As mentioned in my previous post, this attraction is a bit overrated. Since, this can be seen in almost all travel blogs about Bangkok and the number 1 place suggested by travel guides, most tourists convene in this place.

This according to the internet was the official residence of the Kings of Thailand until 1925. The present king no longer resides there but some official events are still held in there. The Grand Palace is a complex of different buildings, one of which is the Temple of the Emerald Buddha or Wat Phra Kaew.

Scams

Before visiting this spectacular place; be wary of the scams though, the oldest and the most well-known is the “The Palace is closed today Scam”. It is when a tourist roams near the Palace complex, a friendly English speaking local would approach the tourist and casually drop statements like this “Oh, you want to see the Grand Palace? Too bad it is closed today due to some events.” Then would offer to take you to other temples at 20-40baht Tuktuk ride but would actually bring the victim to shops where they could get a kick back from the owner from every purchase of the poor traveller.

How to get there?

The fastest route is to take the BTS or Sky Train; take the Silom line and get off at Saphan Taksin Station and look for the Chao Phraya Express Boat dock, and then get off at Tha Tiang Pier. The Grand Palace is just a few minutes walk from there. For boat routes, time table and fares, check the Chao Phraya Express Boat webpage.

Another option is to take a Tuktuk or a motorcycle taxi, this is another fun option but is not advisable for the faint-hearted because the drivers are often weave through the traffic swiftly.

A more comfortable option is to take a taxi but it would take you an eternity to reach the destination if you’d be trapped in a gridlock.

Notes:

1. The Grand Palace is open from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM but the ticket office closes at 3:30 PM.
2. A strict dress code is being implemented at the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. Long pants, shirts with sleeves must be worn. See-through or revealing clothing are not be allowed.
3. Entrance is free for Thais but costs 500 Baht for foreigners. This includes a travel guide on what to see inside the complex.
4. Tourists are EVERYWHERE! Patience is really a virtue.
5. The heat can be very exhausting. Drink lots of fluids but then travel responsibly. Bring your own water bottle.
6. Wat Pho is just a few minutes walk from the Grand Palace.
7. Wat Arun is just across the river.
8. To be able to explore and see most of the place, it would take at least 4 hours and to avoid the heat, the best time would be to visit this place as soon as it opens.