Wat Arun review

by Iván Ramírez · Published October 5, 2015 · Updated February 18, 2020

If you have been to Bangkok, but you didn’t visit Wat Arun, did you really go? For many people, the answer will be ‘No’.

The silhouette of this temple is one of the most recognised landmarks of the Bangkok and Thailand. This temple rises majestically on Wat Po’s opposite side of the river and is one of the must-see places in Bangkok.

Reasons to visit Wat Arun

It is a must-see landmark
Stunning views from the top
Gorgeous Khmer architecture
Exotic transportation by river ferry

What to see there

: The main “prang”, or tower

: Details of the ceramic

Wat Arun’s construction began in 1768, although it received several upgrades between 1825 and 1851. It used to be the home of the Emerald Buddha for a short period, before the capital was moved to its current location.

You can enjoy Wat Arun silhouette from the other side of the river, but if you want to get close you can climb very steep stairs to reach to two different balconies with views of the Chaopraya river, the Grand Palace. and Wat Po.

The entrance fee is 100 THB for foreigners, but if you don’t plan to go in the inner area or climb the stairs, you can enjoy the park and surroundings for free, feed the fishes, or enjoy some coffee in a cafe located next to the temple.

If you decide to go inside, remember this is a place of worship and you must dress appropriately or else you will need to rent some clothes to cover your skin.

Wat Arun is also known as Temple of the Dawn, but don’t be fooled by the name: it looks even more gorgeous by sunset. It consists on one main tower, or prang, with Khmer style, and four smaller prangs on its four corners. On the night, it turns more mysterious with its characteristic illumination.

Wat Arun by night. Photo credit: Wikipedia

Whenever you decide to drop by, Wat Arun will fascinate you with its unique symmetric Khmer style and the details of the porcelain tiles that covers all its surface.

Conclusion

In the basic temple tour of Bangkok, Wat Arun normally comes after the visit to the Grand Palace and Wat Po. Both of these temples are usually very crowded and the visit can be really exhausting. In Wat Arun, many tourists get their chance to rest and do a more relaxing sightseeing.

Wat Arun is like the Eiffel Tower of Bangkok: you can actually enjoy it from afar and make wonderful photos from the other side of the river, or explore the details and the views from the top. This and the bigger area on its surroundings means it is less crowded than other attractions.

Wat Arun by night

The visit to Wat Arun can last as long as your fascination for the place, but if you are in a hurry you can wrap up in an hour. Getting to the place itself can be counted as an activity, as you will normally take a boat to cross the river, for only 3 bahts.

All this makes Wat Arun one of the top attractions of Bangkok. It has it all: it is beautiful, it is easy to reach, and you don’t need to spend a lot of energy or time to enjoy it. If you didn’t visit it already, just do it.