A spectacular 18th century palace and former home to the Thai Royal Family. Exquisite buildings decorated in mosaic, painted ceramic and carved statues bring thousands of tourists to the complex each day. Also within the complex is Wat Phra Kaew, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, said to be the most sacred Buddhist relic in Thailand.
Within the palace grounds is a complex of buildings including administrative offices, ceremonial halls, and pavilions. While the palace is no longer home to the Royal Family, some buildings are still used for royal ceremonies and official events.
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Look Around
Who Will Like Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew
Culture Buff
Admire intricate mosaics, sculptures and paintings telling stories from Thai folk law. See the sacred Emerald Buddha and stroll through halls that once hosted diplomatic events.
Photography Whiz
Capture the iconic golden wats piercing the sky - one of Thailand's most recognized symbols. Don't forget to have your photo taken with a palace guard.
Insider Tips For Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew
Visitors must adhere to a very strict dress code requiring shoulders and knees to be covered. T-shirts and long pants can be purchased on site if needed.
The Grand Palace is one of Bangkok's most popular tourist attractions so expect long queues and dense crowds.
While the ticket office closes at 3:30pm, the grounds close at 4:30pm.
Video
Where Is It
How To Get There
Taxi
Traffic around the Grand Palace is usually very hectic with several tour busses parked outside. Self-driving and parking is not recommended. The best way to drive to the Grand Palace is by taxi or rideshare. It's also possible to catch a tuk-tuk but drivers are likely to hike up the price as soon as they hear 'Grand Palace'.
Boat (Chao Phraya River Express)
Take an express boat along the river to the Tha Tien express boat pier (stop N8). Then walk approx. 10 minutes north east to the Grand Palace.
Bus
The following bus numbers regularly run past the Grand Palace: 1, 3, 9, 15, 25, 30, 32, 33, 43, 44, 47, 53, 59, 64, 80, 82, 91, 203, 503, 508, 512.
Tech & Photography
Wifi
Public wifi access: None
Photography
Photography allowed: Yesflash is ok
Tripod allowed: Yes
Selfie sticks allowed: Yes
Best time to shoot: Late Afternoon
Tips: For very large buildings, try to stand as far away as possible to avoid perspective skew. The best view of the Phra Siratana Chedi is from the large square grassed area to the west, near the main entrance - Viseschaisri Gate.
Drones
Drones allowed: No
Bags
Backpacks allowed: Yes
Secured bag lockers available: No
Food & Drink
There is no food or drink for sale inside the Grand Palace complex. However, there's no shortage of eateries outside.
Backstory
The Grand Palace was commissioned by King Rama I in 1782 when he moved Siam's capital from Thonburi to Bangkok. It was home to the Royal Family and the base of the Thai royal court and administrative offices until 1925.
Wat Phra Kaew, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, was one of the first buildings to be constructed within the complex. A large ceremony was held to move the sacred relic from Thonburi into the temple in March 1784.
Several additional buildings were constructed within the complex by succussing kings, most notably King Rama V.
Etiquette
- Wat Phra Kaew, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha is one of the most sacred sites in Thailand.
- Shoes must be taken off before entering buildings, loose clothing that covers shoulders and knees must be worn.
- If you forget to dress suitably, t-shirts and long pants can be purchased at the entrance for around ฿200 (USD$5.87) inside the complex (or ฿50 (USD$1.47) outside the complex).

Scorecard
- Exquisite architecture. Traditional Thai architecture accented with ornate mosaic, painted ceramic and carved statues.
- Historical significance. The former residence of the Thai Royal Family and function halls that have entertained diplomats from all over the world.
- Long queues. Lines of tourists often start outside the main gate, and wind down the street.
- Modest clothing for sale. A very basic range of t-shirts and long pants can be bought to cover up. If you're fashion conscious, it's best to wear or bring your own clothes that meet the dress code.
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