Also known as: Wat Phra Chetuphon Wimonmangkalaram Ratchaworamahawihan, Wat Phra Chetuphon, Temple of the Reclining Buddha, Wat Phra Chetuphon Temple
Wat Pho is Bangkok’s oldest temple and its largest by compound area — 8 hectares directly south of the Grand Palace. King Rama I rebuilt it in 1788 on an older 16th-century Ayutthaya-period site, and successive kings added the chedis, courts, and stone inscriptions that give the complex its character. Rama III in particular turned it into Thailand’s first public university, commissioning the medical, astronomy, and literature tablets still embedded in the walls.
The Reclining Buddha is the headline. 46 metres long, 15 metres high, gold-leaf plated, depicting the moment before the Buddha entered parinirvana. You walk the length of it from the feet end, past rows of monks and pilgrims, and the soles — inlaid with mother-of-pearl panels showing the 108 auspicious symbols — are the single most photographed detail. The hall echoes with the sound of coins dropped into the 108 bronze alms bowls along the far wall, a merit-making ritual open to any visitor.
Beyond the Reclining Buddha, the complex holds more than 1,000 Buddha images — the largest collection in Thailand — across four chedis for the first four kings of the Chakri dynasty, each clad in coloured porcelain tile. The ordination hall in the southern compound houses a Buddha image on a three-tiered base, and the outer courts are dotted with stone rishi statues demonstrating yoga postures carved to preserve traditional knowledge. Granite giants in Chinese merchant dress guard the gates — cargo ballast from trade ships, repurposed as temple art in a pattern familiar from Wat Arun.
Insider Tip: The Wat Pho Traditional Medical and Massage School is inside the complex, not a street-side imitator. It’s the certified origin school of Thai massage, run by the temple. Treatments are 30 or 60 minutes, cash only. The queue is shorter before 10:00 and after 16:00.
Most independent visitors cover Grand Palace in the morning, Wat Pho mid-morning, and cross to Wat Arun in the afternoon for the classic Rattanakosin loop. If you’re building a single full day in old Bangkok, add the National Museum or Wat Mahathat to round it out.
How to Get There
- **MRT Blue Line to Sanam Chai:** Exit directly next to Wat Pho's southern gate. This is the fastest route from anywhere on the metro, and the station entrance is inside the Museum Siam building.
- **Chao Phraya Express Boat to Tha Tien:** Orange-flag boat from Sathorn (Central Pier, near BTS Saphan Taksin). Tha Tien pier is a 3-minute walk from Wat Pho's river-side entrance.
- **Walking from the Grand Palace:** Wat Pho is 10 minutes on foot directly south along Sanam Chai Road. Most visitors pair the two the same morning.
- **Taxi or Grab:** 150-250 THB from most tourist areas. Ask for the southern entrance on Sanam Chai Road — it's closer to the Reclining Buddha than the main north gate.
Insider Tips
- Enter from the south gate (Sanam Chai Road) if you're coming specifically for the Reclining Buddha — it's a 2-minute walk from the gate to the hall. The northern entrance lands you in the chedis first.
- Bring a 20 THB coin supply before entering the Reclining Buddha hall. There are 108 bronze bowls running the length of the room; dropping a coin in each is a traditional merit-making act and the sound fills the hall.
- The Reclining Buddha's feet are the photographic highlight — inlaid mother-of-pearl depicting the 108 auspicious symbols of the Buddha. Get close with a wide lens.
- Book a massage at the Wat Pho Traditional Medical and Massage School — it's the original training school, with certificated practitioners, in the complex itself. Cash only, 30-minute and 60-minute options.
- After 16:00 most tour groups have cycled through to other Bangkok sites. You'll have the outer courtyards nearly to yourself.
Common Mistakes & Scams to Avoid
- **Only seeing the Reclining Buddha and leaving.** The temple covers 8 hectares and the outer compounds — the stone rishi statues, the granite giants at the gates, the ancient medical-astronomy stone inscriptions — are what make this the kingdom's first public university.
- **Skipping the ordination hall.** It sits in the southern compound and houses a fine Buddha image from Ayutthaya on a three-tiered base. Few tourists enter it.
- **Queueing at the front of the Reclining Buddha.** Photos from the feet-end (where you enter) are crowded. Walk to the head end of the hall for a wider, less-populated shot.
- **Assuming the massage is a tourist trap.** The massage school is the authoritative source of Thai massage — it's where diplomas are issued. Prices are higher than Khao San parlours but the training is the original.
- **Wearing the wrong shoes.** You'll remove them repeatedly at each hall. Slip-ons or sandals with a heel strap are far easier than laced trainers.
Dress Code
Covered shoulders and knees. No sleeveless tops, shorts, or sheer fabric. Sarong and shirt rental available at the entrance for a small deposit. Shoes off before entering the Reclining Buddha hall and ordination hall.
Within Walking Distance
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Wat Pho cost to visit?
Entry is 300 THB for foreign visitors and free for Thai nationals. The ticket includes a complimentary bottle of water and access to all halls within the complex.
How long is the Reclining Buddha at Wat Pho?
46 metres long and 15 metres high, plated in gold leaf. The soles of the feet are inlaid with mother-of-pearl depicting the 108 auspicious symbols of the Buddha.
Can I get a Thai massage at Wat Pho?
Yes — the Wat Pho Traditional Medical and Massage School is on-site and is the original school where Thai massage is certified and taught. 30-minute and 60-minute body and foot massages are available, cash only.
How do I get between Wat Pho and the Grand Palace?
They are 10 minutes apart on foot, directly south along Sanam Chai Road. Most visitors walk between them as part of one morning, then cross the river to Wat Arun in the afternoon.
What are Wat Pho's opening hours?
Daily 08:30-19:30. The temple stays open later than the Grand Palace, making it a good late-afternoon or early-evening stop.
What is the dress code for Wat Pho?
Covered shoulders and knees, no sleeveless tops, no shorts, no sheer fabric. Shoes off before entering the Reclining Buddha hall and ordination hall. Sarong rental is available at the entrance if needed.
