While Asia as a whole is home to truly jaw-dropping temples, few can compare to the magnificent Buddhist temples in Bangkok.
While you might already know about the most famous ones (Wat Pra Kaew, Wat Arun and Wat Pho), the city has plenty more that are worth checking out. Just remember to dress conservatively and cover shoulders and knees, and be respectful at all times.
Must-See Buddhist Temples in Bangkok
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1. Wat Phra Kaew
Wat Phra Kaew is a beautiful architectural temple that is attached to the Grand Palace. This temple is the spiritual home of Thai Buddhism and is one of the most revered places in Thailand.
Come to Wat Phra Kaew to check out the Emerald Buddha. A statue that is carved from a single block of jade stone.
2. Wat Pho
For all your Buddha needs, including the largest reclining Buddha and largest collection of Buddha pictures, come to Wat Pho. This must-see temple is one of the largest temple complexes in Bangkok that also features lots of different murals, sculptures, and random objects (weapons!).
The biggest highlight here at Wat Pho is the massive, 46-metres long, reclining Buddha!
3. Wat Arun
Wat Arun, or Temple of the Dawn, consists of five towers, overlooking the Mae Nam Chao Praya. The sunset views and and ornate ceramic tiles and gold features makes this one of the most iconic Buddhist temples in Bangkok. Located on the banks of the river, you take a small riverboat to reach it.
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4. Wat Mahathat
This beautiful temple is one of the oldest temples in Bangkok, and is also home to Thailand’s largest order of monks. So, it’s an important place for studying Buddhism and meditation. There’s even a few programmes in English and in recent years the temple has become a popular place to learn Vipassana Meditation (Insight Meditation).
Stop by on Sunday to check out the amulet market beside it, where you can pick up traditional medicines, talismans and lucky amulets.

5. Wat Saket
The Golden Mount (Wat Saket) is a beautiful Buddhist temple on top of a hill, which you reach by climbing 344 steps. It sounds harder than it is – it’s a gradual climb, and the views make it all worthwhile. Wat Saket hosts a huge temple fair during Loy Krathong, usually in November. People come from far and wide to pay tribute here, so try to come as early as possible to avoid queues.

6. Wat Traimit
Wat Traimit is a famous temple in Bangkok’s Chinatown, best known for its enormous gold Buddha image that dates back to the 13th century. It’s made of solid gold, and is the biggest golden statue in the world. In fact, it’s said that the current value of this statue is more than $250 million!

7. Wat Suthat
Wat Suthat is one of Bangkok’s hidden gems. As it is less popular among tourists than other temples in the city, visiting Wat Suthat is a peaceful experience. Once you’ve wandered around the temple, stop at the stunning red Giant Swing outside for a great photo op.