Bangkok Travel Guide

Wat Arun (full name Wat Arun Ratchawararam, the 'Temple of Dawn') stands on the west bank of the Chao Phraya in Bangkok, famous for a ~70 m Khmer-style prang clad in colourful porcelain and shells that shimmers in sunlight — one of the city's most recognisable silhouettes. Begun in the Ayutthaya period and expanded under Rama II and III, it is a landmark of Thai art and faith; climbing its steep steps rewards visitors with sweeping views of the river and the Grand Palace opposite. At dusk and after dark, when lights rise and the tower reflects on the water as boats drift by, it becomes a classic subject for photography and Chao Phraya night cruises.

The Grand Palace in Bangkok has been the royal residence and administrative heart of the Chakri dynasty since 1782, standing in the Phra Nakhon district by the Chao Phraya River as Thailand's most symbolic architectural ensemble. Within its walls gleam the Chakri Maha Prasat Hall, blending Thai spires with a Western-style façade, the Amarin Winitchai Hall and the Dusit Hall, while the most sacred Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha) houses the nation's palladium — the Emerald Buddha, whose seasonal robes are changed by the king himself. The palace is not only a pinnacle of craft but the spiritual core of Thai monarchy and Buddhism, its golden stupas, murals and guardian figures narrating the dynasty's glory. For visitors it is the first stop to understand Thai history and royal etiquette, and an unmissable Bangkok landmark.