Bang Pa-In Royal Palace, on the Chao Phraya River about sixty kilometres north of Bangkok, is the former summer residence of the kings of Siam. Founded in the 17th century by King Prasat Thong of Ayutthaya, it was largely rebuilt under King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) in the 1870s and 1880s: Thai pavilions, a Chinese palace and European-style buildings are spread across a large park around ponds and canals. The estate is still managed by the Bureau of the Royal Household, and modest dress is required. You get there by train from Bangkok, as Bang Pa-in station is about twenty minutes' walk from the entrance. The palace is open every day from 8am to 4pm and a ticket costs 100 baht for foreigners.
Highlights
Aisawan Thiphya-Art pavilion
This small Thai pavilion with a tiered roof, set in the middle of the pond, is the best-known image of the palace. Built of wood under Rama V, it was given reinforced concrete pillars and a concrete floor under Rama VI. It houses a statue of King Chulalongkorn. Photograph it from the banks, where it is reflected in the water.
Phra Thinang Wehart Chamrun
This two-storey Chinese-style palace in red and gold was presented to King Chulalongkorn in 1889 by the kingdom's Chinese merchants. The ground floor holds a Chinese throne room, the upper floor a shrine dedicated to Kings Mongkut and Chulalongkorn. You can visit the interior, with your shoes off.
Withun Thatsana tower
This three-level lookout tower, painted in red and yellow bands that make it look like a lighthouse, was built under Rama V. Its name means "the sages' lookout": the king climbed it to observe the surrounding landscape. Its colourful silhouette serves as a landmark in the park.
Queen Sunanda memorial
On 31 May 1880, Queen Sunanda Kumariratana and her daughter drowned when their boat capsized on the way to Bang Pa-In. In 1881, King Chulalongkorn had a marble obelisk raised in the park in their memory, bearing an inscription in Thai and English that he wrote himself. The monument stands in a quiet garden, away from the main pavilions.
Wat Niwet Thammaprawat
On an island in the Chao Phraya opposite the palace, this royal Buddhist temple looks like a Gothic Revival church: a pointed bell tower, coloured stained glass and a Gothic altar where a Buddha image stands in place of the cross. Commissioned by Chulalongkorn and completed in 1878, it was designed by the Italian architect Joachim Grassi. You cross the river in a free cable car gondola that leaves from outside the palace grounds; entry to the temple is free.
Opening hours and tickets
The palace is open every day from 8am to 4pm; ticket sales stop at 3:30pm. Admission costs 100 baht for foreigners. The park covers several hectares: 4-seat golf carts can be hired at the entrance for 400 baht for the first hour, then 100 baht per extra hour, on presentation of a driving licence or against a 2,000 baht deposit. Modest dress is required: shoulders and knees covered, no tight-fitting clothes.
Infos pratiques
Tips
Dress appropriately before leaving Bangkok: shorts, short skirts and sleeveless tops are refused at the entrance. The palace is still a royal residence and hosts ceremonies: it may close to the public during a royal stay or ceremony, so check by calling 035 261 044 before you go. For two or three people, a golf cart saves time in the heat; on foot, bring water and a hat. Leave time for Wat Niwet Thammaprawat, a few minutes from the exit. Prices checked in October 2026.
How to get there
From Bangkok, the air-conditioned SRT Bangkok Connex (BNEX) train leaves from Krung Thep Aphiwat station (Bang Sue) and stops at Bang Pa-in before Ayutthaya: departures from Bangkok at 5:15am, 9:05am and 6:15pm on weekdays, at 9:05am and 6:15pm at weekends, at most 50 baht until 31 October 2026 (promotional fare; the later price had not been announced in early October 2026, check with the SRT, hotline 1690), tickets sold only at stations and seats not reserved. Allow a little under 1h15, the journey time to Ayutthaya. Ordinary trains leave from Hua Lamphong station and take about 1h30, for around a dozen baht in 3rd class. Air-conditioned buses also link the Mo Chit 2 northern terminal with Bang Pa-in in about two hours. From Ayutthaya, the ordinary train reaches Bang Pa-in in a quarter of an hour for a few baht. On site, the palace is about 25 minutes' walk from the station, which still has the royal waiting pavilion built for Chulalongkorn's visits; motorbike taxis and tuk-tuks wait outside (agree the fare before getting on). Address: 27 Moo 8, Udom Sorayut Road, Ban Len, Bang Pa-in District, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province 13160.
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