9 Temples Pilgrimage in Bangkok

Jul 18

Listen to the episode HERE:

In S1E18 of the Attempt Adventure Podcast, we chatted about our nine favorite Buddhist temples in Bangkok, Thailand and what to do when you visit them. In this map, we’ve plotted out the locations of each of these nine amazing temples, which you can learn more about in the post below!

9 Best Buddhist Temples to Visit in Bangkok, Thailand

Wat Phra Kaew - The Temple of the Emerald Buddha at the Grand Palace Complex

The Temple of the Emerald Buddha is located within Bangkok's Grand Palace Complex, and is considered to be the holiest site in all of Thai Buddhism. The temple is the heart of Thai culture, and is so important that there are ceremonies which only the King of Thailand himself is permitted to perform! The legendary Emerald Buddha is the royal palladium of the kingdom, said to bestow power upon whichever nation possesses it, making it unconquerable. Interestingly, Thailand is the only Southeast Asian nation never to have been colonized or conquered by a foreign power.

The Emerald Buddha statue itself has three different outfits, one corresponding to each of the three Thai seasons (hot, rainy, and cool). Every year at the turning of the seasons, the King of Thailand oversees one of the kingdom’s most important royal ceremonies in which the outfit is ritually changed.
Entry fee 500 THB
Strict dress code: skirt, long pants, sleeves required for entry

Wat Phra Kaew, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha

Sodacan, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons The Emerald Buddha in three seasonal outfits

Michael at the Temple of the Emerald Buddha

Wat Pho - The Temple of the Reclining Buddha

Wat Pho is one of the most famous and iconic Buddhist temples in Bangkok, and is home to a famous massage school (considered to be Thailand's oldest university).

The Buddha is in the reclining position, representing the Buddha achieving Nirvana at the end of his life. The statue is an impressive 15 meters tall and 46 meters long.
Entry fee 200 THB

Wat Arun - The Temple of the Dawn

Wat Arun, also known as the Temple of the Dawn, is another of Bangkok's most famous temples and impressive sites. Best viewed from one of the many bars and restaurants across the river at dusk.

The temple’s most unique feature is the intricate design covering the outside of the central prang, made up of broken pieces of Chinese porcelain inlaid into the stonework.
Entry fee 50 THB

Wat Arun across the river - take a 3 THB ferry from the Grand Palace Area to the temple

the exterior of Wat Arun’s main prang is covered in shards of broken Chinese porcelain — the exterior of Wat Arun’s main *prang* is covered in shards of broken Chinese porcelain

Wat Saket - The Temple of the Golden Mount

The Golden Mount Temple is my favorite spot in all of Bangkok! Climb the winding steps to the top of this historic artificial hill to where a golden spire rises above the city. Don't forget to stop for a cold glass of "cha manao", or Thai lemon iced tea, from Golden Mount Coffee on your way up. The Golden Mount offers one of the best views in all of Bangkok.
Entry fee 50 THB

walking up the Golden Mount, visitors can ring bells and feel a cool breeze

visitors praying and making merit at the Golden Mount

Wat Mangkon - The Dragon Lotus Temple

Located in the heart of Bangkok's historic Yaowarat (Chinatown) neighborhood, Wat Mangkon (built in 1871) is the kingdom's most important Chinese temple. The center of Thai-Chinese life, festivals, and culture, Wat Mangkon is one of the very few Mahayana Buddhist temples in Thailand. The style is very different than other Thai temples.
FREE Entry

Wat Mangkon, Bangkok’s main Chinese Buddhist temple

in addition to the main Buddhist shrine, the temple houses shrines to Taoist deities

Wat Traimit - The Temple of the Golden Buddha

A mysterious Buddha statue made of 5.5 tons of solid gold was discovered in a miraculous event on the 2500th anniversary of the Buddha's enlightenment.

The temple is located near Chinatown (Yaowarat Road), and is also home to the small but interesting Yaowarat Chinatown Heritage Center, a museum dedicated to Bangkok’s vibrant Thai-Chinese community.
Entry fee 100 THB

Wat Traimit - the Temple of the Golden Buddha

the mysterious and legendary Golden Buddha is made of 5.5 tons of solid gold

Wat Benchamabophit - The Marble Temple

Located near the royal residences, one of Bangkok's best-known temples, the Marble Temple is built in the quintessential Bangkok architectural style featuring elaborate golden designs, Italian marble, and beautiful stained glass. The temple is one of Thailand's most beautiful, and was built by the king in the early 20th century.
Entry fee 20 THB

the Marble Temple is especially beautiful at night

Wat Intharawihan - The Temple of the Standing Buddha

This third-class royal-grade temple is home to the spectacular 105-foot tall statue of a golden standing Buddha. Construction on the statue was started in 1867, and took more than 60 years to complete. The statue is covered in Italian gilded mosaic, and the topknot holds a relic of the Buddha - a gift from the government of Sri Lanka.
FREE entry

the 105 foot-tall Phra Si Ariyamettrai statue

Devotees pray before the feet of the giant statue, and leave offerings of flowers, incense, mackerel, and eggs.

Wat Suthat and Devasthan - The Temple of the Giant Swing and the Royal Court Brahmin Headquarters

The Giant Swing, an iconic Bangkok landmark, was once used for spectacular Brahmin rituals. Today, it's a relic of the history of Rattanakosin Island. The temple itself is home to amazing murals and a beautiful golden Buddha statue.

Nearby is the Devasthan, a small Hindu temple which is home to the Thai Royal Court Brahmins.
Entry fee 100 THB