Rattanakosin Island at a glance

Rattanakosin refers both to the Chakri dynasty and to the district founded with it. The "island" is actually an area bounded on the west by the river and on the other three sides by a canal, the Khlong Rop Krung, dug from 1782 to protect the new capital. The original layout, with the palace on the riverbank and the royal temple beside it, can still be read today.

Everything can be covered on foot, but the heat and the distances (allow 10 to 15 minutes between sights) are tiring: alternate outdoor sights with air-conditioned museums, and start early. The district has no BTS station; you reach it by river or by the blue metro line (see below).

The essentials

Wat Ratchabophit, its gilded columns and its chedi

Three sights make up the classic trio, best visited in this order:

  • The Grand Palace, with the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, the former royal palace and the city's most visited site. Go as soon as it opens: queues grow quickly.
  • Wat Pho, just to the south, famous for its 46-metre Reclining Buddha and its colourful chedis.
  • Wat Arun, across the river, reached in a few minutes by a small ferry from Tha Tien pier.

Lesser-known temples and shrines

A few minutes from these three, other places can be visited without the crowds:

  • The City Pillar Shrine, where Rama I had the capital's first pillar raised on 21 April 1782. It is an active place of prayer, and free.
  • Wat Mahathat, a royal temple and study centre, with English-language meditation classes and the Tha Phra Chan amulet market.
  • Wat Ratchabophit, with its bright ceramics and a golden chedi at the centre of a circular courtyard.
  • To the north-east, Wat Saket and its Golden Mount give a view over the whole old town.

Museums on the island

Rattanakosin holds the capital's museums. A few pointers, without prices, which change and are given in the individual pages:

Sanam Luang and local life

Sanam Luang, a large oval lawn north of the Grand Palace, has been used since the 18th century for royal ceremonies and cremations. By day you mostly see strollers. To the east, the Banglamphu district extends the walk towards Khao San and the canal: our guide to Banglamphu and the old town covers this second area.

For meals, the streets around Tha Chang and Tha Phra Chan line up Thai food stalls at low prices, with riverside terraces: much more affordable than the restaurants near the Grand Palace. To eat like the locals, see our street food guide.

A one-day walking route

  1. 8am: Grand Palace at opening time, in covered clothing.
  2. 11am: Wat Pho and its Reclining Buddha, then lunch near Tha Tien.
  3. 1:30pm: Museum Siam or the National Museum, out of the heat.
  4. 3:30pm: City Pillar Shrine, Wat Ratchabophit.
  5. 5pm: ferry across to Wat Arun for the sunset.

If you only have one day in Bangkok, our itinerary what to do in Bangkok in one day reuses this trio with other ideas.

Dress, traps and practical tips

Clothing that covers shoulders and knees is required in almost every temple and at the Grand Palace: see our guide to what to wear in Bangkok's temples. Near the Grand Palace, beware of strangers who say the site is "closed today" and offer a tuk-tuk tour: this is the district's most common scam, detailed in our guide to scams to avoid in Bangkok.

Getting there and around

The most pleasant way is the Chao Phraya Express Boat to Tha Chang pier (N9) for the Grand Palace or Tha Tien (N8) for Wat Pho. The blue MRT line stops at Sanam Chai, about ten minutes on foot from the City Pillar Shrine and Wat Pho. Taxis and Grab cars are also available, but traffic jams are frequent. Our guide to getting around Bangkok details the options.

Going further

For more addresses nearby, see also our guide to Chinatown, on the other side of the old town, and our article where to stay in Bangkok to choose a hotel near the river.