Wat Pho
Home of the giant Reclining Buddha and the Thai massage school.
About Wat Pho
Wat Pho (Wat Phra Chetuphon) is one of Bangkok's oldest and largest temples. It stands just south of the Grand Palace in Phra Nakhon, close to the river and Tha Tien pier. The grounds are a maze of courtyards, tiled chedis and rows of Buddha images, and they feel calmer than the palace next door.
The main sight is the huge gold Reclining Buddha, about 46 metres long, with mother-of-pearl inlay on its feet. You can also see the four great chedis and get a traditional Thai massage from the temple's well-known massage school. Guides from 2024 onward list the foreign-visitor entry at ฿300.
It is a good date for couples who want culture at a gentler pace, especially if you end with a massage together. Come early morning or in the late afternoon, then walk to Tha Tian for the sunset ferry to Wat Arun.
Why it works for a date
- Huge Reclining Buddha
- Less crowded than the Grand Palace
- Beautiful tiled chedis
- Traditional Thai massage on site
Good to be aware of
- Reclining Buddha hall gets packed
- Hot and exposed at midday
- Dress code applies
Don't miss
More date spots in Phra Nakhon
Wat Phra Kaew, inside the Grand Palace grounds.
Bangkok's big flower market, busiest and prettiest late at night.
Interactive museum about Thai identity in a colonial-era building.
Riverside mall of restaurants and shops at Maharaj pier.
Old market by the pier between Wat Pho and the river.
Riverside eatery and bar in Tha Tian that looks straight at Wat Arun.
See all date spots in Phra Nakhon
More sightseeing spots in Bangkok
The Temple of Dawn, with its porcelain-covered prang on the Thonburi bank.
Mahanakhon SkyWalk: a glass floor 314 m above the city.
Small island in the Chao Phraya known for Mon pottery and snacks.
Historic library on Surawong Road, over a hundred years old.