1. Sightseeing Day Trip

Ayutthaya is a massive maze of temples that spreads over 289 hectares. There's little rhyme or reason to the location of the buildings and even with a map, chances are you'll have a hard time locating specific ones.

One of the main advantages of joining an Ayutthaya Sightseeing Day Trip from Bangkok is that your English-speaking guide will take you to see the main wats (temples), so you don't have to wander around and miss out on the most important buildings.

Main stops with a tour include Wat Phra Si Sanphet (the holiest and most impressive of the temple ruins); Wat Yai Chai Mongkol (famous for its 121-foot-long and 26-foot-high reclining Buddha statue); and Wat Mahathat, best known for the massive tree roots overtaking the building. 

A tour also gives you a chance to hear the story behind Ayutthaya–there aren't many signs posted around the ruins, so without a guide, you'll miss out on the little details that make the place truly amazing.

With many of the tour operators, you'll get back to Bangkok on a riverboat cruise down the Chao Phraya River, enjoying views of the temples lining up along the riverbank on the way.