Things to do in Bangkok: top sights, temple costs, viewpoints and closed days

💡 The Short Version: Bangkok’s essential sights centre on Rattanakosin Island and the Chao Phraya river corridor. Foreign visitor entry is 500 THB for the Grand Palace (open daily 08:30 to 15:30, with a clothing list the palace enforces) and 300 THB for Wat Pho (daily 08:00 to 19:30). Wat Arun is reached by cross-river ferry from Tha Tien pier. The Bangkok National Museum is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. The Jim Thompson House is 250 THB and includes a guided tour. Chatuchak Weekend Market is free to enter and runs its full retail market on Saturdays and Sundays. Reserve Mahanakhon SkyWalk sunset tickets online a few days ahead; temple admissions are purchased at the entrance counters. Or book a tour: the five-hour guided tour of the Grand Palace, Wat Pho and Wat Arunad (from ฿750, 4.8 stars from 6,053 reviews) takes a group of up to ten with a guide who gets you past the ticket queue.

Key sights at a glance

Prices are standard foreign visitor rates in Thai baht (THB), where the operator publishes them.

Tours and booked tickets

Every sight above can be done on your own. These GetYourGuide products fit the way people actually use a first visit: the temples with a guide, an evening in the old town, a driver for the day, and the one ticket that is worth fixing in advance. For the sight-by-sight options, see Grand Palace tickets, Mahanakhon SkyWalk tickets and Rajadamnern Muay Thai tickets.

Three temples with a small group

From ฿750 · 4.8 stars from 6,053 reviews · 5 hours · groups of up to 10

Bangkok: Grand Palace, Wat Pho and Wat Arun Guided Tourad: an English-speaking guide, a boat ride and a group of no more than ten. It meets outside Golden Place at Tha Chang pier and ends at Tha Tien pier. The listing says entrance fees are bought at the official counters on the day.

Night tuk-tuk tour with food

From ฿1,250 · 4.9 stars from 2,664 reviews · 2 to 4 hours · groups of up to 12

Bangkok: Markets, Temples and Food Night Tour by Tuk Tukad: a guide, tuk-tuk transport, food and drinks, with stops that include Wat Prayoon and the flower market at night. It includes 20 to 30 minutes of walking through markets, and the minimum age is 10.

A private driver for your own list

From ฿3,750 · 4.5 stars from 694 reviews · 5 to 8 hours · private

Bangkok: Customise Your Own Private Bangkok City Tourad: a private day with a personal driver and an optional guide, where you choose the places and how long to stay. It suits a group that wants its own list in one day without working out the ferries and the BTS between stops.

Muay Thai at Rajadamnern Stadium

From ฿1,000 · 4.9 stars from 16,381 reviews · 3 hours · e-ticket

Bangkok: Muay Thai Boxing Tickets at Rajadamnern Stadiumad: a ticket for a fight night at the stadium, in the seat zone you pick when you book. The listing says date changes are not permitted, so book once your dates are fixed.

Historic royal temples

Bangkok’s principal Buddhist temples (wats) cluster along the banks of the Chao Phraya River on Rattanakosin Island. Visitors must remove their shoes before entering any consecrated ordination hall (ubosot). To connect these sights in a single walking sequence, follow the self-guided Rattanakosin walking tour.

The Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew

The Grand Palace was established in 1782 by King Rama I as the official seat of the Chakri Dynasty. While the Thai monarch now resides at Dusit Palace, the Grand Palace grounds remain Thailand’s most important royal site.

• Admission: 500 THB for foreign visitors (Thai citizens enter free; children under 120 cm enter free).
• Opening hours: Daily from 08:30 to 15:30 (ticket counters close at 15:30; grounds clear at 16:30). Enter by the Mani Noppharat gate.
• What to see: Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha) houses the 66-centimetre-tall Emerald Buddha, carved from a single block of jadeite. The cloister walls carry murals of the Ramakien epic. Outside, the Central Court contains the Chakri Maha Prasat and Dusit Maha Prasat royal throne halls.
• Dress code: the palace refuses entry in sleeveless shirts, vests, short or see-through tops, shorts, torn or tight trousers, bike pants and mini skirts.
• Touts: Disregard tuk-tuk drivers outside asserting that the palace is closed for a royal ceremony. Walk directly to the Mani Noppharat gate and the official ticket desks.

For full ticketing procedures and navigation advice, read the Grand Palace tickets guide.

The Grand Palace walls and Wat Phra Kaew. Photo: Ninara from Helsinki, Finland (edit: TSP), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0.

Wat Pho (Temple of the Reclining Buddha)

Situated immediately south of the Grand Palace, Wat Pho is among Bangkok’s oldest and largest temple complexes.

• Admission: 300 THB.
• Opening hours: Daily from 08:00 to 19:30.
• What to see: The ordination hall holds the 46-metre-long and 15-metre-high Reclining Buddha, depicting the Buddha entering parinirvana. The figure is coated in gold leaf, with intricate mother-of-pearl illustrations of auspicious signs on the five-metre-long soles of the feet. Along the hall, 108 bronze alms bowls allow visitors to drop coins for good fortune.
• Massage pavilion: Wat Pho is the historic national centre for the preservation and teaching of traditional Thai massage. The school offers traditional Thai massage for 340 THB for 30 minutes or 520 THB for 60 minutes.

For opening hours, massage rates, and temple etiquette, see Wat Pho Reclining Buddha tickets.

The chedis at Wat Pho. Photo: Manoonp, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn)

Positioned directly on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River in Thonburi, Wat Arun is the temple on the Bangkok skyline from the river.

• Admission: foreign visitors pay at the ticket kiosk by the pier.
• How to reach it: Take the cross-river passenger ferry from Tha Tien Pier on the eastern bank directly to Wat Arun pier, paying in cash at the turnstile.
• What to see: The central Khmer-style prang is encrusted with colourful porcelain mosaics and floral ceramics salvaged from Chinese trade ship ballast. Visitors can climb the steep steps of the first tier for elevated river perspectives.

For ferry logistics and visiting times, see Wat Arun tickets.

Wat Saket (The Golden Mount)

Wat Saket sits just outside the old city moat. Its gilded chedi crowns an artificial hill built from earth and rubble during the reigns of King Rama III through Rama V after an earlier structure collapsed.

• Admission: foreign visitors pay at the gate.
• What to see: A shaded, spiralling staircase winds around the forested mound, lined with prayer bells, misting fans, and miniature gardens. The summit terrace provides an unobstructed 360-degree vista over Bangkok’s low-rise Old Town, the Giant Swing, and modern downtown skyscrapers in the distance.
• Transport: Ride the Khlong Saen Saep canal boat to its western terminal at Phan Fa Lilat Pier, or walk 12 minutes from MRT Sam Yot station.

Museums and cultural heritage

Beyond its temples, Bangkok preserves royal collections, classical architecture, and traditional crafts in dedicated institutions.

Bangkok National Museum

Located opposite the open parade grounds of Sanam Luang, the Bangkok National Museum occupies the 18th-century palace of the Prince Successor (the Wang Na).

• Admission: 200 THB.
• Opening hours: Wednesday to Sunday from 08:30 to 16:00 (closed Mondays and Tuesdays).
• What to see: Southeast Asia’s largest museum holds galleries dedicated to Dvaravati, Sukhothai, and Ayutthaya sculpture, royal funeral chariots carved from gilded teak, ceremonial royal regalia, and the revered Phra Phutta Sihing Buddha image housed in the Buddhaisawan Chapel.
• Guided tours: Free foreign-language guided tours led by volunteer docents depart on Wednesday and Thursday mornings at 09:30 in English, French, and German.

The Bangkok National Museum. Photo: Masgatotkaca, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.

Jim Thompson House Museum

Set beside the Saen Saep canal, this jungle-garden compound was the home of Jim Thompson, the former American architect and intelligence officer who helped re-establish the Thai domestic silk weaving industry during the 1950s.

• Admission: 250 THB for adults, 150 THB for visitors aged 10 to 21, free for children aged 9 and under.
• Opening hours: Daily from 10:00 to 17:00 (last tour departs at 17:00).
• What to see: Six antique teak residential structures brought from Ayutthaya and Ban Krua. Interior rooms display Thompson’s private collection of Asian antiques, including Burmese sculptures, Chinese blue-and-white porcelain, and traditional religious tapestries.
• Visit rules: Entry to the main house is by guided tour only, in Thai, English, French, Chinese or Japanese. Visitors take off their shoes at the house and leave bags over 20 cm in the lockers.

For tour schedules and textile museum details, see Jim Thompson House tickets.

Viewpoints and modern landmarks

Bangkok has observation towers, riverfront cruises and a boxing stadium that has run since 1945.

Mahanakhon SkyWalk

Located atop the King Power Mahanakhon building at BTS Chong Nonsi, this observation deck is among Thailand’s highest public viewing points.

• Admission: 1,000 THB for entry before 15:30 and 1,200 THB from 15:30 to 19:00. Advance booking is available from the operator, Klookad and KKdayad.
• Opening hours: Daily from 10:00 to midnight (last access 23:00).
• What to see: A lift climbs to the 74th-floor indoor deck in under 50 seconds. The 78th-floor outdoor deck has a 63-square-metre glass floor at 310 metres, with The Peak at 314 metres.

For timed entry slots and sunset planning, see Mahanakhon SkyWalk tickets.

Chao Phraya river dinner cruises

Evening river cruises run daily along the central waterway between Rama VIII Bridge and Asiatique. Illuminated landmarks include Wat Arun, the Grand Palace, and the Rama VIII cable-stayed bridge.

• Tickets: Buffet cruises are sold on GetYourGuide, Klook and at operator desks.
• Departures: Boats generally depart from Iconsiam or Asiatique piers in the evening, with live music and an international buffet.

For boat comparisons and route maps, see Bangkok Chao Phraya dinner cruises.

Rajadamnern Muay Thai Stadium

Opened in 1945, Rajadamnern calls itself the world’s first Muay Thai (Thai boxing) stadium.

• Admission: prices depend on the seat class and the night, and are shown on the stadium’s booking page.
• Fight nights: fights run seven nights a week.
• Atmosphere: Bouts feature traditional sarama live music, ritual wai kru pre-fight dances, and local betting crowds.

For fight cards and seating tiers, see Rajadamnern Muay Thai tickets.

Markets and shopping districts

Bangkok’s commercial life spans sprawling weekend bazaars, 24-hour wholesale food markets, and multi-level shopping complexes.

Chatuchak Weekend Market

Chatuchak (JJ Market), in northern Bangkok, has about 15,000 retail stalls.

• Admission: Free.
• Hours: the full retail market runs on Saturdays and Sundays.
• Transport: BTS Mo Chit (Exit 1) or MRT Kamphaeng Phet (Exit 2).
• What to buy: Vintage clothing, handmade leather, ceramics, home accessories, Thai silk, and dried spices. The landmark Clock Tower in Section 11 acts as the central orientation anchor.

For a detailed section breakdown and advice on cash withdrawals and bargaining, see the Chatuchak Weekend Market guide.

Chinatown (Yaowarat Road)

Bangkok’s Chinatown, founded in the late 18th century, remains one of the world’s largest historic Chinese trading enclaves.

• Best time: From 18:00 onwards, when traffic slows and roadside hawkers line the pavement with charcoal braziers and woks.
• Transport: MRT Blue Line to Wat Mangkon station (Exit 1).
• Food highlights: Peppery pork belly noodle soup (guay jub), charcoal-toasted custard buns, grilled jumbo prawns, and fresh seasonal durian and mango.

Yaowarat Road at night. Photo: Ninara, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.

The Chinatown and Talat Noi walk turns this street into a route.

For sights that require no entrance fee, consult free things to do in Bangkok. To plan a 72-hour trip step by step, see 3 days in Bangkok. If travelling with family, read Bangkok with kids. For airport trains and transfers, see Bangkok airport to the city. For overarching entry rules and seasonal timing, visit the Bangkok travel guide.

For meals, see where to eat in Bangkok; for what to wear at the temples, Bangkok etiquette; for the scams around the sights, is Bangkok safe.