Sukhothai vs Ubon Ratchathani
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Copyright of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)
A quieter setting
A calm town and spacious historic park make a peaceful stay easy, outside occasional visitor peaks. Another assessed advantage: more cultural experiences.
A livelier nightlife scene
Local pubs, clubs and riverside bars provide worthwhile evening choice beyond food markets. Another assessed advantage: a broader food offering.
Side by side
What feels different
Our editorial assessments · Select a factor to see how we scored each place.
Why we rate Sukhothai 0/10
Sukhothai is inland, so there are no sea beaches.
Why we rate Ubon Ratchathani 0/10
This inland city has no sea-beach offering; riverfront areas are a different experience.
What we assess
Beach appeal, convenient access and variety during a beach-focused stay, within the destination itself.
Why we rate Sukhothai 5/10
Open parkland, ponds and countryside give Sukhothai a peaceful natural setting. The celebrated temple ruins are its cultural draw.
Why we rate Ubon Ratchathani 4/10
Riverfront and temple settings add interest, but the dramatic Mekong landscapes require longer provincial journeys.
What we assess
The visual impact of natural surroundings and how central those landscapes are to a typical stay.
Why we rate Sukhothai 10/10
Sukhothai Historical Park, Wat Mahathat and Wat Si Chum make temple architecture and early Thai history the focus of a stay.
Why we rate Ubon Ratchathani 8/10
City temples and candle-making traditions provide strong Isaan cultural interest, with the festival adding a seasonal highlight.
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 Sukhothai 6/10
Local noodles, markets and everyday Thai restaurants provide enjoyable meals, though the choice is smaller than in major cities.
Why we rate Ubon Ratchathani 8/10
Isaan, Vietnamese-influenced and Chinese-Thai food gives independent city dining strong variety and character.
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 Sukhothai 2/10
Evenings are mostly quiet, with a few casual restaurants and bars rather than a varied nightlife scene.
Why we rate Ubon Ratchathani 6/10
Local pubs, clubs and riverside bars provide worthwhile evening choice beyond food markets.
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 Sukhothai 8/10
A calm town and spacious historic park make a peaceful stay easy, outside occasional visitor peaks.
Why we rate Ubon Ratchathani 5/10
Quieter hotel areas are available, but the normal stay is in a working regional city with busy roads and evening venues.
What we assess
How easily you can enjoy a peaceful stay, considering traffic, nightlife noise, crowds and practical quieter bases.
Why we rate Sukhothai 0/10
Sukhothai is inland and has no sea-island excursions.
Why we rate Ubon Ratchathani 0/10
Ubon is inland and has no practical sea-island excursions.
What we assess
The variety of worthwhile sea-island trips, convenient departures, journey times and flexibility under normal operating conditions.
Why we rate Sukhothai 6/10
Bicycles, tuk-tuks and local transport serve the park and town, but the old and new town areas are separated.
Why we rate Ubon Ratchathani 7/10
Airport, rail and local rides make a city stay workable without riding; dispersed sights and distant outings need transport.
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 Sukhothai 8/10
Simple stays, low-cost local food and inexpensive park transport make a modest heritage trip practical.
Why we rate Ubon Ratchathani 8/10
Simple rooms and local meals suit modest budgets, with private transport for provincial sightseeing the main extra expense.
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.
Sukhothai
Choose Sukhothai if...
- You want ancient temples and early Thai history to shape your stay, exploring places such as Wat Mahathat and Wat Si Chum.
- You like exploring historical parkland by bicycle at an unhurried pace.
- You prefer a peaceful heritage stop with simple local meals and quiet evenings.
The trade-off
The historical park and modern town are separate bases, so staying in one means arranging transport to the other. Restaurant and evening choices are smaller around the park.
Ubon Ratchathani
Choose Ubon Ratchathani if...
- Wat Phrathat Nong Bua
- Thung Si Mueang and city cultural life
- Isaan food and seasonal Candle Festival traditions
The trade-off
City sights are dispersed, and the best-known provincial nature attractions are not close to every city hotel.
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 | Sukhothai | Ubon Ratchathani |
|---|---|---|
| Average daytime high | 31°C | 32°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 13 mm | 3 mm |
| Rainy days | 1.8 | 0.6 |
| Crowds | High | Unknown |
| Stay prices | High | Unknown |
| Sea conditions | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Average daytime high | 34°C | 34°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 13 mm | 11 mm |
| Rainy days | 1.6 | 1.4 |
| Crowds | High | Unknown |
| Stay prices | High | Unknown |
| Sea conditions | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Average daytime high | 36°C | 36°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 22 mm | 29 mm |
| Rainy days | 3.4 | 3.7 |
| Crowds | Moderate | Unknown |
| Stay prices | Typical | Unknown |
| Sea conditions | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Average daytime high | 38°C | 37°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 65 mm | 83 mm |
| Rainy days | 5.5 | 6.5 |
| Crowds | Moderate | Unknown |
| Stay prices | Typical | Unknown |
| Sea conditions | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Average daytime high | 36°C | 35°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 185 mm | 223 mm |
| Rainy days | 14.1 | 14.8 |
| Crowds | Low | Unknown |
| Stay prices | Typical | Unknown |
| Sea conditions | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Average daytime high | 34°C | 34°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 191 mm | 237 mm |
| Rainy days | 16.3 | 16.7 |
| Crowds | Low | Unknown |
| Stay prices | Typical | Unknown |
| Sea conditions | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Average daytime high | 33°C | 33°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 141 mm | 294 mm |
| Rainy days | 16.5 | 19 |
| Crowds | Low | Unknown |
| Stay prices | Typical | Unknown |
| Sea conditions | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Average daytime high | 33°C | 32°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 192 mm | 291 mm |
| Rainy days | 17.8 | 20.6 |
| Crowds | Low | Unknown |
| Stay prices | Typical | Unknown |
| Sea conditions | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Average daytime high | 33°C | 32°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 255 mm | 314 mm |
| Rainy days | 17.6 | 19.1 |
| Crowds | Low | Unknown |
| Stay prices | Typical | Unknown |
| Sea conditions | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Average daytime high | 33°C | 32°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 196 mm | 112 mm |
| Rainy days | 12.5 | 9.9 |
| Crowds | Moderate | Unknown |
| Stay prices | Typical | Unknown |
| Sea conditions | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Average daytime high | 32°C | 32°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 30 mm | 22 mm |
| Rainy days | 3.2 | 2.9 |
| Crowds | High | Unknown |
| Stay prices | High | Unknown |
| Sea conditions | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Average daytime high | 31°C | 31°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 9 mm | 5 mm |
| Rainy days | 1.4 | 0.8 |
| 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 | ||||||||||||
| Sukhothai |
31°C
|
34°C
|
36°C
|
38°C
|
36°C
|
34°C
|
33°C
|
33°C
|
33°C
|
33°C
|
32°C
|
31°C
|
| Ubon Ratchathani |
32°C
|
34°C
|
36°C
|
37°C
|
35°C
|
34°C
|
33°C
|
32°C
|
32°C
|
32°C
|
32°C
|
31°C
|
| Monthly Rainfall | ||||||||||||
| Sukhothai |
13 mm
|
13 mm
|
22 mm
|
65 mm
|
185 mm
|
191 mm
|
141 mm
|
192 mm
|
255 mm
|
196 mm
|
30 mm
|
9 mm
|
| Ubon Ratchathani |
3 mm
|
11 mm
|
29 mm
|
83 mm
|
223 mm
|
237 mm
|
294 mm
|
291 mm
|
314 mm
|
112 mm
|
22 mm
|
5 mm
|
| Rainy days | ||||||||||||
| Sukhothai | 1.8 | 1.6 | 3.4 | 5.5 | 14.1 | 16.3 | 16.5 | 17.8 | 17.6 | 12.5 | 3.2 | 1.4 |
| Ubon Ratchathani | 0.6 | 1.4 | 3.7 | 6.5 | 14.8 | 16.7 | 19 | 20.6 | 19.1 | 9.9 | 2.9 | 0.8 |
| Crowds | ||||||||||||
| Sukhothai | High | High | Moderate | Moderate | Low | Low | Low | Low | Low | Moderate | High | High |
| Ubon Ratchathani | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Stay prices | ||||||||||||
| Sukhothai | High | High | Typical | Typical | Typical | Typical | Typical | Typical | Typical | Typical | High | High |
| Ubon Ratchathani | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Sea conditions | ||||||||||||
| Sukhothai | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Ubon Ratchathani | 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.
Sukhothai: Thai Meteorological Department — SUKHOTHAI, 1999–2020.
Ubon Ratchathani: Thai Meteorological Department - UBON RATCHATHANI (48407), 1991-2020.
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Copyright of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)
Copyright of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)
