Admission:
At 500 baht (approximately $15 per ticket), admission to the Grand Palace complex is quite high for Bangkok standards.
What to Wear:
As not only thee holiest site in the country but also being on royal property, a conservative dress code is strictly enforced. Men and women must wear long pants (women may wear long skirts) and covered shoulders. Neither men nor women may wear sleeveless shirts. No shorts allowed. If you are improperly dressed, you will not be allowed to enter the palace without renting or purchasing overpriced and tacky fisherman pants and t-shirts to cover up, costing you a lot more money.
Avoiding Scams:
One of Bangkok’s most common scam is that of the “helpful tuk-tuk driver” who will stand outside of the palace informing visitors that the palace is closed today (because today is Sunday, because it’s a national holiday, because they are cleaning…), and offering instead to take the visitors on an overpriced ride through the city to their friend’s tailor shops. This is never true. The palace is open daily. Smile politely and ignore this advice, and proceed to the entrance.
See: Should you take a tuk-tuk in Bangkok?
What to See:
The complex is massive, and it’s hard to see everything in one visit. When visiting, be sure to see the Emerald Buddha and the Grand Palace, which is still an operational ceremonial palace managed by the Royal Household Bureau.
The Grand Palace was the official full-time royal residence of the first eight kings of the current dynasty. Although the current and previous Thai king kept alternate residences, the Grand Palace is still used in its ceremonial functions, and is still an active palace with working offices for the Royal Household Bureau. Visitors are generally not allowed to enter the palace, but are allowed to walk around and admire the beautiful building and grounds.
The Temple of the Emerald Buddha – Wat Phra Kaew
The main site to see, however, is not the Grand Palace, but rather Wat Phra Kaew, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. Wat Phra Kaew is not only one of the most beautiful temples in the world, it’s also the most important holy site in all of Thailand.
The Emerald Buddha
Throughout its long and mysterious life, the legendary Emerald Buddha has journeyed from ancient Ceylon (modern Sri Lanka) to the halls of the Khmer Empire’s Angkor Wat, to the kingdoms of Laos, Chiang Mai, and Ayutthaya. Now, the Emerald Buddha sits proudly in a place of high reverence and honor at Wat Phra Kaew, Bangkok’s royal temple, and a place fitting an image of such power and importance. The Emerald Buddha is considered so holy and important in Thailand, that it may only be approached by the Thai King during special ceremonies throughout the year.
Other former Emerald Buddha temples:
Wat Chedi Luang (Chiang Mai, Thailand)
Haw Phra Kaew (Vientiane, Laos)
If you live in Bangkok, it would be worth it to visit the Emerald Buddha thrice in one year. The statue has three different outfits that indicate the season: the hot season, rainy season, and cold season respectively. The outfits are changed three times in the year in a special ceremony presided over by the King, the only person who is allowed to touch the Emerald Buddha.
Learn more:
Top 5 Temples to Visit in Bangkok
Visiting the Bangkok National Museum (the old Front Palace)
Visiting Nine Temples in Bangkok (VIDEO)
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