Wat Arun, also known as the Temple of the Dawn, is an absolutely gorgeous Buddhist temple on the Chao Phraya riverside. It’s one of our favorite temples in Bangkok because it’s so unique.
Fun fact: The full name of Wat Arun is Wat Arun Ratchawararam Ratchawaramahawihan.
Our experience
We loved our visit to Wat Arun. It’s such a beautiful temple, full of details, and definitely stands out compared to many other temples in Bangkok and Thailand (and we’ve been to many!).
If you have time for only one temple in Bangkok, let it be this one!
While you can explore the grounds fairly quickly, we enjoyed finding beautiful corners and taking photos, so we spent about 2 hours there, longer than actually needed, and definitely longer than we originally planned.
It is a very popular temple though, so be prepared for the crowds if you can’t visit early or late in the day. We managed to be amongst the first ones visiting, so that helped with our experience as well. ☺️
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Opening hours and tickets
The entrance fee for Wat Arun is 200 THB (around 6 USD/5.25 EUR), and it includes a small bottle of water.
Tip: You can re-enter the temple (on the same day) if you get the green stamp on your hand before leaving.
Wat Arun is open every day from 8 am until 6 pm.
Best time to visit
The best time to visit Wat Arun is in the morning, right at opening, or just before closing in the late afternoon for a more pleasant visit (not so hot), better light for photos, and to avoid the biggest crowds.
We visited Wat Arun just before opening time in the early morning and were one of the first visitors inside the grounds for about 15 minutes.
Watching Wat Arun at sunset
Wat Arun is also a great sight at sunset. But the best spot for that is not at Wat Arun itself, but at one of the restaurants and bars on the opposite side of the river. Eagle Nest Bar is one of them.
That way you get an iconic view of the sunset and Wat Arun.
P.S. You can also stay at this hotel that has the iconic view of Wat Arun from the rooms!
How much time do you need?
Plan to spend about 45 minutes to 1 hour exploring Wat Arun.
We stayed for almost 2 hours, from around 8 am to 10 am. But that’s because we took it slow and took lots of photos.
Best guided tours
If you want to learn more about Wat Arun, you’ll have to join one of the guided tours. Most tours include other temples as well.
👉🏼 Check this 3-hour tour that takes you to Wat Arun and neighboring Wat Pho temple.
👉🏼 But if you want something more unique, we’d recommend this tour, which combines a longtail boat on the river (a must-experience in Bangkok) with a guided visit to Wat Arun and Big Golden Buddha (another of our favorites in Bangkok, and still lesser known than others).
Getting there
The easiest way to get to Wat Arun is by boat from the Tha Tian pier, the nearest pier on the side of the old city, near Wat Pho and the Grand Palace.
The boat to Wat Arun from Tha Tian pier across the Chao Phraya River is 5 THB per person, one way.
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Things to see & do in Wat Arun
Here are a few things you shouldn’t miss on your visit:
Climb to the Lower Terrace of the Central Prang
Central Prang is the temple’s centerpiece, about 70 meters high (some reports say it’s even higher!), and it is the biggest highlight of the temple complex.
Steep steps lead to platforms with panoramic river and skyline views, however, please note that you can no longer climb the stairs at Wat Arun above the second level.
Still, the lower terrace is equally impressive and also offers close-up views of the porcelain mosaics plus a river panorama. The mosaics are the detail that makes Wat Arun distinct from Bangkok’s other temples.
Demon guardian statues
The two yaksha (demon guardian) statues are seen right at the entrance to the Ordination Hall.
These are impressive structures, but pretty easy to miss when you just get in and try to get to the main part of the temple complex as soon as possible.
Ordination Hall
Walk past the guardians to the Ordination Hall (ubosot) courtyard, which houses a Buddha image and murals depicting Buddhist stories.
Rent a traditional Thai costume
Before visiting Wat Arun, it’s good to know that it’s a popular place for photoshoots, especially in traditional Thai costumes.
This became quite a thing, and so many people are doing it, both locals and foreigners. So, if that’s something you’d like to try, Wat Arun is a perfect place, as there are so many stores nearby where you can rent traditional Thai costumes and even hire photographers to take your photos.
👉🏼 You can also check this experience, which includes costume rental and a local guide. And if you want a professional photographer with you, then choose this one (also available with Wat Arun and Wat Pho combo).
Watch it for sunset or at night
The temple lights up in the evening, and viewing it from the river or from photo spots on the opposite bank is considered one of Bangkok’s most iconic experiences.
Best bars/restaurants with views of Wat Arun:
- Eagle Nest Rooftop Bar – One of the most popular sunset spots on the strip. Get there early for balcony seats since it fills up fast.
- TYME Rooftop – Smaller and cozier, on top of the Inn A Day hotel, with an unobstructed view and a more relaxed crowd.
- The Deck by Arun Residence – Restaurant-bar with multiple floors facing the temple. Reservations are worth making for sunset timing.
- View ARUN Restaurant & Bar – Sits almost directly opposite the temple with an unblocked view, though there’s a minimum spend for riverside seating.
- Amorosa – Rooftop of Aurum Residence hotel, which tends to quiet down once the day-tour crowds clear out.
Good to know: Some bars with views of Wat Arun require reservations or have a minimum spend for riverside tables.
What to wear
Since this is a temple, you need to cover your shoulders and knees when visiting. It’s a very important temple in Bangkok.
Although, in reality, if you decide to do a photoshoot in traditional Thai costume, the shoulders of women will be seen. But nobody really cares, and you can still enter the temple grounds. 🤔
Either way, we’d still choose to be respectful and cover up when visiting. Arijana always carries a sarong with her to cover up when needed.
