Just 80 kilometers north of Bangkok is the historic capital of Ayutthaya. The city became Thailand's capital in the mid-14th century and remained as the capital until the late 18th century. Ayutthaya is a relatively low-key site. You can spend a leisurely day here, or a quick stop, all with relatively low pressure compared to many other tourist sites. From Ayutthaya you can quickly get on an expressway and be back in Bangkok in about an hour.