Wat Pho at a glance
Wat Pho, also written Wat Po and known in full as Wat Phra Chetuphon Wimon Mangkhalaram Rajwaramahawihan, is an active monastery at 2 Sanam Chai Road in Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200. It sits right next to the Grand Palace. Most visitors come for the gilded Reclining Buddha, which is 46 m long and 15 m high. It is built of brick and stucco, then lacquered and gilded. It is not solid gold.
The grounds hold much more than the Buddha hall: four large royal chedis, an ordination hall with a seated Buddha, cloisters, stone figures and a pavilion where Thai massage is given. Chetuphon Road splits the grounds. Visitors use the northern part, and the monks live in the southern quarter.
This guide covers tickets and entrance, tours, the Reclining Buddha, the highlights of the grounds, Thai massage and massage courses, the dress code, opening hours, history, night and food tours, things to do nearby, getting there, the best time to visit and where to stay. Prices are in Thai baht (THB) at 2026 rates, and they change.
Our picks: Wat Pho tours
Our take: the private tour with hotel pickup is the easiest way to see the three big sights in one morning. The group tour with the boat is the best value, and the two-hour Wat Pho tour is enough if you only want the Reclining Buddha with a guide.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Private tour: Grand Palace, Wat Pho and Wat Arun
- Grand Palace entry
- Hotel transfer
- Guide
Your own guide and hotel transfer with the Grand Palace entry included; Wat Pho and Wat Arun entries come with the matching options.
Check availability →
Wat Pho guided tour with the Reclining Buddha
- Wat Pho entry
- Two-hour English-speaking guide
- Etiquette introduction
Two hours in the temple with a guide and the Wat Pho entry included.
Check availability →Grand Palace, Wat Pho and Wat Arun with a guide
- English-speaking guide
- Boat ride
- Help with fast entry
The classic temple morning with a guide and the boat across the river. The entries are bought on site.
Check availability →Wat Pho tours and Bangkok day trips
Temple walks, tuk-tuk routes and evening food tours in Bangkok's old town, with live prices and availability. Check what each one includes before you book.
Plan your visit
Every page of this guide, from tickets to hotels.
Entrance fee and tickets
THB 300 for foreign visitors, free for Thai citizens, and what costs extra.
Wat Pho tours compared
Temple walks, private tuk-tuk routes and what to check before you book.
Grand Palace and Wat Pho
How to see both in one morning, with fees, hours and dress rules.
The Reclining Buddha
Size, the mother-of-pearl feet and the 108 bronze bowls.
Wat Pho highlights
Four great chedis, the ordination hall, cloisters and stone inscriptions.
Thai massage at Wat Pho
Prices for 30, 60 and 120 minutes and how the pavilion works.
Thai massage courses
Course lengths and where the school locations are in Bangkok.
Dress code
What to wear, what to cover and how to behave in the halls.
Opening hours
Daily hours and the best time of day for your visit.
History
From the Ayutthaya-era predecessor to Rama I and Rama III.
Bangkok night tours
Tuk-tuk and bicycle tours after dark, and what they really include.
Bangkok food tours
Evening tuk-tuk food tours through the old town and Chinatown.
Things to do near Wat Pho
Twelve ideas in old Bangkok, from markets to museums.
How to get to Wat Pho
MRT Sanam Chai, buses, boats, taxis and parking.
Best time to visit
Monthly temperatures and rain, plus the hours that suit you.
Where to stay
Tha Tien, Rattanakosin, Banglamphu, Chinatown or the river.
A few things to know before you go
The points that most often change a plan.
Entrance is THB 300
Foreign visitors pay THB 300. Thai citizens enter free with their national ID. Children under 120 cm are free. Massage and courses are charged separately.
Entrance and tickets →Opening hours
The grounds are open daily from 08:00 or 08:30 and close between 18:30 and 19:30. Early morning or late afternoon is the calmer choice.
Opening hours →What UNESCO recognises
The stone inscriptions of Wat Pho are in the Memory of the World Register, since 2011. Traditional Thai massage (Nuad Thai) is on the intangible heritage list, since 2019. The temple itself is not a World Heritage Site.
Highlights →Night tours are not a Buddha visit
Evening tuk-tuk and bicycle tours are separate products. Do not count on seeing the Reclining Buddha hall after dark, and check whether the route names Wat Pho at all.
Night tours →Entering Thailand
Since 15 September 2026, tourists from eligible countries can stay up to 30 days without a visa. Check your own passport. The Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) has been required since 1 May 2025, it is free, and it can be filled in up to 72 hours before arrival.
A first visit in short
- Ride the MRT Blue Line to Sanam Chai and leave by Exit 1.
- Pay the THB 300 entrance fee at the temple, with your clothes already covering shoulders and knees.
- See the Reclining Buddha hall first, then the four great chedis and the ordination hall.
- Walk the cloisters and look at the stone figures and the inscriptions.
- Add a Thai massage in the pavilion, from THB 340 for 30 minutes.
- Continue to the Grand Palace, Museum Siam or the Tha Tien market.
If you want a guide, read the page on Wat Pho tours first. If you plan to see the palace as well, start there, because its ticket sales end earlier in the afternoon.
Across the river
Another temple that pairs well with Wat Pho.
Wat Arun stands on the west bank of the Chao Phraya, opposite Wat Pho. It has its own guide with tickets, climbing rules and river crossings: see the Wat Arun guide. This site stays with Wat Pho and the old town around it.
More independent guides to Bangkok
Separate guides from the same team.
Wat Pho: frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to enter Wat Pho?
Foreign visitors pay THB 300 in 2026. Thai citizens enter free with a national ID. Children under 120 cm are free. See the tickets page for what is and is not included.
What are the opening hours?
The temple is open daily. Hours run from 08:00 or 08:30, and closing is between 18:30 and 19:30. Check the current hours before you go. The opening hours page has the details.
What should I wear?
Cover your shoulders and knees, and do not wear shorts. Take your shoes off before entering the halls. The dress code page explains the rules and how to prepare.
How do I get to Wat Pho?
The nearest MRT station is Sanam Chai on the Blue Line, Exit 1. Buses, boats via Tha Tien and taxis also work. There is no MRT station called Wat Pho. See getting there.
Can I get a massage at Wat Pho?
Yes. A massage pavilion operates on the temple grounds. In 2026, Thai or foot massage costs THB 340 for 30 minutes, THB 520 for 60 minutes and THB 1,040 for 120 minutes. Read more on the massage page.
Is wat-pho.org the official site of the temple?
No. This is an independent travel guide. It has no link to the temple, the Wat Pho massage school, the Tourism Authority of Thailand or any tour operator.