Although the Historical Park is the main attraction, Sukhothai<\/a> is also a chance to escape from the busy backpacker trail. You can venture into expansive national parks, explore the city by bike or just soak up the city\u2019s culture. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Sukhothai literally translates to dawn of happiness, need we say more?<\/p>\n\n\n\n To make the most of your time in the city of happiness, we’ve put together some of our favourite things to do in Sukhothai.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Don\u2019t have time to read the whole article? Here\u2019s some of our favourite tours of Sukhothai:<\/p>\n\n\n\n New to Sukhothai?<\/strong> Our compact Sukhothai guide<\/a> shows you the best areas to stay, restaurants you don’t want to miss and many more tips for your visit to Sukhothai!<\/p>\n\n\n\n First up on the list obviously has to be Sukhothai Historical Park<\/a>. It\u2019s the reason why most people come to visit!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here\u2019s a quick run-down on the history of Sukhothai. This ancient city, now frozen in time within the Historical Park, was once the capital of Northern Thailand in the 13th and 14th century. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it now covers 70 km\u00b2 of grounds that house around 200 temples.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The park comprises of 5 different sections, with the central part, which is the most popular, located within the city walls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To cover the distance, you could walk, or even better hire a bicycle for just 30 baht a day! You can find the bicycle rental shop just outside the main entrance gates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Like most good things in life, they don\u2019t come for free. Entrance into each of the sections costs 100 baht, plus an extra 10 baht if you\u2019re on a bike. If you\u2019re on a budget, you might want to prioritise certain areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To help you to do that, here\u2019s some of our favourite temples that you need to see:<\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019ll see Wat Mahatat on almost every list of temples to visit in Sukhothai and that\u2019s for good reason.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The temple itself is impressive, spectacular and breathtaking. Words don\u2019t really do it justice, but cast against the mountainous backdrop, you can\u2019t help but be in awe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019ll be able to spot this temple by the iconic seated Buddha, two 9 metre tall standing Buddhas surrounded by a number of stupas and chedis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you had to visualise what peace and tranquility looked like, Wat Sa Si would be pretty close. Surrounded by ponds and lush greenery, you\u2019ll have to enter this temple via a small footbridge, as if transporting you to a new world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You could easily spend the whole day soaking up the peacefulness that exudes from the Buddha that takes pride of place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As you approach Wat Si Chum, you\u2019ll see the face of a Buddha peering through the gaps in the outer walls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Inside you\u2019ll find the largest Buddha image, named Phra Achana, in Sukhothai. It\u2019s 15 meters tall and 11 meters wide, so pretty big!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sukhothai Historical Park is steeped in history, which often gets untold if you\u2019re not accompanied by a guide. To really appreciate the ancient city you can embark on a 7-hour bike tour<\/a>, which is a great way to see the Historical Park if you only have one day to explore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019d rather DIY, you can check the itinerary<\/a> and do the route yourself! This way you will only pay for the park entrances and the bike rental, but remember that you\u2019ll miss the stories and history from the guide, which often makes the tour so memorable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Whilst you\u2019re not likely to spend hours walking around Ramkhamhaeng National Museum<\/a>, it does add another layer of detail to what you will have seen in the Historical Park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As you wander through the museum you\u2019ll come across artifacts that were discovered by archaeologists from around Sukhothai. This includes objects like statues, jewellery, weapons and ceramics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The museum opens at 9am and closes quite early at 4pm and entry costs 150 baht for tourists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Situated about 45 minutes southeast of Sukhothai\u2019s new city you\u2019ll find Ramkhamhaeng National Park<\/a>, filled with thriving plants, wildlife and a couple of waterfalls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One waterfall that\u2019s worth a visit is Sai Rung<\/a>, also known as rainbow waterfall due to the way the cascading water reflects the sunlight. The waterfall has 4 levels for you to explore, reaching up to 1,200 meters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re up for a bit more adventure, why not take on the challenge of hiking to the summit of Khao Luang, 1,200 meters above sea level. The trail up is only 4 km, but don\u2019t let this deceive you. The short distance means the hike is very, very steep, with inclines up to 70 degrees!<\/p>\n\n\n\n The hike can be done in one day, equating to about an 8-hour round-trip. Alternatively, you can camp near the summit for just 225 baht, which includes a tent. It\u2019s also important to note that the rangers won\u2019t let you begin the hike after 1:30pm, so make sure to set off in the morning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On your way up, you can make stops to the bat cave or the iconic tree that spawns hundreds of roots above ground. A nice place for a well deserved snack!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once you reach the top, as well as being treated to spectacular views of Thailand\u2019s countryside, the overwhelming feeling of pride and achievement is almost as good as the view.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Don\u2019t worry though, if you just prefer a leisurely stroll, there\u2019s plenty of other trails to explore within the park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Entrance to the park is 200 baht for adults and 100 baht for kids. To get to the national park you can hire a songthaew for around 1,000 baht return, or hire your own motorbike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Riding a bike doesn\u2019t have to just be restricted to when you\u2019re exploring Sukhothai Historical Park, it\u2019s also a great way to see the city and its surrounding areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Why not join a Full Day Countryside Tour<\/a> to discover a part of Sukhothai<\/a> that\u2019s often missed. The tour takes you on an agricultural experience through green fields and quaint villages, before stopping at the local market and enjoying some lunch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019ll also get the opportunity to visit a traditional village where you can learn about the local production of smoked fish and rice whisky as well as other things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For this 7-hour tour, including lunch and snacks, the price is 990 baht for an adult. Just make sure to select the country side tour instead of the Sukhothai Historic Park tour<\/a>! (also a great tour, but that\u2019s already been covered in activity #1)<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you haven\u2019t quite got your fix of ancient city ruins from Sukhothai Historical Park, then you can take a day trip to Si Satchanalai Historical Park.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Also known as the \u2018city of good people\u2019, this is a much quieter alternative to Sukhothai. You\u2019ll be able to admire the works of art without being disturbed by lots of other tourists, something that\u2019s hard to do nowadays.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It may be quieter, but that by no means suggests that Si Satchanalai isn\u2019t as impressive. This Historical Park still offers a collection of impressive and intricate temples that you\u2019ll want to spend hours looking at.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Again, exploring on a bike adds another element of fun to the adventure, so why not hire a bike? Entrance fee to the park is 100 baht, plus an extra 10 baht if you do decide on using a bike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As there isn\u2019t much nightlife in Sukhothai, what better place to spend your Saturday night than at the night market?<\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019ll find it located on Nikorn Kasem Road<\/a>, but you\u2019ll probably smell it before you actually see it. The 500m stretch of stalls are crammed with street vendors selling deliciously cheap food. From perfectly barbequed meats, fresh seafood, spicy salads to desserts and smoothies to finish off the meal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The locals flood to this market every Saturday which pretty much says that you should too!<\/p>\n\n\n\n The market opens at 5pm and closes around 9pm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can\u2019t really come to Sukhothai<\/a> and not try noodles that literally have the name of the place you\u2019re in, in their name too!<\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019ll find this dish on most restaurants’ menus and being cooked fresh in front of your eyes at the night market. You really have no excuse not to try some.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The dish can be eaten dry or as a soup and includes elements like noodles, green beans, ground peanuts, pork and various sliced vegetables. All of which are combined in a sauce that is truly a contrast between sweet and savoury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sukhothai is not the place to party. If that\u2019s what you\u2019re after, then Bangkok or Phuket is the answer to your party city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Although there isn\u2019t much on offer, there are still a few gems where you can spend the night chatting to other travellers and having one too many.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Our top 3 bars to check out are Choppers Bar<\/a> for cheap cocktails before heading across the road to Bar 64000<\/a>, or Fong Bear<\/a> to see where the young locals hang out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you want to go out-out, you can follow the locals to Club 64<\/a> or In Black<\/a>, which are a bit further outside of the town.<\/p>\n\n\n\n#1 Discover the ancient city and temples in Sukhothai Historical Park<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Sukhothai](\"https:\/\/www.geckoroutes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Sukhothai-Historical-Park-in-Sukhothai-province-Northern-of-Thailand-550.jpg\")
Sukhothai Historical Park<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Wat Mahathat (central zone)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Wat](\"https:\/\/www.geckoroutes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Wat-Mahathat-Tempel-in-het-district-van-het-Sukhothai-Historical-Park-1.jpg\")
Wat Sa Si (central zone)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Wat](\"https:\/\/www.geckoroutes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Wat-Sa-Si-and-wooden-bridge-Shukhothai-Historical-Park-Thailand.jpg\")
Wat Si Chum (north zone)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Phra](\"https:\/\/www.geckoroutes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Wat-Si-Chum.jpg\")
Consider a guided tour to get the most value out of your visit to the park<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Parked](\"https:\/\/www.geckoroutes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Bike-tour-at-Sukhothai-historical-park-in-Thailand.jpg\")
#2 Visit Ramkhamhaeng National Museum<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Ramkhamhaeng](\"https:\/\/www.geckoroutes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Ramkhamhaeng-National-Museum.jpg\")
#3 Take on a challenging hike at Ramkhamhaeng National Park<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Khao](\"https:\/\/www.geckoroutes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Traveler-backpacker-stand-on-the-cliff-for-sightseeing-and-take-pictures-of-mountain-at-the-Khao-Luang-Mt.-in-Ramkhamhaeng-National-Park.jpg\")
Up for the adventure? Here are the basics you need to know!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Waterfalls](\"https:\/\/www.geckoroutes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/The-waterfalls-in-Ramkhamhaeng-National-Park-area-Sukhothai-1.jpg\")
Park fees<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
#4 Take a bike tour to the frequently missed parts of Sukhothai<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Bicycle](\"https:\/\/www.geckoroutes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Thailand.bicycle-tour-in-Sukhothai.jpg\")
#5 Make a day trip to Si Satchanalai Historical Park<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Si](\"https:\/\/www.geckoroutes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Si-Satchanalai-Historical-Park-in-old-town-Sukhothai-Thailand.jpg\")
#6 Spend your Saturday evening at the night market<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Sukhothai](\"https:\/\/www.geckoroutes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Traditional-foods-at-Walking-Street-Market-Sukhothai-Thailand.jpg\")
#7 Try delicious Sukhothai noodles<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Sukhothai](\"https:\/\/www.geckoroutes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Delicious-Sukhothai-Thai-noodle.jpg\")
#8 Sample what nightlife Sukhothai has to offer<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Sukhothai](\"https:\/\/www.geckoroutes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Sukhothai-Thailand-alcoholic-drinkbottles-in-restuarant.jpg\")