From Bangkok to Ayutthaya by Bus

Instead, passengers trying to reach the ancient city via public transportation will have to use a minivan instead. The vans (which carry 12 passengers) are Thailand's midway option between buses and taxis. They're faster; they have AC; and they're a lot more comfortable than crowded, hot city buses.

Minivans leave from Mo Chit Bus Station and cost about double the price of the train. There's no set time for departure and you can't book tickets in advance–instead, minivans will leave as soon as they're full, which means you could wait around anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes.

Keep in mind that the minivans make several stops along the one-hour trip to Ayutthaya, and you have to stay on until the last stop to reach the ruins. Once you get off at Naresuan Alley, it's a short walk to Wat Mahathat in the northeast corner of the park. You'll walk past Chao Phrom market on the way there, a good place to grab a snack and a cold drink before you reach the archeological park.