If you’re trying to decide your next destination, and you’re interested in history, Thailand is a great choice.
Thailand draws in millions of visitors each year for its tropical beaches, lush jungles, and famous nightlife, but the Land of Smiles also has an abundance of unforgettable historical sites for you to visit.
From the abundance of ancient Khmer ruins to the countless old Buddhist wats, there are so many options it can be hard to know where to start.
I’ve spent months travelling across this amazing country, visiting many of its top historical attractions, and now I’ve created this list where I’ve narrowed it down to the 20 best historical places in Thailand.
Contents
Thailand Historial Places on a Map
The 20 Best Historical Places in Thailand
1 | Sukhothai Historical Park
If you’re seeking the best historical site in Thailand, it’s hard to look past the ancient city of Sukhothai.
Sukhothai started as a Khmer outpost and some of their monuments still remain today, such as the towers at Wat Sisawai.
However it was in the 13th century that the local Thai people rebelled against the Khmer, gaining independence and forming their own kingdom (the Sukhothai Kingdom).
Because of this, Sukhothai is considered the first Thai capital.
In addition to the original Khmer structures, Sukhothai has the earliest examples of Thai architecture, such as Wat Mahathat.
Sukhothai Historical Park is located in Thailand’s northern central region, and is one of the 3 historical parks that make up the ‘Historic Town of Sukhothai and Associated Historic Towns‘ UNESCO World Heritage Site.
2 | Ayutthaya Historical Park
After Sukhothai, the next ancient capital of Thailand was Ayutthaya.
While Sukhothai was the first Thai state, the Kingdom of Ayutthaya is considered the precursor to modern-day Thailand.
For centuries the kingdom was one of the big regional powers and by the 18th century Ayutthaya was one of the largest cities in the world. This all came crashing down when the Burmese destroyed it in 1767 and the capital was moved to Bangkok.
Today, what’s left of the city is a well-preserved UNESCO World Heritage Site, and among the best historical places in Thailand. It’s a massive site, with some of the best examples of Thai architecture.
Ayutthaya Historical Park is located about 80km from Bangkok, and can easily be visited on a day trip from the city.
3 | The Grand Palace
One of the best historical places in Bangkok is the Grand Palace.
After Ayutthaya was destroyed in 1767 and the capital was moved to Bangkok, this palace was built to house the royal family. It was used as such up until 1925 when the royal residence was relocated.
Today, when its not used for ceremonies, the Grand Palace is open to the public and sees over 8 million visitors per year, making it among the most visited tourist sites in Asia.
The large complex contains a number of important royal buildings for you to explore, such as Wat Phra Kaew (the royal temple), Phra Mondop (the royal library), and Chakri Maha Prasat (the European-style reception hall).
4 | Lopburi
The charming town of Lopburi, in central Thailand, was once the capital of the Ayutthaya Kingdom, and now has many great historical sites you can visit.
Lopburi traces its origins back a long way, as far back as the 5th century CE. But it was when it became part of the Khmer Empire that many of the structures you see today were built.
After it was absorbed into the Ayutthaya Kingdom, it became the capital during the reign of King Narai.
Rather than having a designated ‘historical park’, like most of the ancient cities in Thailand, the ruins of Lopburi are scattered throughout the town, which contains some of the best historical places in Thailand.
You can easily spend 2 to 3 days exploring the many Thai and Khmer ruins of Lopburi, such as Wat Phrasi Rattana Mahathat, Prang Sam Yod and King Narai’s Palace – not to mention all the other fun things there are to do in Lopburi.
5 | Phnom Rung Historical Park
Thailand’s eastern provinces are full of ancient Khmer ruins for you to visit, and the best of them is arguably Phnom Rung.
Located just 50km from the Cambodian border, Phnom Rung is a Hindu temple complex dating back to the 10th century CE, built on top an extinct volcano.
Thanks to extensive restoration efforts, Phnom Rung is the best preserved Khmer ruin in Thailand, with most of the walls and buildings in perfect shape. You’d be hard pressed to find better preserved Khmer ruins anywhere other than Angkor Wat.
If you travelling to Thailand’s eastern region, you must visit Phnom Rung.
6 | Kamphaeng Phet Historical Park
Making up the ‘associated’ part of the Historic Town of Sukhothai and Associated Historic Towns UNESCO World Heritage Site is the ancient city of Kamphaeng Phet.
Located about 60km from the Sukhothai site, Kamphaeng Phet was one of the central cities that made up this former kingdom that rebelled against. the Khmer Empire.
Kamphaeng Phet is renowned for its amazing Thai architecture, such as Wat Chang Rob and its 68 elephant statues.
The ruins of Kamphaeng Phet Historical Park are spread out over a large area. One of the most popular ways of exploring the site is with a bicycle, which you can rent from the front entrance.
If you want to get the most out of your visit to the Sukhothai World Heritage Site, you should spend a day at Kamphaeng Phet.
7 | Phimai Historical Park
If you’ve seen the temples of Phanom Rung but couldn’t get enough of that amazing Khmer architecture, stay in eastern Thailand a little longer and visit Phimai Historical Park.
Back in the 10th century CE Phimai sat at the end of the Ancient Khmer Highway, a central road system that connected many places to the massive city of Angkor. It was once among the central cities of the Khmer Empire.
The temple of Phimai resembles a smaller version of its more famous counterpart at Angkor Wat, comprising an outer wall protecting a central temple. The temple was even built so that it faces Angkor Wat.
8 | Si Satchanalai Historical Park
Making up the final ‘associated’ part of the Historic Town of Sukhothai and Associated Historic Towns World Heritage Site is Si Satchanalai Historical Park.
Along with Sukhothai, Si Satchanalai was one of the cities that rebelled against the Khmer Empire in the 13th century, becoming a central city in the newly founded Sukhothai Kingdom.
It wasn’t the capital, but it was assumed to be the 2nd largest city in the kingdom, and was known as the favoured residence of the crown prince throughout Sukhothai rule.
Like the other Sukhothai sites, Si Satchanalai has a mix of both Khmer and Thai structures (think: pinecone-shaped vs pointy-shaped towers, respectively).
During your visit, be sure not to miss Wat Phra Sri, one of the most impressive structures at the site, that’s located separate to the main historical park complex.
9 | Prasat Muang Tam
If you’ve visited Phnom Rung Historical Park, there’s another beautiful Khmer temple in the vicinity you may want to visit too.
Like the other, Prasat Muang Tam dates back to around the 20th century CE and is situated along the Ancient Khmer Highway on the way to Angkor.
Despite extensive restoration efforts, Prasat Muang Tam is still somewhat of a hidden gem and sees few tourists, but this is great for you since it means you may have the site almost all to yourself.
Like most Khmer Temples, it’s Hindu, and comprises a walled off inner sanctuary with the distinct pinecone-shaped towers (although the main tower is yet to be restored).
You can visit Prasat Muang Tam on a single day trip along with Phnom Rung.
10 | Wat Arun
If you in downtown Bangkok, anywhere near the Grand Palace, it’s impossible to miss Wat Arun with its towering White Pagoda sticking out above the skyline.
One of Bangkoks most recognisable landmarks, Wat Arun was established around the late 18th century after Ayutthaya was destroyed and the capital moved here.
It was built to house the Emderald Buddha, one of Thailand’s most important religious artefacts which is now housed inside the Grand Palace complex.
Wat Arun is a must-visit when exploring downtown Bangkok. After you’ve visited the Grand Palace, you can reach Wat Arun by catching a ferry across the river (or catch a taxi the longer way).
11 | Phu Phra Bat Historical Park
While all the other historical sites on this list are primarily ancient ruins, or old temples, Phu Phra Bat Historical Park offers something a little different.
Nestled within the scenic Phu Phan Mountains, in Thailand’s north east, are a series of unique rock formations that have been considered holy for thousands of years.
Here you can see ancient rock paintings believed to be over 6000 years old, making Phu Phra Bat among the oldest historical places in SEA.
The rock paintings depict things like animals, human figures, hand prints and other seemingly random shapes whose meaning is long lost.
In addition to the rock paintings, there are also a number of simple rock sculptures (known as Sima Stones) which were likely built from around the 7th century CE – an example of how this site has been relevant for thousands of years.
Phu Phra Bat Historical Park may be out of the way, a place that’s rarely included on a tourist’s Thailand itinerary, but its a fascinating insight into a different side of Thai history, and a great way to get out in nature.
12 | Wat Pho
Just across the road from the Grand Palace complex you’ll find one of Bangkoks best temples.
Along with the Grand Palace and Wat Arun, Wat Pho was one of the first structures built after the capital was moved from Ayutthaya to Bangkok in the late 18th century.
Throughout its early history, Wat Pho served as a place of learning, acting as a sort of public university, teaching topic such as history, medicine and literature.
Wat Pho has some of the most beautiful examples of Thai Buddhist architecture, such as the many colourful pagodas, but its mainly known for its 46m long statue of the reclining Buddha.
13 | Mueang Sing Historical Park
Located in Thailand’s Kanchanaburi province, the ruins at Mueang Sing Historical Park are among the furthest reaching remnants of the Khmer Empire.
During the 12th century CE, when the Khmer Empire’s borders were at their highest extent, Mueang Sing was one of their western-most outposts, likely serving as a military base and protecting against the Burmese.
Like most Khmer settlements, all that remains of Mueang Sing are the temples, which as per tradition all face towards Angkor Wat. Although, the outline of the old moat and fortifications can still be seen in some areas.
Mueang Sing may not compare to many other ancient historical places in Thailand, but if you’re interested in learning more about the far reaching influence of the Khmer Empire, its worth a visit.
14 | Wat Pratat Doi Suthep
If you’re travelling to Thailand’s northern regions you’ll almost certainly be visiting the city of Chiang Mai, Thailand’s 2nd city and the gateway to the north.
While you’re in Chiang Mai, be sure to venture into the hills west of town and visit Wat Pratat Doi Suthep.
The origin of this temple Buddhist temple is unclear, but its believed to have been founded in the 14th century CE and has remained the most important temple in Northern Thailand ever since.
The temple is situated at the summit of Doi Suthep, a mountain to the west of Chiang Mai. Up until 1935 the only want to reach the temple was by walking the Monks Trail.
While today the Wat Pratat Doi Suthep is easily accessible via road, those who are feeling adventurous can still hike the old path and experience the journey like a monk of old.
15 | Phra Pathom Chedi
As you travel across Thailand, you’re going to see a lot of beautiful Buddhist temples, but few compare to Phra Pathom Chedi.
As the tallest stupa (or Chedi – meaning a Buddhist shrine) in Thailand, Phra Pathom stands at a massive 120 metres tall, and 235 metres around its base. Its size and grandeur has made it among the most popular religious, and tourist, sites in the country.
The origins of Phra Pathom Chedi are uncertain, but its first temples are assumed to have been built as far back as the 3rd century BCE. Most of the buildings you see there today, however, were built much later.
Phra Pathom Chedi is located about a 1 hour drive west of Bangkok. It can be visited on a half-day trip, but also works well on a full day-trip to Kanchanaburi, where you can visit other historical places on this list, such the River Kwae Bridge and Mueang Sing Historical Park.
16 | Wat Chet Yot
Chiang Mai full of centuries-old temples for you to visit, but Wat Chet Yot is certainly the most unique.
Built in the 15th century, this temple is what you might call a ‘chinese whispers’ version of the Mahabodhi temple in India (where the Buddha became englightened), in that its a copy of a temple in Burma, which itself is a copy of the one in India.
Much of the original Mahabodhi design was lost in translation, but you can still see it in the central towers, albeit with a bit of traditional Thai flare.
17 | River Kwai Bridge & Railway Centre
During World War 2, the Japanese Empire began constructing a railway from Bangkok west into Burma to support their invasion of British India. To build this railway as quickly as possible, they used POWs as slave labour in the most horrible conditions.
It is said that one person lost their life for each plank of wood laid on the track and, because of this, the story of the Burma Railway has become infamous, being featured in numerous books and movies.
The part of the bridge that crosses the Khwae Yai River, in the town of Kanchanaburi, is a popular destination for those interested in this important part of Thailand’s history. The bridge is open for tourists to cross by foot.
To learn more, you can then visit the Burma Railway Centre, the former HQ of the Japanese Army which now operates as a small, privately owned museum.
18 | Wat Chedi Luang
Among the many ancient temples of Chiang Mai, Wat Chedi Luang is the most historically significant.
The temple was built during the 14th century, at a time when the Lan Na Kingdom ruled over northern Thailand. It was built to house the Emerald Buddha, one of Thailand’s most important historical artefacts which now resides in the Grand Palace in Bangkok.
The upper section of the temple may have fallen apart, but you can see get a sense of the size and scale of this temple, which stood 82m high.
19 | Phuket Old town
The island of Phuket draws in millions of tourists every year for its tropical beaches and vibrant nightlife, but it still has someting to offer for history lovers.
Since around the 16h century, Phuket became a major hub for tin-mining, drawing in miners and merchants from all over, including India, China, Malaysia and even from Portugal. This turned Phuket Town into a cultural melting pot.
Today, much of this multicultural heritage is still alive and well today.
Aside from the charming old architecture of the old town itself, which is a mix of Portuguese and Chinese, there’s also a bunch of historical sites you can visit, such as the Thai Hua Museum, the Mining Museum, and many old Chinese shrines.
20 | Si Thep Historical Park
Among the countless ancient ruins in Thailand, those at Si Thep Historical Park manage to stand out and offer something different.
Before the Thai states of Ayutthaya and Sukhothai, and before the Khmer Empire, Si Thep was the capital of the Dvaravati civilisation, which very little is known about.
It was established sometime around the 6th century CE and thrived for centuries until the rise of the Khme Empire in the 11th century.
Today, its ruins form the Ancient Town of Si Thep and its Associated Dvaravati Monuments UNESCO World Heritage Site in central Thailand.
Much of the site is in dire need of some restoration, or else it would be higher on this list, but you can still see some unique structures, such as as stepwell, and the Khao Khlang Nok stupa, which resembles an ancient ziggurat from Mesopotamia.
