AsiaThailandPhitsanulok
Phitsanulok
Phitsanulok, Thailand · Asia
About Phitsanulok
Phitsanulok sits on the route: 20 minutes from Bang Rakam.
Phitsanulok is in Thailand, with about 63,000 people. You drive on the left here. The nearest town is Bang Rakam, about 17 km away.
Phitsanulok (Thai: พิษณุโลก, pronounced [pʰít.sà.nú.lôːk]) is a city municipality in northern Thailand and the capital of Phitsanulok province. In 2024 it had a city population of 60,827 and an urban population of about 200,000. That made it Thailand's 19th-most populous city proper and one of the major urban centersRead more
of the north. Located in the geographic center of the province, it occupies the fertile plains along the banks of the Nan River, which flows south to join the Chao Phraya River.
The city grew from an older settlement called Song Khwae (lit. 'two rivers'). It was a second capital more than once: under the late Sukhothai Kingdom, and under the Ayutthaya Kingdom, when King Borommatrailokanat resided there to hold the frontier against the Lanna Kingdom. He unified the western and eastern Song Khwae settlements and renamed them "Phitsanulok". Due to its strategic importance as Ayutthaya's northern outpost, the city frequently faced Burmese attacks. When war with the Konbaung dynasty led to Ayutthaya's collapse in 1767, Chaophraya Phitsanulok declared himself king and briefly established Phitsanulok as a capital before it was incorporated into the Thonburi Kingdom. The city maintained its significance throughout the subsequent Rattanakosin period.
Phitsanulok is considered one of the country's oldest cities and is home to Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat, which houses Phra Phuttha Chinnarat, one of the most famous and copied Buddha images in Thailand. The city serves as an educational hub, with Naresuan University being the main higher education institution in the lower northern Thailand. Its location has also made it a transport hub. City buses run in the town, the railway station lies on the Northern Line between Bangkok and Chiang Mai, and Phitsanulok Airport carries flights to Bangkok and serves the surrounding provinces.
Where to Stay in Phitsanulok
Compare prices across Booking.com, Airbnb, Expedia, and more. Select your dates to see availability.
Filter presets
Pick your must-haves once: provider links open pre-filtered. Each filter lists which sites it applies to.
Compare before you book!
Prices can vary significantly between platforms. We recommend checking at least 2-3 sites to find the best deal for your stay in Phitsanulok.
Explore the Area
Discover famous landmarks, scenic roads, and more near Phitsanulok.
Loading map...
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there any good drives near Phitsanulok?
The nearest famous roads are Khao Kho.
Where is Phitsanulok?
Phitsanulok is in Phitsanulok, Thailand, about 17 km from Bang Rakam.
Road trip
Drive to Phitsanulok
Add it as a stop and the planner works out the driving, the nights and what's worth seeing on the way.
Start planningWhat's nearby?
Swipe through places to go
Places within a drive of Phitsanulok. Keep the ones you like and add them to your trip.
Explore now
Quick Information
- Population
- 62,584
- Continent
- Asia
- Country
- Thailand
- Region
- Phitsanulok
- Timezone
- Asia/Bangkok
- Coordinates
- 16.8248, 100.2586
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in Thailand
Tourist police (English): 1155.
Full driving guide for ThailandTags
When to drive here
Year-round
Tropical latitude: plan around the wet season rather than temperature.
Nearby Destinations
Other places to explore near Phitsanulok.
Plan a trip around Phitsanulok
Your trip starts here
Plan a road trip from Phitsanulok.
Pick the days, drop in the stops, and share it with whoever's coming.