It doesn't matter if you are Traveling with family, in a pair or in a frame Backpacking trip, visiting temples is an integral part of a trip to Thailand. Over 90% of the country's residents identify with the Buddhist religion. Most of them keep to the ancient tradition and usually visit the temples, so it is no wonder that there are so many of them. Beyond the architectural beauty and photogenicity of those places, it is undoubtedly a good way to absorb Thai culture and learn about its rich history.
Bangkok is the Thai capital and the beating heart of the country, therefore it is appropriate that it contains many beautiful, famous and of course very touristic temples. In fact, it is a temple powerhouse and the city with the most Buddhist temples in the entire world. To visit the temples, you can take an independent tour or join one of the temple tours held in the city. To put things in order, we have prepared a comprehensive guide to the temples that are recommended to visit.
General Information
The ideal time to visit the temple is early in the morning, or alternatively in the evening hours. Then you will be able to see the most beautiful view, walk in relatively pleasant weather and avoid crowds of visitors in the place (especially in the morning). The Buddhist monks who live in the temples as a regular practice, start their day around 4:00. During the first hours of their day they are busy with maintenance work of the place, prayers and collecting food, so the earlier you arrive the more likely you are to meet them walking around the temple.
It should be remembered that these are places that are sacred to the local residents, so when visiting the temples there are rules of conduct such as keeping quiet, a ban on taking pictures sometimes, and of course it is customary to dress modestly and elegantly: no revealing clothes (shorts or tank tops) and no jewelry or underground tattoos. In some places there is even strict enforcement on the subject and you will not be allowed to enter until you cover up.
Temples worth visiting in Bangkok
Temple of the Emerald Buddha - Wat Phra Kaew
The temple with the emerald statue is considered the most important and popular temple in Bangkok. It is in the same complex as the Grand Palace, which is a main tourist attraction in the city. The center of interest of the place is of course the large green statue of Buddha. The statue is not particularly large but is made of precious stone and is of historical importance, it was discovered in the city of Chiang Rai hundreds of years ago (somewhere in the 15th century). In addition to countless beautiful sculptures and colorful decorations, inside the complex you can admire a large art gallery, which includes detailed paintings that tell ancient Buddhist myths.
- Opening times: Every day, 8:30-15:30.
- Entrance Fee: 500 baht.
- Location: Na Phra Lan Rd, Phra Borom Maha Ratchawang, Phra Nakhon
Temple of the Reclining Buddha - Wat Pho
The largest and oldest temple in Bangkok. Its full name is Wat Phra Chettuphon Wimon Mangkhlaram Ratchaworamahawihan so the locals shortened it to Wat Pho. The temple contains a large statue in the form of a reclining Buddha, which is over 40 meters long and about 15 meters high. In addition to its impressive size, the special statue is plated with gold and decorated with luxury jewelry. The Temple of the Reclining Buddha is located near the Grand Palace and includes around 1,000 Buddha images, over 90 stupas and a famous Thai massage school.
- Opening times: Every day, 8:00-18:30.
- Entrance Fee: 100 baht.
- Location: Sanam Chai Rd, Phra Borom Maha Ratchawang, Phra Nakhon
Temple of Dawn - Wat Arun
The Temple of Dawn is located next to the famous river that flows through the city - the Chao Phraya, near the Grand Palace and the temples we mentioned earlier. The place was built in the 17th century and was given the "catchy" name Wat Arun Ratchawararam Ratchawaramahawihan, but over time received the nickname "Temple of the Dawn". It is a unique and spectacularly beautiful architectural creation, which includes a central structure and several small towers surrounding it. You can climb up the stairs and reach the balcony of the large building. It is not a simple sporting activity, but the view is definitely worth it. Despite its name, the best time to visit the place is at sunset, when the view is particularly spectacular.
- Opening times: Every day, 8:00-17:30.
- Entrance Fee: 50 baht.
- Location: Thanon Wang Doem, Wat Arun, Bangkok Yai
Temple of the Golden Hill - Wat Saket
A temple built on top of a high hill, in the old city area of Bangkok. The place was built, abandoned and destroyed several times and contains a rich royal history of the famous Rama dynasty. To get to the place, you will have to climb up several hundred steps, until you reach the beautiful and bright balcony. From there the view is perhaps the most beautiful in the city.
- Opening times: Every day, 8:00-17:00.
- Entrance Fee: free.
- Location: Thanon Chakkraphatdi Phong, Ban Bat, Pom Prap Sattru Phai
Golden Buddha Temple - Wat Traimit
Wat Traimit is a temple with a particularly elegant design, located at the beginning of Yaowarat Road, which makes it a favorite destination for starting a tour of Bangkok's Chinatown. Inside the beautiful temple, you can see an impressive and large Buddha statue, made of several tons of pure gold. The famous statue carries with it a special historical story. According to estimates, it was built in the 13th or 14th century and due to its great prestige it was covered with a large plaster that obscured its identity. Only hundreds of years later, in 1955, by chance, it was revealed in all its glory.
- Opening times: Every day, 8:00-17:00.
- Entrance Fee: free.
- Location: Charoen Krung Rd, Talat Noi, Samphanthawong
Metal Castle – Wat Ratchanatdaram Worawihan (Loha Prasat)
As mentioned, there is no shortage of prestigious and beautiful temples in Bangkok, but in the case of Loha Prasat, it is a world heritage site. The place was recognized by UNESCO in 2005 due to its great historical importance in Thai culture. It is conveniently located and accessible near popular tourist sites - the Wat Saket temple, the Democracy Monument and Khawasan Road, the city's bastion of travelers.
- Opening times: Every day, 9:00-17:00.
- Entrance Fee: free.
- Location: Maha Chai Rd, Phra Nakhon
Wat Mahathat
Wat Mahathat, or in its full name - Wat Mahathat Yuwarajarangsarit Rajaworamahavihara, is a royal temple built during the Ayutthaya period. It is considered one of the ten most prestigious temples of Bangkok, as it is used for royal ceremonies and has a strategic location, halfway between the Royal Palace and the Grand Palace of Bangkok. Inside the complex is an old school for monks and an important meditation center. Many tourists choose to stay there for the benefit of a vipassana course (silence workshop), conducted in English.
- Opening times: Every day, 7:00-17:00.
- Entrance Fee: free.
- Location: Maha Rat Rd, Phra Borom Maha Ratchawang, Phra Nakhon
Wat Suthat Thepwararam
A temple that is known for the large red swing that stands at the entrance to it. It is considered one of the oldest and most impressive temples in Bangkok and has a special design, which includes, among other things, handmade wood carvings. The place was built by King Rama I, originally to serve as a place of refuge for a bronze Buddha image from the 1th century. The temple can easily be integrated into a city tour, as it is located in the Old City area, near the city's popular temples and the Grand Palace.
- Opening times: Every day, 8:30-21:00.
- Entrance Fee: free.
- Location: Bamrung Mueang Rd, Wat Ratchabophit, Phra Nakhon
Wat Prayoon (Wat Rua Leki)
A typical Buddhist temple located on the west bank of the Chao Praya River, at the foot of the Memorial Bridge (Saphan Phut). The temple is located in a historical area and slightly different from the other attractions, an area inhabited by a Portuguese community. The uniqueness of the place is the central building, which is designed in the shape of a large, upside-down bell, as well as a kind of turtle farm, which visitors can feed.
- Opening times: Every day, 8:00-17:30.
- Entrance Fee: free.
- Location: Prajadhipok Rd, Wat Kanlaya, Thon Buri
The marble temple - Wat Benjamabhopit
The marble temple, or as it is called by the locals - Wat Benja, was built over a hundred years ago, by King Rama V. It is near many government institutions, palaces and various offices, so it receives visits from important Thai personalities on a daily basis. The place got its name because of its marble walls, specially imported from Italy, but it is mostly famous for the fact that its image is engraved on the 5 baht coins.
- Opening times: Every day, 8:00-17:30.
- Entrance Fee: free.
- Location: Rama V Road, 5 Dusit, Dusit District
Wat Pathum Wanaram
If you've arrived on a shopping spree at Siam Paragon or the CentralWorld Mall, a pleasant and peaceful cultural retreat would be a visit to the nearby Pathum Wanaram Temple. When the temple was built, in the middle of the 19th century, it was surrounded by extensive rice fields, so the only access to it was through a canal. It was built by King Mongkut to serve as a place of worship close to his palace - Sa Pathum. Beyond the historical story, this is a unique and slightly unusual architectural gem in the landscape.
- Opening times: Every day, 9:00-17:00.
- Entrance Fee: free.
- Location: Rama I Rd, Pathum Wan, Pathum Wan District
Wat Suwannaram
A small and lesser known temple, located not far from the Royal Museum. It was built during the Ayutthaya period, under the direction of King Taksin and was originally used as a place of execution for Burmese prisoners. Since then, the building has had time to go through many incarnations, among other things it was used as a place to cremate the bodies of royalty and senior Thai officers. The main attraction of the place is probably the rich art collection of local artists Thong Yu and Pae Khong which is considered by experts to be one of the most beautiful in the country.
- Opening times: Every day, 8:00-17:00.
- Entrance Fee: free.
- Location: Charan Sanit Wong Road Soi 32, Siri Rat Subdistrict, Bangkok Noi District
Wat Bowon Niwet
A royal and historical temple, which is very important to the local residents. It enjoys a unique location within the walls of the old city, on the city's Rattanakosin Island. The place was founded in 1826 by Prince Maha Sakdipolsep, son of King Rama III. The place's rich historical past includes being the seat of a large Buddhist university (the 3nd in the country), where the great Thai monks were educated. The design is unique and significantly influenced by Chinese architecture and consists of doors, windows and arches carved and decorated with ceramics.
- Opening times: Every day, 8:00-17:00.
- Entrance Fee: free.
- Location: Phra Sumen Rd, Rattanakosin Island, Phra Nakhon
Wat Kalayanamit
Despite being a prominent structure in the landscape of the west bank of the Chao Phraya River, the great temple does not receive much tourism nor many visits by local residents. The reason is probably its proximity to other temples, led by Wat Arun, which attracts thousands of visitors every day. If you want a relaxed and less crowded experience, this is definitely the place. The center of interest in the temple is the large golden statue of Buddha, which sits inside the main building.
- Opening times: Every day, 8:00-17:00.
- Entrance Fee: free.
- Location: New Arun Amarin Rd, Wat Kanlaya, Thon Buri
Wat Rakhang Khositaram
A temple adjacent to the previous one, located on the banks of the river in the interesting Thonburi area. The temple was built during the Ayutthaya period and was named "The Temple of the Bell" by King Rama I. The big bell that was there was indeed moved to another place - the Temple of the Emerald Buddha and instead five others were added, which you can see in the bell tower (hor rakhang) located in the corner of the complex. Not far from there you will find an elegant building - ho trai (the library), which is considered an exceptional example of Thai architecture, today it is used as a museum of ancient scriptures.
- Opening times: Every day, 7:00-19:00.
- Entrance Fee: free.
- Location: Arun Amarin Rd, Siriraj, Bangkok Noi
Wat Intharawihan
A temple built during the reign of King Rama IV, somewhere in the 4th century. The construction took over 19 years and included placing a large and impressive Buddha statue at the entrance, at a height of 60 meters, today it is considered the main attraction of the place. The temple is decorated with glass mosaics and elements of 32 carat gold. In addition, you can see beautiful stone carvings in it and within the museum there are interesting, surprisingly, paintings of Buddha.
- Opening times: Every day, 6:00-18:00.
- Entrance Fee: free.
- Location: Wisut Kasat Road, Banglamphu, Phra Nakhon
Wat Ratchapradit
A temple located near the Grand Palace, in Rattanakosin. The place was built on a coffee plantation by King Rama IV and its uniqueness is the huge marble stones that decorate the central prayer space. Apart from that, the design is in a special and beautiful place, it includes, among other things, ornate ceilings, windows surrounded by Chinese pearls and wood carvings.
- Opening times: Every day, 8:00-18:00.
- Entrance Fee: free.
- Location: Saranrom Road, Phra Borom Maha Ratchawang, Phra Nakhon
Wat Ratchabophit
A beautiful temple that has a special combination of traditional Thai design, alongside spaces that look like they were taken from a Gothic church in Europe. The temple is the seat of the ashes of King Rama VII, above which rests a famous image of Buddha in a meditating position. In addition, the place is full of impressive works of art, as well as ancient relics and monuments of royalty.
- Opening times: Every day, 6:00-18:00.
- Entrance Fee: free.
- Location: Phuang Nakhon Road Phranakhon
Wat Chana Songkhram
A small and fairly simple temple that enjoys a central location near the Kawasan road. The place was built in the 18th century, during the Ayutthaya period, by King Rama I. Its name translated from Thai is "Victory in War" and this is because it was built after the nation's famous victory in the War of the Nine Armies.
- Opening times: Every day, 8:00-17:00.
- Entrance Fee: free.
- Location: Chakrabongse Rd, Chana Songkhram, Phra Nakhon
