Get around[edit]
By bicycle[edit]
Bicycling around the ruins is the most enjoyable and fun way to spend the day. The archaeological park is easily reachable and manageable on bike even if you aren't very fit. The paths are paved and the distances between temples are small. Its fine to bike to the off-island sites too (Floating Market, various wats) as long as you're confident sharing the roads with the speedy Thai traffic.
You can rent a bicycle for around 50 baht per day. You also have to leave a passport or credit card as a deposit. (January 2014)
The bicycles are not necessarily well maintained, so be sure that they work properly (wheels are firm and inflated, seats adjusted to your height and well attached, handlebars don't slip); good shops will give you a free bike lock as well. There is a good bike shop directly opposite the train station.
Free map of the city is widely available in all hotels.
Bicycle rentals: Soi 2 (where the majority of tourist hotels and restaurants are located) have numerous bike rental facilities. They are all next to each other so it will be easy to shop around and find the one with the best bike for you.
The park opens at 07:30. It is recommended that you begin your tour early, before the tour groups arrive from Bangkok. Take a big bottle of water with you.
At T.W.T (TourWithThai) (before Tony's guest house which not far from minibus stop at Soi 2) has bicycles big and small size and seat for small child for rent. If you short of time maybe you can go around by motorcycle which you can rent in the same area.
A day of biking to see major sites is at least 20km. It's extremely hot during the day. The free maps are terrible, the labeling of some sites is poor, so plan on getting lost and the extra backpedaling this involves. Traffic on some roads is a little fast to be biking on. The bike is good for getting around town but for major touring it might be better to consider a motorbike. This writer wishes he had. It sounds so romantic to be biking around old ruins but most of your biking will be in and around the city.