full nightlife scene.
Why we rate Nakhon Si Thammarat 5/10
Pubs, local music venues and evening eating areas offer a useful scene with less visitor-oriented breadth than larger hubs.
What we assess
The choice, variety and liveliness of evening venues, their opening hours and how easily you can enjoy a typical night out.
Why we rate Ayutthaya 6/10
The town is generally relaxed, while the historic park and main sights become busy with day visitors.
Why we rate Nakhon Si Thammarat 5/10
A quieter hotel base is possible, though the cultural centre is also a busy working city.
What we assess
How easily you can enjoy a peaceful stay, considering traffic, nightlife noise, crowds and practical quieter bases.
Why we rate Ayutthaya 0/10
Ayutthaya is inland and has no sea-island excursions.
Why we rate Nakhon Si Thammarat 0/10
The city is not a practical island-hopping base; reaching an island ferry requires a separate onward journey.
What we assess
The variety of worthwhile sea-island trips, convenient departures, journey times and flexibility under normal operating conditions.
Why we rate Ayutthaya 7/10
Bicycles, tuk-tuks and organised tours make the historic park manageable, though sites are spread across the city.
Why we rate Nakhon Si Thammarat 7/10
Walking works within heritage areas, with local rides between separated sights and arranged transport for countryside trips.
What we assess
Freedom to explore without renting a scooter, using walking, public transport, taxis, tuk-tuks, ride-hailing or boats; transport price is assessed separately.
Why we rate Ayutthaya 8/10
Affordable guesthouses, local meals and low-cost temple visits make Ayutthaya easy to explore on a modest budget.
Why we rate Nakhon Si Thammarat 8/10
Simple city rooms, local meals and modest-cost sightseeing support a budget stay; wider excursions add transport costs.
What we assess
How easily you can enjoy a typical stay on a modest budget, including simple accommodation, food, realistic transport and characteristic activities.
Scores out of 10 · Higher means more of that characteristic About these scores
How to read the scale
Scores run from 0 to 10 and describe how strongly a destination offers each characteristic.
Higher does not always mean better
A higher nightlife score means a livelier scene. A higher quietness score means a calmer atmosphere. The right balance depends on your trip.
Close scores mean similar experiences
Small differences should not decide your trip on their own.
Ayutthaya
Choose Ayutthaya if...
- You want to explore the temples and ruins of Thailand’s former capital.
- You like days built around history, riverside sights and local neighbourhoods.
- You want to try river prawns, local noodles and roti sai mai alongside the temple visits.
The trade-off
The main ruins are spread across the city, so plan a cycling route, tuk-tuk or tour rather than expecting to walk everywhere. Evenings offer a much smaller scene than a major city.
Nakhon Si Thammarat
Choose Nakhon Si Thammarat if...
- Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan
- Historic streets and surviving city-wall heritage
- Suchart Subsin shadow-puppet heritage
The trade-off
The city is spread out; beaches and mountain attractions require extra travel.
Plan your trip
When to go
See how temperature, rainfall and travel conditions change through the year. Select a month to focus your comparison.
| Factor | Ayutthaya | Nakhon Si Thammarat |
|---|---|---|
| Average daytime high | 33°C | 31°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 24 mm | 262 mm |
| Rainy days | 2.6 | 13.6 |
| Crowds | High | Unknown |
| Stay prices | High | Unknown |
| Sea conditions | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Average daytime high | 34°C | 32°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 21 mm | 77 mm |
| Rainy days | 2.5 | 5.8 |
| Crowds | High | Unknown |
| Stay prices | High | Unknown |
| Sea conditions | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Average daytime high | 35°C | 33°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 51 mm | 139 mm |
| Rainy days | 4.1 | 7.2 |
| Crowds | Moderate | Unknown |
| Stay prices | Typical | Unknown |
| Sea conditions | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Average daytime high | 36°C | 34°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 93 mm | 107 mm |
| Rainy days | 6.5 | 8.1 |
| Crowds | Moderate | Unknown |
| Stay prices | Typical | Unknown |
| Sea conditions | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Average daytime high | 35°C | 34°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 217 mm | 160 mm |
| Rainy days | 15 | 14.9 |
| Crowds | Low | Unknown |
| Stay prices | Typical | Unknown |
| Sea conditions | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Average daytime high | 34°C | 34°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 199 mm | 120 mm |
| Rainy days | 16.4 | 12.8 |
| Crowds | Low | Unknown |
| Stay prices | Typical | Unknown |
| Sea conditions | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Average daytime high | 34°C | 34°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 190 mm | 117 mm |
| Rainy days | 17.2 | 14.2 |
| Crowds | Low | Unknown |
| Stay prices | Typical | Unknown |
| Sea conditions | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Average daytime high | 33°C | 34°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 227 mm | 135 mm |
| Rainy days | 19.1 | 15.4 |
| Crowds | Low | Unknown |
| Stay prices | Typical | Unknown |
| Sea conditions | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Average daytime high | 33°C | 33°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 336 mm | 156 mm |
| Rainy days | 21.4 | 17.3 |
| Crowds | Low | Unknown |
| Stay prices | Typical | Unknown |
| Sea conditions | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Average daytime high | 33°C | 32°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 289 mm | 286 mm |
| Rainy days | 17 | 20.4 |
| Crowds | Moderate | Unknown |
| Stay prices | Typical | Unknown |
| Sea conditions | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Average daytime high | 33°C | 30°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 45 mm | 638 mm |
| Rainy days | 5 | 21.7 |
| Crowds | High | Unknown |
| Stay prices | High | Unknown |
| Sea conditions | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Average daytime high | 32°C | 30°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 12 mm | 511 mm |
| Rainy days | 1.5 | 19.1 |
| Crowds | High | Unknown |
| Stay prices | High | Unknown |
| Sea conditions | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Destination | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average daytime high | ||||||||||||
| Ayutthaya |
33°C
|
34°C
|
35°C
|
36°C
|
35°C
|
34°C
|
34°C
|
33°C
|
33°C
|
33°C
|
33°C
|
32°C
|
| Nakhon Si Thammarat |
31°C
|
32°C
|
33°C
|
34°C
|
34°C
|
34°C
|
34°C
|
34°C
|
33°C
|
32°C
|
30°C
|
30°C
|
| Monthly Rainfall | ||||||||||||
| Ayutthaya |
24 mm
|
21 mm
|
51 mm
|
93 mm
|
217 mm
|
199 mm
|
190 mm
|
227 mm
|
336 mm
|
289 mm
|
45 mm
|
12 mm
|
| Nakhon Si Thammarat |
262 mm
|
77 mm
|
139 mm
|
107 mm
|
160 mm
|
120 mm
|
117 mm
|
135 mm
|
156 mm
|
286 mm
|
638 mm
|
511 mm
|
| Rainy days | ||||||||||||
| Ayutthaya | 2.6 | 2.5 | 4.1 | 6.5 | 15 | 16.4 | 17.2 | 19.1 | 21.4 | 17 | 5 | 1.5 |
| Nakhon Si Thammarat | 13.6 | 5.8 | 7.2 | 8.1 | 14.9 | 12.8 | 14.2 | 15.4 | 17.3 | 20.4 | 21.7 | 19.1 |
| Crowds | ||||||||||||
| Ayutthaya | High | High | Moderate | Moderate | Low | Low | Low | Low | Low | Moderate | High | High |
| Nakhon Si Thammarat | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Stay prices | ||||||||||||
| Ayutthaya | High | High | Typical | Typical | Typical | Typical | Typical | Typical | Typical | Typical | High | High |
| Nakhon Si Thammarat | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Sea conditions | ||||||||||||
| Ayutthaya | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Nakhon Si Thammarat | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable |
Temperatures are historical average daytime highs, not the highest temperatures you might experience. Rainfall and rainy days are monthly averages, not a forecast. A rainy day need not mean rain all day.
Stay prices are relative to each destination’s usual rates. Holidays can bring extra crowds and higher prices. Sea conditions vary by beach and day; check local conditions before boat trips.
Ayutthaya: Thai Meteorological Department — BANGKOK METROPOLIS, 1991–2020.
Nakhon Si Thammarat: Thai Meteorological Department - NAKHONSI THAMMARAT (48552), 1991-2020.
Keep exploring
Considering somewhere else?
Copyright of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)
