Wat Pho Bangkok: THB 300 Ticket, Hours, Reclining Buddha
Wat Pho costs THB 300 for foreigners, and children under 120 cm enter free. The temple is open daily from 08:00 to 19:30. The Reclining Buddha inside is 46 meters long and 15 meters high. Shorts are not allowed, but trousers are permitted.
On this page
Wat Pho ticket prices and opening hours
Wat Pho admission for foreign visitors is THB 300. Children under 120 cm (4 feet) enter free.
The temple is open daily from 08:00 to 19:30. The massage service uses 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 |
The 08:00 or 08:30 question
The English visit plan starts the day at 08:00. The Thai contact block on the home page starts it at 08.30 and ends it at 19.30.
Both end at 19:30. For a safe plan, arrive from 08.30.
Massage school prices
The Wat Pho Thai Traditional Medical and Massage School opened in 1955 inside the temple. Its service rate is posted on the temple’s page.
| Service | 30 min | 60 min | 120 min |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thai massage | THB 340 | THB 520 | THB 1,040 |
| Foot massage | THB 340 | THB 520 | THB 1,040 |
| Thai massage with balm | none | THB 680 | THB 1,360 |
| Thai massage with plai oil | none | THB 620 | THB 1,240 |
Dress code and temple manners
Visitors are asked to dress politely: no shorts, although trousers are permitted. Traditional or polite dress is required, and shorts above the knees are prohibited for women.
Shoes come off and go on the shelf before religious buildings. Women may not enter areas set aside for monks’ rites.
Photos can be taken in the temple, but never step on a Buddha image. It is prohibited for women to have physical contact with monks or novices.
What to see at Wat Pho
The monastery covers 20 acres. King Rama I ordered the restoration of Wat Phodharam in 1788.
A short history
King Rama I ordered the first restoration in 1788, and it took 7 years 5 months and 28 days. The great restoration under King Rama III took 16 years and 7 months.
The monastery covers 20 acres. Some ashes of King Rama I are kept in the main hall.
The Reclining Buddha
The Reclining Buddha is 46 meters long and 15 meters high from the base to the topknot. Its feet are 5 meters long and 3 meters high.
The image is in its own hall in the north-west corner of the temple. It is praised for its mother-of-pearl inlaid soles.
The four chedis and the main hall
Four chedis stand together as Phra Maha Chedi Si Rajakarn, and each is 42 metres high. In the main hall, the Phra Ubosot, some ashes of King Rama I are kept under the pedestal of the principal Buddha image.
The twisted hermits
The rockery courtyard holds figurines of twisting hermits showing yoga-like postures. The page counts 24 of the original 80 as still on display.
Who Wat Pho suits (and who should skip it)
- It suits visitors with children under 120 cm, since they enter free.
- It suits evening visitors: the temple stays open to 19:30.
- It suits people who want a massage on site: the school posts prices from THB 340.
- Skip it if you only have shorts, since shorts are not allowed.
- Skip the monks’ areas if you are a woman: they are closed to women.
How to get to Wat Pho
The address is 2 Sanam Chai Road, Phra Borom Maha Ratchawang Subdistrict, Phra Nakhon District, Bangkok 10200.
By MRT and bus
The MRT Blue Line stop is Wat Pho Station, Exit 1. Public buses 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 25, 32, 44, 47, 48, 53 and 82 serve the temple.
Air-conditioned buses A1, A4, A12, A44, A48, 507 and 508 also serve it.
By boat
Since 5 April 2024 the orange-flag and gold-flag express boats stop at Tha Tien instead of Wat Arun pier, so you can step off right at the Wat Pho side. From the Tha Tien junction, turn right and walk about 10 minutes.
By car
Parking is on Chetuphon Road at THB 20 per hour.
When to go and how long
The temple is open daily from 08:00 to 19:30. The Thai contact block starts the day at 08.30.
No official visit time is published. The evening hours until 19:30 give you room that the Grand Palace does not.
Nearby and how to combine it
The Grand Palace is the natural pair. See Grand Palace tickets and dress code for its ticket and dress rules.
Grand Palace tickets are sold from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM. So do the palace first, then walk about 10 minutes to Wat Pho.
Before you go
- Cash: admission is THB 300, and massage starts at THB 340 for 30 minutes.
- Clothes: polite dress, no shorts.
- Shoes: they come off before religious buildings.
- Women: monks’ areas are off limits, and no touching monks or novices.
- Photos: never step on a Buddha image.
- Parking: THB 20 per hour on Chetuphon Road.
- Questions to the temple: the contact email is watpho.th@gmail.com.
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?
The Wat Pho admission fee is THB 300. Children under 120 cm (4 feet) enter free.
What are the Wat Pho opening hours?
Wat Pho is open daily from 08:00 to 19:30 in the English visit plan. The Thai contact block of the home page starts at 08.30 and ends at 19.30.
How big is the Reclining Buddha at Wat Pho?
The Reclining Buddha is 46 meters long and 15 meters high from base to topknot. Its feet are 5 meters long and 3 meters high.
Can you wear shorts at Wat Pho?
No: the temple says no shorts, although trousers are permitted. Shorts above the knees are prohibited for women.
How much is a massage at Wat Pho?
A Thai massage costs THB 340 for 30 minutes, THB 520 for 60 minutes and THB 1,040 for 120 minutes. The massage service runs daily from 08:00 to 19:30.
How do you get to Wat Pho by MRT?
Take the MRT Blue Line to Wat Pho Station and leave by Exit 1.
Do you take your shoes off at Wat Pho?
Yes: shoes come off and go on the shelf before entering religious buildings.
Can you take photos of the Buddha images at Wat Pho?
Yes, photos can be taken in the temple, but never step on the image.
Read next
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.
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.