🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
The Grand Palace dates back to 1782, built alongside the founding of Bangkok as the new capital. Within the same walls sits Wat Phra Si Rattana Satsadaram — better known to everyone as "Wat Phra Kaew" — home to the Emerald Buddha, one of the most revered images in the country. A single ticket gets you into both, plus the Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles as well.
Opening hours and entry fee
Open daily, 8:30 AM–4:30 PM, but ticket sales stop at 3:30 PM only. Show up after half past three and you won't get in. The smart move is to come early, right when it opens — fewer people and the sun isn't brutal yet.
- Foreigner entry — 500 THB per person; one ticket covers the Grand Palace + Wat Phra Kaew + the Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles
- Thai nationals enter free — just show your ID card
- Children under 120 cm tall — free entry
- Time to allow — budget around 2–3 hours if you want to see everything properly
Watch out for scammers at the gate
If someone well-dressed tells you "the temple is closed today" or "the Emerald Buddha is closed for prayers, go to another temple first," then offers to flag down a tuk-tuk for a tour — none of it is true. The palace is open every day. Walk straight in and buy your ticket only at the official sales counter.
Want more out of Bangkok? Book tours & activities
Booking online ahead on Klook or GetYourGuide is usually cheaper than the gate and skips the queue. Pick only the experiences you actually want — prices and availability are shown live on each site.
Dress code — genuinely strict, don't get caught out
This is a royal precinct and a sacred site, so the dress code is taken very seriously. Staff check at the entrance for real, and if your outfit doesn't pass you won't be let in until you change. The simple rule is cover your shoulders, cover your knees, nothing tight, nothing see-through.
- Not allowed — sleeveless tops, tank tops, spaghetti straps, crop tops, thin see-through fabrics
- Not allowed — shorts, three-quarter pants, ripped jeans, tight pants/skirts, leggings, short skirts
- Men should wear — long trousers, a top with sleeves, closed-toe shoes
- Women should wear — long trousers or a long skirt, a top with sleeves that covers the shoulders, nothing baring the midriff
If your outfit doesn't pass
There's a clothing/sarong rental counter at the entrance with a 200 THB deposit per item, refunded when you return it. But when it's busy the line gets long — bringing your own cover-up or sarong is faster and far more comfortable.
How to get there
The Grand Palace sits on Na Phra Lan Road in the Phra Nakhon district, the heart of Rattanakosin Island. No BTS or MRT stops right at the gate, but the closest option now is the MRT Blue Line.
- MRT (easiest) — get off at Sanam Chai station, Exit 1, walk past Museum Siam toward Wat Pho, about 10–15 minutes to Wat Phra Kaew
- Chao Phraya Express Boat (best views) — take the BTS to Saphan Taksin, Exit 2, then the orange-flag boat from Sathorn pier and get off at Tha Chang (N9); the walk up is short
- Taxi/Grab — handy if you're in a group; just tell the driver "Wat Phra Kaew" or "Grand Palace"
- Buses — routes 1, 3, 9, 25, 32, 33, 43, 44, 47, 53, 82 pass through this area
Route tip
Getting off at Tha Tien pier (N8) puts you closer to Wat Pho and the crossing over to Wat Arun. Tha Chang (N9) is closer to the Grand Palace itself. Pick based on where you want to start.
Highlights you shouldn't miss inside
The Emerald Buddha
The green jade Buddha image in the ordination hall of Wat Phra Kaew, carved from a single block of stone. Its robes are changed with the seasons. No photos inside the hall, and shoes come off before you enter.
Phra Si Rattana golden chedi
The gleaming golden stupa that stands out most — a landmark spot to photograph alongside the Phra Mondop and the royal pantheon.
Ramakien murals on the cloister
Paintings telling the Ramakien epic run the full length of the cloister. A cool, shaded walk that gets you out of the sun.
Chakri Maha Prasat Hall
A European-style building topped with a Thai spired roof — one of the defining images of the Grand Palace. The front courtyard makes for a great shot.
Photo spots that actually deliver
- Courtyard in front of Chakri Maha Prasat Hall — the classic angle that gets both the building and the sky; best in the morning with the light coming in low
- Phra Si Rattana golden chedi — frame the golden stupa against the sky; mid-morning on a clear day gives you the richest colors
- Giant guardian statues — the towering yaksha figures by the temple entrance; shoot them against a person for scale and you get a dramatic frame
- The cloister — the long row of pillars gives you depth, and it's in the shade so you stay cool
Getting the best shots
Morning light from 8:30–10:00 AM is soft and the crowds are thinnest. After ten, tour groups start packing in. The palace grounds are marble and reflect the heat hard, so wear a hat and carry water.
Keep exploring right nearby
Rattanakosin Island is easy to keep wandering. From the Grand Palace it's just a few minutes' walk to Wat Pho (the giant Reclining Buddha), then a quick ferry across the river to Wat Arun on the far bank — which lines up nicely into a half-day or full-day temple trip.
Wat Pho
About a 10-minute walk from the Grand Palace. See the 46-meter Reclining Buddha. Entry is 300 THB.
Across the riverWat Arun
A cross-river ferry from Tha Tien costs just a few baht. The riverside prang looks beautiful by day and at dusk.
Plan a full day around Bangkok's old town in one go
See the old-town temple plan →