The Grand Palace and Wat Pho – Bangkok highlights
The palace and temple complex on the banks of the Chao Phraya form the cultural heart of Thailand. Both are magnificent and well worth a visit. However, be prepared for large crowds! If you want to explore them in relative peace, try going at 8 a.m.!
Very important! The dress code applies at both sites. No flip-flops or sandals, no shorts, and no sleeveless shirts!!
Suitable
audio walking tour: In Audio 30: Wat Pho to Swing Bar, I’ll take you from Wat Pho past the Grand Palace and through Bangkok’s Old Town. Find more personal itineraries, maps and recommendations in my travel guide
Bangkok Panorama
Grand Palace
Tips for visiting the Grand Palace
Please note!!
Address: Na Phra Lan Road, Grand Palace, Phranakon
Getting there:
Skytrain Silom Line, Saphan Taksin Station, Exit 2, then take the
Chao Praya Express Boat to Pier
N9 Tha Chang
Opening hours: 8:30 - 15:30
Admission:
500 baht; children under 120 cm free
Tickets can be booked online in advance!
As well as dressing appropriately (shoulders and knees must be covered!), it’s important to behave respectfully. So keep things quiet. And please don’t take photos inside the various buildings!
Wat Phra Kaeo - Emerald Buddha
This most important temple in Thailand is home to the so-called Emerald Buddha, seated on a golden throne. The King gives it a new robe for each of the three seasons: summer, rainy season and winter.
A must-see!
The Grand Palace was built in 1782 and has been expanded or remodelled many times since. All Thai kings lived on these grounds until the penultimate king, Rama IX, moved his residence to the nearby Chitralada Palace in 1946. The grounds now encompass more than 100 buildings.
Apart from the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, the various magnificent residences and throne halls are only partially open to the public. Also impressive is a faithful model of Angkor Wat from 1882 (Cambodia was a vassal state of Siam at the time). Spectacular is the palace’s central courtyard, where King Rama I was crowned.
Address in Google Maps
Choose beforehand!
The grounds are so large and offer so many highlights that it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. To make sure you enjoy your visit and don’t get frustrated, here are a few tips:
- Be sure to visit early in the morning, before the crowds arrive!
- Pick 2–3 highlights you’d like to enjoy. Anything more will be too much!
- There are excellent audio guides in German. The 200 baht is well spent.
- In this case, I really recommend taking a guided tour in a small group (Get Your Guide tour for around €69). The visit to Wat Pho and Wat Arun is included.
Photo spots:
Wat Phra Kaew Go there right after buying your ticket at 8:30 to take a photo without tourists in it.
Otherwise, right next to the ticket office, you can see lots of temple roofs and chedis from the lawn!
Wat Pho
The 45-metre-long Reclining Buddha is the temple complex’s main attraction. But the surrounding temples, with their small, hidden courtyards, are also well worth a visit, as are the four huge chedis (pagodas) in the center of the complex.
Tips for visiting Wat Pho
The Reclining Buddha
The 45-meter-long, 15-meter-high Reclining Buddha is built around an interior of stone and plaster. It was completely regilded under King Rama IX. The soles of its feet are decorated with intricate mother-of-pearl inlay. The temple hall around the Buddha was built later.
General Information
Address:
Getting there:
Skytrain Silom Line, Saphan Taksin Station, Exit 2, then take the
Chao Phraya Express Boat to
N8 Tha Tien Pier
Opening hours: 8:00 am–6:00 pm
Admission: 300 THB (approx. €8)
The temple complex is next to the Royal Palace, so it’s easy to visit both in one trip. I highly recommend going early in the morning, before the tour groups arrive! You’ll have a chance to take some wonderful photos of the little courtyards tucked behind the grand buildings.
Massages—world-famous
In the 19th century, under King Rama III, Thailand’s medical knowledge was compiled and written down at Wat Pho. To this day, the temple school is the country’s most famous training center for Thai massage and herbal medicine. You can enjoy a massage on the temple grounds or even take a multi-day
massage course!
Address in Google Maps
