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ThailandThere are hundreds of temples in Bangkok, and the variety can make your head spin. Which temple to visit first, which is the most beautiful, interesting, or unusual. If you're facing this question, here are our selections of Bangkok temples with all the practical information: opening hours, entrance fees, how to get there on your own. We personally visited all these temples, took original photos (no stock images), and verified all prices, opening hours, and routes. This is only verified practical information for independent travelers.
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The Three Main Temples of Bangkok: Must-Sees
If you only have one or two days in Bangkok, start with the three top and most important temples – they're close to each other and give a complete picture of Thai temple architecture.
It's best to start with the Grand Palace. It's open from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, and it's better to come right at opening time, because after 10 AM huge tour buses start bringing in groups of tourists, making it very difficult to explore and take good photos. Exploring the palace will take 2 to 4 hours. After the palace, you can walk to the entrance of the famous Wat Pho (Temple of the Reclining Buddha). The third temple, Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn), is on the other side of the Chao Phraya River – you can easily cross by ferry in just a few minutes.
After seeing all three, it's worth staying in the area until dark to see the illuminated landmarks. They look magnificent at that time.
Grand Palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha
This palace complex, consisting of many temples and palaces, is the main religious building in Bangkok and the first attraction of the capital worth visiting. The palace complex was built in 1782 and serves not only as the actual royal residence but also as the location of numerous government offices. Of course, the royal residence and offices are not open to tourists, but the most beautiful and interesting part of the complex is open to visitors for a fee. Several palaces and throne halls are open to the public, used by the royal family for receiving ambassadors and foreign delegations, as well as many temples and shrines. To fully explore the palace, you'll need at least half a day. More about the Grand Palace and photos here.
Practical information
🕐 Opening hours: daily from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM (the complex is open until 4:30 PM, but visitors are no longer admitted after 3:30 PM). Free English-language tours start at 10:00 AM, 10:30 AM, 1:30 PM, and 2:00 PM.
💵 Entrance fee / ticket prices: 500 baht (15.2 USD, Thai currency), audio guide player – 100 baht (passport or credit card as deposit).
🚶 How to get there: the palace is in the historic part of the city (Grand Palace entrance on the map). From Khao San Road tourist area you can walk here. From other areas by taxi (around 200 baht) or buses, or take the MRT underground to the new Sanam Chai station, and from there walk 1 kilometer.
Wat Pho (Temple of the Reclining Buddha) – the largest in Bangkok
Near the Grand Palace is Wat Pho – one of the oldest temples in the Kingdom and the largest in Bangkok, built in 1688-1703. It houses the famous 46-meter gilded Reclining Buddha statue. The temple complex has many chapels and pagodas. This is the largest and oldest temple in the capital, and at the same time the most famous among tourists, and one of the most famous symbols of Thailand. More about the Reclining Buddha temple here.
Practical information
🕐 Opening hours: daily without days off from 8:00 AM to 6:30 PM.
💵 Entrance fee / ticket prices: 300 baht (9.12 USD), bring exact change as they don't give any; guide accompaniment (optional) for 1 person – 200 baht, 2 people – 300, 3 or more – 400 baht.
🚶 How to get there: Wat Pho is located next to the Grand Palace on the banks of the Chao Phraya River on the Rattanakosin Peninsula (temple on the map). Within walking distance are the Khao San tourist area and Chinatown.
Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn) – the most beautiful pagoda
Across the river from Wat Pho is Wat Arun – the Temple of Dawn. You can get there by river ferry, which costs 3 baht. The piers are located right next to the temples. In the evening, when the 88-meter temple is illuminated by floodlights, there's a wonderful view from the opposite riverbank. This is probably the most picturesque temple in Thailand. In spring and summer, every evening at 7:00 PM, 8:00 PM, 9:00 PM, and 9:30 PM, light shows are held, during which the history of the temple is told in Thai and English with traditional Thai music. More about Wat Arun here.
Practical information
🕐 Opening hours: daily from 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM.
💵 Entrance fee / ticket prices: 200 baht (6.08 USD).
🚶 How to get there: The temple is on the opposite side of the river from Wat Pho (temple on the map). The easiest way to get there is by ferry from Tha Tien Pier next to Wat Pho – the crossing costs 4 baht.
The Most Popular Temples in Bangkok After the Big Three
After you've seen the three main temples, you can visit other beautiful and popular ones. They're popular for good reason and are worth visiting.
Wat Traimit (Golden Buddha Temple) – 5.5 tons of gold
This unremarkable-looking temple could have been just one of hundreds in Bangkok, if not for the world's largest golden seated Buddha statue. Thais say it's made entirely of gold, weighing 5.5 tons. The Buddha's pupils are black Thai sapphires, and the whites of the eyes are made of pearls. The temple complex consists of several temple buildings and even a museum, so there's plenty to see here. More about the Golden Buddha Temple.
Practical information
🕐 Opening hours: daily from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
💵 Entrance fee / ticket prices: entrance to the Golden Buddha hall (4th floor) – 40 baht, museum entrance (2nd and 3rd floors) – 100 baht (3.04 USD).
🚶 How to get there: The temple is in Chinatown (Golden Buddha Temple on the map). The most convenient way is by MRT underground to MRT Hualamphong station, then a 5-minute walk.
Wat Benchamabophit (Marble Temple)
This is one of the most beautiful temples in Bangkok. Although it's called "Marble," the literal translation of the name is "King Rama V's Temple," as it was built by his order in 1899. After the king's death, his ashes were placed in the base of the main Buddha statue. As the name suggests, most of the temple is built of marble, including marble imported from Italy. The temple is also interesting because it's one of the newest, combining modern European style with traditional Thai architecture. More about the Marble Temple.
Practical information
🕐 Opening hours: from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM, no days off.
💵 Entrance fee / ticket prices: entrance for foreigners – 50 baht (1.52 USD).
🚶 How to get there: located in the Dusit area (temple on the map). From Khao San Road tourist area you can walk, but you'll have to cover almost two kilometers.
Wat Suthat Thep Wararam and the Giant Swing
This temple, located in the very center of Bangkok, is one of the oldest. It's known for housing one of the most beautiful and the largest Viharn (sermon hall). Construction began in 1807 under King Rama I and was only completed in 1947. Part of King Rama VIII's ashes are in the base of the statue's pedestal. In 2005, it was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Right in front of the temple are the Giant Swing, which until 1932 was used in the Tri-yampawai ritual (the birth of a new world and an expression of gratitude to the god Shiva for the rice harvest). Young men would swing and had to catch a money bag suspended at a height of about 25 meters.
Practical information
🕐 Opening hours: daily from 8:30 AM to 9:00 PM.
💵 Entrance fee / ticket prices: 100 baht (3.04 USD).
🚶 How to get there: see location of the temple and swing on the Bangkok map.
Wat Ratchanaddaram (also Ratchanadda)
Construction of the temple began in 1846 by order of King Rama III, but to this day it is still considered unfinished, making it the longest ongoing construction project in Thailand – over 160 years. It's interesting primarily for its unusual architecture, different from other Thai temples: the main chedi is made in the form of a multi-tiered metal pyramid. The complex is quite large, decorated with greenery and beautiful buildings, but there are very few tourists here. Inside there's a museum, which you can enter by leaving 20 baht in the donation box. From the museum, you can climb to the very top, which offers a stunning view of the surrounding area. More about Wat Ratchanaddaram.
Practical information
🕐 Opening hours: from 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Access to the observation deck closes at 4:50 PM.
💵 Entrance fee / ticket prices: temple grounds free, museum entrance 20 baht.
🚶 How to get there: within walking distance of Khao San Road tourist area (temple on the map).
Wat Saket (Golden Mount)
This Buddhist temple is known for its gilded pagoda built on a high artificial hill called the Golden Mount. For a long time, before skyscrapers began to be built in Bangkok, the pagoda was the tallest structure in the city. At the top is not only the pagoda but also an observation deck from which you can take wonderful panoramic photos. This temple is highly revered among Buddhists because it houses a relic of the Buddha brought from India. Every November, a grand festival is held at the temple, during which a huge procession climbs the hill. More about Wat Saket and the Golden Mount here.
Practical information
🕐 Opening hours: daily from 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM.
💵 Entrance fee / ticket prices: temple entry free, access to the observation deck – 100 baht (3.04 USD).
🚶 How to get there: Wat Saket is located on Rattanakosin Island (temple on the map). From the Khao San tourist area, it's easy to walk. From other areas, you'll have to take a taxi, bus, or canal boat.
Sacred Temples of Bangkok Revered by Thais
Besides the ones already mentioned, there are several other temples in Bangkok that are important to all Thais. They are not the most beautiful or touristy, but are revered by Thais themselves as very sacred places.
Wat Mahathat Temple
This is one of the most important and oldest temples in Bangkok, one of the ten highest-level royal temples in Thailand, founded to house one of the Buddhist relics. It also houses the Vipassana meditation center. This temple is almost unknown among tourists, even though it's very conveniently located in the very heart of the historic district: near the Grand Palace and within walking distance of Khao San Road. More about Wat Mahathat.
Practical information
🕐 Opening hours: from 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM, no days off.
💵 Entrance fee / ticket prices: free.
🚶 How to get there: located in Bangkok's historic district, a few minutes' walk from the Grand Palace (temple on the map). From Khao San Road, the easiest way is to walk (about 1.5 kilometers). From other areas, you can take buses or a boat along the Chao Phraya River to Tha Maharaj pier.
Lak Muang (City Pillar Shrine)
Lak Muang, the City Pillar Shrine, is one of the most sacred and significant places for the capital's residents. It is believed to be the first structure built in Bangkok, and the city began to grow from this point. In 1783, by decree of King Rama I, the city pillar and shrine were installed here, marking the beginning of the city's construction. This is also the symbolic geographical center of Bangkok, as distances are measured from here. More about Lak Muang.
Practical information
🕐 Opening hours: 24/7.
💵 Entrance fee / ticket prices: free, donations in the form of buying offerings and incense are welcome.
🚶 How to get there: located in the center next to the Grand Palace (City Pillar Shrine on the map).
Wat Bowonniwet Vihara
Wat Bowonniwet Vihara is not particularly well-known or visited by tourists, yet it's one of the most important temples and monasteries in Bangkok. It houses a Buddha statue from approximately 1357 in a large golden stupa, and most members of the royal family have spent their monastic periods and training here. But most importantly, the remains of King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX), who died in 2016, rest in the temple. Nearby in a separate building are the monastery library and the abbot's museum. More about Wat Bowonniwet Vihara.
Practical information
🕐 Opening hours: from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
💵 Entrance fee / ticket prices: free.
🚶 How to get there: the temple is located near Khao San Road, a 5-minute walk from it (temple on the map). From other areas of Bangkok you can get here by taxi (no more than 200 baht by meter), by buses, or by scheduled boat along the river to Phra Arthit pier and then walk 10 minutes.
Erawan Shrine
This is one of the most important places of pilgrimage and worship in Bangkok, despite its modest size. Erawan is the name of a huge white elephant deity with 33 heads, one of the main symbols of fertility and rain, and the shrine itself is a statue of the 4-faced Brahma, a Hindu deity. Every day, a huge number of people come to this place, and dance shows and chants are often held here. Tourists are free to come here, sit on the benches and watch the rituals, and if they wish, they can light incense, offer flowers, or wash with holy water. More about Erawan Shrine.
Practical information
🕐 Opening hours: 24/7.
💵 Entrance fee / ticket prices: free.
🚶 How to get there: located next to BTS Chidlom Station next to the Grand Hyatt Erawan hotel (Erawan Shrine on the map).
The Most Unusual Temples of Bangkok: Dragons, Crocodiles and David Beckham
If you've already seen everything but still want more, here are the most unusual temples in Bangkok.
Chao Mae Tuptim (Fertility Shrine)
This is not a temple but a small shrine, but in terms of "unusualness," no other religious place in the capital can compete with it. The Penis Shrine, the Pregnancy Shrine, or the Fertility Shrine is actually not a place of admiration for the male reproductive organ, but a place where people come to ask for offspring and fertility, or to pay homage for help from Buddha. As of 2026, the shrine is practically abandoned – we do not recommend visiting. More about the Penis Shrine.
Practical information
🕐 Opening hours: 24/7.
💵 Entrance fee / ticket prices: free.
🚶 How to get there: the shrine is located on the grounds of the Mövenpick Hotel (formerly Swiss Hotel) (see on the map). Nearest metro stations: BTS Chit Lom and BTS Phloen Chit. You can walk there in 10 minutes.
Wat Chakrawatrachawat (Crocodile Temple)
Wat Chakrawatrachawat, also known as Wat Sam Pleum or simply Crocodile Temple, is one of the most unusual temples in the capital. It doesn't stand out for its beauty or architecture, but it is home to crocodiles – real, live ones. There are 4 reptiles in total, and every day around 5:00 PM the monks feed them. This is one of the oldest temples in the capital. More about the Crocodile Temple.
Practical information
🕐 Opening hours: from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, no days off.
💵 Entrance fee / ticket prices: free.
🚶 How to get there: the temple is in Chinatown (temple on the map). The dense development and narrow streets of Chinatown hide the temple until the last moment.
Wat Pariwat (David Beckham Temple)
Wat Pariwat is one of the most unusual temples in Bangkok, popularly known as the "David Beckham Temple." Originally a small local temple from the Ayutthaya period (14th–18th centuries), it was decorated at the end of the last century with images of famous people and fictional characters. There are statues and frescoes of Che Guevara, Barack Obama, Einstein, Superman, and Pinocchio. A special place is occupied by a gilded statue of David Beckham, installed in 1998 in honor of the 16th FIFA World Cup. More about Wat Pariwat.
Practical information
🕐 Opening hours: from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, no days off.
💵 Entrance fee / ticket prices: free.
🚶 How to get there: located on the southern outskirts of Bangkok in the Silom area (temple on the map). The easiest way is by taxi (from 200 baht).
Wat Sam Phran (Dragon Temple)
Wat Sam Phran is one of the most unusual temples in the Bangkok area. On its grounds, next to the main ubosot, stands an 80-meter pink cylindrical tower wrapped by a giant dragon. The temple opened in 1985. The first floor is open to visitors, but the most interesting part is entering the dragon's body and climbing to the top observation deck, which offers a panoramic view of the area. More about the Dragon Temple.
Practical information
🕐 Opening hours: daily from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
💵 Entrance fee / ticket prices: free, donations welcome.
🚶 How to get there: located in the Sam Phran suburb, 40 km from the center (temple on the map). A taxi ride will cost from 400 to 600 baht (12.16–18.24 USD).
Other Temples Worth Visiting
Wat Yannawa (Boat Temple)
This temple is not very well known among mass tourists, but its architectural feature is the viharn built in the shape of a white Chinese junk – a sailing ship from the 19th century. More about the Boat Temple.
Practical information
🕐 Opening hours: from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
💵 Entrance fee / ticket prices: free.
🚶 How to get there: located in the Riverside area next to BTS Saphan Taksin station (temple on the map).
Wat Mangkon Kamalawat (Chinese Temple)
This is the largest and most important temple of the Chinese community in Bangkok, following the Mahayana Buddhist branch. Built in the early 19th century in classical Chinese architectural style. You can freely walk around the temple and enter any rooms. More about the Chinese temple.
Practical information
🕐 Opening hours: from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
💵 Entrance fee / ticket prices: free.
🚶 How to get there: located in Chinatown (temple on the map). Entrance from Charoeng Krung Road.
Sri Maha Mariamman Temple (Wat Khaek)
There are only two Hindu temples in Bangkok, and this one is the most beautiful. Built in the 1860s by immigrants from India. Photography inside is not allowed without permission, but permission is easily obtained by leaving a donation. More about Sri Maha Mariamman Temple.
Practical information
🕐 Opening hours: from 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM.
💵 Entrance fee / ticket prices: free.
🚶 How to get there: a 10-minute walk from BTS Surasak and Chong Nonsi stations (temple on the map).
Wat Ratchapradit Temple
A tiny royal temple tucked away in a narrow alley just a hundred meters from the Grand Palace. No queues or noisy tourist groups here – just silence, marble floors, and frescoes depicting a solar eclipse, commemorating King Rama IV's journey. The temple was built in just seven months in 1864 by order of the monarch, and his ashes are kept inside. More about Wat Ratchapradit and how to visit it.
Practical information
🕐 Opening hours: from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
💵 Entrance fee / ticket prices: free.
🚶 How to get there: located in the old town on the Rattanakosin Peninsula, in a narrow alley near the Grand Palace (temple on the map). From the Grand Palace and Wat Pho – 5-7 minutes on foot. The nearest metro stations are Sanam Chai or Sam Yot (Blue Line, 5 minutes walk). You can also take a taxi or river ferry to Tha Tien pier and walk 20 minutes.
Wat Ratchabophit Temple
King Rama V's personal temple, built in 1869, is one of the most underrated gems of the historic center. There are no crowds of tourists here, and European Gothic unexpectedly blends with Thai traditions: inside the main hall – pointed arches and Italian decor, while the walls are covered with five-colored Bencharong ceramic mosaics of such quality that they could be mistaken for photographs. On the grounds is an active royal cemetery with 34 burials of royal family members. More about Wat Ratchabophit and how to visit it.
Practical information
🕐 Opening hours: from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
💵 Entrance fee / ticket prices: free.
🚶 How to get there: located in the historic center on the Rattanakosin Peninsula (temple on the map). From the Grand Palace and Wat Pho – 10-15 minutes on foot. The nearest metro station is Sam Yot (MRT Blue Line, 5 minutes walk). More about transport: Bangkok transport.
Map of Bangkok Temples
The map above shows all the main Bangkok temples described in this article. You can zoom in and click on the markers for more information.
Which Temple to Choose If You Have Limited Time?
- For photos and architecture: Grand Palace and Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn).
- For impressive statues: Wat Pho (Reclining Buddha) and Wat Traimit (Golden Buddha).
- For panoramic views: Wat Saket (Golden Mount) and Wat Ratchanaddaram.
- For peace and local atmosphere: Wat Bowonniwet Vihara, Wat Mahathat.
- To surprise the kids: Crocodile Temple and Dragon Temple.
Practical Tips for Visiting Bangkok Temples
- Dress code: When visiting temples, dress modestly: cover shoulders and knees. Some temples offer sarongs or wraps for rent.
- Shoes: Remove shoes before entering the temple. It's convenient to bring a bag for your shoes.
- Best time to visit: It's best to come at opening time (8:00–9:00 AM) to avoid crowds and the midday heat.
- Rules of conduct: Do not turn your back to the Buddha, do not point at statues with your finger, do not touch monks (especially women).
- Water: Bring bottled water, especially during the hot season.