Looking for the best things to do in Phitsanulok? Check out this post and learn about it!
Phitsanulok plays a critical historical role in Thailand. It was the birthplace of King Naresuan, whose charismatic influence liberated the country from Burmese attacks. The city was founded 600 years ago and, since then, has become an important cultural and commercial center in the northern part of Thailand.
Phitsanulok has slowly emerged as a premium historical and cultural destination consisting mostly of tropical savannas and landscapes. Who would not be enticed to visit its golden temples, sacred structures, and stunning architecture? But not just that.
Phitsanulok is now attracting adventurers and nature lovers with its hidden arrays of natural wonders. Cascading waterfalls, pristine jungles, thriving wildlife, crystal-clear rivers, and brooks are just among the eco-wonders awaiting visitors.
To make the most of your visit to Phitsanulok, consider the following must-try activities. It’s your ultimate getaway for a meaningful eco-historical escapade.
Where to stay in Phitsanulok? Find a great deal and book your hotel here!
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Top 10 Things to Do in Phitsanulok, Thailand
Meditate at Wat Phra Si Ratana Mahathat
Also referred to as Wat Yai, Wat Phra Si Ratana Mahathat translates to the Temple of the Great Jeweled Reliquary.
The temple lies on the banks of the mighty Nan River, near the Naresuan Bridge. Founded by King Lithia of Sukhothai in 1357, the temple hosts the Phra Phuttha Chinnarat.
It is considered the most beautiful image of the Buddha in Thailand. Tourists will find themselves at a huge entrance with breathtaking pearls and stunning features of Khmer architecture.
The temple also hosts the Phuttha Chinnarat National Museum, which contains an extensive art collection from the Sukhothai regime. The locals celebrate the famous Phitsanulok Dragon Boat Race on a nearby river every first weekend of October.
Where to stay in Phitsanulok? Find a great deal and book your hotel here!
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Explore Sergeant Major Thawee Folk Museum
The Sergeant Major Thawee Folk Museum contains amazing prized tools and materials unique to Phitsanulok province. The museum also showcases colorful textiles of the different groups in the region and old photographs of historical milestones and noteworthy cultural events.
The museum consists of five separate buildings that boast Thai architecture. Beautiful gardens with exotic plants and flowers surround each of them. There is a traditional Thai kitchen in the museum for tourists who wish to learn how to cook Thai dishes. There is also an aquarium for those who want to see endemic freshwater fishes.
Where to stay in Phitsanulok? Find a great deal and book your hotel here!
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Are you planning your travels? Here’re my top travel resources!
I’m a serial planner both in life and in travel – I have bucket lists, things to do, see, and everything. So, I always love when my life is sorted easily using tools and resources that would make my general planning a little smoother and easier. Therefore, in my many years of traveling the world, I’ve seen myself returning to these travel resources repeatedly. And here I am, sharing my tips to make your life easy and breezy so you can stress less, travel heaps, and focus on the fun part of travel!
- Booking.com – I book all my hotels through this website and don’t honestly use anything else. They always have the best prices, in my opinion.
- Airbnb – If I’m traveling long-term to one destination, I book my flats through Airbnb.
- Skyscanner – The best place to find cheap flights on flexible dates. I use this a lot to score cheap flights within Europe!
- SafetyWing – Always travel insured! Never leave your home country without one. It is worth the extra money, I promise you!
- GetYourGuide – Hands-down, the best place to find cool and unique tours if you don’t feel like winging it, and go straight to a local expert. I use this a lot in new destinations to get acquainted with the area!
- My Pretty Wild World Travel Diary (coming soon) – A book you can write down your travel plans, create itineraries, track down your budget, and dot down memories along the way! A handy book you can keep and read later to revisit memory lane.
- Pretty Wild World Travel Planning Printables (coming soon) – Are you a nut like me when it comes to planning? Yes? Good. My travel planning resource in one zip file is an easy-to-use printable planner that comes with tips that helps you plan your travels during the planning stage, a pre-flight checklist, an itinerary planner, and so on.
Check out Colorful Birds at the Thai Bird Garden
Adjacent to the Buranathai Buddha Image Foundry, the Thai Bird Garden has become a critical sanctuary. It hosts an incredible collection of cages containing various bird species, many of which are only native to Thailand. It includes endangered species such as the prehistoric helmeted hornbill and the pink-chested jambu fruit dove.
The garden has more than 100 birds in-store, including large species and predates ancient creatures. The place is a must-visit, especially for bird watchers. It will give tourists an idea of the abundant bird diversity in Thailand and the need to protect them.
Where to stay in Phitsanulok? Find a great deal and book your hotel here!
Pray at Wat Nang Phaya
Lying between the famous Mahathat Temple and Ratchaburana Temple is Wat Nang Phaya. Standing like an imposing palace in the middle of the river, the temple has a distinct architecture that reflects the savanna landscape of Phitsanulok.
The temple contains a beautiful Buddha image known as the Buddha Phra Nang Phaya Ruenkaew at the back of the Ubosot. There are also multiple pagodas circling the Phra Nang Phaya Ruenkaew, which resembles the Phra Buddha Chinnarat.
The Phra Nang Phaya Amulet is seated with a three-headed naga, which shows explicit depictions of Buddha’s image. The temples interior boasts stunning images and statues. It also has lush and fresh surroundings, making it one of the best Phitsanulok temples.
Where to stay in Phitsanulok? Find a great deal and book your hotel here!
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Stroll around Chom Nan Chaloem Phrakiat Public Park
Nestled on the east side of the Nan River and Phuttchabucha Road is Chom Nan Chaloem Phrakiat Public Park. It is one of the most frequented parks in Phitsanulok province. Some park sections are used as a venue during the famous Loy Krathong New Year Festival.
Tourists can enjoy the numerous exhibitions showcasing the locals’ various products. There are lush trees and colorful flowers with beautiful ponds and gardens. Locals love coming here for exercise and many other physical and spiritual activities.
Where to stay in Phitsanulok? Find a great deal and book your hotel here!
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Have devotion at the Phra Buddha Chinnarat
The Phra Buddha Chinnarat is one of Thailand’s most visited Buddha statues. The statues are covered in gold, making them one of Thailand’s most aesthetically beautiful statues. The temple is a popular pilgrimage site among local Buddhists and followers throughout the country.
Tourists can enter the temple and pay devotion to the statues for blessings as they continue their journey. It is one of the emerging Phitsanulok attractions.
Where to stay in Phitsanulok? Find a great deal and book your hotel here!
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Hold up! Have you thought about the importance of travel insurance?
Remember this: anything can happen. Travel is fun, but your health is more important; thus, I always, always, always recommend getting insured during the duration of your trip. I have benefitted from having one multiple times, and it has been covered for thousands of euros!
The latest one is not necessarily “health” related – it was during the peak of the unspeakable terrible C that consumed the world. I was living in Vietnam when I received an email from SafetyWing (my travel insurance) that if I want they’ll fly be back home to Finland as the world goes through a global emergency alert. I flew back fully covered, and dealing with SafetyWing was a breeze despite the roar of people in contact with them trying to get back home.
I can’t highly recommend them enough. Otherwise, I rarely get sick; hence I don’t always need to head to a hospital, but knowing that I have travel insurance makes me feel safe at the very least.
Read my post about why you should get travel insurance for more information. Otherwise, you can get a free quote from SafetyWing – they’re the best, in my opinion.
Have a Thrilling Adventure at Phu Hin Rong Kla National Park
The Phu Hin Rong Kla National Park features towering forest-clad mountains, plateaus, and untamed terrains. These qualities make the park an ideal getaway for ardent adventurers and extreme hikers.
Tourists can still find remnants of the camps of Thailand’s Communist Party. Thus, the park also saw numerous battles between the communists and government forces. Thankfully, large parts of the park remain pristine, home to beautiful forests and incredible wildlife diversity. Among the iconic species living here are leopards, Asian bears, and endangered tigers.
It is also a paradise for different bird species, such as the Davison’s leaf warbler and the red-billed scimitar babbler. For an added thrill, tourists can go hiking in the dense forests to see breathtaking waterfalls and tropical viewpoints. One of the famous attractions in the park is the Lan Hin Taek, which boasts unique mounds of limestones.
Where to stay in Phitsanulok? Find a great deal and book your hotel here!
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Buy Souvenirs at the Phitsanulok Night Bazaar
One of the best spots to experience the Phitsanulok nightlife is the Phitsanulok Night Bazaar. It is a favorite getaway for tourists and locals alike. Here, one finds a variety of food servings and items to buy.
A favorite snack sold here is the ‘kow nee o hor,’ which consists of a small parcel of rice wrapped in banana leaves and served with sweet toppings. Many stalls here also sell traditional souvenirs such as colorful textiles and sculptures. The bazaar is one of the most visited Phitsanulok tourist attractions.
Where to stay in Phitsanulok? Find a great deal and book your hotel here!
[irp posts=”25046″ name=”Thailand Cuisine: Top 15 Best Food in Thailand”]
Learn art at the Buddha Casting Factory
For tourists who want to learn the ancient Thai art of casting Buddha images, the Buddha Casting Factory is a must-see. Here, tourists will find Buddha images in various shapes and sizes. There are staff who explains how the entire process of making the images is done. One could wonder how the management has kept up with this unique tradition despite the changing times.
Where to stay in Phitsanulok? Find a great deal and book your hotel here!
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Visit the Pim Buranaket Folklore Museum
The Pim Buranaket Folklore Museum is another must-visit for those with swelling interests in arts and culture. It features various displays, including ancient kitchen utensils, folk arts, pottery, basketry, and wooden crafts. The collections are credited to a Thai sergeant, namely, Khun Thawee.
Now those are just some of the things you can’t-miss in Phitsanulok province. These are just icing on what it has to offer. Include them in your itinerary for a fun-filled experience and immersion.
Where to stay in Phitsanulok? Find a great deal and book your hotel here!
What are my favorite travel must-haves?
As a frequent traveler, I’ve learned a lot throughout my years of travel, and there are five items that I always carry with me regardless of where I go and how long the trip is. Here are my five travel must-haves!
- Warm packable jacket – I always carry a light jacket, even when heading to warm countries. There hasn’t been a time I never used it, especially in airports and planes.
- Transparent toiletry bag – I often bring a carry-on if I’m only traveling within Europe for a few days. Life is so much easier to go through security checks with a transparent toiletry bag.
- Kindle Paperwhite – I love a good read and always take my Kindle everywhere. It keeps me entertained during long flights and waiting times.
- Powerbank – I don’t know how I could travel without one! Having a power bank saved me a ton since I carry a lot of electronic devices with me.
- Travel Adapter – I never leave my luggage without a travel adapter! I carry one with me all the time. It is just one of that travel-must haves that doesn’t hurt to have in your bag at all times.
Planning to visit Thailand soon? Start here!
- How to plan your trip: A Step-by-Step Guide on Planning a Trip to Thailand
- When to visit Thailand: Find out here when to visit and plan your trip according to season
- Itinerary examples: 1-Week Itinerary, 2-weeks in Thailand Itinerary
- How much does it cost to travel Thailand? Read this guide on how to budget your trip!
- How to pack for Thailand? Read this guide to learn what to pack!
- Where to buy groceries in Thailand? Read this guide!
- How to get around Thailand? Read our transportation guide!
- List of places to visit in Thailand: Places to Visit in Thailand, Southern Thailand, Central Thailand, Northern Thailand, and Isaan
- Points of interest in Thailand: Things to do, Cities to Visit, Islands to Chill in, Best Beaches, Surfing Spots, Diving Spots, Best Hiking Destinations, Where to go Camping, Waterfalls to Chase, Temples to Visit, Romantic Destinations, Honeymoon Destinations, National Parks, Unique Experiences, Thai Cuisine, Fine-dining Experience, Attractions to Visit, Tourist Spots, Vacation Spots, Heritage Sites, Family Travel, Adventure Travel, Backpacking Experience, and Beautiful Resorts
- Cultural overview: Thai Customs, Culture and Traditions, Temple Etiquette, Tipping in Thailand, Things to Know Before Your Visit, What NOT To Do in Thailand, Facts about Thailand, Festivals in Thailand, How to Wai, Useful Thai Phrases, and How to Greet in Thai
- My Favorite Places in Thailand: Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pai, Koh Pha Ngan, Koh Lanta, Pattaya, Koh Samet, and Koh Samui