Temple
Wat Pho & the Reclining Buddha
A working temple with a 46-metre gold-leaf reclining Buddha, a courtyard of 91 stupas and Thailand's original school of massage.
WhereBangkok
Time needed1–1.5 hours
Best timeLate afternoon
CostTHB 300
Wat Pho is calmer than the Grand Palace next door and far more alive: monks, schoolchildren, and a massage school that still teaches the real thing. The Buddha's feet, inlaid with mother-of-pearl, are worth the whole trip.
How to visit it well
- The massage school on site is excellent and cheap — book a 30-minute session.
- Photograph the reclining Buddha from the feet end for the full length.
- Cross the river to Wat Arun afterwards; the ferry is 5 baht.
Tours that include Wat Pho & the Reclining Buddha
Nearby
Palace & temple
The Grand Palace & Wat Phra Kaew
The royal palace compound and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, all gold spires and mirrored mosaics behind a wh…
Bangkok · 2–3 hoursTHB 500
Temple
Wat Arun, Temple of Dawn
A porcelain-encrusted prang on the west bank of the Chao Phraya, best seen from the water as the light drops.…
Bangkok · 45–60 minutesTHB 200
