Allow a full half day to really explore Wat Pho. If the temple is busy there may be crowds and seeing the reclining Buddha can take some time. At a bare minimum time, allow 2 hours. There is a lot to see and enjoy within the Wat Pho complex and gardens including a small museum which was open on our last visit.
The temple complex is expansive and takes at least an hour to explore properly. The various structures hold artefacts and give the faithful opportunities to express their devotion.
It's the oldest and largest temple in Bangkok so it's well worth a visit even just to see the huge reclining Buddha. The grounds are huge with many small temples and entrance gates guarded by the farang (westerners). There is so much to see here and it's so colourful. It's such a large area it's easy to get lost.
Things you should be aware of when visiting the Wat Pho:
This means that men must wear long pants and short-sleeved or long-sleeved shirts (no tank tops or sleeveless shirts). Women must wear skirts or pants extending at least to the knee, and also should not wear a top that reveals bare shoulders.
How Long To Spend At Wat Pho? - Exploring Southeast Asia
Can you take photos inside Wat Pho?
Please note that Wat Pho has specific restrictions on photography; currently, the temple does not permit photoshoots in traditional Thai or fancy costumes without prior permission. Tourists are welcome to take photos in a respectful manner wearing regular, modest attire.
Please dress respectfully when you visit any temple in Thailand. Make sure your shoulders are covered (no vests, tank-tops or spaghetti straps) and although skirts or shorts are acceptable at many temples, they should be smart and at least knee-length.
The temple is open daily from 8:00 AM to 6:30 PM, with an entrance fee of 300 THB per person. The best time to visit Wat Pho is early morning or late afternoon to avoid the heat and crowds.
If you want to experience the most magical moment: then the best time to visit Wat Arun is in the evening, just before sunset. You can go around 5 pm, spend an hour or more there and then cross over to the other side of the river where you can witness Wat Arun in golden halogen lights after the sunset!
What is the difference between Wat Arun and Wat Pho?
Wat Pho is known as the “Reclining Buddha” Temple. As one of the largest temple complexes in the city, it's famed for its huge reclining Buddha that is 46 metres long, covered in gold leaf. Wat Arun ('Temple of Dawn') is partly made up of colourfully decorated spires and stands majestically over the water.
Wat pho is a beautiful place. The reclining Buddha is really cool, but make sure you take time to walk around the rest of the compound. Beautiful architecture, many Buddha statues other than reclining, and it is much more relaxed and calm than the grand palace grounds.
If you want to take it easy, see the Grand Palace and Wat Pho on one day and then Wat Arun plus a second temple next such as Wat Prayoon (including turtle mountain – pictured below). In 1-2 days you can see the main three temples. What is this?
An early start will get you to Wat Pho in time to experience the monks' early morning chanting ritual and avoid the crowds who arrive later (chanting starts at 9.00am).
Wat Pho is one of the largest and oldest wats in Bangkok covering an area of 50 rai or 80,000 square metres. It is home to more than one thousand Buddha images, as well as one of the largest single Buddha images at 46 metres (151 ft) in length.
In Thailand to venture out on a Monday wearing flaming red is just asking for trouble. You are tempting fate and likely to have a bad day. But, wear the same red outfit on a Sunday and you'll be fine. Your Monday outfit ought to be yellow or at the very least cream coloured.
For women, this could be a cute sundress or romper (jumpsuit). For men, this could be a collared shirt with light dress pants. Essentially, you just want to not look like a rough or rugged backpacker. DON'T pack unnecessary fancy clothing.
For women, cover the shoulders and chest area and wear bottoms that go past the knees. For men, long pants and shirts with sleeves are required. Visitors need to take off their shoes and leave them on the shelves outside before entering any of the religious buildings.
Being one of the oldest and largest temples in Bangkok, Wat Pho contains over 1,000 images of the Buddha and over 100 chedis. I recommend dedicating at least one hour to enjoy the complex before moving on to other sights in the city.
The complex also houses the most Buddha's in all of Thailand. Along with the famous reclining Buddha, Wat Pho features a whopping 394 Buddhas that can be found spread out between four different chapels on-site.
Do you need long trousers for Grand Palace Bangkok?
Lightweight clothing with long sleeves and long trousers or skirts. If you prefer to wear short pants, just bring a Sarong or lightweight pants. They're easy to fit in your bag. T-shirts with sleeves are also suitable.
Sukhumvit or Siam? Choose Sukhumvit if: You are into nightlife, with RCA, Nana Plaza, Sukhumvit Soi 11, Thonglor & Ekkamai, and Soi Cowboy as legendary nightlife areas. You want a wide range of international restaurants, trendy cafes, rooftop bars, and luxury malls like Terminal 21 and EmQuartier.
How long does it take to walk around the Grand Palace in Bangkok?
We always recommend a visit to The Grand Palace. While it is often packed with tourists it remains the most important attraction in Bangkok and one of the most spectacular. How long does it take to visit The Grand Palace? At a very minimum you need 1 hour but to see it properly we suggest 2 hours.
