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Asia Thailand Bangkok Do & See The Royal Grand Palace

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The Royal Grand Palace

The guide was updated: 2023-04-06

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Bangkok's Grand Palace Complex and Wat Phra Kaew Tour

Home to the famous Emerald Buddha, the most revered Buddha image in Thailand, the Grand Palace is a spiritual hub and glorious architectural feat. Get in early to bypass the bustle and crowds, and remember to show respect by wearing long pants – no shorts allowed!

Useful Information

Address: Na Phra Lan Road, Bangkok
Opening hours: Daily 8:30am–3:30pm
Public Transport: Take a river boat to Phra Arthit Pier at Sapan Thaksin Skytrain Station
Phone: +66 2 623 5500
Email: ticket@palaces.mail.go.th

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Our travel guides are free to read and explore online. If you want to get your own copy, the full travel guide for this destination is available to you offline* to bring along anywhere or print for your trip.

*this will be downloaded as a PDF.

Price

€4,95

Purchase

The Royal Grand Palace

The Royal Grand Palace

Home to the famous Emerald Buddha, the most revered Buddha image in Thailand, the Grand Palace is a spiritual hub and glorious architectural feat. Get in early to bypass the bustle and crowds, and remember to show respect by wearing long pants – no shorts allowed!

Wat Traimit (Golden Buddha)

Wat Traimit (Golden Buddha)

Wat Traimit, also known as "The Temple of the Golden Buddha", is a Royal temple located in the Chinatown area of Bangkok. It is famous for being home to the world's largest solid gold Buddha image. The image is more than three meters tall, weighs about five and a half tons and is most likely some 700 to 800 years old. This is a good place to kick off your visit to Chinatown.

Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha)

Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha)

Directly adjacent the Grand Palace, Wat Phra Kaew is known as the Temple of the Emerald Buddha and is the most sacred Buddhist temple in the country. It houses the magnificent statue of the Emerald Buddha, carved from a single piece of jade.

Wat Phra Chetuphon (Wat Pho - Temple of the Reclining Buddha)

Wat Phra Chetuphon (Wat Pho - Temple of the Reclining Buddha)

Directly adjacent to the Grand Palace, Wat Pho is known as the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, as it is home to the largest reclining image of Buddha in the nation, at an impressive 46 metres long and 15 metres high, and adorned with mother of pearl and gold plating. Not limited to this one attraction, Wat Pho temple is home to over 1,000 images of the Buddha, towering statues, buildings, and stupas. It is also home to the renowned Thai massage school for monks, and visitors can have this exceptional service on the grounds.

Wat Arun (The Temple of Dawn)

Wat Arun (The Temple of Dawn)

On the west bank of the Chao Phraya River sits one of Thailand's most distinctive landmarks, the Buddhist temple Wat Arun. The temple gets its name from the Hindu god Aruna, often personified as the radiations of the rising sun, hence its common name The Temple of Dawn. Its five spires or prangs are covered in porcelain mosaics and seashells giving Wat Arun a gleaming iridescence when the rising sun illuminates it at dawn. Linger in the mythical gardens, climb the steep white stairs, and soak up the romantic views at sunset. Take a taxi or a river ferry at Tha Tien Pier on Thai Wang Road across the Chao Praya River to the Thonburi area.

Wat Saket And Phu Khao Thong (The Golden Mount)

Wat Saket And Phu Khao Thong (The Golden Mount)

Thailand’s revered King Rama IV built this temple’s large golden chedi atop the ruins of previous temple buildings. The chedi is layered with centuries of gold leaf. Visitors can take the easy winding stairs that encircle the mount to the viewpoint at the top. A small entrance fee allows you to enter the terrace and the temple area where you will have a 360-degree view of Bangkok.

SEA LIFE Bangkok Ocean World

SEA LIFE Bangkok Ocean World

Found in Siam Paragon Mall in the Siam shopping district, Sea Life is Bangkok’s modern, sleek aquarium complex is the largest aquatic centre in South East Asia. Kids and adults alike will enjoy Ocean World’s 30,000 aquatic creatures from 400 different species. Marvel at this remarkable underwater world and dive with the sharks if you dare!

Lumphini Park

Lumphini Park

Expansive, lush green Lumphini Park is Bangkok's green lung–a magnificent sprawling park with gardens, ponds, lawns, and stages in the heart of the city's bustle. Named after Buddha's Nepalese birthplace, it is replete with karaoke singers, tai chi artists, joggers, and kite flyers. Join the throng and take a break from Bangkok without having to leave the city.

Chatuchak Weekend Market

Chatuchak Weekend Market

Claimed to be the world's biggest weekend market as well as the most diverse one, the Chatuchak Market is any shopper's dream. The JJ Market, as it is also known, offers more than 15,000 stalls divided into more than 25 sections. Here, you will find all sorts of goods, including plants, antiques, electronics, cosmetics, fresh and dry food, handicrafts, ceramics, furniture, clothing, and books, to name a few. Be sure to get there early to avoid afternoon crowds and the sweaty hustle and bustle.

Sala Chalermkrung Royal Theatre

Sala Chalermkrung Royal Theatre

Once privy only to the royal court of the King, Thailand's Khon's masked dance is a real treat for the culturally savvy. Don't miss the chance to enjoy this classical masked dance, regarded as one of the most refined styles of performing art in the world.

Bangkok by Night: Temples, Markets, and Food by Tuk-Tuk

Bangkok by Night: Temples, Markets, and Food by Tuk-Tuk

Awarded twice TripAdvisor Traveller's Choice "No. 1 Experience in Thailand", this tuk-tuk night tour is a great way to discover Bangkok and learn about the local culture. See famous temples and sights illuminated at night as you whizz around the city in an iconic 3-wheeled taxi. Visit The Flower Market, the grounds of Wat Arun, and Chinatown. Plus, enjoy snacks, dinner and a dessert!

Damnoen Saduak Floating Market

Damnoen Saduak Floating Market

This floating market is truly an impressive sight as vendors on long-tail boats brimming with fresh fruits, food, and drinks navigate the 'klong' (canal) to sell their produce to the tourists and locals standing along the canal's edge or gliding down the narrow and crowded canals. Besides food and drinks, you'll also find an assortment of brightly coloured trinkets in the small wooden houses on stilts that fringe the banks. This world-famous market, from a James Bond movie, is located 80 kilometres outside Bangkok, but it is certainly worth the journey. Take an organised tour, or a regular bus from the Southern Bus Terminal and see what the hype is all about.

Khaosan Road

Khaosan Road

Enter a bustling, exciting, vibrant mix of eateries, bars and lines of street stalls selling clothes, jewellery and tantalizing Thailand souvenirs. With the rich smoky scents of vendors cooking fresh Pad Thai on the curbside, t-shirt and jewellery stalls decorating the road walkways, and a maze of ferny alleys lined with local and travelling characters, a trip to Bangkok is incomplete without a stroll through its most lively, action-packed area. The area was once the infamous backpackers' haunt but is now a family-friendly area where tourists towing prams and elite Bangkokians come to spend the day. Nightlife here is still robust, however, and many are up until dawn enjoying the revelries on this street.

National Science Museum

National Science Museum

The National Science Museum is a great family attraction, a place to learn a little bit more about science, the environment and the world. There are plenty of activities for everyone to participate. The building where the museum is located has been designed and constructed in a remarkable geometry.

Bangkok Art & Culture Centre (BACC)

Bangkok Art & Culture Centre (BACC)

If you love art, you should visit BACC since it provides an interesting program with contemporary art, theatre, film, design and cultural events. Contemporary Thai potteries and sculptures are also on display. You will be surprised to see how Thailand is full of wonderful artists and ideas.

Madame Tussauds Bangkok

Madame Tussauds Bangkok

With ten zones and over 90 wax figures, you will find yourself busy at Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum in Bangkok. Here you can pose with A-list celebrities such as Brad Pitt and Julia Roberts on the red carpet or hop on stage with your favourite stars such as Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber.

The Tilleke & Gibbins Museum of Counterfeit Goods

The Tilleke & Gibbins Museum of Counterfeit Goods

This unique museum presents counterfeit goods seized in raids and gives educational tours about intellectual property infringement. It features a collection comprising more than 4000 goods that infringe trademarks, patents, and copyright. This very educational place shows case studies to display the consequences of fake products. Admission is free, but you have to book an appointment at least 24 hours in advance.

Queen Saovabha Institute Snake Farm

Queen Saovabha Institute Snake Farm

As the name indicates it, the Queen Saovabha Institute Snake Farm welcomes reptiles fan. There are demonstrations on how to handle snakes and how to extract venom. First-aid exhibitions are given to tourists.

Bangkok Doll Museum

Bangkok Doll Museum

This little Doll Museum presents since around 50 years a prestigious collection of dolls. Around 500 hand-made dolls are presented. You will see different traditional clothing. The gift shop is worth a tour.

Batcat Museum & Toy Thailand

Batcat Museum & Toy Thailand

Batcat Toy Museum is definitively an unusual place in Bangkok. Over 50 000 artifacts celebrate the superhero Batman. It is a great place for kids who will for sure enjoy the sight!

ChangChui Creative Park

ChangChui Creative Park

ChangChui was built with one objective in mind: giving locals and visitors alike a place where art, shopping, dining and plain fun can all combine into one. Here you'll find the signature L-1011 TriStar Lockheed plane at its centre, have an exotic dining experience with its many food stalls and restaurants, boutiques with handcrafted goods and try the many games available to test your smarts and reflexes.

Democracy Monument

Democracy Monument

The Democracy Monument, in the city centre of Bangkok, was erected in 1939 to distinguish the reigning military regime of the time, which took over governance in 1932. Although the monument shows soldiers in battle, the coup d'état took place during the king's absence and without any bloodshed.

Bangkok Cooking Classes

Bangkok Cooking Classes

Bangkok is perhaps the number one destination that comes to mind when the subject of street food comes up, and besides, the popularity of Thai restaurants worldwide is hard to overlook. Instead of having your dish prepared for you, consider joining a cooking class in Bangkok, where you'll learn how to merge Thai flavour profiles to create a delicious dish yourself. Here are some local providers: Thingly Thai Cooking School www.tinglythaicookingschool.com ChefLeeZ www.chefleez.com BaiPai Thai Cooking School www.baipai.com Maliwan Thai Cooking Class www.maliwancooking.com

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