Wat Suthat and the Giant Swing: opening hours and visit

Updated on October 1, 2026

Wat Suthat Thepwararam is one of the great royal temples of Bangkok's old town, halfway between the Grand Palace and the Golden Mount. Begun under King Rama I and completed under Rama III, it houses the Phra Si Sakyamuni, an 8-metre bronze Buddha brought from Sukhothai, and mural paintings from the reign of Rama III. In front of its entrance stands the Giant Swing (Sao Ching Cha), a 21-metre red frame that has become one of the city's symbols. Admission costs 100 baht for foreign visitors; allow 45 minutes to 1 hour for the visit.

Highlights

The Giant Swing

About 21 metres high, it was erected in 1784 by Rama I for an annual Brahmin ceremony in which men swung high in the air to catch a bag of coins hanging from a pole with their teeth. After several fatal accidents, the ceremony was abandoned in 1935. The current frame was rebuilt in teak and inaugurated in 2007; it stands on a public square, free to see at any time.

The vihara and the Phra Si Sakyamuni

The great vihara (prayer hall) houses the Phra Si Sakyamuni, a bronze Buddha about 8 metres high dating from the 14th or 15th century, brought from Wat Mahathat in Sukhothai. The ashes of King Ananda Mahidol (Rama VIII) have rested in the base of the statue since 1950. Around the building, on the terrace, stand twenty-eight Chinese-style pagodas.

The mural paintings

The walls of the vihara and the ubosot (ordination hall) are covered with paintings by court artists from the reign of Rama III. Take time to look at them closely: scenes of everyday life sit alongside Buddhist stories. The ubosot, one of the longest in Thailand, stands in a second courtyard behind the vihara.

The cloister and its Buddhas

A covered gallery surrounds the vihara; dozens of seated golden Buddhas line it, in the shade, away from the bustle of the street. Between the buildings, Chinese-style stone statues dot the courtyards.

Infos pratiques

Tips

Admission is charged for foreign visitors (100 baht) and free for Thai nationals; the Giant Swing, on the square in front of the temple, can be seen for free. As in every temple, cover your shoulders and knees and take off your shoes before entering the halls. The temple is far less crowded than the Grand Palace or Wat Pho: it is a good stop on a walk taking in [Wat Ratchanatdaram](/fr/attractions/wat-ratchanatdaram-loha-prasat) and the [Golden Mount](/fr/attractions/wat-saket-mont-dore). On nearby Bamrung Mueang Road, religious supply shops sell Buddha statues and monks' robes. Beware of strangers who tell you the temple is closed (see [scams to avoid in Bangkok](/fr/articles/arnaques-securite-bangkok)). Prices checked in October 2026.

How to get there

Bamrung Mueang Road, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok, in the heart of the old town (see the guide to [Banglamphu and the old town](/fr/articles/banglamphu-vieille-ville-bangkok)). By metro: MRT Blue Line, Sam Yot station, exit 3, then about 750 metres on foot. By bus: lines 12 and 42 along Bamrung Mueang Road. From [Khao San Road](/fr/attractions/khao-san-road), allow about twenty minutes on foot or a short taxi ride.