Updated in September 2026, this Grand Palace guide covers ticket prices, opening hours, parking or transport, accessibility and what to see.
The Grand Palace is a walled royal complex and temple in the historic Rattanakosin district of Bangkok, Thailand, the official residence of the Kings of Siam since 1782. As of September 2026, foreign visitors pay 500 baht, and the site is expected to see temporary closures around 14–19 December 2026 for the royal cremation ceremony of the late Queen Mother, a change worth checking before booking a visit late in the year.
Quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | Daily, gates open 8:30 AM; last entry 3:30 PM; grounds close 4:30 PM |
| Ticket prices | Thai nationals free (with ID); foreign visitors 500 baht |
| Address | Na Phra Lan Road, Phranakorn (Rattanakosin), Bangkok, Thailand |
| Nearest transport / parking | Chao Phraya Express Boat to Tha Chang (N9); no on-site parking |
| Typical time needed | 2 to 3 hours |
Grand Palace opening hours
The Grand Palace opens daily, with gates opening at 8:30 AM. Ticket sales and last entry close at 3:30 PM, and the grounds close fully at 4:30 PM.
The palace and the adjoining Temple of the Emerald Buddha were closed to visitors from 13 to 19 June 2026 for the funeral of a member of the Royal Family, and further temporary closures are expected around 14 to 19 December 2026, when the royal cremation ceremony of Queen Mother Sirikit takes place at nearby Sanam Luang. Check the official schedule page for your exact travel dates, since it lists day-by-day opening status.
5 experiences worth booking in Bangkok
- 🏯 See the Grand Palace and Bangkok’s major temples with an experienced guide.
- 🚤 Enjoy a lavish dinner cruise along the Chao Phraya river.
- 🍜 Explore Bangkok’s Chinatown on a food tour with 15-plus tastings.
- 🚂 Take a half day tour to the Floating Market and Train Market.
- 🛶 Tour Bangkok’s canals in a long-tailed boat.
Grand Palace ticket prices
Thai nationals visit free of charge, on production of a Thai ID card at the entrance. Foreign visitors pay 500 baht, which includes access to the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew) and the Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles, both within the palace compound.
- Thai nationals: free (ID card required)
- Foreign visitors: 500 baht
- Children under 120 cm tall: free
Opening hours and ticket prices were checked on the official website and last updated in September 2026. Check the official site for the latest figures before you travel. Tickets can be bought at the entrance gate or online up to one month in advance; online tickets cannot be refunded or changed.
The Grand Palace is not part of a bundled city pass, though its ticket already covers two of Bangkok’s most-visited historic sites within the one compound.
How to get to the Grand Palace
The Chao Phraya Express Boat is one of the most popular routes. Take the BTS to Saphan Taksin Station (Exit 2), walk to Sathorn Pier, and board the express boat (orange flag) to Tha Chang (N9), from where the palace is on your right. Alternatively, disembark at Tha Tien (N8) and walk past the food stalls to the main road junction, with the palace slightly to the right.
By MRT, alight at Sanam Chai Station (Exit 1) and take bus number 3, 9, 44, 47, 53 or 82. Numerous city buses also serve the area directly, including routes 1, 3, 9, 15, 25, 30, 32, 33, 43, 44, 47, 53, 59, 64, 80, 82, 91, 203, 503, 508 and 512. Note that the palace entrance changed in January 2024, from the Viset Chaisri Gate to the Mani Noppharat Gate, so follow current signage rather than older maps.
Parking at the Grand Palace
There is no dedicated on-site car park for private vehicles. Nearby paid parking options include Wat Mahathat, Tha Maharaj on Soi Thapphen, an area beside the City Pillar Shrine, the Rajadamnern Road Car Park, Soi Wat Pho, and the Wat Rakang parking building.
Given the limited parking and central location, most visitors arrive by boat, BTS and MRT, or bus rather than by car.
How long to spend at the Grand Palace
Most visitors need 2 to 3 hours to see the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, the main throne halls and the Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles. Allow extra time in the middle of the day, when the site is busiest and temperatures are highest.
Accessibility at the Grand Palace
Wheelchairs can normally be borrowed free of charge, though this service is temporarily suspended during the current period of royal ceremonies; check availability before your visit. Wheelchair-accessible toilets and baby-changing facilities are marked on the site’s maps and floor plans.
Much of the complex involves walking on uneven paving and between raised thresholds, typical of traditional Thai temple architecture, so visitors with limited mobility should allow extra time.
Inside the Grand Palace
Construction began in 1782, when King Rama I moved the capital to the east bank of the Chao Phraya River. The complex covers around 218,000 square metres, enclosed by crenellated walls, and follows the traditional layout of earlier Thai capitals, combining royal residences, throne halls, administrative buildings and a royal temple.
The Temple of the Emerald Buddha, known in Thai as Wat Phra Kaew, sits in the northeast of the complex. Unusually for a Thai temple, no monks live on site. Its cloistered walls are lined with 178 painted panels depicting the Ramakien, the Thai version of the Ramayana epic, and the temple houses the Emerald Buddha, a jade statue whose ceremonial robes are changed by the King with the seasons.
Among the palace’s throne halls, the Chakri Maha Prasat blends a Thai-style multi-tiered roof with a European-style lower structure, built in the 1870s under King Rama V. The Dusit Maha Prasat, a cruciform hall with a soaring spire, has traditionally been used to lie in state for deceased members of the Royal Family, including Queen Mother Sirikit following her death in October 2025.
Elsewhere in the grounds, giant guardian yaksha statues flank several gateways, and a small scale model of Angkor Wat was commissioned by King Rama IV. The Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles, housed in the Ratsadakhorn-Bhibhathana Building, displays royal and traditional Thai textiles and is included in the foreign visitor ticket.
Practical visitor tips
| Aspect | Tip |
|---|---|
| Timing | Arrive at or soon after the 8:30 AM opening to avoid both crowds and the midday heat. |
| Crowds | Tour groups peak from mid-morning to early afternoon, so an early or late visit is noticeably quieter. |
| Layout | Wat Phra Kaew and the throne halls sit close together, so a slow circuit on foot covers the whole site. |
| Entry process | Buy tickets at the gate or online in advance, and expect a dress code check before entry. |
| On-site logistics | Sarongs and jackets can be borrowed near the entrance for visitors whose clothing does not meet the dress code. |
Frequently asked questions about the Grand Palace
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is the Grand Palace suitable for children? | Yes, and children under 120 cm tall enter free of charge. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance? | No, tickets are available at the gate, though online booking up to a month ahead is possible. |
| Is the Grand Palace open every day? | Normally yes, though it can close temporarily for royal ceremonies, as in June and December 2026. |
| Are bags allowed inside? | Small bags are permitted; check current rules on filming and photography before bringing camera equipment. |
| Is there a dress code? | Yes. Sleeveless tops, shorts, mini skirts, torn or tight clothing and see-through fabric are not permitted. |
Things to do near the Grand Palace
- Wat Pho: home to Thailand’s largest reclining Buddha, about a 10-minute walk south.
- Wat Arun: the Temple of Dawn, reached by a short ferry across the Chao Phraya River.
- Sanam Luang: a large ceremonial ground just north of the palace, used for state occasions.
- Museum Siam: a museum of Thai identity and history, a short walk from Tha Tien pier.
- Amulet Market: a riverside market for Buddhist amulets and charms, near Wat Mahathat.
Alternative attractions
- Bangkok Art and Culture Centre: a contemporary art museum at Pathumwan, around 20 to 30 minutes away by boat or taxi.
- Vimanmek Mansion: a teakwood royal residence within Dusit Palace, around 20 minutes by car.
- Ayutthaya Historical Park: the ruins of a former Thai royal capital, around 1.5 hours by car.
- Bang Pa-In Royal Palace: a summer palace with eclectic pavilions, around 1 hour by car.
- Phra Nakhon Khiri Historical Park, Phetchaburi: a 19th-century hilltop royal palace, around 2.5 hours by car.
More Bangkok travel
Other Bangkok travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- Guide to visiting the MahaNakhon Skywalk observation deck in Bangkok.
- What to expect at the Museum of Counterfeit Goods in Bangkok.
- Visitor guide to Lumphini Park – Bangkok’s prime green space.
- A practical guide to visiting the National Museum Bangkok.
- 9 Bangkok tours worth booking – and what’s worth skipping.
