Planning a Trip
Visitor Information
The TAT office (tel. 05525-2742) has maps and basic information, but is inconveniently located on Boromtrailokanart Road, 2 blocks south of the central clock tower down a small side street. Most hotels offer free city maps.
Orientation
The town is fairly compact, with the majority of services and sights for tourists concentrated along or near the east bank of the Nan River. Naresuan Road extends from the railway station and crosses the river from the east over the town's main bridge. Wat Yai is north of the bridge and just a hitch north of busy Highway 12. The main market, featuring souvenirs in the day and food stalls at night, is just south of the bridge on riverside Phutta Bucha Road. One landmark is the clock tower at the southern end of the commercial district, Boromtrailokanart Road.
Getting Around
By Tuk-Tuk & Songtaew -- Tuk-tuks (called taxis here) stop near the bus and train stations. Negotiate for an in-town fare, usually about 40B (US$1/60p). Songtaews (covered pickup trucks) follow regular routes outside of town.
By Bus -- There's a well-organized city bus system with a main terminal south of the train station on A-Kathotsarot Road. Trips are about 10B (30¢/15p), but you would do just as well to hire tuk-tuks or taxis.
There are frequent (every half-hour 6am-6pm) buses from the intercity bus terminal east of town to New Sukhothai (trip time: 1 hr.; 42B/US$1.20/65p).
By Hired Minivan -- Any hotel in Phitsanulok can arrange minivan tours in the area and to Sukhothai. Expect to pay 2,000B (US$57/£31) with a driver, plus fuel.
By Tram -- The Phitsanulok Tour Tramway offers a 45-minute sightseeing tour, departing from Wat Yai from 9am to 3pm and returning to the temple.
By Rental Car -- Budget (tel. 05530-1020) and Avis (tel. 05524-2060) have offices at the airport.
Special Events
The Buddha Chinarat Festival is held annually on the sixth day of the waxing moon in the third lunar month (usually late Jan or early Feb). Then, Phitsanulok's Wat Yai is packed with well-wishers, dancers, monks and abbots, children, and tourists, all converging on the temple grounds for a 6-day celebration.
Fast Facts
Bangkok Bank has an after-hours (until 8pm) exchange service at 35 Naresuan Rd. The General Post Office is on Phuttha Bucha Road, along the river 2 blocks north of Naresuan Road. The Overseas Call Office is on the second floor of the post office and offers Internet, at about 20B (57¢/30p) per hour.
Getting There
By Plane -- Thai Airways (tel. 1566; www.thaiair.com) has two flights daily to Phitsanulok from Bangkok, leaving at 6:05am and 8:40pm (flying time: 56 min.). The Thai Airways office in Phitsanulok is at 209/26-28 Boromtrailokanart Rd. (tel. 05528-0060). Taxis cost 50B (US$1.40/75p) into town from the airport.
By Train -- About 10 trains per day travel between Phitsanulok and Bangkok. The trip time is about 7 hours and costs 369B (US$11/£5.70) for an air-conditioned second-class seat. "Rapid" trains can take up to 9 hours, so it is worth the expense to go "sprinter" or "express" class -- the difference being that express has sleeping berths. There are eight daily connections between Phitsanulok and Chiang Mai (7 hrs.; 440B/US$13/£6.75). For information and reservations, call Bangkok's Hua Lampong Railway Station (tel. 1690), Chiang Mai Railway Station (tel. 05324-5363), or the Phitsanulok Railway Station (tel. 05525-8005).
In front of the station in Phitsanulok, throngs of samlors (pedicabs) and motorcycle taxis wait to take you to your hotel. The station is right in town, so expect to pay just 50B (US$1.45/75p) to get where you need to go. The bidding will start at around 100B (US$2.85/£1.55); smile and get ready to haggle.
By Bus -- Standard air-conditioned buses leave daily every hour for the trip to Phitsanulok from Bangkok from 7am to midnight (trip time: 7 hr.; 277B/US$8/£4.25). The V.I.P. bus leaves at midnight and is about the same price; the wide seats recline enough to get a decent sleep, and the overnight trip is a time saver. Buses depart from Chiang Mai in similar numbers. Frequent non-A/C buses connect with Sukhothai. The intercity bus terminal in Phitsanulok is 2km (1 1/4 miles) east of town on Highway 12 (about 50B/US$1.40/75p by tuk-tuk or taxi). Contact Bangkok's Northern Bus Terminal (tel. 02936-2841), the Arcade Bus Station in Chiang Mai (tel. 05324-2664), or the Phitsanulok Bus Terminal (tel. 05521-2090).
By Minivan -- Travel to Sukhothai or on to Mae Sot can be arranged with Win Tour (tel. 05326-0295).
