Getting around Sukhothai
Sukhothai is known for cycling between 13th-century ruins in a quiet park, best for history lovers. Fly Bangkok Airways into Sukhothai Airport (THS) when you can; Phitsanulok is the cheaper fallback east of the park.
Back to Sukhothai
Bangkok Airways flies into Sukhothai Airport (THS) when the schedule fits, and Phitsanulok (PHS) is the cheaper fallback. Old Sukhothai is about 70 km west of that city, about one hour by car or 1 to 1.5 hours by bus or van via the new town, about 12 km east of the old town. The train-plus-bus path works and eats a day, and this is not a same-day train hop like Ayutthaya from Bangkok. Sleep in Old Sukhothai so you can start cycling at 06:30 instead of spending that first hour on a transfer.
Inside the historical park, rent a bicycle at the central gate, and foreigners pay 200 THB for the central zone. A 2026 bicycle add-on is about 10 THB a zone, and songthaews link new town and old town if you booked the wrong pin. Do not tour the inner zone by idling tuk-tuk if you can ride.
Which mode for which hop
- THS or PHS, then a car or van: THS is the closest airport. From PHS the road west to Old Sukhothai is about 70 km: one hour by car, or 1 to 1.5 hours by bus or van through new Sukhothai.
- Bicycle: Central zone at opening.
- Walk: Old-town sois after 19:30.
- Grab / songthaew: New town to the gate if you slept east.
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Common questions
- Is there a direct flight to Sukhothai?
- Yes, on Bangkok Airways into Sukhothai Airport (THS) when the schedule fits. If no THS flight suits your dates, fly to Phitsanulok (PHS) and take a van about 70 km west via the new town; allow about one hour by car or 1 to 1.5 hours by bus or van.
- Tuk-tuk or bicycle in the park?
- Bicycle. A tuk-tuk is heat and idle time.