Old Town classics
The palace, the Reclining Buddha and Wat Arun, with a ferry ride in between.
- Time
- About 5 h 15 min at the sights, from the first stop
- Walking
- About 1.2 km between stops
- Start
- 08:30 at the Grand Palace
- Latest start
- 13:00
- Days
- Daily
- Tickets
- ฿1,000 per adult, foreign-visitor prices
- Transport
- about ฿4–10
- Dress
- Cover shoulders and knees. The Grand Palace refuses shorts and sleeveless tops. Temple etiquette →
Stops
- Stop 1:
Grand Palace2 h 30 min here
พระบรมมหาราชวัง
The royal palace and Wat Phra Kaew, home of the Emerald Buddha, on one ticket.
Enter at Mani Noppharat Gate, leave by Wiman Thewet. No photos inside the Emerald Buddha chapel.
Open 08:30–16:30 · last entry 15:30 · ฿500
The Grand Palace closes for royal ceremonies. Check the official schedule ↗
Also here: City Pillar Shrine — Bangkok's foundation pillar of 1782, in a small shrine across the road from the palace walls.
Walk ~11 min · 810 m
Stop 2:Wat Pho1 h 15 min here
วัดโพธิ์
The huge gilded Reclining Buddha, four royal chedis and the temple's own Thai massage school.
Use the Thai Wang Rd entrance: the Reclining Buddha hall is right there.
Open 08:00–19:30 · ฿300
Massage 30 min ฿340
Walk 3 min, via Tha Tien Pier · cross-river ferry · ~12 min · cashCross on the Tha Tien ferry. Pay cash at the pier.
Stop 3:Wat Arun1 h here
วัดอรุณ
The tall riverside prang on the Thonburi bank, faced with pieces of Chinese porcelain.
Leave by the blue tourist boat from the Wat Arun pier: south to Sathorn or north to Phra Arthit.
Hours not published, check on the day · ฿200
Before you go
- The palace can close for royal ceremonies at short notice. Check its schedule the morning you go.
- Ignore anyone who says the palace is closed and offers a tuk-tuk tour.
Plan B
- Palace closed: Start at Wat Pho at 08:45, then Museum Siam from 10:00 (Tue–Sun, 4 min walk).
- River closed after noon: From Wat Pho take the MRT, Sanam Chai to Itsaraphap, and walk to Wat Arun.
- Rain after lunch: Take a Wat Pho massage or go to Museum Siam. Skip the prang steps when wet.
Pairs well with
Typical times, not a timetable. Researched .
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