Grand Palace & Wat Phra Kaew
The Grand Palace is Bangkok's most famous landmark and a must for first-time visitors. The complex includes Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha), which houses Thailand's most sacred Buddha image. The grounds are dazzling with golden spires, intricate murals and mosaic-covered stupas.
Entry costs 500 THB and includes admission to the adjacent Wat Phra Kaew. The complex opens daily from 08:30 to 15:30 (last entry). Dress code is strictly enforced here — long trousers or skirts, covered shoulders and closed-toe shoes are required. If you arrive in shorts, you can borrow a sarong at the entrance.
Arrive right at 08:30 to beat the tour-bus crowds. By 10:00 the courtyards become packed and the heat makes it much less enjoyable.
Wat Pho — Reclining Buddha
Wat Pho is home to the enormous 46-metre-long Reclining Buddha, covered entirely in gold leaf. Beyond the famous statue, the temple grounds contain over 1,000 Buddha images and 91 small chedis (stupas), making it one of the largest and oldest temple complexes in Bangkok.
Admission is 300 THB and includes a free bottle of water. The temple is open daily from 08:00 to 18:30. Wat Pho is also the birthplace of traditional Thai massage, and the on-site massage school offers excellent one-hour sessions for around 300 to 500 THB.
Wat Pho is a five-minute walk south of the Grand Palace. Visiting both in one morning is easy and recommended.
Wat Arun — Temple of Dawn
Wat Arun sits on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River and is one of Bangkok's most recognizable silhouettes. The central prang (tower) stands over 80 metres tall and is decorated with colourful porcelain and seashells. You can climb partway up the steep steps for river views.
Entry is 100 THB and the temple is open daily from 08:00 to 18:00. To get there, take the short cross-river ferry from Tha Tien pier near Wat Pho — the ride costs just 4 THB and takes about three minutes.
Visit Wat Arun in the late afternoon when the setting sun lights up the western facade. The view from across the river at sunset is equally stunning.
Wat Saket — Golden Mount
Wat Saket, also known as the Golden Mount, features a golden chedi perched on top of an artificial hill. To reach it you climb 344 steps up a winding staircase lined with trees, bells and small shrines. The reward at the top is a panoramic 360-degree view of old Bangkok.
Admission is 100 THB. The temple is open daily from 07:30 to 17:30. The climb is moderate and takes about 10 to 15 minutes at a relaxed pace.
Wat Traimit — Golden Buddha
Wat Traimit houses the world's largest solid-gold seated Buddha, weighing 5.5 tonnes. The statue was hidden under a plaster exterior for centuries and was only discovered by accident in 1955 when movers accidentally dropped it. The museum downstairs tells the full story.
Admission to the Golden Buddha is 40 THB, or 100 THB to also access the heritage museum floors below. The temple is in Chinatown near Hua Lamphong MRT station and is open daily from 08:00 to 17:00.
Wat Benchamabophit — Marble Temple
Built from Italian Carrara marble, Wat Benchamabophit is one of Bangkok's most elegant temples and far less crowded than the riverside trio. The courtyard contains 52 Buddha statues representing different regional styles from across Asia. The grounds are peaceful and photogenic.
Admission is 20 THB. The temple is open daily from 06:00 to 18:00. It sits in the Dusit district, about a 15-minute taxi ride from the Grand Palace area.
Dress Code & Etiquette
- Cover your shoulders and knees at every temple. Sleeveless tops, shorts and short skirts will be refused at the entrance.
- Remove your shoes before entering any chapel or prayer hall. Carry them in a bag or leave them on the racks provided.
- Women should never touch a monk or hand objects directly to one.
- Sit with your feet tucked behind you, never pointed at a Buddha image.
- Ask permission before photographing monks or worshippers and keep your voice low inside prayer halls.
Practical Tips
| Temple | Fee (THB) | Hours |
|---|
| Grand Palace & Wat Phra Kaew | 500 | 08:30 – 15:30 |
| Wat Pho | 300 | 08:00 – 18:30 |
| Wat Arun | 100 | 08:00 – 18:00 |
| Wat Saket | 100 | 07:30 – 17:30 |
| Wat Traimit | 40 – 100 | 08:00 – 17:00 |
| Wat Benchamabophit | 20 | 06:00 – 18:00 |
- Bring sunscreen, a hat, water and a small towel — temple grounds have little shade and Bangkok heat is intense.
- Visit the riverside temples (Grand Palace, Wat Pho, Wat Arun) together in one morning to save time.
- Beware of touts near the Grand Palace who claim it's closed — this is a common scam to redirect you to a gem shop.
- The Chao Phraya Express Boat is the fastest and cheapest way to reach the riverside temples from Sathorn or Saphan Taksin BTS.
- Carry small banknotes for admission fees — ticket counters often cannot break large 1,000 THB notes.
Scam alert: if anyone near the Grand Palace tells you the temple is closed today for a "ceremony" or "holiday," it is almost certainly a scam. Walk to the entrance and check for yourself.
Grand Palace & Wat Phra Kaew
The Grand Palace is Bangkok's most famous landmark and a must for first-time visitors. The complex includes Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha), which houses Thailand's most sacred Buddha image. The grounds are dazzling with golden spires, intricate murals and mosaic-covered stupas.
Entry costs 500 THB and includes admission to the adjacent Wat Phra Kaew. The complex opens daily from 08:30 to 15:30 (last entry). Dress code is strictly enforced here — long trousers or skirts, covered shoulders and closed-toe shoes are required. If you arrive in shorts, you can borrow a sarong at the entrance.
Arrive right at 08:30 to beat the tour-bus crowds. By 10:00 the courtyards become packed and the heat makes it much less enjoyable.
Wat Pho — Reclining Buddha
Wat Pho is home to the enormous 46-metre-long Reclining Buddha, covered entirely in gold leaf. Beyond the famous statue, the temple grounds contain over 1,000 Buddha images and 91 small chedis (stupas), making it one of the largest and oldest temple complexes in Bangkok.
Admission is 300 THB and includes a free bottle of water. The temple is open daily from 08:00 to 18:30. Wat Pho is also the birthplace of traditional Thai massage, and the on-site massage school offers excellent one-hour sessions for around 300 to 500 THB.
Wat Pho is a five-minute walk south of the Grand Palace. Visiting both in one morning is easy and recommended.
Wat Arun — Temple of Dawn
Wat Arun sits on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River and is one of Bangkok's most recognizable silhouettes. The central prang (tower) stands over 80 metres tall and is decorated with colourful porcelain and seashells. You can climb partway up the steep steps for river views.
Entry is 100 THB and the temple is open daily from 08:00 to 18:00. To get there, take the short cross-river ferry from Tha Tien pier near Wat Pho — the ride costs just 4 THB and takes about three minutes.
Visit Wat Arun in the late afternoon when the setting sun lights up the western facade. The view from across the river at sunset is equally stunning.
Wat Saket — Golden Mount
Wat Saket, also known as the Golden Mount, features a golden chedi perched on top of an artificial hill. To reach it you climb 344 steps up a winding staircase lined with trees, bells and small shrines. The reward at the top is a panoramic 360-degree view of old Bangkok.
Admission is 100 THB. The temple is open daily from 07:30 to 17:30. The climb is moderate and takes about 10 to 15 minutes at a relaxed pace.
Wat Traimit — Golden Buddha
Wat Traimit houses the world's largest solid-gold seated Buddha, weighing 5.5 tonnes. The statue was hidden under a plaster exterior for centuries and was only discovered by accident in 1955 when movers accidentally dropped it. The museum downstairs tells the full story.
Admission to the Golden Buddha is 40 THB, or 100 THB to also access the heritage museum floors below. The temple is in Chinatown near Hua Lamphong MRT station and is open daily from 08:00 to 17:00.
Wat Benchamabophit — Marble Temple
Built from Italian Carrara marble, Wat Benchamabophit is one of Bangkok's most elegant temples and far less crowded than the riverside trio. The courtyard contains 52 Buddha statues representing different regional styles from across Asia. The grounds are peaceful and photogenic.
Admission is 20 THB. The temple is open daily from 06:00 to 18:00. It sits in the Dusit district, about a 15-minute taxi ride from the Grand Palace area.
Dress Code & Etiquette
- Cover your shoulders and knees at every temple. Sleeveless tops, shorts and short skirts will be refused at the entrance.
- Remove your shoes before entering any chapel or prayer hall. Carry them in a bag or leave them on the racks provided.
- Women should never touch a monk or hand objects directly to one.
- Sit with your feet tucked behind you, never pointed at a Buddha image.
- Ask permission before photographing monks or worshippers and keep your voice low inside prayer halls.
Practical Tips
| Temple | Fee (THB) | Hours |
|---|
| Grand Palace & Wat Phra Kaew | 500 | 08:30 – 15:30 |
| Wat Pho | 300 | 08:00 – 18:30 |
| Wat Arun | 100 | 08:00 – 18:00 |
| Wat Saket | 100 | 07:30 – 17:30 |
| Wat Traimit | 40 – 100 | 08:00 – 17:00 |
| Wat Benchamabophit | 20 | 06:00 – 18:00 |
- Bring sunscreen, a hat, water and a small towel — temple grounds have little shade and Bangkok heat is intense.
- Visit the riverside temples (Grand Palace, Wat Pho, Wat Arun) together in one morning to save time.
- Beware of touts near the Grand Palace who claim it's closed — this is a common scam to redirect you to a gem shop.
- The Chao Phraya Express Boat is the fastest and cheapest way to reach the riverside temples from Sathorn or Saphan Taksin BTS.
- Carry small banknotes for admission fees — ticket counters often cannot break large 1,000 THB notes.
Scam alert: if anyone near the Grand Palace tells you the temple is closed today for a "ceremony" or "holiday," it is almost certainly a scam. Walk to the entrance and check for yourself.