Wat Pho Bangkok: THB 300 Ticket, Hours, Reclining Buddha
Go to Wat Pho for the Reclining Buddha, and bring THB 300 and trousers: foreign adults pay THB 300, children under 120 cm enter free, and shorts are not allowed. It is open daily from 08:00 to 19:30, and the Reclining Buddha inside is 46 meters long.
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Wat Pho is the easy, rewarding stop next to the Grand Palace: bring THB 300 and trousers, and go for the Reclining Buddha.
Wat Pho ticket prices and opening hours
Budget THB 300 for each foreign adult at Wat Pho. Children under 120 cm (4 feet) enter free. The temple is open daily from 08:00 to 19:30, and its massage service keeps the same hours.
| What | Price or time |
|---|---|
| Foreign adult admission | THB 300 |
| Child under 120 cm | free |
| Temple hours | 08:00 to 19:30 |
| Thai massage, 30 minutes | THB 340 |
Arrive from 08.30 to be safe. If you want a massage, the temple’s own school charges THB 340 for 30 minutes, THB 520 for 60 minutes and THB 1,040 for 120 minutes for a Thai massage.
Dress code and temple manners
Pack trousers rather than shorts, because shorts are not allowed, and shorts above the knees are prohibited for women. Your shoes come off and go on the shelf before you enter religious buildings. Photos are fine in the temple, but never step on a Buddha image. Women may not enter areas set aside for monks’ rites.
What to see at Wat Pho
Head first for the north-west corner, where the Reclining Buddha lies in its own hall. It stretches 46 meters long and stands 15 meters high from base to topknot. Look closely at the feet, which are 5 meters long and 3 meters high.
Then walk out to the courtyard of four chedis, each 42 metres high. In the main hall, the Phra Ubosot, some ashes of King Rama I are kept under the principal Buddha image. If you have time, find the rockery courtyard, where figurines of twisting hermits show yoga-like postures.
Who Wat Pho suits (and who should skip it)
Wat Pho suits families with children under 120 cm, since those children enter free. It also suits evening visitors, as the temple stays open to 19:30, and anyone wanting a massage on site. Skip the visit if you only have shorts with you, because shorts are not allowed.
How to get to Wat Pho
The address is 2 Sanam Chai Road, Phra Nakhon District, Bangkok 10200. On the MRT, ride the Blue Line to Wat Pho Station and leave by Exit 1. By boat, the express boats stop at Tha Tien, and from the junction you turn right and walk about 10 minutes. Drivers will find parking on Chetuphon Road at THB 20 per hour.
When to go and how long
Come any day from 08:00 to 19:30. Those evening hours give you room that the Grand Palace does not. No official visit length is published.
Nearby and how to combine it
The Grand Palace is the natural pair, and you will find its ticket and dress rules in Grand Palace tickets and dress code. Do the palace first, since its tickets are sold from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM, then walk about 10 minutes to Wat Pho.
Before you go
Bring cash for the THB 300 admission, plus extra for a massage. Dress politely and leave shorts behind.
Photos (1)
- Gabrielle H
Step by step
- Dress for the templeWear polite dress with no shorts; trousers are permitted.
- Pay the admissionAdmission for foreign visitors is THB 300; children under 120 cm are free.
- Take your shoes offPut your shoes on the shelf before entering religious buildings.
- Visit the Reclining BuddhaThe image is in its own hall in the north-west corner of the temple.
Not confirmed: Opening time: the English plan starts at 08:00 and the Thai contact block at 08.30, so arrive from 08.30. Visit length: no official time is published.
Common questions
How much is the Wat Pho entrance fee for foreigners?
Admission is THB 300, and children under 120 cm (4 feet) come in free.
What are the Wat Pho opening hours?
Plan on 08:00 to 19:30 daily. Arrive from 08.30 to be safe.
How big is the Reclining Buddha at Wat Pho?
It stretches 46 meters long and stands 15 meters high from base to topknot.
Can you wear shorts at Wat Pho?
No. Shorts are not allowed, although trousers are permitted, and shorts above the knees are prohibited for women.
How much is a massage at Wat Pho?
A Thai massage is THB 340 for 30 minutes, THB 520 for 60 minutes and THB 1,040 for 120 minutes. The service runs daily from 08:00 to 19:30.
How do you get to Wat Pho by MRT?
Ride the MRT Blue Line to Wat Pho Station, then leave by Exit 1.
Do you take your shoes off at Wat Pho?
Yes. Before you enter religious buildings, your shoes come off and go on the shelf.
Read next
Sources and reader comments
Official sources:
Company and press pages (not official sources):
- Wat Pho (operator): Visit plan (watpho.com) (opens in a new tab)
- Wat Pho (operator): Phra Buddha Saiyas, the Reclining Buddha (watpho.com) (opens in a new tab)
- Wat Pho (operator): home page, contact block in Thai (watpho.com) (opens in a new tab)
- Wat Pho (operator): Trip to Wat Pho (watpho.com) (opens in a new tab)
Show 4 more sources
- Wat Pho (operator): Phra Maha Chedi Si Rajakarn (watpho.com) (opens in a new tab)
- Wat Pho (operator): Phra Ubosot (watpho.com) (opens in a new tab)
- Wat Pho (operator): Rockery and twisted hermit (watpho.com) (opens in a new tab)
- Chao Phraya Express Boat: News (chaophrayaexpressboat.com) (opens in a new tab)
Prices, timetables and opening hours change; check with the operator before you travel. See how guides are checked.
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Comments (5)
International_Box671
The Grand Palace has a free tour guide. Several languages available. I think the first English tour is 9 am. Not sure when the Japanese Tour starts, There are several during day. If an official looking dude tries to tell you the Palace is closed, just tell him, you are related to the Queen and you have a special invitation for tea! Beware of anyone suggesting a tour to visit the Lucky Buddah!
Juslivin
Sure you can easily do it yourself. From the asoke/sukumvit area hop on the MRT to Sanam Chai. From there you are just south of wat pho and the grand palace. You can walk to both for your visit. After those places you can walk to the river and catch a boat to wat arun.
View all 5 comments
z050z
Yes, you don't need a tour guide. You pretty much just walk in and pay the fee. Just make sure you are wearing pants or a long dress otherwise they will make you cover up. You may be approached by tuktuk drivers saying the temple or palace is closed or the monks are doing prayers, you can ignore them.
ZahxEXO
Tuktuk scam near Wat Pho This man in his 50s approached me on my way to Wat Pho earlier today. For reference it’s about 10am. He said there’s a ceremony going on today and I should come back in 2 hours. I was already in 2 minds about going to Wat Pho today because I’d just been to the Grand Palace and got fried in the heat. I was going to come back tomorrow morning at 8am. Anyway so he approaches me with the Tuktuk scam telling me he’d take me to so and so temples which are low cost or free. I didn’t really pay attention to what he was saying and kept declining. He kept saying “you’re not happy” and I said I would follow my plan B and go back and ride the tourist boat for an hour or so and come back (I wasn’t going to come back). He just didn’t take no for an answer. Eventually I just said I was going to ask the ticket office staff about this and walked away. I absolutely hate being pressured so that’s what saved me from this guy and his tuktuk tour. I see how people would fall for this. Repeating the advice I’ve read on here before me: Don’t stop to talk to anyone calling out to you when at any of the tourist attractions in Bangkok.
Samwry
Heard this one 33 years ago on my first trip to Bangkok. Theme and variations; ">>>>> is closed for a ceremony/Bhuddist holiday today" "the government is promoting ...... product today, once a year sale!" "the tuktuk driver will get gas coupons from the government, so it's free!" "have you seen the .......temple?" Then when you get there, a well dressed man who speaks good English just happens to be there too, and explains how gemstones are reallly cheap due to oversupply/holiday etc and knows where you can go to buy them.