Visiting Grand Palace, Wat Pho and Wat Arun in Bangkok

There’s something about Bangkok. One minute you hate it and you’re tired of its smog, noise and chaos and then next moment you are visiting one of the temples, or one of its markets, and you are totally in love with the city. I have visited the Grand Palace, Wat Pho and Wat Arun in Bangkok many times and each time I am totally mesmerised by the richness of the architecture and the beauty of the sites. Despite the crowds I always enjoy my visits there. I even have my little walking tour around the area and I like taking my friends there whenever they want me to show them around. This time wasn’t any different.

Staying in Bangkok

Chris and I arrived to Bangkok in the late afternoon. We checked in to our hotel on Rambuttri – one of my favourite touristy streets in Asia. It’s just next to Kao San Road, but it’s much quieter and suits couples and families much more than its hectic neighbour.

Sleep Withinn, the hotel we stayed in was relatively cheap, considering the location, but the room was small and it was hard for us to move around. However, the fact we had a pool and I could use it once a day made me feel much better about our stay there.

Khao San Road might not be for you. Have a look at my other post about where to stay in Bangkok and find more areas and hotels to choose from.

The next day we set off on our sightseeing tour. Luckily, I already knew my way around and we didn’t have to waste money on taxis. We just took an express boat. Express boats in Bangkok, cruising the Chao Phraya River, are one of a kind such transport system in the world. They act as trams and can take you to a lot of places in the city from where you can take BTS (a fast, metro-like train, also called Sky Train), or visit any of the major attractions. You can either take a tourist one (40 Baht one way, or 150 Baht for a whole day), or ask for the non-tourist option (15 Baht one way). I always take the latter. It might be a little overcrowded sometimes, but it gives you a true insight into the local life.

The problem with transportation in Bangkok is that almost all of the information is in Thai and only the more expensive, tourist options are in English. However, you can always ask the staff working on the pier. Quite often they don’t speak much English, but they will understand enough to point you in the right direction.

Just around the corner from Rambuttri you will find the Phra Athit pier, from where you can catch a boat to places like the Grand Palace, Wat Pho and Wat Arun in Bangkok.

We got off at the pier number 9, which is just next to the Palace. After passing of the beloved by Thais King Bhumibol the area around the pier has been cleared and the street stalls with souvenirs and food have been moved. Due to a huge number of visitors paying their respects to their monarch the Palace is now surrounded by guards and security checkpoints.

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The Grand Palace in Bangkok

The Grand Palace in Bangkok is the most important place on the map of the city. The King has been residing here since the 18th century. It’s his home and here he accepts foreign and domestic dignitaries. The most important ceremonies also take place here. The Palace includes the gardens and the residency of the King as well as temples. It’s very important to behave accordingly to the status of this place.

Before you enter the Grand Palace in Bangkok you need to go through a bag search. Here you will need your ID. If you travel with a group only one person needs the document. Sometimes they let people in without it, but it’s better to have it, just in case you stumble upon a stubborn security guard. Then you go through a metal detector and a bag search.

Remember to dress appropriately – women can wear long trousers, a skirt or a dress (they should be long, or at least down to your knees) and a top that covers their shoulders. Men need to wear long pants. Even if you have long shorts it won’t be enough. Men should also cover their shoulders. Covered shoes are recommended, but not required. If you are not wearing appropriate clothing, don’t worry. You can rent everything in a building just next to the main entrance. Deposit is 200 Baht.

Now, you need to go through another security checkpoint and another bag search. A ticket booth is located around 100 metres from there. Entrance is 500 Baht.

Chris didn’t have long pants with him, so we had to stand in a long queue for him to rent a pair of trousers. After we finally bought the ticket we were already a little tired.

Despite the heat and thousands of people I thought that the Palace and the temples were stunning. It all shimmered with gold in the sun. It was hard for me to capture the beauty of it. You really do need to go and see it for yourself.

Opening hours: From 8:30 until 3:30pm. It’s best to arrive in the morning. Watch out for scammers. There are men standing outside of the palace telling tourists that the place is closed. Don’t mind them, thank them and pass through.

Tickets: 500 THB. You can buy them inside.

How to get there to the Grand Palace in Bangkok?

• By BTS train: Saphan Taksin BTS station, exit 2. Walk to the Chao Phraya River. Under the bridge is the Sathorn pier. Catch the Chao Phraya Express Boat, orange flag. Get on the boat at Tha Chang (N9).
  The Royal Palace is on the right.
• By subway and bus: Sanam Chai MRT Station, exit 1. Catch bus numbers 3, 9, 44, 47, 53 and 82.
• By boat: This is one of the most popular ways to get to the Grand Palace. Take the express boat to Tha Tien (N8) along the Chao Phraya River. After leaving the marina, walk past the food stalls until you come to a major road intersection. In front (slightly to the right) is the Grand Palace.

Wat Pho in Bangkok

Next on our list was Wat Pho – the temple of Reclining Buddha. It is located just next to the Palace. Sometimes, when I take my friends, who have never been to Thailand before, with me I negotiate a tuk-tuk ride from the Palace to Wat Pho. It is a very short drive, but it’s always so much fun for everyone, especially when you have to squeeze in a few people into a tiny tuk-tuk. This time we skipped this part and just walked to the Wat Pho’s gates.

Here you also need to have appropriate clothing. However, the guards are not as strict as those at the Palace and longer shorts and skirts are allowed. Just cover your shoulders and you will be good to go. Again, you can rent skirts and trousers here, too.

The entrance to the temple is 100 Baht per person.

Wat Pho in Bangkok has over a thousand of Buddha images, but the main attraction is the Reclining Buddha, which is 160 feet long. The site was as crowed as ever, but we managed to find a few quiet spots. I didn’t expect to stay there for so long, but it’s a really great place that has hidden corners and lovely colourful jedis.

The opening hours: 8:00 to 7:30pm.

Tickets: 100 THB. You can buy them at the entrance.

How to get there?

• By boat to Tha Thien Pier. After you get off, follow the signs to Wat Pho.
• The nearest metro station is Sanam Chai. From there it’s 8 minute walk.
• There are not BTS running to Wat Pho.
• You can also walk from the Grand Palace.

Wat Arun in Bangkok

Finally, the time came for one of my favourite sites in Bangkok – Wat Arun. From Wat Pho we took a boat for 3 Baht to cross the river. I was a little disappointed as it turned out that the temple was under construction and we couldn’t climb the steep steps of the main building. However, Wat Arun in Bangkok is surrounded by beautiful gardens, so we took a stroll around.

The entrance is 40 Baht and you also need to wear decent clothing to enter.

Opening hours: 8 – 6pm

Tickets: 40 THB. You can buy them at the entrance.

How to get there?

• By boat: Take a boat from Sathorn Pier (connected to Saphan Taksin BTS station). The Chao Phraya Express Boat will take you directly to the temple.
• BTS and Boat: Take the BTS skytrain to Saphan Taksin Station, then take the Chao Phraya Express Boat from Sathorn Pier.
• By cab or tuk-tuk: Although traffic can be unpredictable, cabs and tuk-tuks offer a direct and convenient way to get to Wat Arun from most places in Bangkok.

How to plan your day?

• Leave around 8 from the hotel and head to the Grand Palace first. I know it’s early in the day, but this will get you to the attraction before the crowds, and avoid the full sun when visiting.
• Then walk over to Wat Pho. Here you can also extend your visit and stop for a massage at the legendary massage center.
• Take a boat across the river to Wat Arun.
• Time for lunch. The temple area is touristy and you’ll need to walk a bit to the nearest eateries. I recommend you to find the nearest street food – Somboon or Ney’s Kitchen.
• After your meal, for example, you can walk around the area or catch a boat trip on the canals. This is a great thing, as you get to see how people live along the river, and enjoy the beautiful views of the city. Find your tour on TakeMeTour or on GetYourGuide.
• After a full day, head to Talad Noi and then to Chinatown for dinner. You’ll find plenty of delicious dishes there.

Tours and guides

We did this tour on our own. You don’t need a guide to see all three sites. You just have to get to one of them, and then go from one to the other and the third attraction. It is not difficult to organize. You also don’t have to be afraid of getting lost. If the heat gets to you, you can always catch a tuk-tuk or a cab. Personally, I recommend ordering on Grab, as tuk-tuks and cabs caught from the street will inflate the price significantly.

A guide will come in handy to show you hidden nuances, take you where you definitely need to go and tell you stories about these historical and cultural sites. In addition, you will be provided with lunch as part of such a tour and there will be no need to walk around and look for a convenient place.

My recommended tours:

• Lokalna wycieczka z TakeMeTour – A friendly local guide will take you for a half-day tour.
• GetYourGuide – Wat Arun and Wat Pho
• Follow Me Bike Tours – see Bangkok on a bike. I did a tour with them once and I have the best memories.

We got back to our hotel by the express boat and finished our day with a cold beer and a delicious pad thai in small street stall just outside of our hotel and a cool dip in our swimming pool.

The Grand Palace, Wat Pho and Wat Arun in Bangkok are very touristy sites and are often overcrowded. However, you cannot miss them when you are in the city for the first time. They are must see for every visitor.