Grand Palace & Wat Phra Kaew Place guide

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Bangkok

Grand Palace & Wat Phra Kaew

Grand Palace & Wat Phra Kaew, the heart of Bangkok.

About

Another one of Bangkok’s attractions, The Grand Palace is located in the heart of Bangkok and is known to be one of the most visited architectural marvels in Thailand. This place is riddled with grand Chinese statues, mythical beasts known as Yakshas, and stone Buddha images that keep a watchful eye on those who enter and exit this sacred space. 

The Grand Palace is definitely one of the places to see in Bangkok for tourists who want to relive Thailand’s past. It is, after all, the home of the royal family, and has been since 1782. It houses numerous buildings – most of which are accessible to the public. 

One of the more famous temples within this complex is The Temple of the Emerald Buddha, locally known as Wat Phra Kaew. One of the country’s most sacred Buddhist temples, it is home to a tranquil and spiritual environment, as well as the highly revered image of the emerald Buddha - definitely one to add to your Bangkok sightseeing list!

Check out this Bangkok Temple Walking Tour, where you’ll get to visit Wat Arun, the Grand Palace, and Wat Phra Kaew, as well as the popular Flower Market all in one day.

Some things to take note of:

Dress code: The Grand Palace area follows the same dress code as Wat Arun, which details that all men and women should not be allowed to expose their arms, legs, and feet. Bring cover-ups such as a shawl or jacket, or opt to wear a long-sleeved shirt and pants before visiting the temple. Those who do not follow this will be denied entrance.

Tourists should not stray away from the accessible areas in the temple.

Entrance fee: 500THB

Audio guides are available in English, French, German, Spanish, Russian, Japanese, and Mandarin for 100THB.

Operating hours: 8:30 am to 3:30 pm; although the best time to visit the Grand Palace might be the early morning. Not only is it cooler, but it will give you more than enough time to explore the beautiful grounds.

How to get there:

Take the Skytrain to Saphan Taksin Station – which is located atop the Sathorn “Central” Pier. From there, take a Chao Phraya River Express boat to Chang Pier.

Na Phra Lan Rd, Khwaeng Phra Borom Maha Ratchawang, Khet Phra Nakhon, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10200, Thailand

Tours near Grand Palace & Wat Phra Kaew

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Khao Yai National Park Tour from Bangkok – Full Day

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