Wat Pho, officially Wat Phra Chetuphon Wimon Mangkhalaram Rajwaramahawihan, is the Bangkok temple of the huge gilded Reclining Buddha, and it sits right beside the Grand Palace. The short answer: the temple's own visit-plan page lists opening hours of 08:00 to 19:30 and an entrance fee of 300 baht for foreign visitors, with children under 120 cm free. You can reach it by boat to Tha Tien pier or by the MRT, you need modest clothing, and most people spend one and a half to two hours inside.
We read the temple's official website on 2026-10-16. It contradicts itself in one place (an older history page still shows 200 baht and 08:00-18:00), so the facts table below shows each figure and where it comes from.
Verified facts, and where the temple's own pages disagree
| Item | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Address | 2 Sanam Chai Road, Phra Borom Maha Ratchawang, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200 | Wat Pho official site, 2026-10-16 |
| Hours | 08:00-19:30, every day | Official "Visit plan" page, 2026-10-16 |
| Hours (conflict) | 08:00-18:00 | Official "History" page, 2026-10-16 (appears older) |
| Entrance fee | 300 baht for foreign visitors; free under 120 cm (4 ft) | Official "Visit plan" page, 2026-10-16 |
| Entrance fee (conflict) | 200 baht | Official "History" page, 2026-10-16 (appears older) |
| Office hours | 08:30-19:30 | Official "Contact" page, 2026-10-16 |
| Phone | +66 83 057 7100 | Official "Contact" page |
| Online ticket | Page shows "not yet open for service" | Official "Booking" page, 2026-10-16 |
Many third-party guides still say 100 baht and a 17:30 or 18:00 closing time. Those are older figures. We treat the "Visit plan" page as the most deliberate statement because it also carries the dress rules and massage price list, and we suggest you carry a little more cash than the ticket price in case the booth sets a different figure on the day. Do not pay for "official" tickets on other websites: the temple's own booking page said online tickets were not yet available when we checked.
Fees and hours on this site change and the temple's own pages disagree. Treat 300 baht and 08:00-19:30 as the best current reading as of 2026-10-16, and confirm at the ticket booth.
Thai visitors: the official Thai page speaks only of tickets for foreigners, and Thai media report free entry for Thai citizens, but the temple does not state this in a table. Ask at the booth.
Why Wat Pho is worth the stop
According to the temple's history page, King Rama I had the old Wat Phodharam restored from 1788 and made it a royal monastery, and under Rama III a very large restoration followed that turned the compound into a centre of Thai art and learning. The English architecture page describes the reclining Buddha hall as roughly 60.75 by 22.6 metres, built to house the statue, with murals that include scenes from the Buddha's life, Sri Lanka's chronicle and the heaven of the Tavatimsa realm.
What to see, in a sensible order:
- The Reclining Buddha. The statue is about 46 metres long and 15 metres high (a figure repeated by Thai and international references), covered in gold leaf. The soles of the feet carry mother-of-pearl designs for the auspicious marks. Walk the length of the hall rather than stopping at the head, because the proportions are the point.
- The 108 bronze bowls. A row of bowls runs along the back of the hall; visitors drop coins as a way of making merit and the money supports the temple.
- The four great chedis. Large tiled chedis honour the first four kings of the Chakri dynasty, with many smaller chedis around the compound.
- Gates, guardians and stone figures. Stone Chinese guardians and statues of Western figures stand at several gates, and the temple's own architecture list includes the "hermit hill" with exercise-pose statues and Chinese stone figures.
- The Thai massage school. The temple's English page says the traditional medicine and massage school opened in 1955 inside Wat Pho.
The compound is also recognised internationally: its inscriptions were registered in UNESCO's Memory of the World programme in 2008, according to Wikipedia's account of the temple.
Thai massage at Wat Pho
Wat Pho is where many visitors have their first proper Thai massage. The temple's visit-plan page lists the service as running 08:00-19:30 and gives these rates (as of 2026-10-16):
| Service | 30 min | 60 min | 120 min |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thai massage | 340 baht | 520 baht | 1,040 baht |
| Foot massage | 340 baht | 520 baht | 1,040 baht |
| Thai massage with balm | - | 680 baht | 1,360 baht |
| Thai massage with plai oil | - | 620 baht | 1,240 baht |
Phone numbers and the school's own site (watpomassage.com) are on the visit-plan page. The school is separate from the temple ticket, and we could not verify how the queue works on a given day, so go early or ask about waiting times.
Dress code and temple manners
The temple asks for polite dress: the official line is "no shorts, although trousers are permitted," and a separate tips paragraph says shorts above the knee are not allowed for women. Cover your shoulders as you would at any Thai temple. You must take off your shoes before entering religious halls. Do not climb on a Buddha image, and women must not touch monks or novices. The general rules are in Thailand temple etiquette.
Wear shoes that slip off easily. You will take them off at the Reclining Buddha hall and again at other halls, and a bag is easier to carry than a shoe rack to search.
Getting to Wat Pho
The temple's own "how to get there" page lists the options below.
| From | Route |
|---|---|
| MRT Blue Line | Sanam Chai station; the temple's page lists the exit as Exit 1 "Wat Pho" |
| Chao Phraya Express Boat | Alight at Tha Chang or Wat Arun pier, then take the cross-river ferry to Tha Tien (N8); the temple is a short walk from Tha Tien |
| City bus | Routes 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 25, 32, 44, 47, 48, 53 and 82 per the temple; air-conditioned routes also listed |
| Car | Parking on Chetuphon Road at 20 baht per hour per the temple; old-city traffic is heavy |
From the airport, Bangkok airport to the city shows the rail and taxi options. To compare boat tickets and cruises before you buy one, read Bangkok temples and Chao Phraya cruises compared: the ordinary express boat already stops at the right piers.
A half-day plan with the Grand Palace and Wat Arun
All three famous sights are within walking distance of Tha Tien pier, so a single clean order avoids doubling back.
- 08:30: Start at the Grand Palace when it opens. Its fees and dress rules are in the Grand Palace guide.
- 11:30: Walk south to Wat Pho. Allow 1.5 to 2 hours, including the Reclining Buddha and a massage if you want one.
- 14:30: Cross the river from Tha Tien to Wat Arun. Read the Wat Arun guide for its fee and the tower climb.
- 16:30: Take an express boat back to your hotel or onward to dinner.
This block fits Day 1 of the Bangkok 3-day plan. If you also want markets, Chatuchak Weekend Market works on a different day, and for a day outside the city see Bangkok day trips and the Ayutthaya day trip.
When to go
Open-air temple walking is hot and humid for most of the year, and there is little shade between halls. The temple's long opening hours help: go in the first hour or the last two for cooler light, and avoid midday. Our best time to visit Bangkok page explains the rainy months, and Thailand best time by region covers the rest of the country.
Safety and small cautions
- Fake closures. At the Grand Palace area, strangers may say a temple is closed and offer a tour or a tuk tuk. Check the opening hours yourself on the temple's own page.
- Touts and tickets. Buy tickets only at the booth. The temple's online booking page was not live when we checked.
- Heat. Carry water and cover your head if you walk in the afternoon.
- Shoes and valuables. Keep valuables on you when you leave shoes at a hall entrance.
- Emergency numbers. 191 police, 1669 medical, 1155 Tourist Police. See Thailand safety, scams and health.
Costs
| Item | Approx. (as of 2026) |
|---|---|
| Temple entry (foreigners) | 300 baht per the temple's visit-plan page; an older page says 200 baht |
| Thai massage, 60 min | 520 baht at the temple school per its price list |
| Foot massage, 60 min | 520 baht at the temple school per its price list |
| Parking, Chetuphon Road | 20 baht per hour per the temple |
| Express boat to Tha Tien | Tens of baht; check the operator's current fare |
Passes and attraction tickets for the rest of the city are compared in Bangkok attraction tickets. The Klook button in the booking boxes on this page opens the King Power Mahanakhon SkyWalk page, a Bangkok skyline ticket and not a Wat Pho ticket, because it is the Bangkok attraction we are registered for. Wat Pho admission is paid at the temple. For a full Bangkok budget see Thailand budget per day.
Where to stay near Wat Pho
The old city and riverside make the morning easy, but nightlife and food are better elsewhere. See where to stay in Bangkok, plan connectivity with Thailand eSIM vs SIM, and use Thailand getting around for trains, taxis and boats. The Bangkok hub lists every guide.
FAQ
How much is the Wat Pho entrance fee?
The temple's visit-plan page lists 300 baht for foreign visitors, with children under 120 cm free (checked 2026-10-16). An older page on the same site says 200 baht and many guides say 100 baht, so carry extra cash and confirm at the booth.
What time does Wat Pho open and close?
The visit-plan page lists 08:00 to 19:30 every day. The history page says 08:00 to 18:00. Aim to arrive well before 17:00 to avoid disappointment.
How long does Wat Pho take?
Plan on 1.5 to 2 hours for the Reclining Buddha, chedis and courtyards. Add 30 to 60 minutes if you book a massage.
How do I get from the Grand Palace to Wat Pho?
Walk south along the palace wall. It is a short walk, and Tha Tien pier is beside the temple for the boat to Wat Arun.
What should I wear?
Wear polite clothes covering shoulders and knees. The temple says no shorts, though trousers are fine, and shoes come off in religious halls.
Can I get a massage at Wat Pho?
Yes. The temple's traditional medicine school offers massage inside the compound; its listed rates start at 340 baht for 30 minutes. Check the school's own site for booking.
Are tickets sold online?
The official booking page showed that online tickets were not yet available on 2026-10-16. Buy at the booth and avoid look-alike ticket sites.
Is Wat Pho worth visiting if I have seen the Grand Palace?
Yes. It is a different experience, a working monastery with one giant statue and quieter courtyards, and it is only a short walk away.
Official sources and further reading
Prices, schedules and entry rules change. Figures here are approximate as of 2026; always confirm on the official or operator page before you book. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
