7 Best Temples Near the Grand Palace, Bangkok

By Best:in Editorial Team · Updated September 2026

As of September 2026, the best temples near Bangkok's Grand Palace are Wat Phra Kaew, inside the palace itself, followed by Wat Pho about 300 metres south and Wat Arun across the river by ferry. Wat Suthat, Wat Ratchabophit, Wat Mahathat and Wat Ratchapradit sit within roughly 1.1 kilometres, with two offering free entry.

7 Best Temples Near the Grand Palace, Bangkok, ranked

1.

Wat Phra Kaew

4.7 / 5 out of 43938 Google Maps reviews

Wat Phra Kaew stands inside the Grand Palace compound itself, so it requires no separate walk to reach. It houses the Emerald Buddha, moved there in 1784, and a 178-panel Ramakien mural gallery. Entry is bundled into the 500 baht Grand Palace ticket rather than sold on its own, and the site draws the largest crowds of any temple on this list.

Visitor note (Google Maps) "Visiting the Temple of the Emerald Buddha was an awe-inspiring experience."

Best for: Closest to the palace and highest historical rank

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2.

Wat Pho

4.7 / 5 out of 99 Google Maps reviews

Wat Pho sits about 300 metres south of the Grand Palace, a five to seven minute walk along Sanamchai Road. Its 46 metre gold-leafed Reclining Buddha and on-site massage school, recognized by UNESCO in 2019, give it a distinct draw beyond architecture alone. Entry costs 200 baht and includes a bottle of water, making it one of the better value stops in the area.

Visitor note (Google Maps) "Pagodas of Wat Pho, Continent 7 Continents, Mr. Rungsun Klinkaeo"

Best for: Best combined sightseeing and massage stop

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3.

Wat Arun

4.6 / 5 out of 109 Google Maps reviews

Wat Arun sits across the Chao Phraya River from the Grand Palace and is reached by a short ferry from Tha Tien Pier near Wat Pho. Its 70 metre central prang, decorated with porcelain and seashell mosaics, briefly housed the Emerald Buddha between 1779 and 1784. Entry costs 100 baht, and the site is most photogenic at sunset or when lit after dark.

Visitor note (Google Maps) "So many ferries and boats come here for different prices."

Best for: Best river views and photography

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4.

Wat Suthat

4.8 / 5 out of 10899 Google Maps reviews

Wat Suthat lies about 1.1 kilometres from the Grand Palace, the longest walk on this list at roughly 15 minutes. Construction spanned three reigns, from 1807 under Rama I to 1847 under Rama III, and the temple stands beside the 1784 Giant Swing. Entry costs around 100 baht, and the site sees far fewer visitors than the riverside temples.

Visitor note (Google Maps) "Wat Suthat is a magnificent temple right in the middle of the city."

Best for: Best for the Giant Swing and quieter crowds

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5.

Wat Ratchabophit

4.7 / 5 out of 3542 Google Maps reviews

Wat Ratchabophit is about 700 metres southeast of the Grand Palace, close to a 10 minute walk. King Rama V began construction in 1869, and the temple pairs a circular Thai chedi with a Gothic-style ordination hall interior, a combination not repeated elsewhere in Bangkok. It is free to enter and includes a royal cemetery on its grounds.

Best for: Best free temple with unusual architecture

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6.

Wat Mahathat

4.7 / 5 out of 26231 Google Maps reviews

Wat Mahathat sits about 500 metres north of the Grand Palace near Sanam Luang, roughly a seven minute walk. It hosts Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University, founded in 1887, and an International Buddhist Meditation Center that teaches Vipassana courses in English. Entry is free, which makes it a practical add-on for visitors touring the palace area on foot.

Visitor note (Google Maps) "Wat Mahathat is a stunning temple with a rich history."

Best for: Best for meditation courses and free entry

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7.

Wat Ratchapradit

4.7 / 5 out of 808 Google Maps reviews

Wat Ratchapradit is about 450 metres from the Grand Palace next to Saranrom Park, one of the shortest walks on this list. King Mongkut built it in 1864 for his own private worship, and its ordination hall is unusual for being clad in grey marble rather than plastered brick. Entry costs around 20 baht, and it is one of Bangkok's smallest royal temples.

Best for: Best small, low-cost royal temple

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Which temples sit closest to the Grand Palace?

The Grand Palace sits on Rattanakosin Island in Bangkok's old city, and several major temples stand inside or within a short walk of its walls. Wat Phra Kaew occupies the same compound as the Grand Palace itself, so there is no separate walk required to reach it. Wat Pho lies about 300 metres south along Sanamchai Road, roughly a five to seven minute walk from the palace's main entrance.

Wat Mahathat is about 500 metres north near Sanam Luang, while Wat Ratchapradit is roughly 450 metres southeast next to Saranrom Park. Wat Ratchabophit is about 700 metres southeast, and Wat Suthat is the furthest of the group at roughly 1.1 kilometres, close to a 15 minute walk. Wat Arun is the only temple on the opposite riverbank, reached by a short ferry ride from Tha Tien Pier near Wat Pho.

How much does it cost to enter temples near the Grand Palace?

Admission fees vary by temple and by whether the site is a royal foundation. The Grand Palace ticket, which includes Wat Phra Kaew, costs 500 baht for foreign visitors and covers Vimanmek Mansion and the Support Museum on the same day. Wat Pho charges a separate 200 baht entry fee that includes a bottle of water, and Wat Arun charges 100 baht to enter the temple grounds and climb the lower tiers of its prang.

Wat Suthat charges foreign visitors around 100 baht, and Wat Ratchapradit charges around 20 baht. Wat Ratchabophit and Wat Mahathat do not charge an entrance fee. These figures reflect ticket prices reported in 2024 and can change, so travelers should confirm current rates at each temple's ticket window before visiting in September 2026.

What is an efficient one-day route to see these temples?

  1. Start at the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew

    Arrive at the Na Phra Lan Road entrance before 8:30am, since the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew open at 8:30am and large tour groups tend to arrive by 10am. Budget 60 to 90 minutes to see the Emerald Buddha, the Ramakien murals along the cloister and the gold-mosaic Phra Si Rattana Chedi before moving on.

  2. Walk south to Wat Pho

    Exit onto Na Phra Lan Road and walk about 300 metres south to Wat Pho's entrance on Sanamchai Road, a five to seven minute walk. Allow 45 minutes to see the 46 metre Reclining Buddha and, if time allows, book a 30 minute foot massage at the on-site massage school.

  3. Cross the river to Wat Arun

    From Wat Pho, walk roughly five minutes to Tha Tien Pier and take the cross-river ferry, which departs every 10 to 15 minutes and takes about 5 minutes to reach Wat Arun. The temple's 70 metre central prang and river views are strongest in the late afternoon light.

  4. Return and finish at nearby royal temples

    Ferry back to Tha Tien and, with remaining time, walk 10 to 15 minutes to the free-entry Wat Ratchabophit or the 500 metre route north to Wat Mahathat near Sanam Luang. Both add under an hour to the itinerary and do not require an extra entrance fee at Wat Mahathat.

What are the opening hours and least crowded times to visit?

The Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew are open daily from 8:30am to 3:30pm, with the last entry sold around 3:30pm. Wat Pho opens from 8am to 6:30pm, and Wat Arun's grounds are open from 8am to 6pm, though the temple is lit and viewable from outside into the evening. Wat Suthat, Wat Ratchabophit, Wat Mahathat and Wat Ratchapradit generally open around 8am and close between 5pm and 6pm.

Crowds are heaviest at the Grand Palace and Wat Pho between 10am and 2pm, when tour buses from cruise arrivals and day-trip groups converge on Rattanakosin Island. Arriving at opening time, or after 4pm at temples that stay open later, reduces waiting time at ticket counters and inside the main halls.

What dress code applies inside these temples?

All seven temples enforce a shoulders-and-knees-covered dress code inside ordination halls, and the Grand Palace applies the strictest check at its main gate. Visitors wearing shorts, sleeveless tops or see-through clothing are turned away at Wat Phra Kaew unless they rent or buy a sarong at the entrance, where a refundable deposit of around 200 baht is common.

Shoes must be removed before entering any ubosot or wihan, including at Wat Pho before viewing the Reclining Buddha and at Wat Arun before entering the ordination hall. Smaller temples such as Wat Ratchabophit and Wat Ratchapradit apply the same rules but rarely have staff checking clothing at the gate, so travelers should self-check before arrival.

Are any of these temples free to enter?

Two of the seven temples near the Grand Palace charge no entrance fee at all: Wat Ratchabophit and Wat Mahathat. Wat Ratchapradit charges a nominal 20 baht, making it the cheapest paid option in the group. The remaining sites, Wat Phra Kaew, Wat Pho, Wat Arun and Wat Suthat, charge between 100 and 500 baht because they fall under stricter royal-temple or Grand Palace ticketing rules.

Travelers who want a no-cost temple day can combine Wat Ratchabophit and Wat Mahathat with a walk around Sanam Luang, covering roughly 1.2 kilometres of ground between the two sites. This pairs well with the free-temple options covered in Best:in's wider guide to free temples in Bangkok.

How is this ranking computed?

  • Proximity to Grand Palace: 35%
  • Historical and cultural significance: 30%
  • Visitor experience and accessibility: 20%
  • Cost / value for money: 15%

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