# Golden Mount (Wat Saket), Bangkok > The Golden Mount (Phu Khao Thong) is a man-made hill in Wat Saket temple, topped by a golden chedi with an all-round view of old Bangkok. About 300–320 steps climb past bells and small waterfalls. The climb costs foreigners about 100 baht, and it's open roughly 7:00–19:00 (unofficial). An hour is enough. It's about 2 km from the Grand Palace. Web page: https://yesgo.io/thailand/bangkok/golden-mount - City: [Bangkok](https://yesgo.io/thailand/bangkok), Thailand - YesGo score: 37/100 (Yes, if nearby) - Time on site: 1 h - Entry: climb ≈ 100 baht - With kids: Fine with kids - Climb: About 100 baht for foreigners; the temple grounds are free - Hours: Daily, roughly 7:00–19:00 - Steps: About 300–320, a gentle spiral climb with some shade - Dress code: Shoulders and knees covered - Where: 344 Chakkraphatdi Phong Rd., old town — ≈ 2 km east of the Grand Palace - Getting there: Saen Saep canal boat to Phan Fa Lilat pier — 2 minutes on foot - Coordinates: 13.75383, 100.50679 - Facts checked: 08.11.2026 ## Key facts - **19th century** — Rama III began a huge chedi here, but the soft soil gave way and it collapsed (source: English Wikipedia) - **'Mountain'** — locals called the overgrown mound of mud and brick a mountain — phu khao (source: English Wikipedia) - **Rama V** — a small chedi on top was finished in his reign and covered in gold (source: English Wikipedia) - **Sri Lanka** — the source of the Buddha relic kept inside the chedi (source: English Wikipedia) - **1940s** — concrete walls were added to stop the hill eroding (source: English Wikipedia) - **≈ 300–320** — steps to the top; the '344' in guides is the street number (source: travel guides) - **November** — an annual festival with a candlelit procession and a red cloth wrapped around the chedi (source: English Wikipedia) - **Wat Saket** — 'hair washing' — legend says King Rama I bathed here (source: English Wikipedia) ## Entrance fee and opening hours There's no official website. According to guides, the temple grounds are free, while **the climb** costs foreigners **about 100 baht**; older sources say 50 baht. It's open **daily from about 7:00 to 19:00**, though some say 9:00–17:00. Check at the ticket desk at the foot of the climb. **Cover shoulders and knees**, and keep quiet by the chedi at the top. ## What is the Golden Mount? The **Golden Mount** (Phu Khao Thong) is a man-made hill in **Wat Saket** temple in old Bangkok. **Rama III** began a huge chedi here, but Bangkok's soft soil couldn't bear the weight and it collapsed. Over the decades the mound of mud and brick grew over and looked like a real hill — so locals called it 'the mountain'. Under **Rama IV** a small chedi was started on top, and under **Rama V** it was finished and covered in **gold**. It holds a Buddha relic brought from **Sri Lanka**. Concrete walls were added in the 1940s to stabilise the hill. The temple's name, Saket, means 'hair washing': legend says King Rama I stopped here to bathe before entering the city. ## What to see - **The golden chedi** on top, with its Buddha relic. - **The circular terrace** — views of the old town, the Grand Palace and the skyscrapers. - **The spiral staircase** up the slope, with bells, gongs and small waterfalls. - **The bells** — ring them for luck. - **Loha Prasat** (the 'Iron Palace') across the road at Wat Ratchanatdaram. > **Go for sunset** Climb 40 minutes before sunset to see the city by day, then the sun going down over old Bangkok and the skyscraper lights. The climb is gentle and partly shaded, but bring water in the heat. Ring the bells on the way — everyone does. ## How to get to the Golden Mount 1. **By Saen Saep canal boat** to the last stop, **Phan Fa Lilat** pier, then 2 minutes on foot. It's a fast, traffic-free way from Pratunam and Siam. 2. **From the Grand Palace** it's about 2 km east — 10–20 minutes by taxi or tuk-tuk; agree the tuk-tuk fare first. 3. **From Khao San Road** it's about 1.5 km, 20 minutes on foot. 4. **By taxi or Grab** to 344 Chakkraphatdi Phong Road. 5. The ticket desk is at the foot of the climb; then the spiral staircase. ## How long do you need, and when to go? Allow **about an hour** for the climb and the top, or 1.5–2 hours with Loha Prasat across the road. The best time is **40 minutes before sunset**: soft light and less heat. Opening time at 7:00 is good too — quieter and cooler. Every **November** the temple holds its annual festival: a candlelit procession climbs the hill and the chedi is wrapped in a long red cloth, with a fair all around. It's crowded but atmospheric. ## Is the Golden Mount worth climbing? Yes: it's one of the best views of old Bangkok, cheap and with no high-rise lifts. The climb is easy, with bells and greenery along the way. The YesGo take: the summit is cramped and the chedi is small. It's not worth a special trip from Silom — combine it with the Grand Palace, Loha Prasat and Khao San Road for a day in the old town. ## Before you go: checklist - [ ] Shoulders and knees covered - [ ] About 100 baht in cash - [ ] Water and comfortable shoes - [ ] Arriving 40 minutes before sunset - [ ] Across the road: Loha Prasat ## Bangkok viewpoints: compare and choose Bangkok viewpoints rated by YesGo. - [Wat Arun](https://yesgo.io/thailand/bangkok/wat-arun) — YesGo score 51/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h · ≈ 200 baht - [Golden Mount](https://yesgo.io/thailand/bangkok/golden-mount) — YesGo score 37/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · climb ≈ 100 baht - [Mahanakhon SkyWalk](https://yesgo.io/thailand/bangkok/mahanakhon-skywalk) — YesGo score 37/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 15 min · 500–1,200 baht depending on time - [Baiyoke Sky](https://yesgo.io/thailand/bangkok/baiyoke-sky) — YesGo score 32/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · 450 baht incl. a drink ## The old town in a day The Grand Palace in the morning, Wat Pho in the afternoon, and the Golden Mount for sunset. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers. 1. [Grand Palace](https://yesgo.io/thailand/bangkok/bangkok-grand-palace) — YesGo score 49/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h 30 min · 500 baht; children under 120 cm free 2. [Wat Pho](https://yesgo.io/thailand/bangkok/wat-pho) — YesGo score 50/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h · ≈ 300 baht; children under 120 cm free 3. [Golden Mount](https://yesgo.io/thailand/bangkok/golden-mount) — YesGo score 37/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · climb ≈ 100 baht ## Good to know The Golden Mount (Wat Saket) is in Bangkok's old town. The Golden Rock of Kyaiktiyo is in Myanmar — a different place entirely. ## Tips - The best view of the Grand Palace is from the west side of the terrace. - Ring the bells on the way up — it's tradition. - The top gets crowded at sunset — arrive a little early. - The Saen Saep canal boat is a fast route from Pratunam. - In the morning: the [Grand Palace](https://yesgo.io/thailand/bangkok/bangkok-grand-palace), 2 km away. ## Questions ### How much is the Golden Mount entrance fee? About 100 baht for foreigners to climb (according to guides); the temple grounds are free. ### What are the Golden Mount's opening hours? Daily, roughly 7:00–19:00. ### How many steps are there to the Golden Mount? About 300–320; the '344' in guides is the temple's street number. ### How do I get to the Golden Mount? Saen Saep canal boat to Phan Fa Lilat pier, or a taxi from the Grand Palace (≈ 2 km). ### When is the best time to climb? 40 minutes before sunset, or at opening in the morning. ### What is the dress code? Shoulders and knees covered. ### When is the Golden Mount festival? Every November, with a candlelit procession to the top. ### How long do you need? About an hour, or 1.5–2 hours with Loha Prasat. ## How we checked There's no official website. Most guides give 100 baht and 7:00–19:00, but none is dated 2026; older ones say 50 baht and a few give 9:00–17:00 hours, so all of this is marked unconfirmed. Sources count 300–320 steps; '344' is the street number on Chakkraphatdi Phong Road, often mistaken for the step count. History, the relic and the November festival are from English Wikipedia; in line with YesGo policy we leave out the hill's use as a military lookout. The distance from the Grand Palace is from coordinates. ## Sources - English Wikipedia — Wat Saket: history of the hill and chedi, relic, 1940s walls, November festival, temple name - Travel guides (Places of Juma, Nomads Travel Guide and others) — price, hours, number of steps (unofficial) - Wikidata Q2063818 — coordinates - YesGo general facts for Thailand — payment, transport --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.