Many trips to Thailand begin in Bangkok, and many first-time visitors start with three famous temples: the Grand Palace with Wat Phra Kaew, Wat Pho and Wat Arun. This guide gives 2026 prices, opening hours and a simple one-day route for all three, then adds more Bangkok highlights and the places travellers often visit next, with Smile Taxi Service fares.
Bangkok's Three Main Temples at a Glance
| Sight | Foreigner ticket | Opening hours | Nearest pier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew | about 500 THB | daily 08:30–16:30, tickets 08:30–15:30 | Tha Chang (N9) |
| Wat Pho | about 300 THB | daily from 08:00 into the early evening | Tha Tien (N8) |
| Wat Arun | about 200 THB | daily 08:00–18:00, last entry about 17:30 | ferry from Tha Tien (N8) |
Prices and hours were checked in September 2026. They change often, so confirm with each temple before you go. Thai nationals enter the Grand Palace free with an ID card, and they also enter Wat Arun free.
Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew
The Grand Palace was built in 1782, the year Bangkok became the capital. Inside the same walls is Wat Phra Kaew, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. The palace is on Na Phra Lan Road in Phra Nakhon district, on Rattanakosin Island.
Visiting details:
- Open daily 08:30–16:30, but tickets are sold only until 15:30.
- The foreigner ticket costs about 500 THB. It covers the Grand Palace, Wat Phra Kaew and the Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles inside the palace. Children under 120 cm enter free.
- Keep your ticket: show it at the textile museum desk to enter free. The museum's last admission is at 15:30.
- Getting there: MRT Sanam Chai (Blue Line) Exit 1, then about 10–15 minutes on foot, or a river boat to Tha Chang pier (N9).
Dress code: the Grand Palace has the strictest rules of the three temples. Shoulders, upper arms and knees must be covered. Sleeveless tops, tank tops, crop tops, shorts, three-quarter trousers, ripped jeans, leggings, short skirts and tight or see-through clothing are not allowed. If you arrive in the wrong clothes, you can borrow a cover-up at the entrance against a refundable deposit of about 200 THB per item.
Tips:
- Arrive soon after 08:30, before the midday heat.
- Photography is not allowed inside the ordination hall of the Emerald Buddha.
- Ignore anyone outside the gates who says the palace is closed today and offers a tuk-tuk tour instead. Walk to the official entrance and check for yourself.
Wat Pho (Temple of the Reclining Buddha)
Wat Pho is home to the Reclining Buddha, which is 46 m long. You can also have a traditional Thai massage or a foot massage inside the temple grounds.
Visiting details:
- Open daily from 08:00 into the early evening. Sources give different closing times, so plan to arrive by the afternoon.
- The foreigner ticket costs about 300 THB. Older guides show lower prices.
- Getting there: Tha Tien pier (N8), or MRT Sanam Chai and about 10 minutes on foot.
Massage at Wat Pho (2026 prices):
- Thai massage: about 340 THB for 30 minutes or about 520 THB for 1 hour.
- Foot massage: the same prices.
- Therapists work from 08:00 until about 17:00–18:00, so come earlier in the day if a massage is part of your plan.
Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn)
Wat Arun stands on the other side of the Chao Phraya River from Wat Pho, on the Thonburi side. Its central prang (tower) is about 70 m tall and is decorated with porcelain and seashells. Local people often call it Wat Chaeng.
Visiting details:
- Open daily 08:00–18:00; tickets are sold until about 17:30.
- The foreigner ticket costs about 200 THB.
- As of September 2026, visitors can climb only to the lower terrace of the central prang. Access to the upper stairs is restricted.
- Cover your shoulders and knees. Short shorts, short skirts, sleeveless tops and see-through tops are not allowed. Cover-ups are available at the entrance.
Getting there: take the cross-river ferry from Tha Tien pier (N8). It costs 5.5 THB per person one way (cash only). Boats leave about every 10 minutes between roughly 05:00 and 19:00, and the crossing takes less than 5 minutes.
From 29 October 2026 to 28 February 2027, Wat Arun and Wat Pho are also venues of the Bangkok Art Biennale, so you may find contemporary art inside the temple grounds.
A One-Day Route Through the Three Temples
- Start at the Grand Palace at 08:30 and see Wat Phra Kaew and the textile museum.
- Continue to Wat Pho. Its pier is Tha Tien (N8). Have lunch nearby and, if you like, a massage.
- Take the ferry from Tha Tien to Wat Arun in the afternoon, and arrive before the last entry at about 17:30.
Carry small notes and coins, because the ferry and the temple ticket counters take cash. If you dress for the Grand Palace in the morning, your clothes will also meet the rules at Wat Pho and Wat Arun.
More Bangkok Highlights
- King Power MahaNakhon SkyWalk: the building is 314 m tall. There is an indoor deck on floor 74 and an outdoor rooftop on floor 78 with a glass tray 310 m above the ground. It is open daily 10:00–00:00 (last access 23:00). Adult tickets cost about 1,000 THB from 10:00 to 15:30 or about 1,200 THB from 15:30 to 19:00. The nearest station is BTS Chong Nonsi, Exit 3.
- Jim Thompson House: open daily 10:00–17:00, and the last guided tour starts at 17:00. The main house can be visited only on a guided tour. Adults pay about 250 THB, ages 10–21 pay about 150 THB (ID needed), and children under 10 enter free. Bags larger than 20 cm go in lockers. The nearest station is BTS National Stadium, Exit 1.
- Asiatique The Riverfront: open daily 11:00–00:00, with a 60 m Ferris wheel and the Calypso Cabaret.
- Muay Thai at Rajadamnern Stadium: fights take place every night of the week, and the Rajadamnern World Series is on Saturdays. Buy tickets on Rajadamnern Stadium's official website, not from street sellers.
Some museums close on Mondays, including MOCA Bangkok and the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (BACC). The Bangkok National Museum closes on Mondays and Tuesdays. The three temples are open every day, so a Monday or Tuesday is a good day for them.
Beyond Bangkok: Where to Go Next
Each of these places has its own guide that covers every way to get there.
Central Thailand
- Ayutthaya: old temple ruins and a popular day trip from Bangkok. See how to get from Bangkok to Ayutthaya.
- Kanchanaburi: river scenery and the Bridge over the River Kwai. See how to get from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi.
The East Coast
- Pattaya: a beach city and a popular trip from Bangkok. See how to get from Bangkok to Pattaya.
- Koh Chang: an island with beaches and forest. See how to get from Pattaya to Koh Chang.
The North
- Chiang Mai: temples, markets and mountains. See how to get from Bangkok to Chiang Mai.
- Chiang Rai and Pai: onward trips from Chiang Mai. See how to get from Bangkok to Chiang Rai and how to get from Bangkok to Pai.
The South
- Phuket, Krabi and Koh Samui: beaches and island boat trips. See how to get from Bangkok to Phuket, how to get from Bangkok to Krabi and how to get from Bangkok to Koh Samui.
Getting Around with Smile Taxi Service
Public transport is cheaper, and river boats and the MRT work well for the temple day. A private car suits families, groups with luggage and anyone who wants to visit several places in one day. Smile Taxi Service fares are fixed, per vehicle (not per person) and one way, with expressway tolls included.
| Route | Sedan | SUV | Van |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) → Bangkok | 600 THB | 800 THB | 1,100 THB |
| Don Mueang Airport (DMK) → Bangkok | 600 THB | 800 THB | 1,000 THB |
| Bangkok → Ayutthaya | 1,500 THB | 1,700 THB | 2,000 THB |
| Bangkok → Kanchanaburi | 2,000 THB | 2,300 THB | 2,800 THB |
| Bangkok → Pattaya | 1,500 THB | 1,700 THB | 2,000 THB |
| Chiang Mai → Chiang Rai | 2,500 THB | 3,000 THB | 3,800 THB |
| Chiang Mai → Pai | 2,200 THB | 2,700 THB | 3,500 THB |
A sedan takes up to 3 passengers and 2 bags, an SUV up to 5 passengers and 4 bags, and a van up to 7 passengers and 5 bags. The fare is the same for 1 passenger or a full car. Airport pickups include 60 minutes of free waiting, counted from the actual landing time. A name sign at arrivals costs 100 THB and a child seat costs 300 THB, both on request. Pickups or drop-offs on the Thonburi side of the river (west of the Chao Phraya, where Wat Arun is) cost 100–200 THB extra.
- Book a sedan from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Bangkok
- Book a sedan from Don Mueang Airport to Bangkok
- Book a sedan from Bangkok to Ayutthaya
- Book a sedan from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi
- Book a sedan from Bangkok to Pattaya
- See all Smile Taxi Service routes and prices
For a full day of sightseeing, the Bangkok Tour gives you a private car and driver for up to 10 hours: 2,700 THB for a sedan, 3,000 THB for an SUV, 3,700 THB for a van or 4,000 THB for a VIP van. Pickup in another province costs 500 THB more. See the Smile Taxi Service tours and day trips page.
You pay the driver in cash (THB) at the end of the trip. If you can only pay by card, message the team for a payment link (an extra fee for creating and handling the payment link may apply). Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before pickup. After that, a cancellation or change costs 25% (less than 24 h), 35% (less than 12 h) or 50% (less than 2 h) of the price, and a no-show 100%, also when you pay the driver in cash (details). An English-speaking driver can be requested when booking, subject to availability.
Practical Tips
- Heat: see the temples in the morning, carry water, and plan indoor museums or the SkyWalk for the middle of the day.
- River boats: the orange flag boat costs about 18 THB for any distance, but sources disagree about which days and hours it runs, so check the day's schedule at the pier. The blue flag tourist boat runs between Sathorn pier and Phra Athit pier, roughly 08:30–19:40, about every 30 minutes. It costs about 40 THB per ride or about 150 THB for a one-day pass. Sathorn pier connects to BTS Saphan Taksin (Exit 2).
- Festivals: Loy Krathong is on 24 November 2026. Expect crowds near the river on that evening.
FAQ
How much are Bangkok's three main temples? For foreigners in 2026: about 500 THB for the Grand Palace, about 300 THB for Wat Pho and about 200 THB for Wat Arun.
What time does the Grand Palace close? The grounds close at 16:30, but tickets are sold only until 15:30.
How do I get from Wat Pho to Wat Arun? Walk to Tha Tien pier (N8) and take the cross-river ferry. It costs 5.5 THB per person and leaves about every 10 minutes.
How much is a massage at Wat Pho? About 340 THB for 30 minutes or about 520 THB for 1 hour, for a Thai massage or a foot massage.
What should I wear to the temples? Cover your shoulders, upper arms and knees, and avoid tight or see-through clothing. These are the Grand Palace rules, and they also meet the rules at Wat Pho and Wat Arun.
Can I climb Wat Arun? As of September 2026, only to the lower terrace of the central prang. Access to the upper stairs is restricted.
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