🔄 Updated 6 Jun 2026
Phra Nakhon Khiri sits on Khao Samana (locals just call it Khao Wang), about 95 metres above sea level right in the middle of Phetchaburi town. King Rama IV had it built as a summer retreat from 1859 onwards. What sets it apart from other palaces is the layout: the palace is spread across three adjoining hilltops, each peak holding a different cluster of buildings, with architecture that blends Thai, Chinese and European styles in the way that was fashionable at the time. Walking all three peaks takes roughly 2–3 hours. The site is now looked after by the Fine Arts Department, and the largest royal hall is open as a national museum.
Opening hours and entry fees
- Opening hours — 8:30am–4:30pm daily (the funicular stops a little before closing time, so it's easier if you head up before 3pm).
- Park / museum entry — 20 THB for Thais · 40 THB for foreign visitors.
- Funicular — 40 THB return (up and down). Buy your ticket at the base of the hill before you go up.
- Note — at certain times they switch to a combined ticket (entry + funicular) priced differently from the above. To check the latest price, call 032-425600.
- Dress code — dress modestly, as the site includes a temple and a chedi that are still places of worship.
Take the funicular, or walk up?
There are two ways up Khao Wang. One side has the funicular, which runs to the top in a few minutes; the other is a stairway you can climb yourself in about 15–20 minutes. If you're with older relatives or kids, take the funicular. If you're after a bit of exercise, you can walk up the stairs and ride the funicular down (or the other way round) — the funicular ticket is a return anyway.
Want more out of Phetchaburi? 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.
What's on each of the three peaks
The charm of Phra Nakhon Khiri is the way it's split across three peaks, each with its own role, all linked by paths along the ridge. Here's what sits on each one.
Western peak — the royal quarter
This is the peak the funicular reaches, home to the main group of royal halls: Phra Thinang Phetphum Phairot (the largest, now open as a museum), Phra Thinang Wechayan Wichian Prasat (a white spired prasat), and Ho Chatchawan Wiang Chai, the observatory.
Central peak — Phra That Chom Phet
A white bell-shaped chedi around 40 metres tall, enshrining relics of the Buddha. It's visible from down in the town and has become the image people associate with Khao Wang. You can climb up to pay respects and take photos.
Eastern peak — Wat Phra Kaew Noi
King Rama IV had this built as a scaled-down replica of Wat Phra Kaew in the Grand Palace, with an ordination hall and a small red prang. It served as the temple for the hilltop palace.
The royal hall and museum
Phra Thinang Phetphum Phairot is the largest building on the western peak, now set up as the Phra Nakhon Khiri National Museum. It displays royal regalia, European furniture from the reigns of Rama IV–V, Chinese and Japanese ceramics, and palace items that have survived. Walking through it gives you a sense of what life in a hilltop palace was like more than a century ago. Next to it stands Phra Thinang Wechayan Wichian Prasat, the white spired prasat that's another landmark of the site.
Photography inside the museum
Photography is not allowed in parts of the museum interior, and you'll need to take your shoes off before going in. Watch for the signs and follow the staff. Outside the royal halls and around the surrounding terraces, you're free to photograph as much as you like.
Ho Chatchawan Wiang Chai, the hilltop observatory
A spot many people love is Ho Chatchawan Wiang Chai, nicknamed the Glass Pavilion — a round, open tower with a glass dome roof and a spiral staircase inside. King Rama IV, who was keen on astronomy, used it for stargazing through a telescope. In its day it also served as a beacon, with a light that ships in the gulf could use to navigate. Standing here you get a wide view over Phetchaburi town, and it makes it clear why this particular hill was chosen for the palace.
Views over Phetchaburi from the top
Sitting right in the middle of town and high enough above it, Phra Nakhon Khiri is hands down the best place to look out over Phetchaburi. You can see rooftops, the winding Phetchaburi River, several old temples, and off in the distance even Phra Ram Ratchaniwet (Ban Puen Palace). In the late afternoon before closing the light turns soft and the photos come out nicely, but leave enough time to get down for the last funicular.
An honest word about the monkeys
Khao Wang has a lot of monkeys living on it, especially around the path up and the chedi terrace. They're used to people and quick to grab things. Don't carry food bags or water bottles in plain sight, keep your glasses, hat and phone secure, and never feed them — it only makes them bolder and they may bite. As long as you walk on without provoking them, you'll get past just fine.
Getting there and the best time to go
- From Bangkok — about 2–2.5 hours by car along Phetkasem Road. Khao Wang sits right beside the main road in town and is visible from a distance, so it's easy to find. There's parking at the base of the hill on the funicular side.
- Van / coach — get off in Phetchaburi town, then take a songthaew or motorbike taxi to the base of the hill. It's not far.
- Train — get off at Phetchaburi station, then take local transport into town to Khao Wang.
- Best time to go — arrive in the morning, 8:30–10:30am, when the sun isn't harsh yet and there are fewer people; the climb is far more comfortable than at midday when it gets really hot.
What else is worth doing nearby
- Phetchaburi old town — at the foot of the hill there's an old quarter, a market, and the dessert shops Phetchaburi is famous for. Walk over for khanom mo kaeng, thong yip and thong yot.
- Phra Ram Ratchaniwet (Ban Puen Palace) — a European-style palace from the reign of Rama V, in town and easy to pair with Khao Wang on the same day.
- Tham Khao Luang — a limestone cave with Buddha images and shafts of light filtering down, not far from town.
Want to see all of Phetchaburi — palaces, temples, caves and the food
See all Phetchaburi attractions →