Should I stay overnight in Lopburi or day trip from Bangkok?

Most visitors day trip from Bangkok (about 2.5 hours by train or bus) and that is a perfectly valid approach - the main sights take 3–4 hours. Staying overnight makes sense if you want a more relaxed pace, are interested in the Khmer ruins in depth, are travelling northward and stopping en route, or want to see the Monkey Banquet Festival in November (book accommodation months in advance). There is no compelling reason to stay more than one night.

What are the main attractions in Lopburi?

The three Khmer prang towers of Phra Prang Sam Yot (the Monkey Temple, entry approximately ฿150 as of 2026), the Phra Narai Ratchaniwet palace complex (entry approximately ฿150), the Bang Rakam Battle Memorial Museum, and the general monkey chaos in and around the old town. The macaque population has grown to approximately 2,000–3,000 animals and is fully habituated to humans - keep bags zipped and do not engage them directly.

Are the Lopburi monkeys dangerous?

They are bold and will grab loose items - sunglasses, bags, hats, food. Several tourist injuries are reported each year from monkey scratches or bites when people try to take food back. Watch children closely. The monkeys are not dangerous if you are sensible about not provoking them, but they are genuinely unpredictable and should not be fed or approached closely.

How do I get to Lopburi?

Regular trains run from Bangkok Hua Lamphong to Lopburi station in about 2.5–3 hours - cheap and comfortable, approximately ฿30–80 depending on class as of 2026. Buses run from Bangkok's Mo Chit terminal in about 3 hours. Lopburi is on the main Bangkok–Chiang Mai rail line.

Where to Stay in Lopburi | The Thailand Guides

Lopburi is one of Thailand’s oldest continuously inhabited cities - its Khmer-era prangs and palace complexes date back over a thousand years, and the town centre has been lived in, traded through, and occasionally overrun (by monkeys and by Burmese armies) for longer than most European capitals have existed. It is not a polished tourist destination. The old town around Phra Prang Sam Yot is genuinely chaotic, with approximately 2,000 wild macaques cohabiting with shopkeepers, monks, and anyone passing through.

Most visitors arrive from Bangkok by train as a day trip, see the monkey temple and the Narai Palace in 3–4 hours, and leave before dark. If you are staying overnight - whether by choice or because you are travelling northward - the accommodation options are practical rather than exciting.

Old town: near the Monkey Temple

The old town around Phra Prang Sam Yot (Monkey Temple) is the commercial and historic heart of Lopburi, and the most convenient location for visitors. Hotels here put you within a five-minute walk of all the main ruins.

Budget (฿350–700): Nett Hotel on Na Phra Kan Road is the most frequently cited budget option near the Monkey Temple - basic but clean rooms at approximately ฿400–700 as of 2026. Asia Lopburi Hotel is similar in price and one block away. Expect narrow corridors and functional bathrooms; both are adequate for a single night.
Mid-range (฿800–1,600): Lopburi Inn Hotel, on Narai Maharat Road, has been the most reliable mid-range address in the old town for years - air-conditioned rooms, a small pool, and a restaurant that manages a decent breakfast. Rates run approximately ฿900–1,600 as of 2026.

Lopburi town: away from the monkey zone

Parts of the old town are directly affected by the monkey population - animals enter shops, sit on parked motorbikes, and occasionally cause genuine nuisance. If you are concerned about this (or travelling with young children), the newer town area south of the old town around Phra Narai Maharat Road is more sedate.

Mid-range (฿1,200–2,200): Lopburi Inn Resort (the larger sibling of Lopburi Inn Hotel) sits in the quieter zone and has more spacious rooms, a larger pool, and a better restaurant. At approximately ฿1,200–2,200, it is the best overall stay in Lopburi for most visitors. It is 15 minutes on foot or a short tuk-tuk ride from the old town ruins.

New town area

The new town area further south has a handful of business hotels and serviced apartments aimed at Thai domestic travellers rather than international tourists. These are unremarkable but functional:

Budget-mid (฿600–1,200): Muang Thong Hotel and P Lopburi Inn run approximately ฿600–1,200 and are adequate if everything else is full (which can happen during the Monkey Banquet Festival in late November).

Monkey Banquet Festival accommodation

The Monkey Banquet Festival - held in late November on the last Sunday of the month - draws significant crowds, and accommodation in Lopburi fills completely. If you want to attend, book two to three months in advance. Most visitors who cannot find Lopburi accommodation base themselves in Saraburi (30 km south) or Ayutthaya (60 km south) and travel in for the day.

Food in Lopburi

Lopburi is not a culinary destination in the way Chiang Mai or Hat Yai are, but it has a good morning market scene and several reliable restaurants:

Na Phra Kan Market: The morning market near the Monkey Temple operates from approximately 6 am and is the best place for fresh local snacks - approximately ฿40–100 per item as of 2026.
Bualuang Coffee: A popular local café near the old train station, good for breakfast and strong Thai coffee at approximately ฿60–100.
Evening food stalls: The area around the Pratu Chang roundabout has good evening stalls from 5 pm - grilled meats, pad thai, papaya salad.

What to see near your hotel

Phra Prang Sam Yot (Monkey Temple): 7th-century Khmer prang towers - 5-minute walk from old town hotels. Entry approximately ฿150.
Phra Narai Ratchaniwet Palace: 17th-century palace built under King Narai - 10-minute walk from old town. Entry approximately ฿150.
Wat Phra Si Ratana Mahathat: Large Khmer-style temple complex behind the train station. Mostly free to walk around.

Our verdict

Lopburi Inn Resort wins on comfort and calm. Lopburi Inn Hotel wins on location and value. For a single overnight stay between Bangkok and the north - which is the most common use of Lopburi - either works fine. Do not stay more than one night unless you have a specific interest in the Khmer architecture or the Monkey Banquet Festival. The city delivers its highlights quickly.

See also: Ayutthaya where to stay · Central Thailand destinations · Bangkok to Chiang Mai by train

For guided tours of the temples and monkey sanctuary, most depart from Bangkok - browse Lopburi day trips on GetYourGuide.

Where to Stay in Lopburi: Old Town, Monkey Temple & Practical Options