Wat Pho, just to the south, is home to the largest collection of Buddha images in Thailand. It is greatly revered from the Royal family to Thai nationals alike, as Thailands utmost precious religious icon once lived in by Kings is courtyards of countless majestic and all inspiring examples of exquisite Royal architecture through the millennia is located 700 meters south of The Grand Palace. Now you are all set for your trip! So, I guess thats all I have to say about what you need to know before visiting Bangkoks Grand Palace. Passengers are encouraged jump on and off the boat quickly to avoid delays. The palace was built in 1782 and used to be the official residence of Siam's Kings (the old name of Thailand) and the government offices until 1925. The Inner Court is actually closed off to the public so you wont be able to see it at all. Canals were dug, and the natural bend of the Chao Phraya was leveraged to create a more easily defended island that would become home to the new capital city. Things to See at the Grand Palace. Men must wear long pants; women must cover legs to just above the knee. After you purchased your ticket, you will enter first the grounds of the Wat Phra Kaew temple. Hi, I'm Eva! The Grand Palace is open seven days a week from 8:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. It's a complex of buildings located in Rattanakosin Island in the Phra Nakhon District of Bangkok. I definitely didnt see everything there is to see including the throne rooms and the museum but I saw a lot. There is a free guided tour not mentioned here, it's only available in the morning around 9.30am and 10.00am. Can You Go Inside The Grand Palace Bangkok? So I guess Ill just list them all here. The entrance is 500 baht for foreigners and free for Thais. Whilst the Grand Palace is one of Thailands most important historic landmarks, its no longer used as a royal residence by the Royal Family of Thailand. you shouldnt wear shorts or sleeveless shirts in any temple, Dont wear shirts with religious themes or symbols of death, visiting during the hottest months between March and May, passing through Bangkok for business or transit. The Royal Thai Palace - 7 Best Tips Before You Visit The Grand Palace The construction of the Grand Palace began in 1782 when King Rama I was in power. Basically, just wear shirt with sleeves with loose long pants, and youll be fine If you dont have long loose long pants, you can use sarong too. No, you do not need a passport to visit the Grand Palace in Bangkok. Right now, Grand Palace is used for occasional ceremonies besides being the busiest tourist attraction in Bangkok. Address: Na Phra Lan Rd, Phra Borom Maha Ratchawang, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200, Thailand; Opening hours: 8.30 am to 3.30 pm The Royal Thai Palace is currently partially open to the public as a museum, but it remains a working palace, with several royal offices still situated inside. You order your ride and pay when you arrived in cash. When I visited recently, I spent around 2 hours exploring the palace grounds. Read more in this post to get all information before your visit to the Royal Thai Palace in Bangkok, e.g. Here we show you different ways how to get to the Royal Thai Palace in Bangkok. One of my favorite things about the palace is that it has a really unique look and it showcases Thai history and culture well. Afterenteringthetemple,don'tshoutloudly. And it was SO worth the THB 500! Theyre just trying to sell you an overpriced t-shirt or sarong. From here you can take the Chao Phraya Express Boat to Ta Chang Pier, with the Grand Palace being around a 10-minute walk from the Pier, with clear directions to the Palace. Do not underestimate the heat in Bangkok. I guess Ill just search for the photos and videos from Google then! There are eight statues of the previous Kings inside the building presently. Asia. Id really recommend doing one of these if you can as the knowledgeable guides know everything there is to know about the palace. Its also hard to know the quality of these tours when someone is just approaching you on the street. Do note that there are 2 types of Chao Phraya: Express boat and Tourist boat. Additionally, this tour also includes a visit to Wat Traimit (where you can see a 5.5-ton solid gold Buddha statue) and Wat Pho (where you get to see the 46m-long reclining Buddha). The many sellers will claim that skirts are too short in order to sell or rent sarongs to tourists unnecessarily. People staying in the Khao San Road area may opt to walk (around 20-25 minutes) to the Grand Palace. If you want to rent an audio tour then you can for an additional 200 baht ($5.80). Wear sunscreen. Date. Many important ceremonies and events took place here and, as a result, the Grand Palace is an important symbol of Thailands history and culture. There are four magnificent buildings in the Grand Palace which are Hakri Maha Prasad, Dusit Maha Prasad, Amarin Winitchai Hall, and Wat Phra Kaeo. . The Royal Thai Palace is just a 3-minute walk from the Chang Pier. Its good to know that I wont need a full day at the palace. The Grand Palace was originally built in 1782 as the official residence of the King of Thailand and it served as the center of the government and administration for the country for over 150 years. Bangkok Tourism Bangkok Hotels Bangkok Bed and Breakfast Bangkok Vacation Rentals Flights to Bangkok Do You Need A Passport For Grand Palace Bangkok? Youll notice a huge contrast between the palace itself and the Wat Phra Kaew temple. Arriving as soon as the palace opens at 8:30 am is a good way to avoid the worst of the crowds and the heat. Was the sign-up at the ticket counter? To get around Bangkok, you need time and patience. Step into the second door, the magnificent three-story building exhibition is right in front of you, this is the largest main hall in the Grand Palace. 2019-2022 That Life Media All rights reserved. Just ignore them and keep walking to the palace. In fact, nobody really knows where it came from or who made it. In addition to everything Ive written up from the beginning of the article up to this point, I still have some tips that cant fit into those categories above. The Grand Palace, Bangkok - Everything You Need To Know While exploring the Grand Palace independently is doable, joining a guided tour is a great way to learn a little more about its history. It covers an area of 218,000 square metres and is surrounded by four walls, 1900 metres in length. Megan's travel tips been featured in numerous media outlets including Metro, Timeout, Thrillist and more. Your support will help me to keep going! Grand Palace Bangkok - The Symbol Of Thailand Royalty Areas where youre not allowed to take photos are clearly signposted so youll know when you can and cant take photos. I learned so much about the royal family through this exhibition. You can also take public transportation to find many free things to do. This is also where youll find the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. Children under 120 cm are free. The Grand Palace in Bangkok is famous for many reasons. The bus driver kindly told us when we needed to get off. The Grand Palace is one of Bangkoks most famous landmarks and after visiting it for myself recently, I can see why. For various reasons, the new King considered the former capital to be unsuitable and decided to establish a new capital on the other side of the river. If you follow the guidance that I listed above then you shouldnt have a problem so just ignore anyone that says what youre wearing isnt correct. Rama I to Rama VIII all lived in the Grand Palace. Since Grand Palace is a very popular attraction in Bangkok, the best time to visit the place is during morning. Practical Information for a Visit to the Grand Palace Opening Hours and Tickets. Be aware that, as one of Thailands most popular tourist spots, the Grand Palace can get very crowded and busy. Heres a quick overview of how each area of the palace was used: Thanks for reading this post all about the Grand Palace in Bangkok. Wat Phra Kaew (also known as chapel of the Emerald Buddha or Temple of Emerald Buddha), is the first thing youll encounter once you pass through the entrance gate, so its very unlikely that you miss it. Check the schedule to verify whether what he says is correct. What a perfect combination of the west and the east! The Best Way to Visit the Grand Palace in Bangkok The Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand, is one of the most visited tourist stop-offs in the country. Heres some Grand Palace Bangkok facts and the general history behind the palace. RECLINING BUDDHA BANGKOK (WAT PHO) OPENING HOURS, Buddha is 700 meters south of The Grand Palace. Most likely they scam you and only want to make money. The Grand Palace is located right in the heart of the city, along the banks of the Chao Phraya River. Grand Palace Bangkok Opening Hours in Bangkok Thailand Open daily from 8:30am to 3:30pm except during special royal ceremonies. Wat Pho is also considered to be the premier place to learn or experience traditional Thai massage. The current palace consists of four parts, the outer courtyard, the central courtyard, the inner courtyard and the temple Wat Phra Kaew. The Grand Palace complex was established in 1782 and it consists of not only royal and throne halls, but also a number of government offices as well as the renowned Temple of the Emerald Buddha. The Grand Palace Timings (Bangkok) The Grand Palace opening hours are from 8.30 a.m. to 3.30 p.m all days of the week. If you choose to rent a car to move around Bangkok, I recommend checking out the offers here. Even though only certain areas of the main palace are fully open to tourists, tons of tourists come here to appreciate its considerable historical significance and witness the magnificent royalty and beauty. How to Visit the Grand Palace, Bangkok On the map, it is No. Cruise The Grand Palace of Bangkok, Thailand: opening hours, ticket price It is a world-renowned 46 meter long gold plated reclining Buddha. Im going to share with you how we made the most of our visit to the Grand Palace. (Excellent) Rate this content. Introduction / Map. These are the places that I think you should not miss when visiting Grand Palace. Its pose. In addition to the impressive architecture and artistry of the Grand Palace, visitors can also learn about the rich history and culture of Thailand through the various exhibits and artifacts on display. . Unfortunately as the Grand Palace is one of Thailand's most famous sights, this does mean that some people try to take advantage of that and scam tourists. The Grand Palace complex was established in 1782 and it consists of not only royal and throne halls, but also a number of government offices as well as the renowned Temple of the Emerald Buddha. Opening Hours: Daily 08:30 - 15:30. The Thai royal family worships the Emerald Buddha statues and holds religious ceremonies in this sacred place. Required fields are marked *. Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha). This is the official address for the Grand Palace however if you tell a taxi driver you want to go to the Grand Palace theyll know where it is so you wont really need the address. Unfortunately, photographs are not allowed in the museum, so here is the photo of the building from outside. Grand Palace The Grand Palace is a complex of buildings at the heart of Bangkok, Thailand. Inside the Grand Palace, there is a small cafe that sells drinks and ice cream near the West Gate. Arts Of The Kingdom. I actually visited the palace very recently and thats what I paid. The Grand Palace is one of the most expensive historical attractions in Bangkok with current prices being 500 baht for foreigners. Nointimatebehaviors allowed in the temple. Brief Guide Through the Palace As you enter the Palace through the main entrance, on your left will appear a vast conglomerate of perfectly aligned buildings adorned with crimson sloping roofs and golden spires. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. Bangkok, Ayutthaya, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai. Wear something light and long shoulders and ankles need to be covered and leggings are not allowed. Remember to find the shade too, especially if you do feel like the heat is getting to you. Amarin Winitchai Hall is visually more attractive than Hakri Maha Prasad and Dusit Maha Prasad. One of my favorite things about visiting the palace was admiring its beauty and appreciating the incredible craftsmanship that went into its creation. Khon Performance at Sala Chalermkrung Royal. Its made entirely of jasper (not emerald), meaning it looks pretty cool too. On the map, it is No. He's been covering all things Asia for TripSavvy since 2010. The visitors should be aware of the Grand palace hours and accordingly make the visit. But unlike many of the other temples, a dress code is strictly enforced at the Grand Palace. At a very minimum you need 1 hour but to see it properly we suggest 2 hours. Address. A strange one but it is worth wearing a pair of socks with your shoes or bringing a pair of socks if you are wearing flip flops. Just keep walking to the front of the Palace and ignore the tuk-tuk drivers. BUT It took me 3 visits to Bangkok before finally visiting this splendid palace. A selection of the best sights, interesting places to visit, popular restaurants and essential services in Bangkok. Once you get outside, walk to the Central Pier. Once near the Grand Palace, be more on guard with bags and belongings. Since both my hubby and I wore short pants, we decided to get long pants from the shop across the street. As you walk towards the entrance, you will find tuk-tuk drivers trying to tell you that the Palace is closed. Over the years, materials hastily scavenged were eventually replaced with mason work performed by unpaid laborers. A figurine of the meditating Buddha made from. Make no mistake: Bangkoks Grand Palace is the busiest tourist stop in the city. The crowds tend to thin out at this time as visitors begin to leave and the temperature begins to cool down.