The Grand Palace, Bangkok: All You Need to Know + Scams to Avoid

There is no place quite like Bangkok.

Step around the corner in a small alleyway and you might find yourself in front of a spectacular Buddhist temple. Turn another corner and you’ll be looking up at a super tall skyscraper and an ultra-modern shopping malls.

Tradition, monarchy and religion are still strong in Bangkok, despite the city diving head-first into the modern age.

One of the places that for us best represents this amazing contrast is The Grand Palace, the spectacular complex that served as a residence for the kings of Thailand until 1925.

With its impressive golden architecture and stunning temples, it is today one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city, and one you absolutely cannot miss if you’re visiting Bangkok!

Today we’ll share with you everything you need to know before visiting Bangkok’s Grand Palace, and give you essential information such as how to respect the dress code, the cost of an entry ticket and what the best sights are inside this incredible complex.

Let’s get started!

Before you go

Before you head off to visit the Grand Palace, there are a couple of important things to know:

Entry fee

As of February 2024, the entry fee for the Grand Palace is 500 baht (around $14) for foreigners and free for Thai nationals. You can easily order your tickets online through their official website or you can also simply buy them on location, the lines usually move pretty fast!

Dress code

In Thailand, monarchy and religion go hand in hand.

The Grand Palace is an extremely important religious site, which means there will be a strict dress code in place, and there is staff in place at the entrance to make sure you comply.

For both men and women, shoulder and legs need to be completely covered, so shorts and tank-tops are a big no-no. T-shirts are generally fine, but just in case you might want to bring a sarong or a shawl to cover up.

Pro-Tip:

There are signs indicating you have to wear closed shoes at the entrance, but it’s not enforced as much. With that said, you’ll have to take off your shoes when visiting the temples located inside the complex. Because of that, we definitely recommend using closed shoes and socks, especially when considering how many visitors pass through the Grand Palace every day!

Be careful with the heat

Bangkok can be extremely hot and humid, and the Grand Palace really doesn’t offer much in terms of shade. Make sure you bring plenty of water to stay hydrated, along with a hat and sunscreen to protect yourself from the sun. 

The complex is mobility-impaired friendly

You’ll be happy to know that, contrary to most of Bangkok, the Grand Palace is accessible to anyone with reduced or impaired mobility.

You can even borrow a wheelchair for free, should you need it!

How to get to The Grand Palace

Even though the Grand Palace is one of Bangkok’s main tourist attractions, depending on where your stay is it might not be the most straightforward location to reach!

Here are a few different ways you can go to the Grand Palace:

By boat

For most visitors, the easiest way is to reach one of the many piers along the banks of the river, and then hop on an express boat towards Tha Tien (N8). From there you’re a quick 10 minute walk away from the Grand Palace. 

With public transport 

The Sky Train does not go anywhere near the Grand Palace, but you can use it to easily reach the river and continue with a boat. 

Alternatively, you can use the MRT to go to Chai Station, and from there either walk 20 minutes or take a bus to Silpakorn University. 

Tuk-tuk and taxi

Unless you’re confident in your negotiation skills, avoid using tuk-tuks and taxis when travelling to popular tourist sites.

You’ll likely be charged way more than what the ride is worth, and much more than what you would pay when using public transport!

When is the best time to visit?

The Grand Palace is open every day from 8h30 am - 3h30 pm.

Because the heat and humidity can be a little unbearable, and the fact that there is very little shade, we recommend visiting nice and early in the morning when temperatures are more mild. This way you’ll also have a better chance to have the place more to yourself, and explore freely without the crowds of tourists! 

Also, since the Grand Palace closes relatively early in the afternoon, you’ll want to head there early if you want to fully experience everything the complex offers, which should take you a good 3 to 4 hours.

What is there to see?

Spread over the more than 200,000.00 m2 of the Grand Palace are a huge number of temples, museums and incredible sights.

Truth be said, a lot of buildings are closed to the public because they are still actively used by government institutions, but they can still be admired from the outside.

Here’s a few that you should keep your eyes open for:

Wat Phra Kaew (The Temple of the Emerald Buddha)

The Temple of the Emerald Buddha is considered the most sacred and important Buddhist temple in Thailand. This holy site is located not far from the Grand Palace’s main entrance, and you’ll easily recognise it by the statues of two demons guarding the entrance.

Inside, you’ll be able to admire the incredible art that decorates the walls, as well as the small Buddha made of green stone!

The Cloisters

This was perhaps our favourite sight in the entire complex. The cloister that surrounds the temple buildings is decorated with 178 stunning paintings depicting Prince Rama’s quest to save his wife from a demon.

Be sure to start at the beginning, by the north door, and follow the story clockwise along the length of the cloister. The art is mind-blowing and the story incredibly captivating, even without knowing it in detail. 

Phra Siratana Chedi (The Golden Stupa)

This golden structure was by King Rama IV in 1855, in order to house Buddhist relics. It is the tallest and most visible building in the complex, and while you cannot visit the interior it does make for a stunning background for any photography enthusiast.

Prasat Phra Dhepbidorn (The Royal Pantheon)

The Royal Pantheon is one of the most impressive buildings in the complex, and was built as the initial housing for the Emerald Buddha. Not to miss are the incredible mosaics on the exterior walls

Phra Mondop

This incredible structure, with its spiral roof and glass mosaic walls, is hard to miss. Also worth seeing here are the 4 Buddhas placed on the corners of the building, as well as the mother-of-pearl cabinet containing ancient scripture. 

Model of Angkor Wat

Sure, it’s not the real thing, but this incredibly realistic miniature recreation of Cambodia’s Angkor Wat is nevertheless impressive, and definitely worth checking out.

Phra Thinang Boromphiman

This stunning renaissance-styled palace used to house the royal family when the Grand Palace still served as a residence. It now functions as a guest house for foreign dignitaries, which is unfortunately what you would have to be to admire the beautiful interior design.

Even without being able to go inside, the palace is still impressive to see, and really adds to the majesty of the complex.  

Queen Sirikit Museum of Textile

Located in what was once the Customs and Taxes Department building, the Queen Sirikit Museum of Textile showcases traditional Thai textiles and clothing. It’s not as historically significant as the rest of the complex, but considering that it is included in the entry fee we still recommend checking out if you have the time.

Beware of Scams

Unfortunately, like many other tourist hot-spots, The Grand Palace is a prime location for scammers looking to take advantage of unaware visitors.

Here are two of the most common scams you’re likely to come across when visiting The Grand Palace in Bangkok:

The Thai people are praying

You’re on your way to the entrance of the Grand Palace, when suddenly you’re approached by an individual who informs you that the site is closed for the day, as the Thai people are praying.

He then offers to drive you to another, better location with his tuk-tuk, for a fee. Thing is, the temple is not closed, the Thai people are not praying, and he’s not going to take you anywhere better. He’ll likely just take you to an overpriced suit or jewellery shop that is in on the scam, and you’ll be pressured into buying useless and overpriced junk.

This scam is common around many tourist sites in Bangkok, but The Grand Palace is particularly known because of the sheer amount of visitors it gets every day. If you’re approached by anyone with such claims, don’t engage in conversation, just continue on your way to the entrance and enjoy the visit.

Overpriced stalls

All around the exterior of the Grand Palace, you’ll see stalls selling souvenirs, sarongs and the classic elephant pants that are oh so popular among tourists. Many visitors even buy clothes here when they arrive without knowing that there is a dress code to respect. 

The scam is that the items you’re buying are identical to the ones you can buy only a few streets away, the only difference being that the price can sometimes be close to three times as expensive! 

So do yourself a favour, avoid buying anything around the Grand Palace and do your souvenir shopping somewhere else.

And there you have it!

These are all the essentials you must know before visiting the Grand Palace in Bangkok. It’s such an incredible location, and we’re sure you’ll have an unforgettable experience!

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