Wat Pho & the Reclining Buddha
A working temple with a 46-metre gold-leaf reclining Buddha, a courtyard of 91 stupas and Thailand's original school of massage.
Wat Pho is a working royal temple in Bangkok's old city, home to a 46-metre reclining Buddha and Thailand's original school of massage. It takes 60–90 minutes and is best before 9am.
Open Wat Pho & the Reclining Buddha in Google Maps13.7465, 100.4927
Ticket includes a bottle of water
Entry fee checked against operator or park publication, October 2026. Hours can change without notice — confirm on the day.
A working temple with a 46-metre gold-leaf reclining Buddha, a courtyard of 91 stupas and Thailand's original school of massage.
Officially Wat Phra Chetuphon, the temple predates Bangkok and was rebuilt by Rama I in the 1790s. It holds more than a thousand Buddha images and a library of medical texts carved into stone — the reason Thai massage is taught here and why UNESCO listed the tradition in 2019.
Wat Pho is calmer than the Grand Palace next door and far more alive: monks, schoolchildren, and a massage school that still teaches the real thing. The Buddha's feet, inlaid with mother-of-pearl, are worth the whole trip.
What you’ll actually see
- The reclining Buddha's mother-of-pearl inlaid feet, 5 metres long
- Ninety-one stupas in the courtyard, four of them holding royal ashes
- Stone plaques with herbal and anatomical diagrams
- A massage at the school, still teaching the same technique
How to visit it well
- The massage school on site is excellent and cheap — book a 30-minute session.
- Photograph the reclining Buddha from the feet end for the full length.
- Cross the river to Wat Arun afterwards; the ferry is 5 baht.
Mistakes worth avoiding
- Skipping the feet of the Buddha — the detail is the point
- Coming at midday when the halls are hottest
Is it worth it?
The best-value temple in Bangkok: cheaper than the Grand Palace next door, calmer, and more alive with actual worshippers.
Common questions
Yes. The massage school on site offers 30- and 60-minute sessions from about 300 baht; book at the desk rather than through a tout.
No. Wat Pho is south of the Grand Palace and has the reclining Buddha. Wat Phra Kaew is inside the Grand Palace and holds the Emerald Buddha.
Tours that include Wat Pho & the Reclining Buddha
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Last updated: October 2026 · Prices and hours checked by Tom Whitfield