Ayutthaya Safety Guide
Health, security, and travel safety information
Emergency Numbers
Save these numbers before your trip.
Healthcare
What to know about medical care in Ayutthaya.
Healthcare System
Ayutthaya has a mix of public provincial hospitals and small private clinics. For anything serious, Bangkok’s top-tier hospitals are 1–1.5 hours away.
Hospitals
Rajthanee Hospital (public, largest), Ayutthaya Hospital (public, newer), Thanarat Army Hospital (good for trauma), and Bangkok Hospital Ayutthaya (private, higher cost, better English).
Pharmacies
Green-cross pharmacies everywhere sell common antibiotics, rehydration salts, sunscreen; pharmacists often speak basic English.
Insurance
Not legally required, but strongly recommended; private hospitals will ask for payment or insurance guarantee.
Healthcare Tips
- Bring a print-out of your prescription drugs’ generic names—Thai pharmacists recognise them more easily.
- If bitten by monkeys at the temples, wash the wound immediately and seek post-exposure rabies shots in Bangkok.
Common Risks
Be aware of these potential issues.
Pickpocketing and bag-snatching from unattended bicycles, around Wat Mahathat and the night market.
Motorbike taxis, tuk-tuks, and rented scooters share narrow roads with cyclists; risky at dusk.
Humid 33-38 °C days while exploring open temples with little shade.
Scams to Avoid
Watch out for these common tourist scams.
Friendly locals at Wat Mahathat or Wat Phra Si Sanphet offer unsolicited guiding, then demand 500-1,000 THB at the end.
Unofficial ticket booths pop up near lesser-known temples, charging foreigners inflated ‘maintenance fees’.
Long-tail boat drivers quote 2,000 THB for a 30-min river loop, then tack on extra stops.
Safety Tips
Practical advice to stay safe.
Getting Around
- Download offline maps—cell signal is patchy between temples.
- Use GrabBike or licensed tuk-tuks after dark; unlit bicycle lanes can be risky.
Food & Water
- Street stalls at the night market are generally safe; pick busy stalls with high turnover.
- Drink only sealed bottled water or iced drinks from ayutthaya restaurants using filtered ice.
Money & Valuables
- ATMs inside 7-Eleven stores are safer than standalone machines.
- Split cash and cards between day bag and hotel safe.
Information for Specific Travelers
Safety considerations for different traveler groups.
Women Travelers
Ayutthaya is considered very safe for solo women; harassment is rare, and locals are respectful. The main concerns are the same as for men—heat and petty theft.
- Choose ayutthaya hotels near the night market or along Naresuan Road for late-evening foot traffic.
- Avoid accepting drinks from strangers in the limited ayutthaya nightlife scene—stick to well-reviewed riverside bars.
LGBTQ+ Travelers
Same-sex relationships are legal; Thailand has no anti-LGBTQ laws.
- Couples of any gender can book double rooms without issue; ayutthaya hotels are generally welcoming.
- Nightlife is low-key—riverside bars are relaxed, but avoid overly loud PDA in traditional temple zones.
Travel Insurance
Because serious medical cases are referred to Bangkok, insurance that covers ambulance or helicopter transfer is essential.
Travel insurance for adventurous travelers • Coverage in 200+ countries