A nano structured silica aerogel thin film was manufactured from inexpensive sodium silicate (water glass) using an ambient pressure drying method. High purity silicic sol was prepared by passing a water glass solution through an ion exchange resin, and the gel films were prepared on a modified glass substrate via dip coating. The dip coating conditions, such as coating time and solvent, were optimized. The optical and physical properties of the obtained silica aerogel thin film were characterized using a UV-visable spectrometer and a scanning electron microscope.