Grand Palace
In 1782 a king moved his entire capital from Thonburi to Bangkok and built this walled city — Thailand's seat of power for the next 143 years.
Coming soon on iOS — be first to walk Bangkok offline.
Every Thai king from Rama I onward lived and governed here until 1925, with each successive reign adding halls, pavilions, and gardens across a 218,400 sq m compound. The result is two centuries of royal ambition layered in one place — and royal ceremonies still happen inside the walls today.
What to look for
- The Temple of the Emerald Buddha, one of the palace's distinct quarters
- The asymmetric, eclectic mix of architecture built up by successive kings — especially the substantial additions made under Rama V
- The Chao Phraya River bordering Rattanakosin Island, the site Rama I chose when he moved the capital from Thonburi
More than 8 million people visit each year, making it one of Thailand's most popular tourist attractions — arrive early and allow extra time; the palace is in Phra Nakhon District on the Chao Phraya riverfront.
Grand Palace is one of 38 sights worth the detour in Bangkok, all bundled offline in Voyage GO — download the Bangkok pack and it sits on your map with no signal, filling your travel passport the moment you walk past.
More to see in Bangkok
- Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha)Every Thai king since 1783 has personally added to this temple — and the reigning king still presides over state ceremonies here today.
- Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn)Named for Aruna — the Hindu charioteer who drives the sun at dawn — this riverside spire was built to face the light it honors.
- Baiyoke Tower IIBangkok's tallest hotel stacks an observatory, a bar, and a revolving roof deck across three floors at 309 metres.
- BTS SkytrainBangkok sits in chronic gridlock — three elevated lines run above it on 70 kilometers of track connecting the city end to end.
- Rajamangala National StadiumThailand's largest stadium swells like a concrete wave — narrow at each end, rising steeply until the stands crest exactly at the halfway line.
- Wat Pho (Temple of the Reclining Buddha)A 46-metre reclining Buddha fills an entire hall — and this same temple invented traditional Thai massage.