🔄 Updated 4 Jun 2026
Wat Arun Ratchawararam Ratchawaramahawihan dates back to the Ayutthaya era. Its centrepiece is the main prang, roughly 70 metres tall, encrusted with glazed porcelain and seashells that craftsmen arranged into floral patterns across the whole spire — when the sun catches it, the entire prang glitters. The name "Wat Chaeng" (Temple of Dawn) comes from the legend that King Taksin reached this spot at daybreak. The grounds themselves aren't huge; you can walk the whole complex in about an hour. The real magic, though, is seeing it from a distance across the river.
Opening Hours & Entry Fee
- Opening hours — 08:00–18:00 daily (ticket sales close around 17:30)
- Entry fee — 200 THB for foreign visitors · free for Thai nationals
- Dress code — no shorts or skirts above the knee, and no spaghetti-strap tops; there's a sarong-rental stand at the entrance if you're not dressed appropriately
- Climbing the prang — for now you can only go up to the lower terrace level (the upper stairs are very tall and steep, and access is currently restricted). Even from the lower level you get a clear view of the river and the Grand Palace across the water
The best time to go
If you want to photograph the prang without the crowds, arrive right at opening, 08:00–09:00 — the sun isn't harsh yet and there are fewer people. But if you're after that golden light that makes the prang glow, skip the temple itself and head to the opposite bank (the Phra Nakhon side) in the late afternoon, just before sunset.
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Getting to Wat Arun
Wat Arun sits on the Thonburi side, directly across from Tha Tien and Wat Pho. The most fun — and cheapest — way to get there is the cross-river ferry, because you watch the prang grow larger as the boat closes in, an angle you'll never get arriving by road.
- Cross-river ferry from Tha Tien — the most popular option. Take the Chao Phraya Express boat or walk over from Wat Pho / Tha Maharaj to Tha Tien pier, then hop on the cross-river ferry to the Wat Arun side. The crossing costs around 5 THB and takes under 5 minutes, with boats leaving every few minutes (note: the Chao Phraya Express boat now stops at Tha Tien rather than the old Wat Arun pier).
- Chao Phraya Express boat (orange flag / no flag) — from BTS Saphan Taksin, get off at Sathorn pier and ride the boat down to Tha Tien. The fare is roughly 16–30 THB depending on the line, then transfer to the cross-river ferry as above.
- MRT Blue Line — get off at Itsaraphap station on the Thonburi side, then take a taxi / motorbike taxi or walk the roughly 1 km to the temple. A good option if you'd rather skip the ferry.
- Taxi / Grab — drop-off is at the Wang Doem Road entrance on the Thonburi side, handy if you're in a group or carrying luggage.
Straight talk
If you're already staying around Rattanakosin Island, don't overthink it — walk to Tha Tien and take the ferry across. It's the fastest and cheapest way. There's no need to call a Grab and loop all the way around the bridge, which costs you both time and money.
Where to Photograph the Prang from Across the River
Here's what a lot of people don't realise: the best angle on Wat Arun isn't inside the temple at all — it's from the opposite bank (the Phra Nakhon side, around Tha Tien and Tha Maharaj), looking across the river at the full prang. At sunset especially, the orange-gold light reflects beautifully off the surface of the Chao Phraya. This is where people actually shoot it.
Tha Tien / riverside in front of the pier
The easiest spot, and it's free. Stand at the riverside in front of the pier and you'll see the whole prang. The late-afternoon crowd gathers here to wait for the light, so arrive about half an hour before sunset to claim your spot.
The Deck by Arun Residence
A multi-level riverside restaurant and bar with a head-on view of Wat Arun. A good pick for dinner while you catch the prang once it's lit up. It fills up in the evening, so book ahead.
Eagle's Nest Rooftop Bar (Sala Arun)
The 5th-floor rooftop bar of Sala Arun hotel on Maharaj Road in Phra Nakhon. Walk up the stairs for a high, open view of the prang. A sunset favourite.
Chom Arun / VIVI The Coffee Place
Chom Arun is a riverside restaurant with a rooftop panorama zone, while VIVI is a riverside café around Tha Tien and Wat Pho — good for an afternoon coffee with a view.
Photography tip
Golden hour (roughly 30–40 minutes before sunset) is the prime window — soft light and the prang turns gold. Once it's dark, the temple lights up the spire for a completely different look. If you have time to stick around, you can capture both moods.
What Else to See Nearby
- Wat Pho — directly across the river, a few minutes' walk from Tha Tien, home to the giant Reclining Buddha. Easy to pair into a single day.
- Grand Palace & Wat Phra Kaew — about a 10-minute walk on from Wat Pho, completing the classic Rattanakosin Island temple circuit.
- Tha Maharaj / Tha Tien market — a riverside food spot with restaurants, cafés and souvenirs, a nice place to rest before catching the ferry.
Want to walk the whole Rattanakosin Island temple circuit in a single day?
See the Rattanakosin old-town route →