#1
Wat Pho
4.7 (38,035)·Bangkok
The temple of the 46-meter Reclining Buddha, ฿300 to enter. It's a few minutes' walk south of the Grand Palace and home of the traditional Thai massage school.
The 14 Best Temples in Bangkok, Ranked
Fourteen temples, from Wat Pho, the Grand Palace and Wat Arun on the river to the Golden Mount, the Marble Temple and Chinatown's Golden Buddha.
14 placesAvg 4.7 on GoogleUpdated Oct 2026
Wat Pho leads this list, with the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew and Wat Arun next. One ticket covers the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew, so they sit together here.
Most of them are a walk apart in the old city. The Grand Palace, Wat Pho, Wat Mahathat and Wat Ratchabophit are around Sanam Luang, Wat Arun is a short ferry across the river from Tha Tien, the Golden Mount and Loha Prasat face each other a little east, and Wat Suthat sits behind the Giant Swing. The Golden Buddha and Wat Mangkon are in Chinatown, and the Marble Temple is north in Dusit.
The big fees are the Grand Palace at ฿500, Wat Pho at ฿300 and Wat Arun at ฿200, and the Golden Mount, the Golden Buddha and Wat Suthat each charge foreign visitors ฿100. Cover your shoulders and knees everywhere, and start at the Grand Palace when it opens at 08:30.
- #2
The Grand Palace
4.6 (79,769)·BangkokThe former royal palace, open from 08:30 with last entry at 15:30, and one ฿500 ticket that also covers Wat Phra Kaew inside its walls. Go at opening and cover your shoulders and knees, since the dress code is enforced here hardest.
- #3
Wat Phra Kaew
4.7 (43,722)·BangkokThe Temple of the Emerald Buddha, Thailand's most sacred temple, inside the Grand Palace walls and included in the ฿500 Grand Palace ticket.
Where to stay
Best Hotels in Bangkok
My pick at each price level in Bangkok, going by Google's hotel class. Hotels from my ranked list of the 10 best come first, then the best-reviewed. Each button opens the hotel on Booking.com with your dates filled in.
#1Luxury · 5-star
Millennium Hilton Bangkok4.6 (12,976 reviews)
Upscale riverside hotel on the Chao Phraya with strong service and sweeping river views.
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#8Mid-range · 4-star
Centara Watergate Pavilion Hotel Bangkok4.5 (4,456 reviews)
Sleek Bangkok hotel with spacious rooms, rooftop bar, spa, and an unbeatable location near top shopping.
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- #4
Wat Arun
4.7 (45,132)·BangkokThe Temple of Dawn on the Thonburi bank, its central prang covered in porcelain, ฿200 to enter and a short ferry across from Tha Tien pier by Wat Pho.
- #5
Golden Buddha (Wat Trai Mit)
4.6 (22,418)·BangkokHome of the Golden Buddha, a solid-gold seated Buddha at the Chinatown end of Yaowarat Road, a short walk from MRT Hua Lamphong.
- #6
Golden Mount (Wat Saket)
4.7 (8,072)·BangkokThe Golden Mount, a gilded chedi on a hill in the old city, 344 steps up for ฿100 and the best free-standing view over old Bangkok.
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- #7
Wat Ratchanatdaram (Loha Prasat)
4.7 (3,909)·BangkokHome of Loha Prasat, the Metal Castle, a tiered building crowned with dozens of metal spires across the road from the Golden Mount, ฿20 to climb.
- #8
Wat Benchamabophit Dusitwanaram
4.7 (8,831)·BangkokThe Marble Temple in Dusit, built of Italian marble under King Rama V, quieter than the riverside temples and a short ride north of the old city.
- #9
Wat Ratchabophit
4.7 (3,519)·BangkokA small royal temple near the Grand Palace whose ordination hall mixes Thai tilework with a European-style interior, free to enter.
- #10
Wat Suthat Thepwararam Ratchaworamahawihan
4.8 (10,783)·BangkokThe royal temple behind the Giant Swing, with an 8-meter Sukhothai bronze Buddha, murals floor to ceiling and doors carved by Rama II. ฿100 for foreign visitors.
- #11
Wat Maha That Yuvarat Rangsarit Ratchaworamahawihan
4.6 (2,572)·BangkokA royal working temple on Maha Rat Road between the Grand Palace and the Amulet Market, free to enter and far quieter than its neighbors.
- #12
Wat Bowonniwetwiharn Ratchaworawiharn
4.7 (4,262)·BangkokA royal temple in Banglamphu, a short walk from Khao San Road, free to enter and a calm break from the backpacker strip.
- #13
Wat Mangkon Kamalawat (Wat Leng Noei Yi)
4.6 (17,572)·BangkokChinatown's biggest Chinese Buddhist temple, busy with incense and worshippers, free to enter and a block from MRT Wat Mangkon.
- #14
Wat Paknam Phasi Charoen
4.7 (11,988)·BangkokThe temple with the giant seated Buddha and the glass Phra Maha Chedi with its emerald-green ceiling, across the river in Thonburi.
Frequently asked questions
What are the top 3 temples in Bangkok?
Wat Pho, the Grand Palace with Wat Phra Kaew, and Wat Arun. All three are on the river in the old city, so you can see them in one day.
Which temple is a must-see in Bangkok?
Wat Pho, for the 46-meter Reclining Buddha, if you only see one. Wat Phra Kaew inside the Grand Palace holds the Emerald Buddha, Thailand's most sacred image, and Wat Arun is the one to see from the river at sunset.
How much does it cost to visit Bangkok's temples?
The Grand Palace is ฿500 and includes Wat Phra Kaew, Wat Pho ฿300, Wat Arun ฿200 and the Golden Mount ฿100, about ฿1,100 for all four. The Golden Buddha and Wat Suthat are ฿100 each for foreign visitors, Loha Prasat is ฿20, and Wat Ratchabophit, Wat Mahathat, Wat Bowonniwet and Wat Mangkon are free.
What should I wear to the Grand Palace?
Cover your shoulders and knees, and men should wear long pants. The Grand Palace enforces its dress code hardest of all and no longer lends cover-ups, so dress for it before you go.
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