Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew (Emerald Buddha), Bangkok: tickets, dress code and tips

Updated on October 1, 2026

The Grand Palace in Bangkok was founded in 1782, when King Rama I moved his new capital to the left bank of the Chao Phraya, on Rattanakosin Island. Its 218,000 m² enclosed by crenellated walls bring together throne halls, residences, administrative buildings and Wat Phra Kaew, the royal chapel that houses the Emerald Buddha, the most revered image in Thailand. The palace has not been the kings' residence since the 1920s, but it still hosts official ceremonies. It is open daily from 8:30am to 4:30pm, with tickets sold until 3:30pm; a ticket costs 500 baht for foreign visitors (prices checked in October 2026). Allow 2 to 3 hours for the temple and the palace courtyards. The same ticket gives access to the [Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles](/fr/attractions/musee-des-textiles-reine-sirikit), inside the compound, and [Wat Pho](/fr/attractions/wat-pho-bangkok) lies just to the south, about ten minutes' walk away.

Highlights

Wat Phra Kaew and the Emerald Buddha

The royal chapel enshrines a statue about 66 cm tall, carved not from emerald but from a green stone (jade or jasper), installed here in 1785. It wears three gold costumes according to the season, changed by the King or a member of the royal family around March, August and November. Around the chapel, the golden Phra Si Rattana Chedi, the yakshas (guardian giants) and the small stupas make up the palace's most famous setting. No monks live in the temple.

The Ramakien gallery

The cloister surrounding Wat Phra Kaew is covered with murals telling the Ramakien, the Thai version of the Indian Ramayana epic: battles of monkeys and demons, palaces and landscapes follow one another all the way round.

Chakri Maha Prasat

Built from 1876 to 1882 under King Rama V, this throne hall combines a European-style façade, designed by English architects, with three Thai roofs topped by gilded spires. You admire it from the courtyard, where the royal guard stands.

Dusit Maha Prasat

Built after the fire that destroyed the previous hall in 1789, this throne hall with tiered roofs and a slender spire is the very model of Thai palace architecture.

Infos pratiques

Tips

Tickets cost 500 baht for foreigners and include Wat Phra Kaew and the Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles; free for children under 120 cm and for Thai nationals with their ID card (prices checked in October 2026). Tickets are sold at the ticket offices on the day or online on the official website up to one month in advance; online tickets can be neither refunded nor changed. The entrance is through the Mani Noppharat Gate. Clothing is checked at the entrance: sleeveless shirts, vests, short or see-through tops, shorts, torn or tight trousers, cycling shorts, miniskirts, culottes and sleepwear are refused. Cover your shoulders and legs, and wear shoes that are easy to take off to enter the chapel of the Emerald Buddha. An audio guide in English (among 8 languages) can be rented for 200 baht, against a passport or credit card as deposit. Drones are banned over the palace. The palace may close, entirely or partly, during royal ceremonies: check the calendar on the official website before you come. The royal cremation ceremonies for Queen Mother Sirikit are scheduled from 15 to 19 December 2026 on the neighbouring Sanam Luang esplanade: closures or access restrictions are likely around those dates, but none had been announced as of early October 2026. Check the official website just before your visit. Beware of people who approach you nearby claiming the palace is closed: it is a classic scam (see our article on [scams in Bangkok](/fr/articles/arnaques-securite-bangkok)).

How to get there

Na Phra Lan Road, Phra Nakhon, 10200 Bangkok. By Chao Phraya Express boat (orange flag) from Sathorn Pier, below BTS Saphan Taksin station (exit 2), to Tha Chang Pier (N9): the palace is right next to it. Tha Tien Pier (N8) is also close by. MRT Blue Line, Sanam Chai station (exit 1), then bus 3, 9, 44, 47, 53 or 82. Many bus lines run to the palace, including 1, 3, 9, 15, 25, 32, 33, 43, 44, 47, 53, 59, 64, 80, 82, 91, 203, 503, 508 and 512.