Oct 18, 2024

Visiting Bangkok without seeing its temples is like going to a desert island and skipping the beach… It's barely worth it! These historical and cultural monuments—above all, spiritual and sacred places—are the true symbols of the capital. And you won't lack for choice: the city boasts no fewer than 400 religious buildings. To save you time, we've compiled the ultimate guide to the top 6 most beautiful temples in Bangkok you absolutely must see!

In summary: Bangkok is home to hundreds of temples, but these are the most beautiful and popular:

• Wat Pho, the Temple of the Reclining Buddha
• Wat Phra Kaew, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha at the Grand Palace
• Wat Saket, the Temple of the Golden Mount
• Wat Arun, the Temple of Dawn
• Wat Traimit, the Temple of the Golden Buddha
• Wat Benchamabophit Dusitwanaram, the Marble Temple

1. Wat Pho, the Temple of the Reclining Buddha

It's Bangkok's largest temple! But what makes it stand out as one of the city's most beautiful temples is its famous and iconic Reclining Buddha. Measuring 45 meters long and 15 meters high, the Buddha statue is covered in gold leaf, while its feet are inlaid with mother-of-pearl. Beyond the Reclining Buddha itself, all of the temple's pagodas offer a spectacular display of color. Especially as the day ends, when the last rays of sunlight make thousands of stones adorning the facades shimmer and sparkle.

Good to know: Wat Pho is also renowned for housing one of the country's most prestigious schools of traditional Thai massage and traditional medicine.

Practical information:

Address: 2 Sanamchai Road, Grand Palace Subdistrict, Pranakorn District, Bangkok 10200 Hours: Daily 8am to 7:30pm Fee*: 300 Baht per adult (foreign visitor price). Free entry for children under 120 cm.

How to get there? Several options are available to reach Wat Pho:

• By bus: No. 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 25, 32, 44, 47, 48, 53, 82
• By boat (Chao Phraya Express): Get off at Tha Chang pier, Tha Tien pier, or Pak Klong Talad pier
• By taxi
• By tuk tuk

2. Wat Phra Kaew, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha at the Grand Palace

Better known as the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, Wat Phra Kaew is one of the country's most sacred temples. And rightly so—it houses a sublime Buddha carved from a single block of jade dating back to the 15th century (nothing less!). Its origin isn't always clear, but this statue, venerated by Thai people, is said to have been discovered in Chiang Mai and brought to the capital in 1884. The temple sits at the heart of the Grand Palace, the royal residence, on the left bank of the Chao Phraya River.

Practical information:

Address: Na Phra Lan Rd, Phra Borom Maha Ratchawang, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200, Thailand Hours: Daily 8:30am to 4:30pm Fee*: 500 Baht per person (foreign visitor price). The price includes access to Wat Phra Kaew and the Queen Sirikit textile museum, also located within the Grand Palace grounds. Note that tickets are sold until 1 hour before closing, so until 3:30pm.

How to get there? Several options are available to reach Wat Phra Kaew:

• By bus: No. 1, 3, 9, 15, 25, 30, 32, 33, 43, 44, 47, 53, 59, 64, 80, 82, 91, 203, 503, 508, 512
• By boat (Chao Phraya Express): Get off at Tha Chang pier, Tha Tien pier, or Pak Klong Talad pier
• By taxi
• By tuk tuk

3. Wat Saket, the Temple of the Golden Mount

Also called the Temple of the Golden Mount, Wat Saket was built on an artificial hilltop. The 58-meter-tall chedi is said to contain relics of Buddha. To reach it, you must climb 318 steps! Along the way, you'll encounter numerous animal statues set in an almost magical setting. Don't forget to ring the bells as you ascend and finish with three gong strikes (one gong as a sign of respect for Buddha, another for Buddhism in general, and a final one for the monks). Once at the summit, you'll discover a breathtaking panorama—one of Bangkok's most stunning views!

Practical information:

Address: 344 Chakkraphatdi Phong Rd, Ban Bat, Pom Prap Sattru Phai, Bangkok 10100, Thailand Hours: Daily 7:30am to 7pm Fee*: 100 Baht per person (foreign visitor price)

How to get there? Several options are available to reach Wat Saket:

• By bus: No. 8, 15, 37, 47, 49
• By boat (Chao Phraya Express): Get off at Phan Fa Lilat pier (Khlong Saen Saep) or Tha Phu Khao Thong (Khlong Phadung Krung Kasem)
• By taxi
• By tuk tuk

4. Wat Arun, the Temple of Dawn

On the opposite riverbank, facing Wat Pho and the Royal Palace, stands Wat Arun. Named after Aruna, a Hindu deity, it's nicknamed the Temple of Dawn. Why? Because legend says it's the first structure to receive the morning sunlight. Its 80-meter-tall main tower and 4 other prangs are covered with porcelain fragments and house statues of Nayu, the wind deity. One thing's certain: this temple is equally impressive by day and by night when illuminated, making the Chao Phraya sparkle!

Practical information:

Address: 158 Thanon Wang Doem, Wat Arun, Bangkok Yai, Bangkok 10600, Thailand Hours: Daily 8:30am to 5:30pm Fee*: 200 Baht per person (foreign visitor price)

How to get there? Several options are available to reach Wat Arun:

• By Skytrain + boat (Chao Phraya Express): Take the BTS Silom Line and get off at Saphan Taksin station, then take the boat and get off at Tha Tien station
• By bus: No. 19, 57, 83
• By taxi
• By tuk tuk

5. Wat Traimit, the Temple of the Golden Buddha

Wat Traimit isn't necessarily the most beautiful temple in Bangkok. But what makes it particularly remarkable is what it holds inside. It houses one of the world's largest solid-gold Buddha statues! Hence its more common name, the Temple of the Golden Buddha. For a bit of trivia, this treasure—5 meters tall and weighing 5.5 tons—was discovered by accident. In 1931, monks discovered a plaster statue considered unremarkable. When it shattered after a fall, they discovered what was inside… You've guessed it—the golden statue had been hidden beneath the plaster! An incredible find that you can now see inside the temple.

Note: The temple houses a museum on the third floor, where you can learn more about the history of the Golden Buddha.

Practical information:

Address: 661 Charoen Krung Road, Talat Noi, Samphanthawong, Bangkok 10100, Thailand Hours: Daily 8:30am to 5:30pm. The museum is closed Mondays. Fee*: 50 Baht per person (foreign visitor price). Museum entry: 100 Baht for adults and 60 Baht for children.

How to get there? Several options are available to reach Wat Traimit:

• By MRT (subway): Get off at Hua Lamphong station
• By bus: No. 5, 7, 507
• By taxi
• By tuk tuk

6. Wat Benchamabophit Dusitwanaram, the Marble Temple

We finish with a temple built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries under the reign of King Rama V: Wat Benchamabophit Dusitwanaram (which literally means "temple of the fifth king located near the great Dusit Palace"). Also called the Marble Temple, it ranks among Bangkok's most beautiful temples and is considered an architectural masterpiece. You'll find Carrara marble (which earned it its nickname) on the floors and columns, a gilded ceiling, Chinese ceramics, teak wood doors, bronze sculptures, and much more. Outside, you can enjoy its perfectly manicured gardens, which radiate an ultra-peaceful atmosphere.

Good to know: Inside the temple stands an immense Buddha statue known as Phra Buddha Niramitravichaya Chai. It contains the ashes of King Rama V, who died in 1910.

Practical information:

Address: 69 Thanon Si Ayutthaya, Dusit, Dusit District, Bangkok 10300, Thailand Hours: Daily 8am to 5pm Fee*: 150 Baht per person (foreign visitor price). Free entry to the gardens.

How to get there? Several options are available to reach Wat Benchamabophit Dusitwanaram:

• By BTS (Skytrain): Get off at Saphan Kwai station and walk to the temple (approximately 1.5 km)
• By bus: No. 2, 10, 12, 60, 72, 503
• By taxi
• By tuk tuk

Other lesser-known temples to discover

Want more? To go deeper, we'll introduce you to other lesser-known temples worth visiting in Bangkok:

• Wat Suthat Thepwararam, one of the royal temples, known for its impressive prayer hall, one of Thailand's largest
• Wat Ratchanadda: A Buddhist monastery housing the royal temple of Loha Prasat, distinguished by a metal structure with 37 spires, representing the 37 virtues needed for enlightenment
• Wat Mahathat Yuwaratrangsarit: Built during the Ayutthaya period, it's one of Thailand's 10 royal temples and houses the oldest institution of higher learning for Buddhist monks in Thailand
• Wat Chana Songkhram: Renowned for its large seated Buddha and magnificent murals depicting scenes from the Jatakas—tales of Buddha's previous lives
• Wat Bowonniwet Vihara: Home to Nyanasamvara Suvaddhana, the former Supreme Patriarch of Thailand, and the burial site of two former Chakri Dynasty kings: Rama VI and Rama IX
• Wat Prayurawongsawas Worawihan: Renowned for housing Buddha relics within its ancient white stupa built during the reign of King Mongkut
• Wat Ratchapradit: Built by King Rama IV in 1864, this temple stands apart from others through its distinctive gray architectural style

Rules of conduct for visiting temples in Thailand

As with many cultures, certain rules of conduct apply when visiting Thai temples:

• Dress respectfully: While wearing a sarong (traditional Thai garment) is ideal, at minimum you must cover your shoulders and knees, whether you're male or female. Similarly, avoid short clothing that reveals the midriff, transparent or tight-fitting garments, and torn clothing
• Remove your shoes before entering temples (unless otherwise indicated)
• Never step on an image of Buddha
• Never point your feet toward Buddha representations
• Sit properly: Cross-legged for men and kneeling with feet toward the back for women
• Never touch a monk if you're female: Monks aren't permitted to have physical contact with women. To greet them, simply bow respectfully with hands pressed together (called a wai in Thailand)
• Never photograph monks without their permission
• Don't touch anything
• Remain silent and respectful inside temples

*Prices are provided for reference and may change

Florine Dergelet

Florine Dergelet

A web writer for over 10 years, Florine Dergelet is a traveler driven by the desire to discover the world with an open heart. Each of her articles is an invitation to slow down, listen, and understand. For her, traveling isn't about checking countries off a map—it's about weaving threads (often invisible but always powerful) that connect places, peoples, and all manner of creatures. Her philosophy? Advise travelers ethically, awaken awareness about animal welfare, respect for cultures, and the importance of humble and sustainable tourism. Because the most beautiful memories often arise far from the spotlight, in the shade of a path, in the midst of conversation, or in the quiet breath of a world we finally take time to hear…