The Spectacular Royal Grand Palace
The country’s most important historical landmark; the Grand Palace covers an area of 218,400 sq-m and dates back to 1782. It is home to the Temple of the Emerald Buddha.
Wat Arun (The Temple of the Dawn)
Wat Arun is one of the iconic images of Thailand and is so important that it is featured on the back of a 10-baht coin. Initially a 17th century monastery, it later became a royal temple and is named after Aruna, the Indian God of Dawn.
Wat Pho
Wat Pho (the Temple of the Reclining Buddha), or Wat Phra Chetuphon, is located behind the Temple of the Emerald Buddha.
Wat Kanalayamit
One of the nine most sacred temples in Bangkok, this temple was built between 1824 and 1851 during the reign of King Rama III. It was financed by a rich Chinese nobleman and donated to the king who named it Wat Kanlayamit.
Wangderm Palace
The Wangderm Palace of King Taksin was used during the short period when Thonburi was the capital of Thailand from 1768 to 1782. In front of the gate stands a statue of King Taksin who was the only king of the Thonburi era.
Wat Rakhang
Wat Rakhang – which means “bell temple” – got its name from an ancient bell unearthed during construction of the temple. It dates back to the Ayutthaya era and was upgraded to a royal temple during the reign of King Taksin.
Guan Yu Shrine
The shrine is located on the Thonburi bank of the river, just behind the Princess Mother Memorial Park and near the twin Memorial and Phra Pok Klao Bridges. The shrine is under a pagoda roof with a guard of dragons – a symbol of the emperor.
Assumption Cathedral
Located in Bangrak district, the Assumption Cathedral is the capital city’s principal Roman Catholic cathedral and the main church of the Archdiocese of Bangkok.
Holy Rosary Church
The Portuguese were the first Europeans to make Thailand their home in large numbers and consequently the Portuguese Embassy was the first foreign mission in the capital.
Santa Cruz Church
The construction of a wooden catholic church for Portuguese settlers living in the area started in 1770 in the then new capital Thonburi on the western bank of the Chao Phraya.