Wat Pho Bangkok: Hours, Fees and How to Visit

Featured image: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Wat Pho at a glance

Wat Pho sits on Maha Rat Road in Phra Nakhon district, on Rattanakosin Island directly south of the Grand Palace. Signs and maps may show วัดโพธิ์ or the full name, Wat Phra Chetuphon Wimon Mangkhalaram Rajwaramahawihan. Most people come for the Reclining Buddha. Our pick is a 60 to 90 minute visit so the cloisters and chedis get their share. Wat Pho is part of our overview of Bangkok's major temples.

Is Wat Pho worth visiting?

Yes, for most first-time visitors. Wat Pho holds more than 1,000 Buddha images, 91 small chedis and four great chedis in one compound. Add the Reclining Buddha and you get a full morning for a modest ticket. We'd skip or shorten the visit in a few cases. Those cases are below, with alternatives for each.

• You have 30 minutes only: see the four great chedis and the Reclining Buddha, then leave.
• You won't remove your shoes: the main halls require it, so choose another sight.
• You want a quieter temple: try our Wat Arun visitor notes for a different feel.
• You are comparing options: our Bangkok temples overview ranks the choices by effort.

Wat Pho opening hours, tickets and closures

Published fees range from ฿100 to ฿300, and published hours run from 08:00 to as late as 19:30. We won't pick one figure for you, because the numbers disagree and foreigner pricing has probably changed over time. Confirm both on the official Wat Pho site or at the ticket desk. Ask whether a bottle of water is included, since one report says it is. Children under 120 cm have been reported to enter free, so check that too. Closures do happen. The official site posted a notice for 4 April 2025, closing the gate from 14:00 to 16:00 and reopening it from 16:00 to 20:00. Our advice is to arrive near opening and check the day's status before you set out.

How to get to Wat Pho

Three options work well, and none needs a tour. Sanam Chai MRT station is about a 10-minute walk away. River boats are the scenic choice. A taxi or tuk-tuk is easiest from elsewhere in the city. Wat Pho has 16 perimeter gates, but only two serve the public, one of them on Chetuphon Road. Follow signs rather than a stranger's directions.

• MRT: get off at Sanam Chai and walk about 10 minutes.
• River boat: take the Chao Phraya Express to Tha Tien pier.
• Taxi or tuk-tuk: agree the fare first, or use the meter.
• Leaving: walk to the main road before hailing a ride.

What to wear and what to expect at the entrance

Wat Pho is a working temple, so cover your shoulders and knees. Pack lightweight trousers and a top with sleeves. Reports say clothing can be rented at the entrance, but we wouldn't count on stock. Our temple etiquette rules cover posture, shoes and photography in more detail. You will be asked to remove your shoes at the halls and given a bag to carry them. Slip-ons save time. Photography has been reported as unrestricted, but keep clear of worshippers and monks.

A walking route through Wat Pho

The Reclining Buddha is far from the entrance, so a good visit works toward it. We'd follow the layout in this order for a 60 to 90 minute loop. Skip stops 2 and 4 if you are short on time.

• Phra Ubosot: the ordination hall, with teak doors inlaid with mother-of-pearl.
• Double cloister: around 400 Buddha images surround the hall, with four vihara halls on the compass points.
• Four great chedis: each stands about 138 ft high and honors one of the first four Chakri kings.
• Rock gardens and the Crocodile Pond: statues here show yoga and massage postures.
• Viharn Phranorn: the Reclining Buddha, last stop.

The Reclining Buddha

Viharn Phranorn houses the figure, which Rama III built in 1832. It is widely cited as 151 ft long and 49 ft high. It has a brick core, shaped in plaster and then gilded. Look at the soles of the feet. Each is divided into 108 panels inlaid with mother-of-pearl, showing auspicious symbols. Along the corridor stand 108 bronze bowls. Visitors drop coins in them for good fortune, and a set has been reported at about ฿20. Check the current price at the counter. Walk the full length before you photograph it. The whole figure won't fit in one frame, and rushing is the main regret people report.

Thai massage and traditional medicine at Wat Pho

Wat Pho is regarded as the birthplace of traditional Thai massage, and a school of Thai medicine and massage has operated here since the 1950s. Visitors can book a treatment in the pavilions at the eastern edge. Recent reports put 30 minutes near ฿340 and one hour near ฿520, with the pavilions open 08:00 to 17:00. An older report gave ฿250, so confirm the price before you lie down. Our view is to book the massage after the walking route, not before.

• Ask the price and duration before you commit.
• Ask how long the queue is, and whether you can book ahead.
• Skip it if you are short on time.
• Skip it if you have mobility limits or a medical condition, and ask a professional first.

A short history of Wat Pho

Wat Pho predates Bangkok and was originally called Wat Photaram. Rama I made Bangkok the capital in 1782. He ordered the rebuilding in 1788, and the complex was renamed in 1801. Rama III then enlarged it from 1832, a project that took 16 years and seven months. He also added inscriptions that made the temple a public center of learning. UNESCO registered these inscriptions in its Memory of the World Programme on 21 February 2008.

Combining Wat Pho with the Grand Palace and Wat Arun

Wat Pho is directly south of the Grand Palace, so the two pair naturally. We'd start at the palace, which has the stricter dress code and entry. See our Grand Palace planning notes for details, and check the official palace site for hours. Walk to Wat Pho next. Finish with the short ferry hop from the dock near the temple to Wat Arun. Confirm its opening times on the Wat Arun website. Our Wat Arun guide covers the climb. If energy remains, the Golden Mount climb is an optional add-on.

• Morning: Grand Palace.
• Midday: Wat Pho, ending with a massage if you want one.
• Afternoon: ferry to Wat Arun.

Common mistakes to avoid

A few errors cost visitors time or entry. Most are easy to dodge with a little planning.

• Arriving in shorts or a sleeveless top.
• Believing a tout who says the temple is closed today.
• Rushing the Reclining Buddha for a single photo.
• Skipping the chedis and cloister.
• Assuming a fee or closing time without checking.