From Wikitravel

Phitsanulok (พิษณุโลก) is a historic city in Northern Thailand, about halfway between Bangkok and Chiang Mai. It is the provincial capital of Phitsanulok Province and has a population of around 80,000.

[edit] Understand

Phitsanulok is a great starting point for exploring the ancient Thai capital of Sukhothai. The local TAT office is at 209 Thanon Borom Trailokanat (08:30-16:30 daily).

[edit] Get in

[edit] By plane

Thai International Airways offers regular flights between Phitsanulok and Chiang Mai (40 minutes). Bus #4 runs to the airport, as do tuk-tuks for about 10-20 baht.

[edit] By train

There are several daily services north to Chiang Mai and south to Bangkok. Both take about 6-7 hours.

[edit] By bus

Extensive bus services connect Phitsanulok with Chiang Mai and Bangkok. As Phitsanulok is a major transportation hub, there are also regular services to the North-East. Phitsanulok is about 390 km from Bangkok. Buses take 5-6 hours for the journey. The return trip can take as long as 7 hours, depending on the Bangkok traffic). The bus to Chiang Mai takes 6 hours. The main bus station is northeast of the train station. From there buses leave for Chiang Mai, Tak (via Sukhothai), Khon Kaen and Bangkok.

Buses to Sukhothai leave across the road from the Topland Plaza Hotel. The trip takes one hour and costs around 25 to 40 baht. Sukhothai-bound buses are also available from the main bus station.

[edit] Get around

Public buses serve the town and there is no shortage of tuk-tuks and taxis. No. 1 bus serves the route between the central bus station and the train station in the town centre, and leaves from the short road leading from the highway to the bus station.

Decent motorcycles (Honda Wave, etc.) can be rented from the shop near the central bus station, at prices somewhat higher than the Chiang Mai standard (starting ~200 baht)

[edit][add listing] See

Phitsanulok is not well known to foreign tourists and thus has retained the charm of a typical larger Thai city. Unfortunately, most the older parts of the city were destroyed in a disastrous fire decades ago.

• Wat Phra Sri Rattana Mahathat (Wat Yai): near Naresuan Bridge. This is the most important temple in Phitsanulok and is the home of the famous Phra Buddha Chinnarat, one of the most revered Buddha figures in Thailand. The temple is host to a large fair every January.

• The house-boats: once a symbol of Phitsanulok, only a few of these are left on the river and some now function as restaurants and cafes.

• More sights can be suggested by the helpful Tourism Authority office at 209/7-8 Boromtrailokanat Road a few streets south of the train station (walking 5-7 minutes)

[edit][add listing] Do

Visit the temples and stroll around a Thai city that is still unspoilt by the tourist traps of Chiang Mai and Bangkok.

[edit][add listing] Eat

Several markets offer the typical variety of food stall dishes. During the day check out the market just south of the train station, which turns into a popular night market scene in the early evening. Some of the best buys are gai yang (grilled chicken) and kweitiou pat Thai (Thai style fried noodles).

The 'Night Bazaar' along the river offers lots of tourist type food options plus after dinner shopping with the usual night market items.

[edit][add listing] Drink

• It's a Cake. In the same building as Lithani guest house, sells great cakes and had good sandwiches, pasta and Thai dishes. Also had internet access. edit

[edit][add listing] Sleep

Phitsanulok is not a tourist oriented city, and there is not a broad range of guesthouses. However, there are several good options at rates much lower than in Bangkok or Chiang Mai.

[edit] Budget

• No.4 Guesthouse. A good option for budget travellers.
• LiThai Guesthouse, 73/1-5 Phayalithai Road (south of the train station), Tel: (055) 219 626-9 Fax: (055) 219 627 ext 500. Very clean, it has moderate prices starting at 200 baht (though the official rate reads 220 baht).
• LV Gardenhome. Very nice hotel. Bathroom, AC, TV and WLAN in all rooms. http://www.lvgardenhome.150m.com/ .

[edit] Mid range

The grand Riverside hotel

• Topland Plaza Hotel, 68/33 Ekathosarot Rd; tel. +66-55247800. Part of the Topland Plaza shopping centre, this is one of the better hotels. Buses to Sukhothai leave from in front of the hotel. Rates start at 900 baht. It is well worth the money, though can be noisy at night as it contains a popular night-club.

[edit] Get out

Phitsanulok is a good stop-over from Bangkok to Chiang Mai (or vice versa).

• Sukhothai is a good option for a day-trip.

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