Best Palaces in Bangkok

If there is one thing you have to include on your list of things to see and do in Bangkok, it is to go and see the historical and traditional sites, such as some of the city's most important palaces. Most of these spaces were built to serve as royal dwellings.

Many of them no longer serve their original function, but they have remained as part of the city's priceless cultural heritage. Among the most important ones you should visit are the Grand Palace, the Suad Pakkad, and some others. I tell you in detail about each of them.

The Grand Palace of Bangkok is a complex of buildings in the heart of Bangkok, and is one of the most important places of interest in the region thanks to the fact that it has been the official residence of the Kings of Siam, and later of Thailand, since 1782. Inside the palace you will see numerous buildings that showcase traditional Thai architecture and art. It is famous for its intricate design and cultural significance in Thai tradition.

If there is one thing you will love about this place it is its enchanting beauty and the decoration of each of the buildings. You will see carved and gilded walls and ceilings and you will notice the quality of the detail of the artwork inside the palace. There is something important to keep in mind when you go to this place and that is that there is a dress code required in order to visit the Grand Palace.

You have to dress with your shoulders and waist covered at all times, which in Thai culture, is a sign of respect and modesty. If you are not dressed for the occasion, you can rent some clothes before buying your ticket to the Grand Palace.

Details of interest

• Price: To enter this palace and see inside, you will have to pay around 16 euros per person.
• Opening hours: Visiting hours to the Grand Palace of Bangkok in Thailand may vary according to the season. However, the palace is usually open every day between 8:30 am and 3:30 pm.
• Location: The Royal Grand Palace is specifically located in the Phra Nakhon district of Bangkok.

Another of the places you should visit in Bangkok is undoubtedly the Vimanmek Palace, which is a golden teak mansion, described as the largest in the world. This is undoubtedly one of the most emblematic places in Bangkok. It was built in 1900 on the orders of King Rama V of Thailand.

Today, you can see inside the palace, a museum that houses a collection of royal objects and exhibits showing the culture and history of Thailand. This building was restored during the 1980s and today is one of the city' s most popular tourist destinations.

Any of the best Bangkok tours will take you to see this site, which will also enchant you with its architecture and the rich history told by its walls and most interesting places about Thailand's development.

Interesting details

• Price: To enter the Vimanmek Palace you will have to pay around 4,40 euros per person.
• Hours: To visit this place you will have to go between 9:00 and 16:30. It is open several days of the week, with the exception of Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
• Location: It is located in the Dusit Palace complex.

The Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall is a neo-Renaissance style pavilion that was designed by Italian architect Mario Tamagno. This palace was built during the reign of Rama V in the early 20th century. It was originally intended to be used as a throne room and reception hall for the King of Thailand. Today this site is famous for its architecture, decoration and interior paintings.

It is also regularly used to receive foreign guests and to hold ceremonies connected with the Thai monarchy. Inside the palace you will see a large collection of fresco paintings narrating the history of Thailand and the European influence in the country. You will also be able to see incredible gardens that are there to complement the delicate architectural design of the place. It's a destination you're sure to visit if you sign up for a tuk tuk tour of Bangkok.

Details of interest

• Price: Entrance to the public is free.
• Hours: The palace opens between 10:00 and 17:00 almost every day, except for Wednesdays.
• Location: This palace is located just west of Chitralada Palace on Ratchadamnoen Nok Avenue, very close to the Thai Parliament.

Suan Pakkad Palace now functions as a museum and has an impressive collection of art objects and antiques of Thai culture, reason enough to make you want to take a bicycle tour of Bangkok, which will take you to see this palace, which was also originally built in the 1780s.

At that time it was built to be used as a royal residence, but was later converted into a museum with eight connected rooms only in the 1950s. Among the things you will see in the museum's collection are Thai antiques and works of art from other parts of the world. Among the collected items are ceramics, textiles, sculptures and antiques from prehistoric times.

Before you go to see the entire palace, you should know that it has different buildings including gardens and courtyards. Each building is in Thai architectural style and has a different art collection. You will love to see the traditional Thai garden which includes a Lotus pond.

Details of interest

• Price: You will have to pay around 3 euros per person to visit this site.
• Hours: Visiting hours are from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, and it is open every day.
• Location: This palace is located on Sri Ayutthaya Road, very close to the intersection with Phaya Thai Road.

Bang Pa-In Palace is a royal palace that was used as a summer residence by Siamese royalty and their consorts. This place is made up of different iconic buildings that are distributed throughout the park. One of the best ways to tour this palace and its surroundings is to rent an electric car, especially during the hot days, so you will have no excuses to visit this place during your trip to Bangkok in summer.

Now, contextualizing the history of this palace, what happened during the reign of Rama IV is a bit fuzzy. What is clear is that most of the buildings as they are today were created from the time of his successor, King Chulalongkorn or Rama V, who also took it upon himself to expand the palace into the Versaillesque gardens.

The royal palace of Bang Pa In is spread over a huge area that is mainly filled with lawns and huge water fountains. And one thing that will strike you about its structure is that small canals run through most of the complex, then connecting to the river beside it. A good way to visit it is to go on one of the best cruises in Bangkok.

Details of interest

• Price: The entrance to this palace costs about 3 euros for domestic visitors and about 6 euros for foreign visitors.
• Hours: This site is open to the public every day between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm.
• Location: The palace is located on the outskirts of Bangkok, so to reach it you will have to go by land or arrive by boat from Bangkok.

Wat Benchamabophit, also known as the Marble Temple, is one of the finest temples in Bangkok. It was built in the late 19th century during the reign of King Chulalongkorn. The name of the palace refers to the Italian Carrara marble that was used in its construction and in the golden decoration of the Buddha images.

You will love to admire this temple for the combination of different elements of Thai and European architecture. You can visit the main courtyard and the large collection of Buddha images. You can also see its gardens, fountains and Thai-style buildings, not to mention the collection of 53 Buddha statues, each in a different pose.

Details of interest

• Price: To enter the temple you will have to pay around 2 euros per person.
• Hours: The temple is open to visitors between 8:00 and 17:30 every day.
• Location: It is located at 69 Thanon Si Ayutthaya, Dusit, Bangkok.

Phan Fa Palace is among the best known palaces in Bangkok, basically because it was built in the late 1800s to serve as the residence of King Rama V during some of his travels, but nowadays it functions as a luxury hotel. If you want to know about the history of Thailand through its palaces, this is definitely one you should know.

As for its architectural structure, this palace shows a mixture of European and Thai styles, in addition to proposing a decoration with intricate carvings, antique furniture and other ornamental details. You will love to take a tour of this place, and if you want to stay overnight, you can do that too, to enjoy the amenities offered by the compound now that it functions as a luxury hotel.

Details of interest

• Price: To enter this palace you will have to pay around 13 euros per person. If you are staying overnight, you will have to pay extra.
• Hours: As it is a hotel, you will have to check in between 14:00 and 19:00.
• Location: It is located in the city center of Bangkok.

Another really interesting palace in the city of Bangkok is the Chitralada Palace, which currently serves as the residence for the royal family of Thailand. It has an approximate extension of more than 400 hectares, which makes it one of the largest in the city. This palace is also known as the "House of Studies" and houses the king's private school.

As it is the king's residence, it is not a palace that can be visited in its entirety, but you can make special tours to know the place inside. As for its history, it was built in 1913 by King Rama V and has a mixture of traditional Thai and Western architectural styles.

Details of interest

• Price: The palace is not always open to the public, but special tours are sometimes available. That is why ticket prices will depend on the type of visit you take, the day and the time you are allowed to stay inside.
• Schedule: There are no specific visiting hours for the Chitralada Palace because it is visited in a special way, so you will have to arrange an available schedule, together with your tour guide.
• Location: It is located in the center of Bangkok city.

The Saranrom Palace is another of Bangkok's historical buildings. It was built in 1866 during the reign of King Mongkut, and since then served as the residence for his brother, Prince Bovorn Vichaichan. Something that will draw your attention to this place is its design in traditional Thai architectural style. Nowadays it functions as a governmental space to celebrate important events and ceremonies.

The Saranrom is a palace with history, because during the First World War it functioned as a military hospital to take care of the wounded. It is very close to the Emerald Buddha temple, so you definitely have to take the time to go and see it. This building is said to be built over an ancient sacred forest.

Details of interest

• Price: To enter the palace you will not have to pay anything, the entrance is free.
• Hours: Entrance times may change according to the season of the year, although it is usually open between 10:00 and 18:00.
• Location: Saranrom Palace is located in Bangkok, Thailand, near the Chao Phraya River.

The Phya Thai Palace, also known as Royal Phya Thai Palace, is located on the bank of the Samsen Canal on Rajavithee Road in Bangkok. Since its construction in the early 20th century, this place was used as a residence for members of the Thai royal family.

Later, during World War II, the palace was used as headquarters for the Japanese forces occupying Thailand. After the war, it was returned to use as a residence for the royal family and also as a venue for official receptions and important ceremonies.

It is not currently open to the public, but is used as a venue for official events and ceremonies. Although it is not open to the public, it is still one of the most important palaces in the city and you will love to take amazing pictures of its facade.

Interesting details

• Price: It is not open to the public, so there is no entrance fee.
• Hours: There are no hours available because the palace is not open to the public.
• Location: It is located on the bank of the Samsen Canal, on Bangkok's Rajavithee Road.