Wat Traimit, the Temple of the Golden Buddha, sits at the western end of Bangkok's Chinatown and houses a seated Buddha image made of solid gold weighing around five and a half tonnes. The statue is displayed at the top of a gleaming white marble hall, and the story of how its gold was rediscovered is one of the best known in Thailand. Wat Traimit is an easy first stop on a day in Chinatown, just a few minutes from the MRT.
Why visit Wat Traimit
The Golden Buddha is about three metres tall and is thought to date from the Sukhothai period. For centuries it was covered in a thick layer of plaster, probably to hide its value from invaders, and for a long time nobody realised what was underneath. In the 1950s, while the statue was being moved to a new building at Wat Traimit, it was damaged and part of the plaster broke away to reveal the gold beneath. Pieces of the original plaster are kept in the temple's exhibition.
Today the statue sits in a large marble building opened in recent years, which gives it a grand setting and space for visitors. The temple also hosts museums on the lower floors about the statue and about the history of Bangkok's Chinese community.
How to get to Wat Traimit by MRT
The nearest station is Hua Lamphong on the MRT Blue Line. From the station, walk west across the canal toward the start of Chinatown. Wat Traimit is around 5 minutes on foot, and the white building and golden spire are easy to spot from the road junction where Yaowarat and Charoen Krung roads meet.
If you plan to explore further into Chinatown, Wat Mangkon station, one stop west, puts you in the heart of the Yaowarat area. Many visitors arrive at Hua Lamphong for Wat Traimit, then walk through Chinatown and leave from Wat Mangkon.
Wat Traimit tickets and dress code
Foreign visitors pay a small fee to see the Golden Buddha on the top level, and there is a separate charge for the exhibitions on the lower floors. The temple grounds can be entered without a ticket. Prices and hours can change, so confirm locally or with the Tourism Authority of Thailand before you go.
Wat Traimit is an active temple. Cover your shoulders and knees, remove your shoes before entering the shrine room, and do not point your feet toward the Buddha when sitting. Photos of the statue are generally allowed, but be respectful of people who are praying.
Best time to visit Wat Traimit
Morning is the best time to visit Wat Traimit, when the marble is cooler and the hall is quieter. Combine it with lunch in Chinatown, then return to Yaowarat Road in the evening, when the street food stalls open and the neon signs light up.
Allow 30 to 45 minutes for the Golden Buddha alone, or about an hour and a half if you also visit the exhibitions.
Highlights of the temple
The Golden Buddha
Seen up close, the polished gold and calm expression are impressive. Look for the plaster fragments on display that once hid it.
The Yaowarat Chinatown Heritage Center
This exhibition uses models, dioramas and multimedia to tell the story of Chinese migration to Bangkok and the growth of Yaowarat.
The views from the terrace
The upper level looks out over the rooftops of Chinatown, a good spot for a photo.
Tips for visiting Wat Traimit
The Golden Buddha hall is on the upper level, reached by stairs or a lift. Carry a bag for your shoes or leave them on the racks provided. The marble floors can be hot in the sun and slippery after rain, so take care on the steps. If you are walking on into Chinatown, it is easy to get lost in the lanes, so a phone map is handy.
Nearby in Chinatown
- Yaowarat Road: Chinatown's main street, famous for its evening street food.
- Wat Mangkon Kamalawat: an important Chinese Buddhist temple near Wat Mangkon station.
- Sampeng Lane: a narrow wholesale market lane full of small goods.
- Hua Lamphong railway station: the historic main railway station building, beside the MRT.
- Talat Noi: an old riverside neighbourhood with street art and cafés.
Find more on the Wat Traimit page, or see what is near every stop on our Bangkok metro map.