# Wat Arun — Temple of Dawn, Bangkok > Wat Arun, the Temple of Dawn, stands on the west bank of the Chao Phraya opposite Wat Pho. Its symbol is a spire about 70 m tall covered in coloured porcelain. Tickets for foreigners are about 200 baht, and it's open roughly 8:00–18:00 (unofficial). The ferry from Tha Tien pier takes 3 minutes. Cover shoulders and knees. An hour is enough. Web page: https://yesgo.io/thailand/bangkok/wat-arun - City: [Bangkok](https://yesgo.io/thailand/bangkok), Thailand - YesGo score: 51/100 (Yes, go) - Time on site: 1 h - With kids: Fine with kids - Ticket for foreigners: About 200 baht - Hours: Daily, roughly 8:00–18:00; may be shorter on Buddhist holidays - Ferry from Tha Tien: About 3 minutes; a few baht, cash - Dress code: Shoulders and knees covered - Climbing: You can climb the lower terraces of the prang — very steep steps - Where: West bank of the Chao Phraya, Bangkok Yai district — opposite Wat Pho - Coordinates: 13.74369, 100.48892 - Facts checked: 08.11.2026 ## Key facts - **67–86 m** — the height of the main prang — sources give different figures (source: English Wikipedia) - **1851** — the main prang was completed after nine years of work under Rama III (source: English Wikipedia) - **Aruna** — the Hindu charioteer of the Sun — the source of the name 'Temple of Dawn' (source: English Wikipedia) - **17th century** — a temple already stood here then, called Wat Makok (source: English Wikipedia) - **Until 1785** — the Emerald Buddha was kept here before moving to the Grand Palace (source: English Wikipedia) - **Porcelain** — coloured porcelain shards and seashells cover the prang in mosaic (source: English Wikipedia) - **4 prangs** — smaller towers stand at the corners around the main one (source: English Wikipedia) - **≈ 3 minutes** — for the ferry across the river from Tha Tien pier (source: travel guides) ## Entrance fee, hours and dress code According to guides, tickets for foreigners cost **about 200 baht**; Thai citizens enter free. The temple is open **daily from about 8:00 to 18:00**, with last entry around 17:30; hours may be shorter on Buddhist holidays. The official website didn't load on 08.11.2026, so confirm the price at the ticket desk. **Shoulders and knees must be covered.** Buy tickets only at the desk by the entrance: near the pier you may be offered 'special' tickets or told the temple is closed. ## What is Wat Arun? **Wat Arun** is the Temple of Dawn on the west bank of the **Chao Phraya River**, in the old Thonburi district. A temple called Wat Makok stood here by the 17th century; the present name honours **Aruna**, the Hindu charioteer of the Sun and a symbol of dawn. Until 1785 it housed the **Emerald Buddha**, now in the Grand Palace. The highlight is the central **prang** (a Khmer-style tower), about **70 m** tall (sources say anywhere from 67 to 86 m). Work on it began under Rama II and finished in **1851** under Rama III. The prang and the four smaller towers around it are covered in a mosaic of **coloured porcelain** and seashells. > **Steep steps** You can climb the lower terraces of the main prang, but the steps are very narrow and steep — hold the rail, especially on the way down. Don't climb in flip-flops or carrying a child. The upper levels are closed to visitors. ## What to see - **The main prang** — the porcelain mosaic up close and river views from the terraces. - **The four smaller prangs** at the corners, with figures of gods. - **The ordination hall (ubosot)** with demon guardians at its gates. - **The temple riverfront** — views across to Wat Pho and the Grand Palace. - **The temple from the river** — from the ferry or from the opposite bank at sunset. ## How to get to Wat Arun 1. **From Wat Pho** it's 5 minutes on foot to **Tha Tien pier (N8)**, then the cross-river ferry, about 3 minutes. 2. **By Chao Phraya Express Boat** to **Wat Arun pier**, right by the temple. 3. **By MRT** to **Sanam Chai**, exit 1, then walk to Tha Tien pier for the ferry. 4. **By taxi or Grab** over a bridge to the west bank — slower than the ferry. 5. The ferry runs every few minutes; the fare is a few baht in cash. ## When to go and how long you need Allow **about an hour**. **At opening, 8:00**, it's cooler and quieter, and the sun lights the prang from the river side. Despite the name, dawn isn't the best view: the famous one is **at sunset from the opposite bank**, when the prang turns into a silhouette against the sky. A day plan: the Grand Palace in the morning, Wat Pho in the afternoon, the ferry to Wat Arun at 16:00–17:00, then back to the east bank by the Tha Tien riverside for sunset. ## Is Wat Arun worth visiting? Yes: it's one of Bangkok's symbols, and the porcelain mosaic up close is as striking as the silhouette from afar. The ticket is cheap and the ferry is a fun little trip. The YesGo take: there's little to see beyond the prang itself, and it's hot with no shade by day. If you're short of time, seeing Wat Arun from the river or the opposite bank at sunset is enough. ## Before you go: checklist - [ ] Shoulders and knees covered - [ ] Cash in baht for the ticket and ferry - [ ] Shoes with grip — the steps are steep - [ ] Arriving before 17:30 - [ ] Sunset from the opposite bank, by Tha Tien ## Bangkok temples: compare and choose Bangkok temples rated by YesGo. - [Wat Arun](https://yesgo.io/thailand/bangkok/wat-arun) — YesGo score 51/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h · ≈ 200 baht - [Wat Pho](https://yesgo.io/thailand/bangkok/wat-pho) — YesGo score 50/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h · ≈ 300 baht; children under 120 cm free - [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 - [Golden Mount](https://yesgo.io/thailand/bangkok/golden-mount) — YesGo score 37/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · climb ≈ 100 baht - [Wat Traimit](https://yesgo.io/thailand/bangkok/wat-traimit) — YesGo score 36/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 40 min · hall ≈ 40 baht, museum ≈ 100 ## Rattanakosin Island in a day The Grand Palace and the Emerald Buddha in the morning, Wat Pho in the afternoon, and Wat Arun across the river at 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. [Wat Arun](https://yesgo.io/thailand/bangkok/wat-arun) — YesGo score 51/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h · ≈ 200 baht ## Good to know Wat Arun is the Temple of Dawn on the west bank of the Chao Phraya in Bangkok. Hotels and restaurants 'with a Wat Arun view' are on the opposite bank. Temples with similar names exist in other countries. ## Tips - The best shot is from the Tha Tien riverside at sunset. - Look closely at the porcelain flowers on the prang. - Come down the steps facing the prang — it's safer. - The ferry is fastest; the bridge is a long detour. - Across the river: [Wat Pho](https://yesgo.io/thailand/bangkok/wat-pho) and its Reclining Buddha. ## Questions ### How much is the Wat Arun entrance fee? About 200 baht for foreigners (according to guides). ### What are Wat Arun's opening hours? Daily, roughly 8:00–18:00, with last entry around 17:30. ### How do I get to Wat Arun? By ferry from Tha Tien pier near Wat Pho — about 3 minutes — or by express boat to Wat Arun pier. ### Can you climb Wat Arun? Yes, to the lower terraces; the steps are very steep. ### What is the Wat Arun dress code? Shoulders and knees covered. ### When does Wat Arun look best? At sunset, seen from the opposite bank. ### How tall is Wat Arun? About 70 m; sources range from 67 to 86 m. ### How long do you need? About an hour. ## How we checked The official watarun1.com website didn't load on 08.11.2026, so the 200 baht price and 8:00–18:00 hours come from guides and are marked unconfirmed; one old page says 50 baht, which we ignore. Ferry fares in sources range from 3 to 7 baht, so we say 'a few baht'. The prang's height in sources ranges from 67 to 86 m, so we give the range. History is from English Wikipedia; in line with YesGo policy we don't go into the 18th-century wars and capital changes. The closed upper levels are based on guides. ## Sources - English Wikipedia — Wat Arun: name, history, Emerald Buddha, prang, height, porcelain decoration - 2026 travel guides (The Better Vacation, Thai Holiday Guide and others) — price, hours, ferry (unofficial) - OSM — temple 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.