Lopburi is one of the most surreal cities in Thailand, which says a lot. In addition to being a peaceful town with many historical sites, its center is famously overrun by herds of monkeys that live in harmony—more or less—with the rest of the city. It’s definitely worth a visit, and you can easily combine it with a trip to Ayutthaya or make it a stopover on your way to northern Thailand. But first, you’ll need to know how to get from Bangkok to Lopburi to plan your journey.
Lopburi is less than 200 kilometers from Bangkok, making it a relatively easy day trip from the capital. However, since it’s on the northbound train route, it’s best to consider it as part of a longer trip, like to Chiang Mai.
The best way to travel from Bangkok to Lopburi is by train, both for convenience and travel time. All trains heading from the capital to Chiang Mai on the Northern Railway line stop in Monkey City, so between 7:30 AM and 10:30 PM, you can find tickets, which can be purchased on 12GoAsia.
While it is sometimes possible to buy tickets on the day of travel, it’s better to book in advance. Trains depart from the new Krung Thep Aphiwat station (map), which is easily accessible from the city center via the Bang Sue metro stop. The line also passes through Don Mueang station, next to Bangkok‘s second airport, which is worth considering if you’re arriving in the city via that airport.
The train takes about two hours or less to reach the center of Lopburi, although travel times may vary due to frequent delays. The ticket price is around three euros.
The alternative way to get from Bangkok to Lopburi is by road. Although there are no large buses that cover this route, there are minibuses and vans available. Most of these depart from the new Mochit station, in the small vehicle zone (map). The ticket usually costs around five euros and can also be purchased on 12GoAsia.
Traffic is often heavy on this route, so the journey by van typically takes about three hours. Alternatively, you could book a private taxi, which costs around 1,800 baht, or less than 50 euros. Now that you know how to get from Bangkok to Lopburi, we still recommend taking the train route as the best option.
