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Best Temples & Culture in Bangkok

111 places found in Bangkok

Bangkok is home to over 400 Buddhist temples, but a handful stand out as truly unmissable. The Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha) remain the most important religious site in Thailand — allow at least 2 hours and dress modestly (long pants, covered shoulders).

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Top Temples & Culture Rankings
The 11 Best Museums in Bangkok, RankedThe 14 Best Temples in Bangkok, RankedHidden Gem Temples in ThailandMost Beautiful Temples in Thailand
RatingAll 3.5+ 4+ 4.5+
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Wat Phra Kaew
Featured

Wat Phra Kaew

4.7(43,722)
Na Phra Lan Rd, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200
Go at 08:30 or don't bother, the Emerald Buddha's courtyards fill up fast and stay full until closing.
Kunawong House Museum
Hidden Gem

Kunawong House Museum

4.9(114)
33 Soi Ladpraw 54, Khwaeng Wang Thonglang, Khet Wang Thonglang, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10310, Thailand
A private heritage house museum in Bangkok preserving traditional Thai domestic life and antique collections.
Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall

Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall

4.9(388)
พระที่นั่งจักรีมหาปราสาท 202 Thanon Maha Rat, Khwaeng Phra Borom Maha Ratchawang, Khet Phra Nakhon, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10200, Thailand
A magnificent throne hall within Bangkok's Grand Palace complex, showcasing classical Thai royal architecture.
San Chao Mae Thapthim Saphan Lueang

San Chao Mae Thapthim Saphan Lueang

4.9(488)
377 11 ซอย จุฬาลงกรณ์ 30 Khwaeng Wang Mai, Pathum Wan, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10330, Thailand
A 150-year-old Teochew Chinese shrine dedicated to the Goddess Tubtim, tucked quietly in Soi Chulalongkorn 30.
Wat Suthat Thepwararam Ratchaworamahawihan

Wat Suthat Thepwararam Ratchaworamahawihan

4.8(10,783)
146 Thanon Bamrung Mueang, Khwaeng Wat Ratchabophit, Khet Phra Nakhon, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10200, Thailand
The royal temple behind the Giant Swing, with an 8-meter Sukhothai bronze Buddha and doors carved by Rama II. ฿100 for foreign visitors, from 08:30, 10 minutes from MRT Sam Yot.
Dev Mandir Temple Hindu Samaj Bangkok

Dev Mandir Temple Hindu Samaj Bangkok

4.8(568)
สำราญราษฎร์ 136, 1-2 Thanon Siri Phong, Khwaeng Sao Chingcha, Khet Phra Nakhon, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10200, Thailand
A working Hindu temple on the third floor of a school building, and yes, the entrance confuses everyone.

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Bangkok City Pillar Shrine

Bangkok City Pillar Shrine

4.8(11,204)
Lak Muang Rd, Khwaeng Phra Borom Maha Ratchawang, Khet Phra Nakhon, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10200, Thailand
Bangkok's guardian spirit lives in a wooden post from 1782, and Thais still come daily to ask it for favors.
Siwamokhaphiman Hall
Hidden Gem

Siwamokhaphiman Hall

4.8(103)
4 Soi Na Phra That, Khwaeng Phra Borom Maha Ratchawang, Khet Phra Nakhon, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10200, Thailand
A historic royal hall within Bangkok's National Museum complex, showcasing beautifully displayed Thai cultural artifacts.
Sanphet Prasat Palace. Muangboran - The Ancient City
Hidden Gem

Sanphet Prasat Palace. Muangboran - The Ancient City

4.8(187)
เมืองโบราณ สมุทรปราการ Tambon Phraeksa, Amphoe Mueang Samut Prakan, Chang Wat Samut Prakan 10280, Thailand
A vast open-air cultural park housing faithful replicas of Thailand's most iconic temples and palaces.
Bangkok Kunsthalle

Bangkok Kunsthalle

4.8(337)
599 Soi Pantachit, Khwaeng Pom Prap, Khet Pom Prap Sattru Phai, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10100, Thailand
A raw, warehouse-style contemporary art space housed in a converted printing house in Pom Prap.
Numthong Art Space
Hidden Gem

Numthong Art Space

4.8(104)
72, 3 Soi Ari 5 Fang Nuea, Phaya Thai, Khet Phaya Thai, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10400, Thailand
A tucked-away contemporary art gallery in Bangkok's Ari neighborhood, showcasing fine Thai artwork.
Art Gallery 36
Hidden Gem

Art Gallery 36

4.8(58)
30 Sukhumvit 36, Khwaeng Khlong Tan Nuea, Khet Khlong Toei, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10110, Thailand
A family-owned Bangkok art gallery on Sukhumvit 36 showcasing diverse paintings across styles and genres.
Sun Wukong Shrine
Hidden Gem

Sun Wukong Shrine

4.8(334)
66 Thanon Rama IV, Khwaeng Talat Noi, Khet Samphanthawong, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10500, Thailand
A working Monkey King shrine in Talat Noi, best caught at dawn when the incense is thickest.
Gong wu shrine

Gong wu shrine

4.8(1,285)
251 Soi Somdet Chao Phraya 3, Khwaeng Somdet Chao Phraya, Khet Khlong San, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10600, Thailand
Believed to be Bangkok's oldest Chinese shrine, quietly set on the Chao Phraya riverbank in Khlong San.
San Chao Pho Yi Ko Hong

San Chao Pho Yi Ko Hong

4.8(403)
447 Phlap Phla Chai Rd, Khwaeng Pom Prap, Khet Pom Prap Sattru Phai, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10100, Thailand
A working Chinese shrine on Phlap Phla Chai Road, still used for daily worship rather than staged for visitors.
Wat Ratchabophit

Wat Ratchabophit

4.7(3,519)
2 Thanon Fueang Nakhon, แขวง วัดราชบพิธ Khet Phra Nakhon, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10200, Thailand
A free royal temple near the Grand Palace, covered in colorful glazed tiles, with a Gothic-style chapel and a royal cemetery. Open daily 06:00 to 18:00.
Wat Arun

Wat Arun

4.7(45,132)
158 Thanon Wang Doem, Khwaeng Wat Arun, Khet Bangkok Yai, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10600, Thailand
Porcelain-covered prang across the river from Wat Pho, quietest in the early afternoon, though the heat on those grounds is brutal.
Sri Maha Mariamman Temple (Wat Khaek)

Sri Maha Mariamman Temple (Wat Khaek)

4.7(14,031)
2 Thanon Pan, Khwaeng Bang Rak, Khet Bang Rak, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10500, Thailand
A working Hindu temple with a five-tiered tower of carved figures, best seen early before the crush.
Wat Pathum Wanaram Rachaworawihan

Wat Pathum Wanaram Rachaworawihan

4.7(4,889)
969 Rama I Rd, Khwaeng Pathum Wan, Pathum Wan, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10330, Thailand
A quiet royal temple wedged between Siam and CentralWorld, and most people walk straight past it.
Wat Benchamabophit Dusitwanaram

Wat Benchamabophit Dusitwanaram

4.7(8,831)
69 Thanon Rama V, Khwaeng Dusit, Khet Dusit, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10300, Thailand
The Marble Temple trades crowds for calm, and the 100 baht entry buys you one of Bangkok's quietest mornings.
Thewasathan Samrup Pranakorn ( Bot Phram )

Thewasathan Samrup Pranakorn ( Bot Phram )

4.7(536)
268 Dinso Rd, Khwaeng Sao Chingcha, Khet Phra Nakhon, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10200, Thailand
A working Royal Brahmin shrine near the Giant Swing, where the rules are strict and the quiet is real.
Wat Ratchanatdaram (Loha Prasat)

Wat Ratchanatdaram (Loha Prasat)

4.7(3,909)
2 Maha Chai Rd, Khwaeng Wat Bowon Niwet, Khet Phra Nakhon, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10200, Thailand
Loha Prasat, the metal castle with 37 iron spires, across from the Golden Mount. ฿20 to climb the spiral stairs to the top, open daily 08:00 to 17:00.
Wat Pho

Wat Pho

4.7(38,035)
2 Thanon Sanam Chai, Khwaeng Phra Borom Maha Ratchawang, Khet Phra Nakhon, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10200, Thailand
Bangkok's Temple of the Reclining Buddha, a 46-meter golden statue beside the Grand Palace. ฿300, open daily 08:00 to 19:30, with Thai massage on site.
Vishnu Temple

Vishnu Temple

4.7(1,556)
ซอย Thanon Charoen Rat, Khwaeng Thung Wat Don, Khet Sathon, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10120, Thailand
A working Hindu temple in Sathon where the mood is prayer, not sightseeing, and the shrines are many.
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About temples & culture in Bangkok

Across the river, Wat Arun's porcelain-encrusted spires are Bangkok's most photographed landmark, especially at sunset.

Wat Pho, home to the 46-meter Reclining Buddha and Thailand's oldest massage school, is the best temple for combining sightseeing with a traditional Thai massage afterward. Beyond the tourist circuit, Wat Suthat houses Thailand's largest surviving Sukhothai-era bronze Buddha, and the Golden Mount (Wat Saket) offers panoramic city views from its hilltop chedi. For a contemporary take on temple architecture, visit Wat Paknam Phasi Charoen in Thonburi for its stunning emerald-glass ceiling.

All 111 temples & culture in Bangkok

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which Bangkok temples are must-see?

The essential three: Wat Phra Kaew (Grand Palace), Wat Pho (Reclining Buddha), and Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn). All three can be visited in one morning using the Chao Phraya river boats. Add Wat Saket (Golden Mount) for city views and Wat Suthat for fewer crowds.

What should I wear to Bangkok temples?

Cover your knees and shoulders — long pants or a below-knee skirt, and a top that covers your shoulders. No flip-flops at the Grand Palace (closed shoes preferred). Most major temples sell or rent sarongs at the entrance if you forget.

How much does temple entry cost in Bangkok?

Wat Phra Kaew / Grand Palace: 500 THB. Wat Pho: 300 THB (includes water bottle). Wat Arun: 200 THB. Many smaller temples are free. Combined, the major three cost about 1,000 THB (~$30) — consider it your best-value cultural day in Southeast Asia.