Wat Pho is one of Bangkok's oldest and largest temples, home to the giant Reclining Buddha and the birthplace of traditional Thai massage teaching. It sits right beside the Grand Palace but is often calmer, with shady courtyards, hundreds of Buddha images and more than a thousand small chedis to wander among. It is also very close to an MRT station, which makes Wat Pho one of the easiest sights in the old town to reach.
What Wat Pho is and why go
The temple's formal name is Wat Phra Chetuphon. A temple stood on the site before Bangkok became the capital, and King Rama I rebuilt and enlarged it in the late 18th century. King Rama III expanded it again in the 19th century and turned it into a kind of public university, with inscriptions on medicine, history, literature and massage carved in stone around the grounds. These inscriptions are recognised by UNESCO's Memory of the World programme.
Most people come for the Reclining Buddha, but the rest of the complex rewards a slow walk. It is a working monastery, and monks live and study here.
Getting to Wat Pho by MRT
The nearest station is Sanam Chai on the MRT Blue Line. Wat Pho is only a few minutes' walk from the station, closer than the Grand Palace. The station itself has an ornate interior designed to echo the nearby palace architecture.
By river, Chao Phraya Express Boats stop at Tha Tien pier, a short walk from the temple. The cross-river ferry to Wat Arun also leaves from Tha Tien, so it is easy to combine the two.
Wat Pho tickets and opening hours
Foreign visitors pay an admission fee at the entrance. The temple is open every day from morning until early evening. For current prices and times, check the official Wat Pho website before you visit.
A modest dress code applies: cover your shoulders and knees, and remove your shoes before entering any hall. It is generally applied less strictly than at the Grand Palace, but dressing respectfully is expected, and cover-ups may be available at the gate.
Best time to visit Wat Pho
Morning, soon after opening, is the most pleasant: cooler, quieter and with good light on the chedis. Mid-afternoon can also be calmer once the morning tour groups move on. Some visitors start here and walk to the palace afterwards, while others save Wat Pho for after the palace to finish with a massage.
Allow one to two hours to see the Reclining Buddha and explore the courtyards, longer if you book a massage.
Highlights at Wat Pho
The Reclining Buddha
The statue is about 46 metres long and covered in gold leaf, filling its hall so completely that it is hard to see whole. It depicts the Buddha entering final nirvana. Walk round to the feet, which are inlaid with mother-of-pearl showing 108 auspicious symbols.
The 108 bronze bowls
Along the back wall of the hall, a row of bronze bowls receives small coins from visitors, a ritual believed to bring good fortune. Change for coins is usually available nearby.
Phra Maha Chedi of the Four Kings
Four tall chedis decorated with ceramic tiles honour the first four kings of the Chakri dynasty. They are among the most photographed parts of the temple.
Phra Ubosot and the galleries
The ordination hall, surrounded by cloisters lined with Buddha images, is the ritual heart of the temple and has fine carved doors.
Thai massage at Wat Pho
Wat Pho is closely linked to traditional Thai massage, and the temple's massage school trains practitioners from around the world. Massage pavilions in the grounds offer sessions to visitors, usually on a first-come basis. Expect a wait at busy times; a foot or back massage after walking the old town in the heat is well earned. Courses are available too; check the school's official site for details.
Nearby on the same stop
From Sanam Chai, the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew are a short walk north. Museum Siam is beside the station. Wat Arun, the Temple of Dawn, is a quick ferry ride across the river, and Pak Khlong Talat, Bangkok's large flower market, is a short walk south. The Bangkok National Museum is a little further north past the palace.
See what else is close to this station on the Wat Pho page on Around the Metro, or explore more of the city on the Bangkok metro map.