The Grand Palace in Bangkok at a glance
The Grand Palace is a group of residential, throne, administrative and sacred buildings on Na Phra Lan Road in the Rattanakosin district of Bangkok. It dates from 1782, when King Rama I moved the capital to the left bank of the Chao Phraya. The buildings were added over several reigns, so the palace is not one structure from one period. Wat Phra Kaew, the temple of the Emerald Buddha, is its royal chapel.
This guide covers what you need for a visit: tickets and prices in baht (THB, 2026), opening hours, guided tours, the dress code, the Emerald Buddha, the throne halls, the walk to Wat Pho, boat rides on the Chao Phraya and how to get there. Wat Pho and Wat Arun, the two temples nearby, have their own guides: Wat Pho and Wat Arun.
Our picks: Grand Palace tours
For the easiest morning, the private tour picks you up and includes palace entry. The canal boat tour adds Wat Pho and the river with all entries; the plain ticket is the cheapest way in.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Private palace and temples tour with hotel pickup
- Grand Palace entry
- Private guide
- Hotel transfer
Hotel pickup, a private guide and entry to the palace and the Emerald Buddha; Wat Pho and Wat Arun entry depends on the option.
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Grand Palace, Wat Pho and Chinatown walk
- Grand Palace entry
- Wat Pho entry
- Hotel pickup
Hotel pickup, an English-speaking guide and entry to the palace and Wat Pho, ending in Chinatown.
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Grand Palace, Wat Pho and canal boat
- Palace and Wat Pho entry
- Longtail canal ride
- English-speaking guide
A guided walk through the palace and Wat Pho with all entries, then about 90 minutes by longtail boat on the river and canals.
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Palace, Wat Pho and Golden Mount by tuk-tuk
- Entry fees
- Tuk-tuk ride
- English-speaking guide
A guide, entry fees, a tuk-tuk ride and public transport between the palace, Wat Pho and the Golden Mount.
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Grand Palace, Wat Pho and Wat Arun with a guide
- English-speaking guide
- Boat across the river
A guided half day through the palace and two temples with the boat across the river. Entry fees are paid at the official ticket offices.
Check availability →Grand Palace entry ticket
- Grand Palace entry
- Textile museum
- Khon performance
The palace ticket with the Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles, the Arts of the Kingdom museum and a Khon show at Sala Chalermkrung.
Check availability →Grand Palace tours and temple walks
Guided palace visits, combinations with Wat Pho and Wat Arun, and river cruises, with live prices and availability. Check whether the palace entry fee is included.
Plan a morning at the palace
A few habits that make the visit easier.
Arrive when the gates open
The palace opens at 08:30 and ticket sales run until 15:30, so an early start gives you the longest day. Tourists enter through the Mani Nopparat Gate and a security check.
Opening hours →Dress for the temple
Cover your shoulders and wear long, loose trousers or a long skirt. Sleeveless tops, shorts, torn or tight trousers and miniskirts are not allowed.
Tickets and dress code →Decide on a guide
An audio guide costs THB 200 and comes in 8 languages. A guided tour adds stories and saves you planning the route.
Compare tours →Add Wat Pho by foot
Wat Pho lies south of the palace and has its own ticket of THB 300. Many visitors combine the two in one morning.
Palace and Wat Pho →What a visit covers
Your ticket takes you through the palace grounds with their courtyards and past the throne halls, among them the Chakri Maha Prasat, which most visitors photograph from outside. It also covers Wat Phra Kaew with the Emerald Buddha and its galleries of murals, and the Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles. Plan a full morning.
The palace is still used for royal ceremonies, which is why hours can change and why the dress code is strict. Treat it as a place of worship and a working royal site, not only as a sight. Photography of the Emerald Buddha inside the main hall is not allowed.
Everything on this site
Pick the page that matches your question.
Tickets and prices
Who pays, who enters free, online or at the counter, the audio guide and the dress code.
Guided tours
Palace and temple tours compared, and what to check before you book.
The Emerald Buddha
The statue, its three robes, the murals and the rules inside the chapel.
Opening hours
Daily times, ticket sales and what to check on ceremony days.
Grand Palace and Wat Pho
One walk through two temples, with separate tickets explained.
Architecture
Throne halls, spires and the murals of the galleries.
Facts about the palace
Size, kings and royal ceremonies in plain terms.
History
From Rama I and the move of the capital in 1782 to the palace today.
The closed-today trick
How the scam works and how to check whether the palace is really closed.
Chao Phraya cruises
Dinner cruises, express boats and the tourist boat compared.
Getting there
MRT, boat, taxi and the walk from Sanam Chai.
Things to do nearby
Wat Pho, Wat Arun, Sanam Luang and the flower market.
Best time to visit
Heat and rain by month, and the time of day to go.
Where to stay
The old town, the riverside or Sukhumvit: which area suits your plans.
A few things to know before you go
Details that help you plan the day.
Each temple has its own ticket
The palace costs THB 500, Wat Pho THB 300 and Wat Arun THB 200 (2026). The palace ticket covers the grounds, Wat Phra Kaew and the Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles.
Combining temples →Your ticket also opens a Khon show
Foreign visitors can show their palace ticket at the Sala Chalermkrung Royal Theatre for a 25-minute Khon performance, usually Monday to Friday.
More to do with a ticket →The Dusit Maha Prasat is outside the regular route
The hall is closed to normal sightseeing, and visitor paths have changed since February 2026. Plan for courtyards, Wat Phra Kaew and views of the other halls from outside.
The throne halls →Ceremony days change the hours
The palace publishes a calendar, and a ceremony can shorten the day or close sections. Check it before you travel, and confirm at the ticket counter.
Closed-today trick →The Emerald Buddha is green stone
The statue is carved from green stone, often called jasper or jade, not from the gem emerald. It is a small figure of about 66 cm.
The statue →More independent guides to Bangkok
Separate guides from the same team.
Grand Palace Bangkok: frequently asked questions
How much is a Grand Palace ticket in 2026?
THB 500 for foreign adults. It covers the palace grounds, Wat Phra Kaew and the Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles. Thai nationals enter free with a Thai ID, and children under 120 cm are free. See the tickets page.
What are the opening hours?
The palace is open daily from 08:30 to 16:30, with ticket sales from 08:30 to 15:30. Tourist visits end at 15:30, so plan to be inside by then. Ceremonies can change the day, so check the calendar before you go. Details are on the opening hours page.
How do I get to the Grand Palace?
Take the MRT to Sanam Chai and use exit 1, or take the orange line of the Chao Phraya Express Boat to Tha Chang pier (N9). The boat fare on the orange line is THB 19 in 2026. A taxi or Grab car also works. See getting there.
Can I enter all the throne halls?
Not necessarily. The Dusit Maha Prasat is closed to regular sightseeing, and some halls can be seen from outside only. Check at the gate what is open on your day. The architecture page explains each building.
Is Wat Pho included in the palace ticket?
No. Wat Pho is a separate temple with its own ticket of THB 300 in 2026. For an adult foreign visitor, the palace and Wat Pho together come to THB 800 when bought separately.
Is this the official Grand Palace website?
No. This is an independent visitor guide. It is not run by the Grand Palace, the Bureau of the Royal Household or the Tourism Authority of Thailand, and it has no link to any tour operator or hotel.