Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn)

Wat Arun, or the Temple of Dawn, rises over the west bank of the Chao Phraya with its five Khmer-style towers covered in broken porcelain and seashells — a traditional way of recycling cargo from Chinese trading ships. Up close, the detail is even more striking, and if you don’t mind a steep climb, the central prang gives you a solid view across the river towards the Grand Palace and Wat Pho. Despite its name, the temple is at its most photogenic in the late afternoon, when the sun sets behind it and the lights come on. Most travellers pair a visit with a quick hop on the ferry across the river, which costs just a few baht and runs until late evening.