Complete guide to bus travel from Bangkok to Lopburi — schedules, prices, operators and booking tips.
Lopburi is one of Thailand's most extraordinary destinations — an ancient city with 13th-century Khmer temple ruins where thousands of macaque monkeys have taken over the streets, temples and power lines.
Lopburi is unlike anywhere else in Thailand. The city has been continuously inhabited since at least the 3rd century and contains Khmer temple ruins from the 13th century — but what most visitors remember is the monkeys. Thousands of long-tailed macaques have colonised the area around the ancient temples and treat the ruins, market stalls and power lines as their personal playground.
The most famous monkey-inhabited site is Prang Sam Yot — a Khmer temple consisting of three interconnected towers, now home to dozens of macaques who scramble over the ancient stonework. The temple is accessible (entrance fee 150 THB for foreigners) and the monkeys are accustomed to visitors, though you should keep food, sunglasses, phone cases and any shiny objects securely out of reach.
The annual Monkey Buffet Festival, held in November, is one of Thailand's most bizarre and photogenic events — a ceremonial feast laid out for the monkeys with fruit, vegetables and sweets on elaborately decorated tables.
Beyond the monkeys, Lopburi has excellent Khmer ruins at Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat and the San Phra Kan shrine. The old town retains a charming provincial character.
From Bangkok, both buses and trains serve Lopburi. Buses from Mo Chit take 2.5 to 3 hours; trains from Hua Lamphong take about 2.5 hours and offer pleasant countryside views.
The following operators run regular services on the Bangkok–Lopburi route:
Compare prices across all operators before booking — fares can vary significantly by class and season.
Departures: Every hour, 06:00–18:00
From: Mo Chit (Northern Bus Terminal), Bangkok
To: Lopburi Bus Station, near city centre
Schedules may vary by operator and season. Confirm departure times when booking, particularly during Thai public holidays.
✅ Keep all food and bags out of sight around the monkey temple — the macaques are bold thieves.
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Book 1–2 days ahead on weekdays. During Songkran (April), New Year and long weekends, book at least one week in advance — buses sell out fast on popular routes.