Marble Temple Bangkok: Tickets, Hours and Dress Code

By NaJade · DJ in Bangkok · Published October 27, 2026

The Marble Temple, Wat Benchamabophit, is a royal temple in Bangkok’s Dusit district built from Italian Carrara marble. Entry for foreign visitors is around 100 baht, the temple buildings are open roughly 8am to 6pm, and shoulders and knees must be covered. There’s no BTS or MRT station nearby, so most people arrive by Grab or taxi.

Most visitors spend their temple day in the old town and never make it to Dusit. That’s a shame, because the Marble Temple is one of the most beautiful buildings in the city — and on a weekday morning you can have whole corners of it to yourself. It’s the temple I take friends to when they’ve already done the big three and want something calmer.

Wat Benchamabophit is Bangkok’s Marble Temple: a royal temple begun in 1899, faced in Carrara marble and pictured on the five-baht coin. Expect an entry fee of about 100 baht, cover your shoulders and knees, and go early in the morning by taxi or Grab to beat the heat and tour groups.

Marble Temple at a Glance

What	Details
Thai name	Wat Benchamabophit Dusitwanaram (locals often just say “Wat Ben”)
Location	Dusit district, near Si Ayutthaya Road and Rama V Road
Entry fee	About 100 baht for foreign visitors (it was 50 baht until recently); Thais pay less. Bring cash
Opening hours	Temple buildings roughly 8:00–18:00; the outer grounds open earlier
Time needed	45 minutes to 1.5 hours
Dress code	Shoulders and knees covered, for men and women

Fees and hours at Thai temples change without much notice, so treat these as a guide and check the sign at the gate. Even at the higher price, it’s a fraction of the Grand Palace ticket.

Why the Marble Temple Is Worth the Trip

King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) commissioned the temple in 1899, after building his new palace nearby in Dusit. It was designed by his half-brother, Prince Naris, and mixes classic Thai tiered roofs with European touches: Carrara marble walls, columns and courtyard, and stained-glass windows in the ordination hall. The result looks unlike any other temple in Bangkok.

The ordination hall (ubosot). The white marble hall with its stacked orange-and-gold roofs is the image on the back of the five-baht coin. Have one in your pocket for the photo.
Phra Buddha Chinnarat. The principal Buddha image inside is a copy of the famous Sukhothai-style image in Phitsanulok. King Chulalongkorn’s ashes are interred beneath it.
The cloister of 52 Buddhas. Behind the hall, a gallery holds 52 Buddha images in different styles, each showing a different posture or gesture. It’s like a small open-air museum.
The canal and bridges. A small canal with red bridges runs through the grounds — the quiet side of the temple and a good place to slow down.

The Wikipedia entry on Wat Benchamabophit has a good summary of the history and the Buddha images, if you want to read up before you go.

How to Get to the Marble Temple

There’s no train station on the doorstep, which is part of why it’s quieter than the old-town temples.

Option	How	Notes
Grab or taxi	Ask for “Wat Ben” or Wat Benchamabophit	The easiest way; see using Grab in Bangkok
BTS + taxi	BTS to Phaya Thai or Victory Monument, then a short taxi	Avoids the worst of the Sukhumvit traffic
From the old town	Taxi or tuk-tuk from the Grand Palace area	Pairs well with the Golden Mount on the same day

Traffic in Dusit gets heavy around office hours and when roads are closed for royal events, so leave a buffer. If you’re working out your wider route, my guide to getting around Bangkok covers every option.

What to Wear and Temple Etiquette

This is a working royal temple, so the rules are the same as at any major wat — and staff do turn people away.

Cover shoulders and knees. Long trousers or a long skirt, and a shirt with sleeves. Leggings and see-through fabric can be refused. More in what to wear in Bangkok.
Shoes off before entering the ordination hall. Slip-ons save time.
Never point your feet at a Buddha image or a monk; sit with your feet tucked behind you.
Keep your voice down inside, and don’t touch or climb on statues for photos.
Women should not touch monks or hand items to them directly.

If any of this is new, read my guide to Thai etiquette first — it makes every temple visit easier.

Best Time to Visit

Go early. Between 8am and 10am the marble is still cool underfoot, the light on the façade is soft, and tour buses haven’t arrived. Very early mornings also give you a chance to see monks receiving alms near the temple, a tradition the Marble Temple is known for; watch quietly from a respectful distance. Avoid midday in the hot season (March to May) — white marble reflects a lot of heat. For the wider picture on weather, see the best time to visit Bangkok.

A practical half-day: Marble Temple first thing, then a taxi to the old town for Wat Pho and Wat Arun. A first-hand account of the current fee and hours is in this Marble Temple visitor guide.

A Note From NaJade

I first came here with friends visiting Bangkok, mostly because they wanted to see the temple from the coin. We ended up staying almost two hours, sitting in the cloister with the Buddha images while the city noise faded to nothing. It’s one of the few places in Bangkok where I genuinely forget what time it is. I play late nights for a living, so a temple that rewards an early start is a small act of discipline for me — but it’s worth it. Dress properly, bring a five-baht coin, and give it an unhurried hour.

More: the Grand Palace, Wat Pho, Wat Arun, the Golden Mount, and things to do in Bangkok.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is the entrance fee for the Marble Temple?

Foreign visitors pay about 100 baht at Wat Benchamabophit; it was 50 baht until recently, and Thai visitors pay less. Pay in cash at the ticket desk by the entrance. Prices at Thai temples can change without much notice, so check the sign at the gate, but it remains far cheaper than the Grand Palace.

What are the Marble Temple opening hours?

The temple buildings are generally open from around 8am to 6pm every day, while the outer grounds open earlier in the morning. The ordination hall can close briefly for ceremonies or royal events. Arriving between 8am and 10am gives you cooler marble, softer light and far fewer tour groups.

Why is it called the Marble Temple?

Its walls, columns and courtyard are faced in Carrara marble imported from Italy on the orders of King Chulalongkorn, who started the temple in 1899. The design, by his half-brother Prince Naris, blends Thai tiered roofs with European details such as stained-glass windows, which is why it looks so different from other Bangkok temples.

Is the Marble Temple on the 5 baht coin?

Yes. The ordination hall of Wat Benchamabophit appears on the reverse of the Thai five-baht coin. Bringing one along for a photo in front of the real building is a popular small ritual for visitors, and it makes a good souvenir of a temple many tourists miss entirely.

How do I get to the Marble Temple?

There’s no BTS or MRT station within easy walking distance, so most visitors take a Grab or taxi and ask for Wat Benchamabophit or simply “Wat Ben”. You can also take the BTS to Phaya Thai or Victory Monument and grab a short taxi from there. From the old town, it’s a quick taxi or tuk-tuk ride.

What should I wear to the Marble Temple?

Cover your shoulders and knees: long trousers or a long skirt and a top with sleeves, for both men and women. Avoid see-through fabrics and very tight clothing. You’ll remove your shoes before entering the ordination hall, so slip-on shoes help. Staff can and do refuse entry to visitors who are underdressed.

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.

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Marble Temple Bangkok (Wat Benchamabophit): Tickets and Tips