Phitsanulok

The city dates back to the 10th century when the Khmer ruled this region. Formerly, the city was named Song Khwae, meaning two rivers, as it was located between the Nan and Khwae Noi River. The original location of Song Khwae city is at Wat Chulamani. Around the year 1357, king of Sukhothai, Phra Maha Thammaracha Lithai, decided to move the town to its present location. Since then, Phitsanulok served as a strategic border town ruled by members of the royal family.

During the Ayutthaya Period, the town played a larger role as a buffer town between Ayutthaya, the capital city, and the northern kingdom. Following an administrative reform by King Borommatrailokkanat, it had served as the capital city for 25 years. After that, the town was downgraded to a strategic border town. It has played a major role in blocking the invasion of Burmese troops. King Naresuan the Great, who ruled the town in a capacity as Crown Prince, mobilized troops from Phitsanulok to fight against the Burmese who then ruled over the Siamese Kingdom, and reclaimed independence in 1584.

Phitsanulok became a strategic town in coping Burmese invasion again in 1775 in the Thon Buri period. During a tough battle, the Burmese army commander requested the appearance of a Thai commander, Chaophraya Chakri, and predicted that he would become a king. Chaophraya Chakri was later crowned the first monarch of the Rattanakosin period, King Rama I the Great of the Royal House of Chakri. Phitsanulok was upgraded to be a circle called Monthon Phitsanulok in 1894 in the reign of King Rama V. Now, Phitsanulok is a province.

Nok Air offers regular flights between 🌍 Phitsanulok airport (PHS) and Bangkok Don Mueang (DMK) (50 min). Bus 4 runs to the airport, as do tuk-tuks, for about 10-20 baht.

There are several daily services from Chiang Mai and Bangkok. Phitsanulok is roughly halfway along the line, so travel times in both directions are about 6-7 hours.

• 🌍 Phitsanulok railway station (In city centre, eastern end of Naresuan Rd). (updated Sep 2019)

Outside the train station, tuk-tuk taxis wait to take you to the main bus station.

The 🌍 Bus Terminal 1 is 2 km east of the train station, just off Singhawat Rd (a 60 baht tuk-tuk ride) and is mainly for local/regional traffic. The new 🌍 Bus Terminal 2 is another 7 km away and serves long-distance destinations.

You can reach the main bus station by tuk-tuk, or hop on the bus on one of the stops downtown, for instance on the broad road passing south of the Topland Plaza Hotel (a little west of the hotel). Bus stops and buses have signage in Thai only. Purple minibus goes to the main (No 1) bus station - they tend to stop on Ekathotsarot Road just south of the roundabout opposite the station.

Beware that if you are coming from the north, the bus will first stop on Bus Terminal 2 and only after that continue to the more central Bus Terminal 1.

Extensive services are available to Bangkok (262 THB, 390 km, 5-7 hrs depending on the Bangkok traffic) and to Chiang Mai (202 THB, 5-6 hrs). Kingdom Tour goes to Chiang Rai at 9:50 and 12:05 (376 THB, 7h20).

Regular services are available, e.g. to Khon Kaen.

Air conditioned buses operate approximately every 45 minutes from the main bus terminal (40 THB, 58 km, 07:00-18:30, 1 hrs). These are often crowded, so get in early to secure your seat.

Alternatively, tuk-tuks waiting outside the train station go to Sukhothai for 1000 THB (one of the fixed prices posted on a sign in front of the station).

Some buses continue beyond Sukhothai, e.g. to Tak.

Buses leave to towns within the province and to surrounding provinces.

• 🌍 Asia Hotel (a short walk from the railway station (turn left on the main road just past the 7-11)). From the outside this hotel doesn't look much, but it has clean fan or air-con rooms with hot water, Wi-Fi and Thai TV. From the bus station, bus numbers 6, 8, and 12 stop opposite the hotel. 380 baht for an air-con room. 
• 🌍 BP Tower, ☏ +66 55 2208556. Pleasant 6 storey hotel, past the Big C on the main road (Mittraphap Rd) out of the city, down a side street, sign on main road. A bit away from the city, but on the ground floor of the hotel is a mini-mart, laundry, massage, and a small restaurant. Bus to the city 9 baht, motorbike 50 baht. 300-500 baht. 
• 🌍 Lithai Guesthouse, 73/1-5 Phayalithai Rd (Taxi is 120 THB from the new bus station. In walking distance of the train station.), ☏ +66 55 219626-9, fax: +66 55 219627 ext 500. Very clean and good beds. Moderate prices, starting at 300 baht for a single fan room and 400 for double, both with en suite bathroom. "Variable" (good one moment, terrible the next) in-room Wi-Fi is free of charge (but on a time limited basis and not on your checkout day). Asian breakfast is included, and there is also a cafe downstairs in the building. 300 single, 400 double. (updated Jan 2020)
• 🌍 London Guesthouse (short walk from Lithai Guesthouse). Check-out: 11:00. Clean, Spartan fan rooms for 100 baht. Shared bathrooms. Along one of the busier roads in town, so ask for a back room if noise is usually an issue for you. Pay another 20 baht for wireless password, good Internet speed. Good location, with night market & railway station nearby. Checkout time is 11:30. Friendly & helpful staff. 100+ baht. 
• LV Gardenhome. Very nice hotel - 2-storey with rooms surrounding central garden with water features. Bath, air-con, TV and free Wi-Fi in all rooms. Outside the city near Big C. Bus (9 baht) and songthaew (10 baht) during the day but no transport into the city in the evening; meaning you have little choice of what to do in the evenings as the place is quite remote. There are a few restaurants across the motorway open at night. Monthly rate 3,500 baht is for a minimum of 3 months stay. 
• Phitsanulok Hotel (across the street from the train station). Check-out: 12:00. Big hotel with small rooms. It feels like a barracks, the rooms cost 200 baht. Not really a bargain but it's OK. Fan, table, chair, shower, Thai toilet. You get toilet paper, water, soap, and a towel. The staff hardly speak any English. Good option if you arrive with the train late at night. 200+ baht. 
• Tonwai Modern Place. 278 pra ong khao rd, a 15 or less minute walk from the train station and 20 or less minutes to bus terminal no.1. Doubles for 350 baht. Nice and clean rooms with TV, aircon, closet, minibar, private bathroom and a small balcony that includes a nice sunset. The owner is a Chinese Thai who speaks Thai, English and a bit of teochew. Breakfast is included, toast bread with jam and butter. Coffee, tea and chocolate. They also have a few adorable cats wandering around.
• Phoonsab Hostel. (a short walk from Bus terminal 1). Clean and spacious rooms with toilet included. Free wi-fi. Rooms from 250-350 bath. Friendly staff that speaks a bit of English. 10 minutes walk to night market.}}
• 🌍 Karma Home Hostel, Lang Wat Mai Apaiyaram 26-64, ☏ +66 88 814 1268, mark_connis@hotmail.com. Check-out: 12:00. Small hostel with only a few beds which come with curtains. The owner, Mark, is really nice and is a foreigner so speaks really good English. Location is central and good. The rate for a fan dorm bed is 180 Baht. They also have an A/C dorm. Free WiFi is available and good. Also there's a rootop area with hammocks. Breakfast is with toast plus jam and cereals and it's on a pay what you think it's worth basis (not free). 180 baht for fan dorm. 

• Amarin Lagoon Hotel, 52/299 Praongkhao Rd, ☏ +66 55 220999. 
• Grand Riverside Hotel, 59 Praroung Road, ☏ +66 55 248333, +66 55 216420. Free airport transfer. 2,000+ baht. 
• Rattana Park Hotel, 999/59 Mitrapap Rd (About 500m from the bus station. Find the 7-Eleven, walk to the end of the road then turn right onto Mitrapap), ☏ +66 55 378234. Hot water in the shower. Breakfast is basic Thai food, and it was quite cold not all that late in the morning. Walk-in price for basic, clean, well-organised) air-con is 690 baht with breakfast. 
• Topland Hotel & Convention Center, 68/33 Ekathosarot Rd, ☏ +66 55 247800. Part of the Topland Plaza shopping centre, this is one of the better hotels. Buses to Sukhothai leave from in front of the hotel. It is well worth the money, though can be noisy at night as it contains a popular night-club. This hotel has a lunch and dinner buffet. Price in the 200 baht range. Good range of eats. 2,000+ baht.