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The Grand Palace

The Grand Palace, Bangkok: Hours, Address, The Grand Palace Reviews: 4/5

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The Grand Palace

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The Grand Palace
4
35,531
#7 of 741 things to do in Bangkok
Historic Sites
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12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Monday
8:30 AM - 3:30 PM
Tuesday
8:30 AM - 3:30 PM
Wednesday
8:30 AM - 3:30 PM
Thursday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Friday
8:30 AM - 3:30 PM
Saturday
8:30 AM - 3:30 PM
Sunday
8:30 AM - 3:30 PM
About
Bangkok's famous palace complex was built in 1782 and features several magnificent buildings including Wat Phra Kaeo (Temple of the Emerald Buddha), which contains a beautiful Emerald Buddha that dates back to the 14th century.
Suggested duration
< 1 hour
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The area
Neighborhood: Riverside
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Restaurants
3,021 within 3 miles
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Attractions
522 within 6 miles
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
35,531 reviews
Excellent
18,156
Very good
10,640
Average
4,728
Poor
1,258
Terrible
749
Patrick H
10 contributions
Impressive, but audio tour requires rushing your visit
Mar 2022 • Friends
First of all, I would reiterate the warnings of other reviewers. Someone approached us while we were walking to the Palace at around 10am and asked where we going. He then told us a pack of lies about the Palace being closed until midday due to it being a Buddhist holiday and tried to usher us into someone’s taxi to go round some other sites. We walked away and continued on to the Palace which was completely open as normal. The official website has a calendar where you can see the opening times for any given date.

The attraction itself is impressive and interesting. But another tip:

Audio tours are available at a counter next to where you pay your 500 Baht entry fee. The audio tours are 200 Baht per person. We paid for these then proceeded to another marquee where all visitors have to register (sign in) . Only then were we given a free leaflet with small amounts of information about each of the 21 sights within the attraction. If we’d known we were going to get that, we wouldn’t have bothered with the audio tour, as we just wanted some basic info. Furthermore, once you are inside the attraction there are signs where you can gather for free English and Thai guided tours at 10.30am and 2pm. Not only would this have been a better and cheaper option, but it wouldn’t have required rushing round as the audio tour did. If you do not return the audio tour device within 90 minutes you will be fined 200 Baht, and to return it you have to exit the attraction. We used the full 90 minutes even though we did not listen to the audio tour at every stop/sight.

Not sure why the museum at the end has separate shoe racks for Thais and foreigners.
Written March 6, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Adam C
Westward Ho, UK12 contributions
Emerald Buddha is a highlight
Feb 2020 • Couples
Biggest thing to remember is you MUST wear long trousers and a top that covers your shoulders, you WILL NOT be allowed in without them. If you forget you can get trousers for 100 baht from the shops nearby. Entry is 500 baht which may seem steep but personally I do recommend as the Emerald Buddha is worth it alone. In my view it is better than the Sistine chapel. A good tip is that you should go in the morning to avoid crowds. There is a very accessible bus stop just around the corner, a highly recommended and cheap mode of transport.
Enjoy!
Written February 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
amanda5805
Duncan, Canada4,109 contributions
Grand is a bit of an understatement. Next time I would get a guide
Dec 2019
The Grand Palace is a must see while in Bangkok. We figured we would get up and head to the grand palace first thing might be a little bit quieter how it seems most people come to party. We were wrong it was crazy busy. It cost 500B per adult and children under a specific height was free. It included the entrance fee to everything inside plus a shuttle bus to a show. We didn’t have time to see the show which was to bad. The one thing we would do next time is hire one of the private guides. The place is so big and busy it would have been nice to not feel lost at some points. There is also recorded devices you could rent. You must dress respectively. Shoulders, backs and ankles must be covered. I did notice the odd girl who had skirts about an inch above there ankles that were allowed in. If you show up not covered they can deny you or you can rent something to cover you up!

The Palace is stunning complex of buildings located in the older part of the city. The palace was the official residence of the Kings of Siam since 1782. The king, his court, and his royal government were based on the grounds of the palace until 1925. There is a wall that wraps the inside of the palace that tells a story. Some beautiful temples, museums. We spend about 3 hours at the palace grounds and could have probably spent another hour or two.

We did drive by again around 3pm and it was just as busy. So you might not be able to beat the crowds but you can try and beat the heat by going early!
Written May 19, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Jeannie
Singapore, Singapore83 contributions
Scammers in the palace
Apr 2022 • Friends
Horrible experience! Was scammed by the guard and the store staff located in the palace entrance!!

My group of friends was all wearing knee covered pants after checking all the required precautions when we purchased the tickets online. When we arrive, the guard told us that pants are required to be at ankle length! We argued saying this was not stated in the website but they did not let us through.

As we bought the tickets online, we had to buy the pants and proceed on. But when we went in, we realized that all other tourist were wearing knee length pants! Even the lady guards! This is ridiculous!!

This was not expected from a site housing the country ruler! This is really ridiculous.

Also 500bhat per person to the palace is a waste of money. Just skip this palace and head to wat po Instead! So much better there!
Written April 26, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
materesasandoval
Quezon City, Philippines7 contributions
Amazing Trip at the Grand Palace
Dec 2019
As a History teacher, my visit to the Grand palace (together with my family) is a top choice. I was just amazed at the structures and edifices built in the palace, the intricate designs and details are really worth seeing.The entrance fee is just fine, and is commensurate to the remarkable experience one gets at the grand palace. However, the place can really get congested. Early morning visit as soon as the ticket booths open is highly recommended. overall, it's a must see place specially for 'first timers" in Bangkok. : }
Written January 14, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Shelliu
Hilton Head, SC4,077 contributions
Chaotic and besitufil
Jan 2020 • Family

Absolutely worth a visit due to the history and beauty of the entire complex. It’s quite a long process to get in but the line goes quick. Many just go into the outside area and not in the palace itself but it’s worth it so pay the fee and go in. Entrance for non-Thai is THB 500 and free for Thai people. To get in, cover ankles and shoulders. They have clothes to rent if you forget but it’s best to just wear appropriate clothing. Once in, there are so many things to explore and take pictures of from the gorgeous statues, intricate tile work, murals that tell a thousand stories and a temple as well. Lastly, it’s usually very hit and crowded with many tour groups do just be patient and try to go at early as possible to beat at least some of the crowds.
Written January 3, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Mom-azing
14 contributions
Nice to see but depends on your agenda
Feb 2020 • Couples
We only had 2.5 days in Bangkok so we decided to prioritize the Grand Palace as one of the early morning activities. A cab ride from Siam sq area took about 25 min (cost 100baht). But not after the first cab driver tried to tell us that the Grand Palace is closed and doesn’t open until afternoon. We immediately asked him to pull over and we got out. Reading many reviews prepared us for it. The Grand Palace is open every day from 8:30am- 3:30pm. Sure there are exceptions, so good to double check on their site.
We arrived at the Grand Palace at 8am and were the second in line for the security check. By 8:30 (when they officially open), the line behind us was very long. Once we got through security, we crossed the street towards the palace. There, I was forced to buy a T-Shirt for 200baht (that I will never wear again) because a shawl isn’t approved (very frustrating). Also, men have to wear pants, not shorts. We saw many men walking around the palace with elephant printed pants...
About the palace: 500baht a ticket seemed high and while the palace is pretty and provides cute pic opportunities with the guards 💂, it didn’t seem all that entirely worth it. There were several sections closed so you couldn’t really go in and experience all the artistic elements. Also, some of the buildings seemed to need TLC. Net net, it’s a nice activity, but not a total must. We were done by 9:30.
Written February 14, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
DalinaSafuan
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia76 contributions
Impressive Beauty in Architecture
Feb 2020 • Couples
It was my third time here with different group of people. As they say, if it is your first time to Bangkok and you have never been to any temple or wanting to appreciate the traditional architecture, this is a must place to go for the first time. As I frequented Bangkok with different groups of people in the span of several years and them not knowing how to get there by themselves, I have no choice but to show the way, nevertheless glad that I did when they appreciated the beauty of the grand palace. The grand palace is divided into two i.e. The Temple of Emerald Buddha which houses the ancient temples with intricate handcrafted statues and the grand Royal Residence.  

To Get There: 

1. Take the BTS Silom Line from Siam Centre  if you are interchanging from other line and alight at Saphan Taksin. 

2. From Saphan Taksin, go the dock to take a boat from Saphan Taksin. Take the public boat, do not take the other tourist boat if you don't plan to have a river tour or make several stops. The one I took was the "Orange Flag" boat. The fare at the time of writing is THB 20 per person. Alight at Stop No 9 which is the Tha Chang Pier.

3. Walk about 5 to 10 minutes to the entrance of he Grand Palace. Basically you will see a tall white wall which surrounds the Grand Palace. As I have frequented the palace three times already, the path to the entrance may differ based on their setup for the security check just before the entrance. Basically, just follow the crowd.

Be mindful to wear modest clothes. No short pants or skirt. Depending on the time and how much you appreciate history and architecture and photos you take, the tour may last about 2 hours or more. 

Would I go there again? - Not the fourth time I hope but for the first time visitor, why not, it's majestic. 
Written February 4, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
cornwall15
Durham, NC153 contributions
Amazing architecture lovingly maintained
Nov 2019
My wife and I visited here during our trip to Bangkok. The tour is almost totally outside (and self guided) so you are subject to the weather and sun. Having said that you really should see this on a sunny day! The sun dazzles you off the finely detailed decorations and golden domes. Clearly this has been renovated in the last 50 years as it is extraordinarily colorful in fine detail! You can get a guided tour for extra money but the buildings themselves are really remarkable and can be greatly enjoyed without one.

Our tickets included two other places to visit alongside the palace but we skipped them due to the heat of the later morning. I recommend an early morning visit.
Written January 24, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Deanosaur89
Edmonton, Canada1,628 contributions
Very Ornate Must See
Feb 2020 • Couples
The Grand Palace is worth the money and admission to it will also allow you to see Wat Phra Kaew (Emerald Buddha) and surrounding complex. Tickets cost 500 baht per adult at the gate.

Please be warned that this attraction requires that you wear long pants and cover your shoulders. They sell long pants and skirts for 200 and 180 respectively before the ticket booths, but there are also street vendors along the way that also sell items to help you cover up for much less. Bring a water bottle for a sunny day - there are fountains to refill at this complex as it gets pretty hot inside!

There is a changing of the guard at the grand palace so it might be worth looking into the times if you would like to see it.
Written February 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
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Frequently Asked Questions about The Grand Palace
The Grand Palace is open:
  • Thu - Thu 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
  • Fri - Wed 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM
Buy tickets in advance on Tripadvisor. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel at least 24 hours before the start date of your tour for a full refund.
We recommend booking The Grand Palace tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 343 The Grand Palace tours on Tripadvisor
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