Ayutthaya province
The eponymous provincial capital of Ayutthaya is the chief attraction of the province which lies due north of the Thai capital, Bangkok.
The crumbling ruins of what was once the capital of 14th to 18th century Siam, now spread across a large historical park, make for a fascinating and photogenic visit -- for history buffs and casual visitors alike. The provincial capital has an excellent selection of budget guesthouses and some simply outstanding eating, so it doubles as a handy destination to meet other travellers should you be so inclined.
Also worth a peek is the royal palace at Bang Pa-In -- while most choose to visit as a part of a tour out of Bangkok, Bang Pa-In is also relatively straightforward to visit independently.
Easily visited from Bangkok by either train or bus, many choose to treat Ayutthaya as a day-trip rather than a destination in its own right, but if time allows, an overnight stay is warranted -- if for no other reason than to see the ruins floodlit in the evenings and to be able to escape the worst of the midday heat.
A few days in Ayutthaya, spent smooching around the historical park alone, can be an interesting way to slowly introduce yourself to Thailand. If you do have a penchant for ruins, give yourself at least a couple of days to take in most of the sights.
