Phitsanulok - More Than A Stepping Stone To Sukothai

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A Totally Serious (Not Really) Tourist Guide to Phitsanulok, Thailand

Because Bangkok is Too Crowded and Chiang Mai is Too Hipster

Welcome, brave traveler, to the magical land of Phitsanulok or as locals lovingly call it, “Phi-lo” (pronounced /pee-lo/ because /ph/ is never pronounced as /f/ in Thailand). Nestled somewhere in the geographical heart of Thailand (right where your finger accidentally lands when you're trying to find Chiang Mai but sneeze mid-search), Phitsanulok is the unsung hero of Thai cities.

Where Is This Mysterious Land?

Phitsanulok is located in Northern-Central Thailand, about 377 km north of Bangkok. That’s 5 hours by car, 6+ hours by bus or train, or 15 days if you’re relying on your local friend Dave who swears he'll get you there but refuses to use Google Maps as he thinks it's a secret GPS tracking device from the deep state.

How to Get There (Easy to Hard)

1. By Train

Take a scenic, slow train from Bangkok’s Aphiwat Central Station or Bang Sue station. It’s cheap, charming, and smells vaguely of grilled chicken. Tickets range from 50 THB (3rd class, no A/C, lots of chickens) to 500 THB (1st class, A/C, no chickens).

2. By Plane

Bangkok Airways and Nok Air have flights to Phitsanulok Airport. It’s a short 1-hour flight. The plane might be smaller than your grab bag, but hey, it gets you there. Tickets start around 800–1,500 THB one-way.

3. By Bus

Air-con buses leave from Bangkok’s Mo Chit terminal every hour or so. Trip duration: 6 hours, depending on traffic and how often your driver stops to buy som tam.

Where to Stay: From Budget to "I Sold a Kidney for This"

Budget:

Nothing fancy, but affordable and clean(ish) guest house or hotels. Around 300–700 THB/night. Perfect for backpackers who want to spend a few nights without seven others snoring in the room.

Mid-range:

You'll get a comfortable, centrally located hotel with breakfast included. Around 800–1,500 THB/night. They even pretend not to judge you for going back for fourths at the buffet.

Luxury-ish:

You may expect resorts with pool villas, swan towels, and vibes. From 2,000–4,000 THB/night. Perfect if you want to "rough it" in total comfort.

Check Agoda, Booking.com or whatever website you use to book a room. Or you could just walk in like it's 2003.

What to See (Besides Yourself in a Mirror, You Vain Traveler)

1. Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat (conveniently nicknamed Wat Yai)

Home to the Phra Buddha Chinnarat, considered the most beautiful Buddha image in Thailand (he’s basically the Brad Pitt of Buddhas). Entry: free (donations encouraged, judgment optional).

2. Sgt. Maj. Dr. Thavi Folk Museum

Weird, wonderful, and filled with ancient rice cookers, musical instruments, and things your grandma might have hoarded. Great for history buffs or antique hoarders-in-training.

3. The Nan River

Ideal for river walks, boat rides, and pondering the meaning of life while eating grilled squid on a stick.

Day Trips (AKA Escaping the City Without Actually Wandering Too Far)

1. Sukhothai Historical Park (about 1 hour away)

Bike around ancient ruins, pretend you’re in an Indiana Jones movie, and take enough photos to convince your Instagram followers you discovered it yourself.

2. Phu Hin Rong Kla National Park

Mountains, waterfalls, and rocks that look like pancakes. Go hiking or just pretend you hiked for the sake of social media.

Nightlife (Yes, Phitsanulok Parties. Kind Of.)

1. Topland Plaza Karaoke Bars

Belt out your favorite Thai pop songs while a waiter who looks suspiciously like your tour guide claps in rhythm. 

2. Riverside Bars

Chill with a Leo beer, live music, and the occasional mosquito who thinks you’re the snack. You may even find some local company, wink wink.

3. Disco Boat on the Nan River

If you're lucky (or unlucky?), you’ll find a party boat blasting 90s techno at 9 PM. It's like Ibiza, if Ibiza was powered by diesel and questionable life choices. Most of them have become floating bars or restaurants as locals got really fed up with them.

Local Food You Should Definitely Try (and Hopefully Not Regret Later)

Kuay Tiew Nam Tok (Boat Noodles) – Savory, spicy, and possibly infused with pig’s blood. Yum!

Fried Insects – Crunchy, protein-packed, and perfect for scaring your followers on TikTok.

Khao Soi Phitsanulok Style – Northern curry noodles, slightly different from Chiang Mai’s version. Still awesome.

Final Tips from a Totally Certified Non-Local Expert

Rent a bicycle. It’s flat, fun, and you’ll burn off last night’s moo ping.

Don’t be afraid to chat with locals (it's actually them who'll be afraid if you start a convo with a random stranger). Phitsanulokians (does that word even exist?) are friendly and love curious tourists who mispronounce everything.

Always carry toilet paper. You never know. And a Poy Sian inhaler. Just to convince yourself that you're blending in.

So pack your bags, brush up on your karaoke, and come discover Phitsanulok, the city that’s not too big, not too small, but just right for your next quirky Thai adventure. It's a great stop in a road trip. You won’t regret it (unless you eat too many bugs).

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