Bustling Bangkok | Part 5 | Grand Palace Bangkok

During our vacation, we spent seven days in Bangkok. I’m going to split our time in Bangkok into multiple parts to cover a wide range of information about the places we visited, the modes of transportation, and the costs involved.

In this fifth chapter, I’ll share our experience at the Grand Palace.

A Bit of Background

The Grand Palace is a complex of buildings that once served as the residence and administrative center of earlier members of the Royal Family. It is located on the same premises as Wat Phra Kaew and is still used for certain royal ceremonies and state activities. The largest building, the Grand Palace Hall, was designed by an Asian architect with European influence. As a result, it combines traditional Thai architecture with Italian touches, making the design very unique.

We also saw a parade carried out by soldier-like guards on the premises, which immediately gave us a sense of royalty as soon as we entered.

Location and Entrance

The Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew belong to the same complex, so you can visit both places together. The ticket price is 500 Baht for both locations, and the opening hours are daily from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. A strict dress code applies: shorts, sleeveless tops, and other revealing clothes are not allowed.

They also have an official website with more details available.

_{Website: [https://www.royalgrandpalace.th/en/home]}

Like many other temples, this place gets very crowded, so early morning visits are recommended. During the daytime, it gets very sunny, so you’ll need to prepare for the heat and bring protection from the sun.

Google Maps

Walking Through the Buildings

Visitors are not allowed inside many of the buildings, but while walking through the grounds you can admire the architecture and design of the complex. At first, I had no clear idea about the purpose of each building, but before writing this article I gathered some details.

Main Hall: Phra Thinang Chakri Maha Prasat

This hall was built by King Rama V with the support of foreign architects, and it shows a blend of European and Thai styles. Located at the center of the Grand Palace premises, it is still used for state functions and guarded ceremonies, though it is not open to the public. The parade we witnessed was actually the ceremonial changing of the guards, which takes place every two hours.

Phra Maha Prasat

This is the oldest section of the Grand Palace’s Middle Court, first built under King Rama I in the late 18th century. It was used for major royal ceremonies, including coronations and state rituals, and is still used for royal funerals today.

Phra Thinang Dusit Maha Prasat

This throne hall is considered one of the finest examples of traditional Thai architecture. The building is rich in symbolic elements, blending Buddhist and Hindu concepts within its design.

There are also plenty of other buildings to explore if you have enough time.

Snap Time!📷

Besides the burning sun, the elegant buildings and well-maintained gardens made the best photo locations. Hence don't forget to take some memorable snaps during the visit.