Thailand
Temple-hopping in Bangkok
Discover the heart and soul of Bangkok through its unique temples, a must-see part of the city. No trip to Bangkok is complete without exploring at least a couple of these cultural gems!
Start your day by exploring Wat Arun
Begin your temple-hopping adventure at Wat Arun, affectionately known as ‘The Temple of Dawn’. Situated on the Thonburi side of the Chao Phraya River, Wat Arun beckons with its intricate architecture and a serene ambiance. Enjoy the beautiful details of the main temple and check out the smaller towers nearby. Don't forget to climb up for a great view of the surrounding landscape! Since this place is rather small, we really recommend an early morning at 8 AM. Not only will you avoid crowds, but it will really enhance your experience of this peaceful temple. Admission is just 100 baht per person, and you even get a water bottle to help with the heat! We spent around one hour here, which we think is the perfect amount of time to see it all.
A fun and short trip on a river boat will take you to your next stop in around 5 minutes.
Visit Wat Pho
Next on your itinerary is Wat Pho, fondly referred to as 'The Temple of the Reclining Buddha'. We’ll dive right in: get ready to be awestruck by the colossal 46-meter-long reclining Buddha statue covered in gold. Yes, it’ll be the highlight of this temple so make it the first thing you do here. You can even buy a bag of coins to fill up all the coin pots around the Reclining Buddha! After you’ve done that, make sure to admire the intricate craftsmanship of the grand chedis that can be found all around the temple grounds. As the oldest and largest Buddhist temple in Bangkok, Wat Pho also has a myriad of Buddha images scattered throughout the temple complex, the largest collection of images in Thailand. Admission is 300 baht per person.
A 10-minute walk takes you to the next temple.
Explore the Grand Palace
No visit to Bangkok is complete without exploring the Grand Palace, an impressive symbol of Thailand's royal legacy and cultural grandeur. We were thinking of starting the day with a visit to this place, but feel like you won’t beat the crowds that way. It is busy here, no matter what time of the day you visit! So, brace yourself for crowds as you make a visit to Wat Phra Kaew, 'The Temple of the Emerald Buddha'. Its breathtaking beauty was the highlight of our visit, so definitely put this on your itinerary, too! It almost made up for all the people that bumped into us during our time here. ;-) Expect to spend at least a couple hours here, the complex is absolutely huge and has tons to offer. If you’re looking for a more original thing to do at the Grand Palace, explore the National Museum. It’s something most tourists skip, and will give you a lot of insights into Thai history and culture. Admission to the Grand Palace is 500 baht per person.
Drive 45 minutes to your last destination of the day.
End your day by visiting Wat Samphran: The Dragon Temple
We definitely saved the most original and fun-looking temple for last! Less than an hour’s drive from Bangkok lies Wat Samphran, a fascinating Buddhist temple that’s truly one-of-a-kind. What’s so special about it, you say? Well, the sight of a life-sized dragon coiled around the temple, for starters! This temple really defies imagination, we were awestruck for a long time when we visited this place. Consider making a small donation to climb up to the temple's pinnacle for panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. The views are stunning. But that’s not all you can do here! Wander around the area, where you'll encounter a magnificent golden Buddha statue, picturesque ponds, and serene surroundings. To top it all off, you can find a giant turtle and rabbit here, too! Why that’s the case, we don’t know, but it makes this place all the more fun. The best way to reach Wat Samphran is by taxi, which cost us around € 10 from the center of Bangkok.
