Ayutthaya or Sukhothai?

Visitors to the Central Plains often wonder if it's worth visiting both Ayutthaya and Sukhothai. Assuming your time is fairly limited, seeing one or the other of these historic Thai capitals is probably enough. Ayutthaya, an easy day trip from Bangkok, is the more convenient option. You'll see a few ancient Thai temples, and you can stop in Bang Pa-In for a little more sightseeing and some shopping enroute.

Though much farther from Bangkok, Sukhothai's historical park is beautiful and less crowded than Ayutthaya. Outside the main park are other ruin, many of which are within biking or hiking distance. If you have time to stay for at least one night, it's a more interesting choice than Ayutthaya.