[a] It borders the provinces of Uttaradit to the north, Loei and Phetchabun to the east, Phichit to the south, Kamphaeng Phet to the southwest, and Sukhothai to the west.

Covering an area of 10,815 square kilometres (4,176 sq mi), Phitsanulok is the fifteenth-largest province in Thailand.

Settlement in what is now Phitsanulok began in the Stone Age, as many evidences have been found in the area indicative of the time period.

Between 11th–12th century, the present-day Phitsanulok was location to ancient city-states of Thailand, such as Song Khwae, Nakhon Thai.

The earliest historical records relating to the area indicate that at a time prior to or during the 11th century, the present-day city of Phitsanulok was a small strategic known as Song Khwae (Thai: สองแคว).

During the next century, in 1188, Nakhon Thai, near the center of the present Phitsanulok province, was established as the capital city of the Singhanavati Kingdom, an early city-state of Thailand.

In 1357, the renowned Wat Phra Sri Rattana Mahathat was erected, and the Ayutthaya Period witnessed the construction of several of the province's other chief temples.

Naresuan played a significant role in the history of Thailand, as he expanded the kingdom (then called Siam) to its greatest territorial extent by conquering sizable portions of modern-day Burma and Cambodia.

Over the years, the Nan River and its tributaries have played a substantial role in the history and development of the region by providing a route for transportation, fertile soil for agriculture, and water for irrigation.

The river waters have also served as a route for enemy invaders, and have been the source of periodic widespread flooding throughout the province.

[11] The other eight districts have the following numbers of temples and samnak song: There are 50 Christian churches in Phitsanulok province.

The non-municipal areas are administered by 76 Subdistrict Administrative Organisations - SAO (ongkan borihan suan tambon).

[19]: 103 Agriculture in Phitsanulok province, the biggest sector of the economy, generated 28.029 billion baht (US$904 million) or 28% of GPP with a workforce of 199,292 (41.9% of all employed persons).

[19]: 110 Livestock produced included: cattle 48,100; chickens 2,809,362; ducks 642,182; swine 146,911; buffalo 16,022; goats 8,062; and geese 1,692.

[19]: 113 Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles, the second sector of the economy generated 1.897 billion baht (US$448 million) or 13.2% of GPP with a workforce of 62,685 (13.2%).

Hotels and restaurants contributed 1.025 billion baht (US$33 million) or one percent of GPP, with a workforce numbering 37,255 (7.8%).

Direct bus lines to southern Thailand (Phuket, Ko Samui, Phang Nga, Hat Yai and Surat Thani) are provided by Piya Chai Patthana.

Intercity service runs from Hua Lamphong railway station of Bangkok - Ayutthaya - Nakhon Sawan - Phitsanulok - Lampang - Chiang Mai.

PTT Public Company Limited operates a crude oil depot adjacent to Bueng Phra railway station.

[27] There were 6,403 hotel rooms in 2018; about 3,304,883 people of which 3,088,811 Thai (93.5%) and 216,072 foreigners (6.5%) visited Phitsanulok province and contributed 8.33 billion baht (US$268 million) to tourism revenues.

[30] Provincial Waterworks Authority (PWA) supplied tap water to 63,077 households of Phitsanulok province or 18.5%.