Phitsanulok Getting there & around

Getting there & away

Land

Bus

Transport options out of Phitsanulok are good, as it’s a junction for bus routes both north and northeast. Bangkok is six hours away by bus and Chiang Mai is 5½ hours. Phitsanulok’s Baw Khaw Saw bus terminal is 2km east of town on Hwy 12. Second and 1st class air-con buses go to Bangkok every hour from 7.30am to 11.30pm daily (2nd class/1st class air-con 240/297B). VIP buses to Bangkok depart once a day at 11.30pm (347B). Buses to destinations in other northern and northeastern provinces leave regularly from the Baw Khaw Saw bus terminal.

Yan Yon Tour (0 5525 8647; Th Ekathotsarot) runs 1st class air-con and VIP buses to Bangkok (1st class/VIP 297/407B, 9.15am-12.30pm) from the centre of town.

Train

For most people, reaching Phitsanulok from Bangkok via train rather than bus is more economical and convenient, since you don’t have to go out to Bangkok’s Northern and Northeastern bus station. Timetables and prices are readily available at Bangkok’s Hualamphong station. To check the most up-to-date timetables and prices in advance call the State Railway of Thailand or look at their website

Rapid trains (2nd class/3rd class 309/219B) depart from Bangkok five times each day at 5.50am, 7am, 2.30pm, 7.50pm and 8.10pm and take seven hours. There are also three air-con, 2nd-class, express-diesel trains (or ‘Sprinter’), at 8.30am, 10.50pm and 7.20pm daily (449B, five hours), which are about two hours quicker than the rapid service. A 1st- and 2nd-class sleeper train (1064/629-699B, six hours) departs at 7.35pm.

If you’re continuing straight to Sukhothai from Phitsanulok, take the city bus 10 (fan/air-con 8B/11B) or a túk-túk (50B) from the train station to the bus station 4km away. From there you can catch a bus to Sukhothai.

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Air

Thai Airways (0 5524 2971-2; 209/26-28 Th Borom Trailokanat; 8am-5pm Mon-Fri) operates daily connections (55 minutes) to Phitsanulok from Bangkok (2185B). Tickets can also be booked at the travel agent attached to Lithai Guest House.

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