Grand Palace Bangkok
The royal palace of Bangkok and Wat Phra Kaew, home of the Emerald Buddha, about 120 km from Laem Chabang.
At a glance
In 1782 the new king moved the capital to the left bank of the Chao Phraya and built a palace that was also the seat of government.
The Grand Palace was founded in 1782 by King Rama I, when he moved the capital of Siam from Thonburi to the opposite bank of the Chao Phraya River. Its walled grounds cover some 218,000 square metres and contain throne halls, residences, former government offices and the royal temple, Wat Phra Kaew, which houses the Emerald Buddha, the most revered Buddha image in Thailand.
The visit follows a set route through the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, with its gilded chedis, guardian giants and the long gallery painted with scenes from the Ramakien, and then through the outer court of the palace with the Chakri Maha Prasat and Dusit Maha Prasat throne halls. The ticket also covers the Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles, inside the palace compound.
Large cruise ships calling at Bangkok berth at Laem Chabang, about 120 km by road from the palace, so the drive takes around two hours each way and the visit fills the whole call. Ship excursions and taxis from the terminal usually combine the palace with Wat Pho, a ten-minute walk to the south. Arriving mid-morning means queues and heat, so it pays to buy the ticket online beforehand and to dress according to the palace rules.
Official websiteGetting there from the port
4 optionsYour day in port
Example: call at Laem Chabang from 07:00 to 19:00, all aboard at 18:30.
- 07:30Ashore and on the roadLeave the terminal by excursion coach, transfer or taxi; the drive to Bangkok takes about two hours.
- 09:45Grand PalaceEnter by the Mani Noppharat Gate on Na Phra Lan Road with your ticket already bought.
- 10:00Temple of the Emerald BuddhaThe chapel of the Emerald Buddha, the golden chedis and the Ramakien gallery before the midday heat.
- 11:30Outer courtThe Chakri Maha Prasat and Dusit Maha Prasat throne halls, and the textile museum if time allows.
- 12:45Lunch and Wat PhoWalk ten minutes south for lunch and the Reclining Buddha at Wat Pho (separate ticket).
- 15:00Back to Laem ChabangLeave Bangkok early to allow for traffic and be on board by 17:30.
What to see
- 1Wat Phra KaewThe royal temple, with no resident monks, built to house the Emerald Buddha, a small seated image carved from a single green stone.
- 2Ramakien galleryThe cloister around the temple is painted with the Thai version of the Ramayana, in scenes that run the full length of its walls.
- 3Chakri Maha PrasatThe throne hall that mixes a European-style body with a Thai roof, the best-known facade of the palace.
- 4Dusit Maha PrasatA throne hall in classic Thai style with a tiered roof and a slender spire, on the west side of the outer court.
- 5Golden chedis and guardiansThe gilded Phra Si Rattana Chedi and the giant yaksha statues that stand at the gates of the temple.
- 6Queen Sirikit Museum of TextilesRoyal costumes and Thai silks, inside the palace grounds and included in the ticket.
Tips for cruise passengers
- Follow the dress codeShoulders and knees must be covered. Sleeveless tops, see-through tops, shorts, torn or tight trousers and miniskirts are not allowed; staff check at the entrance.
- Buy the ticket onlineTickets can be bought on the official site up to one month ahead, or at the ticket office on the day. Online tickets cannot be refunded or changed.
- Watch the hoursThe palace opens daily at 08:30 and tickets are sold until 15:30. On a call at Laem Chabang, plan to arrive before midday.
- Audio guideAn audio guide in eight languages, including English and Spanish, costs THB 200; you need a passport or a credit card as a deposit.
- Enter by the right gateSince January 2024 the visitor entrance is the Mani Noppharat Gate on Na Phra Lan Road, on the north side of the palace.
- Ignore closure storiesTouts near the walls sometimes claim the palace is closed to steer visitors to other sites; check the official schedule page instead.
Accessibility & families
The grounds are flat but paved with stone, crowded and largely without shade; the palace normally lends wheelchairs free of charge, but this service is suspended during the royal funeral ceremonies. Children under 120 cm enter free and strollers can be used on the main paths, but shoes must be removed inside the temple halls.
In pictures
