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There are a ton of things to do in Bangkok, from insane activities to do to the markets and the beautiful temples. Sometimes, it feels overwhelming to decide, especially when you have limited time in the city that never sleeps. That’s why we reached out to our favorite bloggers to see what the top 5 temples in Bangkok are during your first trip to Thailand.

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The 5 top temples in Bangkok to visit on your first trip to Thailand

There is no shortage of temples to visit in Bangkok. In fact, it’s been said that there are over 400 temples or wats in Thailand’s capital. A lifetime would not be enough to visit them all. That’s why we asked our favorite bloggers to chime in and we narrowed down the best temples for you to check out on your first trip to Bangkok.

#1 top temple in Bangkok: The Grand Palace

If this is your first trip to Bangkok, The Grand Palace is a must! The vast Grand Palace was the original focus of which the city of Bangkok developed from the eighteenth century. It became the seat of the Siamese Monarchy from 1782 until democracy established itself in Thailand in the twentieth century.

The Grand Palace is a complex of buildings and stupas covering over two million square feet, and a visit to see its magnificent architecture and detail is a must-see temple during your first trip to Thailand.

There is a range of options for your visit, you can hire an official guide – (unofficial guides are not allowed inside the Palace) or just wander and marvel. The workmanship is beautiful enough to mesmerize, even if you have no idea what it is you are seeing. Our compromise was to rent the audio guide for 200 Thai baht which gave us freedom of movement along with the commentary.

Visitors to the Grand Palace must observe the typical dress code for Bangkok temples. No shorts or uncovered shoulders. If you need to, you can rent a sarong on the spot, but my advice is to have your own, the ones for hire are heavy and rough, just what you don’t need in the heat. Your sarong will be staunch support and companion in Bangkok for all sorts of uses.

Even though entry to the Grand Palace is a bit steep at 500 Thai baht, it gets crowded by lunchtime, so our advice is to visit early in the morning. Opening hours are from 8:30 till 4:30 pm. You can easily spend a whole day here. The Grand Palace is a must visit when in Bangkok with kids or without.

#2 top temple in Bangkok: Wat Benchamophit

Wat Benchamophit (Wat Ben for short) is one of the most stunning, yet underrated temples in Bangkok. The temple is decorated in brilliant white marble, the courtyard lined with Buddha statues and small bells which ring in the wind, and an impressive large Golden Buddha statue inside the temple itself. This is one spot in Bangkok you should not miss.

Wat Ben is located about 2.5km north of Bangkok’s Old Quarter in the district called Dusit. While it is walking distance, the heat can be terrible. I suggest a taxi which costs less than 100 THB one-way. Remember to go by the meter.

Entry to the outer grounds of the temple is free, and the inner courtyard is just 20 THB. Needless to say, I recommend exploring both! The temple is open from 8 am to 5.30 pm, but the ticket office to the inner courtyard might close a bit earlier, depending on how they feel on the day you visit.

#3 top temple in Bangkok: Wat Arun

Whether Wat Arun is on your Bangkok itinerary during the day or at night, it will catch your attention. The iconic Bangkok temple has an 80-meter prang, the highest in Thailand: you cannot miss it! 

During the day, the colors and reflections from the billions of pieces of mosaics are mesmerizing. Wat Arun is one of the rare monuments in Bangkok that were built during the Ayutthaya era, so its design is different from other temples in Bangkok. At night, it’s the best lit temple you’ll find in the country.  

An additional bonus of Wat Arun is its location on the river bank. Not only does it create a picture perfect temple, but the Chao Phraya river also provides a scenic and easy way to reach Wat Arun. Cruising on the river is indeed a lot nicer and more peaceful than catching a cab. 

Boats leave from Saphan Taksin, which is easy to access by train. From Saphan Taksin, you can catch the Express Boat with the locals or opt for the more comfortable hop-on-hop-off tourist boat. Wat Arun is on the other side of the river from Wat Pho. The boat trip to cross from one temple to the other only cost a few bahts. 

Wat Arun is open every day, and you’ll have to pay an entrance fee (100 Thai baht).

#4 top temple in Bangkok: Ayutthaya

Ok, so this temple isn’t located in the capital, per se, but it’s still worth the detour on your first trip to Thailand. Ayutthaya was a very prosperous Siamese Kingdom during the period of 1350-1767. At the time, it was one of the biggest and wealthiest cities in the East, making it an important hub for trading and business.

After the invasion of the Burmese in 1767, the city was left in shambles and the people fled the scene. Giving it the name of The Lost City. Today it showcases the history of its past with ancient ruins, museums, temples, palaces and more.

Ayutthaya Historical Park lies in the center of the unique grid-like structure of the city and is named a UNESCO world heritage site. Inside the park are four of the oldest temples, while the royal palace and chapel lie just west.  Many of the ancient ruins sites are within walking distance, however, many places offer bicycle rentals to get around for $1 USD per day.  

Besides the many temples, a few other points of interest include Chao Sam Phraya National Museum, Khlong Sra Bua floating market, Summer Palace, Million Toy Museum and Thai Boat Museum. Being a major tourist destination, there are several different restaurants offering delicious and authentic Thai food, as well as western favorites. 

Ayutthaya is about an hour north of Bangkok making it a popular day trip from the bustling big city. Day tours are offered from Bangkok ranging in price from $60-$100 USD. Furthermore, there are daily trains or minivans that offer transportation for those who are looking to go on there own, instead of in a group. Trains are the least reliable but most affordable at about $1 USD. While the minivans cost around $2.25 USD.

Grab a city map, hop on a bike and get ready to be awed by a city full of history, culture, religious beliefs and breathtaking architecture.

#5 top temple in Bangkok: Wat Saket or Golden Mountain

This was actually one of our favorite temples to see on our first trip to Thailand. It’s also known as the Temple of the Golden Mount.

This Bangkok landmark is unique in its own way. Located on the top of an 80-meter “mountain”, Wat Saket was once the highest point in all of Bangkok. Today, this golden temple is still a great place to visit to get a 360-degree view of Bangkok. A must for first-time visitors to the capital.

On the way to the top, up 300 steps, there are many resting areas that are decorated with a multitude of bells and gongs. We visited Wat Saket during Songkran, many locals were visiting it as a part of the traditional merit making practices that are performed during this holiday.

There’s a little shop in the wat that sells all sorts of refreshments. So, on a hot day, which is often in Bangkok, treat yourself to cold ice cream once you reach the top!

The temple is open daily from 9 am – 7 pm, and it costs 50 baht ($1.50 USD) per person to get in.

The easiest way to get there is to walk from Wat Pho. Wat Saket is a 30-minute walk from there if you’re up for it. Otherwise, you can jump on bus 2, though somehow, this takes more time than walking. If you don’t mind paying a little more, you could also always jump into a taxi or tuk-tuk.

Where to stay in Bangkok

There is no shortage of places to stay in Bangkok. You can find something for every budget and every preference. We love finding places to stay on Booking.com. From hotels to apartments and hostels, they have it all, at great prices!

How to be eco-friendly in Bangkok

As always, we want to be sure everyone travels in the most eco-friendly way possible! That’s why we want to share these few little tips with you to make your stay in Bangkok as eco-friendly and sustainable as possible.

1. Bring reusable water bottles and coffee mug: Tap water in Bangkok and Thailand is not safe to drink. So make sure you bring a reusable water bottle that you can fill up (we always have our Lifestraw Go with us!) The Lifestraw helps filter water, making it safe to drink. You should have seen the faces of locals every time we asked them to fill our bottle! They are shocked when we explain how our bottle makes the water safe to drink!
2. Eat as local and vegan as you can: This is the easiest way to reduce your environmental footprint. Eat as much local produce and food as possible, and especially, eat all the vegan options you can! It’s a delicious and easy way to reduce your carbon footprint. And don’t worry, there is no shortage of vegan or vegetarian options to eat in Bangkok!
3. Bring your own bags and refuse plastic bags: Like most places, they still offer plastic bags in grocery stores, at the local markets, and at various shops. So bring your own bag and do your little step to save our beautiful planet!
4. Walk around: We walked all around Bangkok and had a great time getting lost in its streets. It helped that our hotel was so centrally located to so many of the main attractions in Bangkok.
5. Use public transportation to get around Bangkok: The subways, water taxis and busses in Bangkok were quite easy to use and they cover such a vast area. It’s very easy and cheap to get around the city using public transportation. So make sure you use as much public transportation as you can!

And there you have it! The top 5 temples in Bangkok to visit on your first trip to Thailand. Hopefully, we’ve given you enough insight to focus your travels to the best of what the city has to offer. If you want to learn more about the city, we have articles covering the best activities to do, the best markets in Bangkok, as well as a full city guide for your first trip to Bangkok.

Let us know in the comments which temple you’re most excited to visit in Bangkok.

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