How Grand Palace tours differ
A Grand Palace tour usually means a guide who walks you through the palace grounds and Wat Phra Kaew and explains the buildings, the murals and the royal ceremonies. Some tours stop there. Others continue to Wat Pho and Wat Arun, which makes a longer day on foot and by boat.
The biggest difference is the entry fee. The palace ticket costs THB 500 for foreign adults (2026), and some tours list entry tickets as an optional extra rather than part of the base price. Read the list of what is included in each offer before you compare prices.
Our picks: guided Grand Palace tours
The private day with a car suits families and the hot months. The half day and the old town tour are group options; at both, you pay the entries on site.
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 day with driver-guide and car
- Private car
- Driver-guide
- Hotel pickup
Hotel pickup and an English-speaking driver-guide in a private air-conditioned car for the palace, temples and city sights. Entry fees are bought on site.
Check availability →
Palace, temples and old town with a guide
- English-speaking guide
- Old town walk
Four hours through the palace, the temples and the old town with an English-speaking guide. Entry fees are extra.
Check availability →
Half day at the palace, Wat Pho and Wat Arun
- English-speaking guide
- Ferry both ways
Guided visits to all three sites with the ferry over the river and back. Entry fees are extra.
Check availability →Grand Palace tours and temple walks
English-guided palace visits, combinations with Wat Pho and Wat Arun, and river cruises, with live prices and availability. Check which options include the palace entry fee.
What to check before you book a guided visit
Four points that decide whether a price is a good deal.
Are entry tickets included?
Some offers add the palace, Wat Pho and Wat Arun tickets for a fee, others leave them out of the base price. The palace alone is THB 500, Wat Pho THB 300 and Wat Arun THB 200.
Ticket prices →Which temples are on the route?
A palace-only tour is shorter. A tour with Wat Pho and Wat Arun covers three sites and needs more time and energy.
Palace and Wat Pho →Where and when does it start?
Check the meeting point and the time. Ticket sales at the palace run until 15:30, so late starts leave little room.
Opening hours →What about pickup?
Hotel pickup differs between offers. Read the pickup terms of the specific tour you choose and plan your own route if they are unclear.
Getting there →A guided visit does not change which buildings you can enter. The Dusit Maha Prasat is closed to regular sightseeing, and some halls are seen from outside only, whether you go with a guide or alone.
Guide, audio guide or on your own
Three ways to see the palace, side by side.
| Guided tour | Audio guide | On your own | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | Tour price; entry may be extra | THB 200 plus THB 500 ticket | THB 500 ticket |
| Explanations | A live guide, questions possible | 8 languages, including German | Self-guided |
| Route | Planned for you | You choose | You choose |
| Wat Pho and Wat Arun | Often included as a combination | – | Separate tickets, THB 300 and THB 200 |
| Pace | Set by the group | Your own | Your own |
For most first-time visitors, a guided visit with a clear route is the easiest choice, because the palace has many courtyards and buildings. If you prefer your own pace, the THB 500 ticket with the audio guide gives you the same buildings at a lower cost.
What to wear on a tour
The same dress code applies with or without a guide. Cover your shoulders and wear long, loose trousers or a long skirt. Sleeveless, short or see-through tops, shorts, torn or tight trousers, cycling shorts and miniskirts are not allowed. Take your shoes off before you enter the Buddha chapel. Drones are not allowed over the grounds.
If your tour continues to Wat Pho and Wat Arun, the same sensible clothing works there too. Wat Pho and Wat Arun have their own guides at Wat Pho tours and Wat Arun tours.
Add a show or a boat ride
Two things that fit around a palace morning.
Khon with your palace ticket
Foreign visitors can show the palace ticket at the Sala Chalermkrung Royal Theatre for a 25-minute Khon performance. It usually runs Monday to Friday at 13:00, 14:30 and 16:00, and a shuttle leaves the Phiman Deves Gate 30 minutes before each show. A separate theatre ticket costs THB 400 per person.
Tickets →A river cruise in the evening
The Chao Phraya has dinner cruises and regular express boats. They are separate products with separate prices, so a ferry ride is not a dinner cruise ticket.
Chao Phraya cruises →
Grand Palace tours: frequently asked questions
Is the palace entry ticket included in a tour?
It depends on the offer. Some list entry tickets as an optional add-on, others leave them out of the base price. Read the included list, and remember the palace ticket is THB 500 for foreign adults in 2026.
Do tours also visit Wat Pho and Wat Arun?
Some do. English-guided combinations exist that cover the Grand Palace with Wat Phra Kaew, Wat Pho and Wat Arun. Other tours cover the palace only.
Do I need a guide at the Grand Palace?
No. You can visit alone with the THB 500 ticket and the THB 200 audio guide in 8 languages. A guide adds stories and a planned route.
Can a tour get me into the closed halls?
No. The Dusit Maha Prasat is closed to regular sightseeing for everyone. Some other halls are seen from outside only.
When should I start a tour?
Early. Palace ticket sales end at 15:30, and a combined tour needs several hours. Check the meeting time and the palace calendar for your date.
Is this site a tour operator?
No. It is a visitor guide with no link to the Grand Palace, the Bureau of the Royal Household, the Tourism Authority of Thailand or any tour operator or hotel. The tour cards show offers from operators.