Wat Pho (Temple of the Reclining Buddha)
Home to the 46m gold-plated Reclining Buddha and the birthplace of traditional Thai massage, with a cheap on-site massage school.
- Category
- Temples (Wat)
- Entrance fee
- ~300 THB for foreigners incl. a bottle of water (as of 2026, confirm locally)
- Hours
- Daily ~08:00-18:30 (confirm locally)
- Best time
- Early morning; combine with Grand Palace next door.
- Time needed
- 1-2 hours
About Wat Pho (Temple of the Reclining Buddha)
Right next door to the Grand Palace and, honestly, often the more enjoyable of the two. The gold-plated Reclining Buddha is genuinely huge and the whole complex tends to feel calmer than the crush over the wall.
The real reason locals rate this place is the massage. Wat Pho is the birthplace of traditional Thai massage and there's a school on the grounds where you can get the real thing at the source, at reasonable prices. If you only get one massage in Bangkok, get it here.
Pair it with the Grand Palace in a single morning since they're a short walk apart, and you'll have covered the two heavyweights of old Bangkok before lunch.
Highlights
- The 46m gold-plated Reclining Buddha
- A real Thai massage at the temple where the tradition began
- Quieter, more relaxed atmosphere than the Grand Palace
- Rows of chedis and detailed courtyard artwork
Tips
- Come early and combine it with the Grand Palace right next door
- Set aside time for an on-site massage, it's the reason to linger
- Cover shoulders and knees as at any working temple
- MRT Sanam Chai exits right beside it, the easiest arrival
How to get there
MRT to Sanam Chai (exit right next to it), or Chao Phraya Express Boat to Tha Tien pier; ~20-40 min from centre.