Wat Pho: the Temple of the Reclining Buddha visitor guide

Wat Pho is open daily from 8 am to 7:30 pm and the official ticket price is 300 baht. Dress politely with your knees covered, see the 46 metre Reclining Buddha, then stay for a Thai massage at the school inside the temple.

It sits right beside the Grand Palace and is a simpler, cheaper visit. If you only have time for one temple, this is a strong choice, since it stays open hours later than the palace.

The essentials

The temple’s own page lists one fee and gives no separate foreigner rate. It also posts occasional temporary closures, so check before you go.

What to see

The Reclining Buddha. This is the reason to come. The official site gives its length as 46 metres and its height as 15 metres from base to topknot, built in brick and stucco and then lacquered and gilded. The hall around it measures about 61 by 23 metres, a tight fit for a statue this size.

The feet. Walk to the far end. The soles are inlaid with mother-of-pearl and show the 108 auspicious symbols. Wat Pho itself calls them the finest of any large reclining Buddha.

The bronze bowls. The corridor holds 108 bronze bowls. Visitors drop in coins for good fortune, and the donations support the temple.

The chedis. The grounds have dozens of small chedis. Give them some time after the Buddha, because they show how large the temple really is.

The inscriptions. The temple’s marble inscriptions were added to UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register. The Tourism Authority of Thailand calls Wat Pho the country’s first public university.

Wat Pho predates Bangkok itself. King Rama I rebuilt it from 1788, and King Rama III later enlarged it. It ranks among the highest grade of royal temples.

Dress code and rules

The official rules are simple:

• Dress politely. Shorts are not allowed, though trousers are.
• Women should not wear shorts above the knee.
• Take your shoes off before entering religious buildings.
• Photos are allowed, but never step on a Buddha image.
• Women may not touch monks or novices, or enter areas reserved for monks’ rites.

Covering your shoulders and knees also keeps you inside the stricter rules at the Grand Palace next door, which is useful if you are doing both.

Massage at Wat Pho

The Wat Pho Traditional Medicine and Massage School opened in 1955, and the temple describes it as the first Thai medical school approved by the Ministry of Education. Massage runs from 8 am to 7:30 pm at the temple. It is on the east side of the grounds.

Older pages list lower prices. The figures above are the ones the temple publishes. Expect tradition and skill, not a spa. If you want a private room and a longer ritual, see our guides to the best massage and the best spas in Bangkok.

Courses. The school teaches Thai massage alongside Thai pharmacy, medical practice and midwife nursing. An older Thai government page quotes 9,500 baht for a 30-hour basic massage course. We could not confirm current fees, so ask through watpomassage.com or LINE at @watpo-chetawan.

How to get there

MRT. Ride the Blue Line to Sanam Chai. The Tourism Authority of Thailand puts Wat Pho about 0.5 km from the station. The temple’s own page calls this stop Wat Pho Station and says to use Exit 1. This is the simplest route from Silom, Sukhumvit or Chinatown.

Boat. Aim for Tha Tien Pier (N8). The Grand Palace’s official site lists it as an express boat stop, while Wat Pho’s page suggests Tha Chang or Wat Arun Pier and a cross-river ferry to Tha Tien. From the BTS, go to Saphan Taksin, use Exit 2 and walk to Sathorn Pier. See getting around Bangkok for the route.

To Wat Arun. Take the small ferry from Tha Tien. It is a short crossing, and our Wat Arun guide has the details.

From the Grand Palace. The two are next door to each other, so walk.

When to go

Late in the day. The Grand Palace stops selling tickets at 3:30 pm, while Wat Pho runs until 7:30 pm. Do the palace first at opening, then come here.

After a morning at the palace. A massage at Wat Pho is the natural way to end a hot day of walking. Our 3-day itinerary uses this order, and our guide to the best temples in Bangkok compares it with the others.

Is it worth it

Yes. It is cheaper than the Grand Palace, has one of the country’s great Buddha images, and it adds a massage you can have on site. Choose Wat Arun instead only if you care more about the view from the river than about what is inside. Most people should see both, since they are a few minutes apart by ferry.

Questions people ask

How much is the Wat Pho entrance fee?

The temple's official site lists 300 baht. Children under 120 cm enter free. Older guides quote 200 baht, which is out of date.

What are Wat Pho opening hours?

The official site says 8 am to 7:30 pm. The massage service keeps the same hours, so it works as a late stop after the Grand Palace closes.

What is the dress code at Wat Pho?

Dress politely. Shorts are not allowed, and women should not wear shorts above the knee. You take your shoes off before entering religious buildings.

How much is a massage at Wat Pho?

The official site lists Thai or foot massage at 340 baht for 30 minutes, 520 baht for 60 minutes and 1,040 baht for 120 minutes.

How do I get to Wat Pho?

Take the MRT Blue Line to Sanam Chai, about 0.5 km away, or a boat to Tha Tien Pier. The address is 2 Sanam Chai Road, next to the Grand Palace.