Temples
Best Temples in Bangkok
You don't need to see ten temples. You need to see the right three, in the right order, and maybe one quiet one where you can actually sit down.
Updated
6 min read
How we research
In this guide ↓
Bangkok has hundreds of temples, and nobody needs to see more than a handful. The trick is choosing the right ones and seeing them in the right order. Three are essential, a few more are rewarding precisely because they're quiet, and the rest are for enthusiasts.
The short version
- Essential: the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew, Wat Pho and Wat Arun — all close together on either side of the river in the Old Town. Each has its own detailed guide.
- Worth adding: the Golden Mount for views, Wat Suthat for its murals, Loha Prasat for its architecture and Wat Traimit for the Golden Buddha.
- For enthusiasts: the Marble Temple, Wat Benchamabophit.
| Temple | Known for | Crowds | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Grand Palace & Wat Phra Kaew | Royal architecture and the most sacred image in Thailand | very busy | Essential |
| Wat Pho | 46-metre reclining Buddha and the traditional massage school | busy | Essential |
| Wat Arun | Porcelain-covered central prang on the river | busy | Essential |
| Wat Saket (The Golden Mount) | Views over the Old Town | moderate | Worth adding |
| Loha Prasat (Wat Ratchanatdaram) | The only metal 'castle' temple of its kind in Bangkok | quiet | Worth adding |
| Wat Suthat & the Giant Swing | Murals and a monumental bronze Buddha | quiet | Worth adding |
| Wat Traimit (The Golden Buddha) | A solid-gold Buddha weighing around 5.5 tonnes | moderate | Worth adding |
| Wat Benchamabophit (The Marble Temple) | Carrara marble ordination hall | quiet | For enthusiasts |
The best order to see them
The three essential temples work best as one day:
- Grand Palace at 8:30am, before the crowds and the heat.
- Wat Pho after lunch, when the morning tour groups have gone.
- Ferry to Wat Arun, then cross back for sunset from the Tha Tien side.
Our 3-day itinerary sets this out with travel times. On a second Old Town day, do the Golden Mount, Loha Prasat and Wat Suthat together — they're a short walk apart.
The essential three
The Grand Palace & Wat Phra Kaew
The former royal residence and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, Thailand's most sacred temple.
2–3 hours · Best time: at opening (8:30am) · Sanam Chai (MRT Blue Line)
Wat Pho
Home of the 46-metre Reclining Buddha and the traditional school of Thai massage.
1–1.5 hours · Best time: late afternoon · Sanam Chai (MRT Blue Line)
Wat Arun
The Temple of Dawn: a tall, porcelain-studded prang on the Thonburi riverbank.
45 minutes–1 hour · Best time: visit in the afternoon · Tha Tien pier to Wat Arun pier (Cross-river ferry)
Worth adding
Wat Saket (The Golden Mount)
A gilded chedi on an artificial hill, reached by a spiral staircase of around 300 steps.
45 minutes · Best time: late afternoon for the light · Sam Yot (MRT Blue Line)
Loha Prasat (Wat Ratchanatdaram)
Architecturally unique in Bangkok and rarely crowded. Climb to the top for views of the Golden Mount.
Wear: Shoulders and knees covered.
- Allow
- 30–45 minutes
- Go
- Morning or late afternoon
- Pair with
- Wat Saket (The Golden Mount), Wat Suthat & the Giant Swing
- Getting there
- Phanfa Leelard · Khlong Saen Saep Boat
Wat Suthat & the Giant Swing
The murals and the bronze Buddha in the main hall are among the finest in the city, and it sees a fraction of Wat Pho's visitors.
Wear: Shoulders and knees covered.
- Allow
- 45 minutes
- Go
- Any time; good on a hot afternoon because the halls are cool
- Pair with
- Wat Saket (The Golden Mount), Loha Prasat (Wat Ratchanatdaram)
- Getting there
- Sam Yot · MRT Blue LineAbout 10 minutes on foot
Wat Traimit (The Golden Buddha)
Houses a solid-gold seated Buddha of around 5.5 tonnes, at the edge of Chinatown.
30–45 minutes · Best time: morning · Hua Lamphong (MRT Blue Line)
For enthusiasts
Wat Benchamabophit (The Marble Temple)
An Italian-marble ordination hall from the reign of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) in the Dusit area.
30–45 minutes · Best time: early morning · Sam Yot (MRT Blue Line)
Temple dress code and etiquette
Bangkok's temples are active places of worship. The rules are simple, and visitors who follow them are welcomed.
- Cover shoulders and knees. This applies to men and women. Long trousers or a long skirt and a T-shirt with sleeves are ideal. The Grand Palace is the strictest.
- Remove shoes before entering any building with a Buddha image. Look for the shoe racks and the people taking theirs off.
- Don't point your feet at a Buddha image or a monk. When sitting, tuck your feet behind you or to the side.
- Don't climb on or pose disrespectfully with Buddha images.
- Women shouldn't touch monks or hand them objects directly.
- Keep your voice down inside the halls.
Should you hire a guide?
The Grand Palace is the one temple where a licensed guide adds a lot — the symbolism in the murals and buildings is easy to miss. Book through a reputable platform rather than with anyone who approaches you outside.
For everything else in the area, see our Old Town guide.
where to next?
- Bangkok Old Town (Rattanakosin)The historic royal heart of the city, and where most first trips begin. It is also more pleasant to stay in than most visitors assume.
- Best Places to Visit in BangkokNot every famous sight is worth the queue. These are the places we would send a friend to, with an honest note on each about when it disappoints.
- Bangkok 3-Day ItineraryThree days is enough for Bangkok's essentials if you group sights by area and use the river and the MRT rather than taxis. Here is the plan, slot by slot.