Wat Arun, the Temple of Dawn in Bangkok: tickets, boat and sunset

Updated on October 1, 2026

Wat Arun Ratchawararam, the Temple of Dawn, rises on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River, in Bangkok Yai district, opposite [Wat Pho](/fr/attractions/wat-pho-bangkok). An ancient temple dating back to the Ayutthaya period, it was the royal temple of King Rama II and housed the Emerald Buddha before it was moved to Wat Phra Kaew. Its great central prang, clad in fragments of porcelain and ceramics, is one of the most photographed silhouettes in the city. The temple is open every day from 8am to 6pm; admission is 200 baht for foreign visitors (prices checked in October 2026). Allow about 1 hour to walk around the prang, climb up to its terrace and see the ordination hall. Most visitors arrive by ferry from Tha Tien pier, a crossing of just a few minutes.

Highlights

The porcelain decoration

The central prang and the four smaller prangs are built of brick and covered with seashells, porcelain and fragments of tableware, much of it from China. Look closely at the figures of demons and deities that seem to hold up the tiers of the tower.

The view from the terrace

The very steep steps of the prang lead to a terrace overlooking the temple roofs, the river and, opposite, the Grand Palace and Wat Pho. Hold on to the handrail, especially on the way down.

The guardians of the ordination hall

Two mythical giants, Thotsakan and Sahatsadecha, guard the entrance to the ubosot, the ordination hall, amid the galleries of Buddha images.

Thai costumes

Many visitors rent a traditional Thai costume from the shops around the temple to have their photo taken at the foot of the prang.

Infos pratiques

Tips

Admission 200 baht for foreign visitors, payable on site; free for Thai nationals. Prices checked in October 2026. Respectful dress is required: no shorts, no sleeveless tops or bare shoulders, no flip-flops. The Tha Tien – Wat Arun ferry costs only a few baht, paid in cash at the pier ticket window. Combine the visit with Wat Pho and the [Grand Palace](/fr/attractions/grand-palais-bangkok), on the opposite bank: see our [one-day itinerary](/fr/articles/que-faire-a-bangkok-en-un-jour).

How to get there

34 Arun Amarin Road, Wat Arun, Bangkok Yai, Bangkok. MRT Blue Line, Sanam Chai station, exit 1, then walk to Tha Tien pier and take the ferry across the river. Chao Phraya Express Boat: stop at Wat Arun pier (orange flag, 18 baht per trip). Buses 1, 3, 25, 32, 44, 47, 53, 82, 508 or 512 to Tha Tien, then the ferry.