Wat Pho Bangkok: Tickets, Hours, Dress Code and Tips

By NaJade · DJ in Bangkok · Published October 20, 2026

Wat Pho, the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, costs 300 baht for foreign visitors and is open daily from 08:00 to 19:30. The easiest way there is the MRT Blue Line to Sanam Chai, or the river boat to Tha Tien pier. Cover your shoulders and knees, allow one to two hours, and go early morning or late afternoon to beat the heat and crowds.

I take friends here more than anywhere else in the old town. The Grand Palace gets the headlines, but Wat Pho is calmer, cheaper, and in my opinion more beautiful once you walk past the famous Buddha and into the courtyards most people skip. Here is everything you need to plan the visit.

Wat Pho: 300 baht, open 08:00–19:30, MRT Sanam Chai or Tha Tien pier. See the 46-metre Reclining Buddha, then explore the quiet courtyards and chedis. Cover shoulders and knees, arrive early or late afternoon, and book a massage at the temple’s famous school.

Wat Pho at a Glance

What	Details
Entry (foreigners)	300 baht, cash at the gate; Thai citizens and children under 120 cm free
Opening hours	08:00–19:30 daily (official); halls can close earlier, so arrive by 17:30
Nearest MRT	Sanam Chai (Blue Line), Exit 1, about a 5–7 minute walk
Nearest pier	Tha Tien (N8) on the Chao Phraya
Time needed	1–2 hours; longer with a massage
Dress code	Shoulders and knees covered; shoes off inside halls

Several recent visitors report a small bottle of water included with the ticket, collected at a kiosk inside. Treat it as a nice extra rather than a guarantee, and bring your own in hot season. Always check the official Wat Pho visitor page before you go, as hours occasionally change for ceremonies.

What to See Inside

The Reclining Buddha. 46 metres long and 15 metres high, covered in gold leaf. Walk the full length — the soles of the feet are inlaid with mother-of-pearl showing 108 auspicious symbols.
The 108 bronze bowls. Along the back wall of the hall. Drop a coin in each for good luck; small change is sold at the entrance.
The four great chedis. Tall tiled stupas dedicated to the first four kings of the Chakri dynasty. Best light is late afternoon.
Phra Ubosot and the galleries. The ordination hall and cloisters lined with hundreds of Buddha images. Much quieter than the reclining Buddha hall.
The stone inscriptions. Wat Pho is often called Thailand’s first public university. Its 1,431 marble inscriptions on medicine, massage, history and literature were inscribed on UNESCO’s Memory of the World register in 2011 — details on the Wat Pho epigraphic archives site.

Getting a Massage at Wat Pho

Wat Pho is the historic home of Thai traditional massage, and its massage school still runs a pavilion inside the temple grounds. It is not the cheapest massage in Bangkok, but it is one of the most authentic, and the therapists are trained to a consistent standard. For the wider picture, see Thai massage in Bangkok.

Treatment	30 min	60 min	120 min
Thai massage	340 baht	520 baht	1,040 baht
Foot massage	340 baht	520 baht	1,040 baht
Thai massage with herbal balm	—	680 baht	1,360 baht

There is often a queue in the afternoon. Put your name down when you arrive, see the temple, then come back. Massages may stop taking new customers before the temple itself closes.

How to Get There

MRT (easiest): Blue Line to Sanam Chai, Exit 1, then walk five to seven minutes to the Chetuphon Road gate.
River boat (most scenic): Chao Phraya Express Boat from Sathorn Pier (next to BTS Saphan Taksin) to Tha Tien (N8). Not every flag stops at N8 — check before boarding. Our Chao Phraya Express Boat guide explains the flags.
Taxi or Grab: Fine outside rush hour. Ignore anyone outside who says Wat Pho is “closed today” and offers a tuk-tuk tour instead — it’s one of the classic Bangkok scams.

Combining Wat Pho With the Grand Palace and Wat Arun

Wat Pho sits directly south of the Grand Palace, an easy walk away, and Wat Arun is straight across the river. A classic half-day route: Grand Palace when it opens, Wat Pho late morning, then the cross-river ferry from Tha Tien to Wat Arun (about 5 baht each way, roughly 200 baht entry) for sunset. Read the Grand Palace guide first, because its dress code and ticket hours are stricter. For more ideas, see things to do in Bangkok.

Etiquette and Best Time to Visit

Dress: cover shoulders and knees; no short shorts or sleeveless tops. Sarongs are available at the gate. See what to wear in Bangkok.
Shoes: off before entering any hall; there are bags to carry them.
Behaviour: don’t point your feet at Buddha images, keep voices low, and women should not touch monks. More in Thai etiquette in Bangkok.
Timing: November to February is cooler and drier. Arrive at 08:00 or after 15:30 to avoid the heat and the biggest tour groups.

A Note From NaJade

The first time I visited Wat Pho, I did what everyone does: photographed the Buddha’s feet and left in twenty minutes. Years later a Thai friend made me slow down and walk the back courtyards at closing time, when the light goes gold on the chedis and the tour groups have gone. That’s the Wat Pho I recommend. I still go when a set has left my head too loud — a massage in the pavilion, a slow lap of the galleries, then a ferry to the other side for sunset. It’s the most peaceful 300 baht in the city. Just dress properly and give it the respect it deserves; it’s a working temple, not a backdrop.

More: the Grand Palace guide, Bangkok in 3 days, Chinatown Bangkok, and how to get around Bangkok. Background: UNESCO on the Wat Pho archives.

Video: Visiting Bangkok's GIANT Gold Reclining Buddha – Wat Pho Temple Tour With Travel Tips (YouTube)

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is the Wat Pho entrance fee?

Foreign visitors pay 300 baht, in cash at the ticket booth. Thai citizens and children under 120 cm tall enter free. Many recent visitors report a small bottle of water included with the ticket. The fee does not cover the massage pavilion, which is paid separately inside the temple grounds.

What are Wat Pho’s opening hours?

The temple’s official visitor page lists 08:00 to 19:30 every day. Some halls, including the Reclining Buddha hall, may close earlier, so aim to arrive by about 17:30 if you want to see everything. Early morning is the coolest and quietest time to visit.

What should I wear to Wat Pho?

Cover your shoulders and knees. Avoid sleeveless tops, crop tops, short shorts and short skirts. Remove your shoes before entering any hall. If you arrive underdressed, sarongs or wraps are available at the entrance, but it is easier to wear light trousers or a long skirt and a T-shirt.

How do I get to Wat Pho?

Take the MRT Blue Line to Sanam Chai station, use Exit 1 and walk five to seven minutes. Alternatively, ride the Chao Phraya Express Boat to Tha Tien pier (N8). Taxis and Grab work outside rush hour. Ignore strangers who claim the temple is closed and offer a tuk-tuk tour.

How long do you need at Wat Pho?

One to two hours covers the Reclining Buddha, the chedis, the main ordination hall and the galleries at a relaxed pace. Add an hour or more if you want a Thai massage at the temple’s massage pavilion, especially in the afternoon when there is often a queue.

Can you combine Wat Pho with the Grand Palace and Wat Arun?

Yes, and most visitors do. The Grand Palace is a short walk north of Wat Pho, and Wat Arun is directly across the river, reached by a small cross-river ferry from Tha Tien for about 5 baht. Grand Palace in the morning, Wat Pho at midday and Wat Arun at sunset works well.

About the Author

NaJade is a Bangkok-based DJ playing progressive house, melodic EDM, pop, and Thai music across clubs, rooftops, and weddings in Thailand — and has lived in the city long enough to have made every one of these mistakes at least once. Find him on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok.

🎧 Listen to his latest set · 💌 Book him for your venue or event

Wat Pho Bangkok: Tickets, Hours and Tips