Wat Ratchabophit
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.
Plan your visit
- Hours
- Daily 06:00–18:00
Dress Modestly
Cover shoulders and knees at all temples. Carry a light scarf or sarong — some temples lend wraps, but not all. Shoes come off before entering any building with a Buddha image.
Finding your way around Wat Ratchabophit
Layouts, fares and hours change. If something here has moved, use “Suggest a correction” at the bottom of the page.
Getting there and around
- On Fueang Nakhon Road in the Old Town, about 10 minutes on foot from Wat Pho, the Grand Palace and MRT Sam Yot. Wat Suthat and the Giant Swing are a short walk east.
Details
Full opening hours
Tours that include Wat Ratchabophit
Guided visits and day-tour combos that include Wat Ratchabophit.
Why go, and how to do it well
The tilework is the reason to come. King Rama V built Wat Ratchabophit, finishing it in 1869, and the circular cloister around its 43-meter gilded chedi is covered in colorful glazed ceramic tiles, with Benjarong porcelain on the details. It's the kind of detail you can stand in front of for half an hour and keep finding things, and it's free to walk in.
Rama V had traveled in Europe, and it shows inside. The ordination hall is Thai outside and Gothic Revival inside, with pointed arches and gilt that look more like a European chapel than a Bangkok temple, and its doors are inlaid in mother-of-pearl with royal insignia. The hall isn't always open, so take it as a bonus if it is. At the west end of the grounds is a royal cemetery of Gothic-style memorials, including the one holding the ashes of Prince Mahidol, the Princess Mother and Princess Galyani Vadhana.
It's open daily from 06:00 to 18:00 and it stays quiet, with more monks and Thai visitors than tourists. The temple's abbot is Thailand's Supreme Patriarch. Cover your shoulders and knees. It's on Fueang Nakhon Road, about 10 minutes on foot from Wat Pho and the Grand Palace and about the same from MRT Sam Yot, and Wat Suthat and the Giant Swing are a short walk east, so it fits easily into an Old Town day.
Written by Mac Kiley · Updated Oct 2026
Stay within reach of Wat Ratchabophit
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Tours that include Wat Ratchabophit
Guided visits and day-tour combos that include Wat Ratchabophit.
Around here, on foot
Well-rated places within a short walk of Wat Ratchabophit, nearest first. Minutes are at an easy pace in the heat.
- 2 minPig MemorialTemples & Culture · 150 m · 4.5★
- 2 minBaan 21 Thai MassageWellness & Spas · 190 m · 4.9★
- 3 minBangkok NeighborHOOD HostelHotels & Resorts · 200 m · 5.0★
- 3 minWat Ratchapradit Sathit Maha SimaramTemples & Culture · 210 m · 4.7★
- 3 minCraftsman Roastery at Old TownRestaurants & Food · 270 m · 4.8★
- 4 minSaranrom PalaceTemples & Culture · 330 m · 4.5★
Experience hints
Pair your visit. After Wat Ratchabophit, round out your day in Bangkok with contrasting stops nearby.
Reviews from Google
This complex is jaw dropping!!! Truly an amazing sight with all of the intricate tile work. It is quite peaceful here; we watched the monks pray … We really like how the grounds are taken care of … it is so beautiful. The contrast between the ultra white architecture and the colorful architecture is striking.
We accidentally ran into this temple. So beautiful and chill, i think we were the only visitors there in a middle of a day. It’s for free. No thousands of tourists. It’s extremely beautiful.
Nice coffe shop with a beautiful view to a temple across the street. The coffee and pastry were really good. Got there early to get a balcony seat.
A sample of visitor reviews from Google. Read all 3,519 reviews on Google.
2 Thanon Fueang Nakhon, แขวง วัดราชบพิธ Khet Phra Nakhon, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10200, Thailand
Open in Google MapsMore temples & culture nearby
All within a 4-minute walk of Wat Ratchabophit.
Pi Kun Bridge
Pig Memorial
Wat Ratchapradit Sathit Maha Simaram
Saranrom Palace
Tips for Visiting Temples & Culture
Mind Your Feet
Never point your feet at a Buddha image or a monk — it's considered deeply disrespectful. When sitting inside a temple, tuck your feet behind you or to the side.
Ask Before Photographing
Exterior photos are almost always fine, but some interior halls prohibit photography. Look for signs, and never pose irreverently with Buddha images — it's a legal offense in Thailand.
Go Early Morning
Big-name temples are dramatically less crowded in the first hour after opening. You'll also avoid the worst of the midday heat and get softer light for photos.
Wat Ratchabophit: Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wat Ratchabophit free?
Yes. There's no entry fee, and donations are welcome.
What are Wat Ratchabophit's opening hours?
06:00 to 18:00 every day. The ordination hall itself isn't always open.
Why is Wat Ratchabophit's chapel European inside?
King Rama V, who built the temple in the 1860s, had traveled in Europe. The ordination hall is Thai outside and Gothic Revival inside, with doors inlaid in mother-of-pearl royal insignia.
Who is buried at Wat Ratchabophit?
Members of the royal family, in a cemetery of Gothic-style memorials at the west end of the grounds, including Prince Mahidol, the Princess Mother and Princess Galyani Vadhana.
Is Wat Ratchabophit worth visiting?
Wat Ratchabophit holds a 4.7★ rating from 3,519 Google reviews, placing it among the highest-rated temples & culture in Bangkok.
When is the best time to visit Wat Ratchabophit?
The best months to visit Bangkok are November – February, with the most reliable weather. Crowds peak in December & January — going early in the day usually means fewer people. Months to think twice about: April – May (peak heat).
Where is Wat Ratchabophit located?
Wat Ratchabophit is at 2 Thanon Fueang Nakhon, แขวง วัดราชบพิธ Khet Phra Nakhon, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10200, Thailand, in Bangkok. Getting around Bangkok: BTS Skytrain (most central areas); MRT Metro (underground).
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