🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
Ratchaburi is a favorite merit-making day trip for Bangkok folks — the well-known temples sit close together, so one loop covers several of them. Some are over a thousand years old and date back to the Khmer period; others sit on hills with big Buddha images to pay respects to and city views worth photographing. We've rounded up the temples people actually visit, in an order that flows easily from one to the next.
Wat Mahathat Worawihan — the ancient prang in the old town
If you're temple-hopping in Ratchaburi, this is the best place to start because it's almost dead-center in town, on the west bank of the Mae Klong River. It's a third-class royal temple with evidence of construction going back to the Dvaravati period, later reworked into a Khmer-style prang around the 13th century during the reign of King Jayavarman VII. It was once known as Wat Na Phra That.
The standout is the main prang, built of laterite, with three smaller satellite prangs sharing the same base and decorated with stucco reliefs. Inside the prang are mural paintings of past Buddhas, thought to have been painted around the same time the prang was built, and it also enshrines Buddha relics. One thing many people don't want to miss is in the main wihan: two seated Buddha images in the maravijaya (subduing Mara) posture sitting back to back — Phra Mongkhon Buri and Phra Si Nak — which you rarely see anywhere else.
Tip
It's fairly dark inside the prang and the way up is narrow. Wear shoes that slip off easily and bring your phone flashlight to look at the wall paintings — you'll see them much more clearly.
Want more out of Ratchaburi? 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.
Wat Nong Hoi, Khao Wong Phra Chan — the giant Guan Yin
This is the highlight of any Ratchaburi temple trip. It's in Khao Raeng subdistrict, about 12 km from downtown. Locals usually just call it Khao Chao Mae Guan Yin, Wat Nong Hoi, because there's a statue of Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva (Guan Yin) enshrined in a hilltop hall — golden, around 16 meters tall with a lap span of about 9 meters. People from Ratchaburi and nearby provinces head up to pay their respects every day.
Once you reach the top, besides paying respects to Guan Yin, it's a viewpoint that looks out over Ratchaburi in every direction. Late afternoon, when the sun softens and the breeze picks up, is just right for photos. The temple is open daily roughly 07:00–17:00 and admission is free.
- Getting up — there's a road you can drive up and park at the top, so no long staircase to climb — good for older visitors.
- Best time — morning or late afternoon won't be hot; midday sun is strong since it's all out in the open.
- Dress code — it's a temple, so dress respectfully and skip spaghetti straps and very short shorts.
Other temples to add along the way
If you have time to spare, there are a couple more temples in town that sit close together and fit right into the same route — no long detours needed.
Wat Chong Lom (royal temple)
In town along the Mae Klong River, it enshrines Luang Pho Kaen Chan, an image that Ratchaburi locals hold dear and come to apply gold leaf and pray to in big numbers.
Wat Khao Wang
A temple on a low hill near the city, formerly a royal palace from the reign of King Rama V. Head up to pay respects and catch the city from another angle.
Wat Si Suriyawong
An old temple in town not far from Wat Chong Lom — an easy extra stop to pay respects while you're wandering the old-town district.
Planning the route
The downtown temples (Mahathat, Chong Lom, Si Suriyawong, Khao Wang) are all close together, just a few minutes' drive apart. Wat Nong Hoi is a little outside town — we'd save it for last, in the late afternoon, so you catch the cooler evening light over the view.
A one-day Ratchaburi temple route
If you leave Bangkok early, you can do a relaxed temple trip in a single day. Here's an order that flows smoothly without doubling back.
Downtown temples
Hilltop temple + viewpoint
Getting there and what to bring
- From Bangkok — about 1.5–2 hours' drive via Phetkasem Road, or take a minivan/coach to the city center and grab a taxi around town.
- Getting around town — some downtown temples are within walking distance of each other, but for Wat Nong Hoi you'll want your own car or a hired ride.
- Offerings — flowers, incense, candles and gold leaf are sold in front of nearly every temple, so there's no need to bring your own.
- Timing — most temples are open from morning to evening; to fit them all in, leave early and finish at Wat Nong Hoi before it closes at 17:00.
Plan a full-day temple and sightseeing trip in Ratchaburi
See the Ratchaburi travel guide →