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Temples & the Grand Palace

Bangkok’s temples are the reason many first trips begin here. These are the ones worth your morning, how to dress, and a simple route that links the big three before the heat peaks.

The gilded spires of the Grand Palace in Bangkok
The gilded spires of the Grand Palace in Bangkok Wikimedia Commons
Belle
Thai American who travels to Thailand every other year
Start here

The Big Three

These three sit within a short walk and one river crossing, so most first-timers see them together in a single morning. Give it about half a day, roughly 4 to 5 hours including the walk and the ferry. At every temple, cover your shoulders and knees.

Stop 1

Grand Palace & Wat Phra Kaew

Hours8:30am – 3:30pm
Entry฿500
Dress codeStrict. Shoulders and knees, enforced at the gate.
SunHigh. Open courtyards with almost no shade.
10-minute walk south along Maha Rat Road
Stop 2

Wat Pho

Hours8:00am – 6:30pm
Entry฿300
Dress codeStandard. Shoulders and knees covered.
SunModerate. Shaded cloisters between the halls.
฿5 cross-river ferry from Tha Tien pier
Stop 3

Wat Arun

Hours8:00am – 6:00pm
Entry฿200
Dress codeStandard, plus grippy shoes for the steep steps.
SunHigh. Exposed climb, best in the late afternoon.
If you have more time

A Few More Worth the Trip

These sit a little farther out than the Big Three. The map shows where each one falls, so you can fold them into a day when you have the time.

1–3 · The Big Three4–6 · These picks
4
฿100 · hilltop views
Wat Saket (Golden Mount)
A gold chedi atop 300 gentle steps, with a breezy view over the old city. Loveliest in the late afternoon.
5
The Marble Temple
Wat Benchamabophit
Carved white Carrara marble and the temple on the old five-baht coin. Quiet and rarely crowded.
6
The Golden Buddha
Wat Traimit
A solid gold Buddha of five and a half metric tons, about six US tons, on the edge of Chinatown. Easy to pair with a Yaowarat food walk.
Before you go in

Dress Code & Temple Etiquette

Temples are living places of worship, and the dress rules are taken seriously at every gate.

Cover shoulders and knees
No tank tops, short shorts, or see-through fabric. Bring a scarf or light layer; some sites lend or rent sarongs at the entrance.
Shoes off inside
Remove your shoes before entering any temple hall, and never point your feet toward a Buddha image.
Go early
Gates open around 8 to 8:30am. Arriving at opening beats both the tour buses and the midday heat.
A smart half-day route
Start at the Grand Palace, walk to Wat Pho, then take the cross-river ferry to Wat Arun. All three sit within a short stroll and one short boat ride.
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About this guide

Written by Belle, a Thai American who travels to Thailand every other year and has family in Bangkok. Everything here comes from my own visits unless the text says otherwise. Prices and journey times are typical cases rather than quotes, so recheck anything time-sensitive before you pay. Brand mentions are never paid placements, and the guide is reader-supported: some links may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.

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