A guide to Wat Suthat Temple in Bangkok
Wat Suthat is one of the most beautiful temples in Bangkok, however, also one of the few you must pay an entrance fee to visit. The temple is located a short distance from Bangkok Grand Palace, so it is possible to combine the two visits. We explored the temple during a sourcing day, but it…
Wat Suthat is one of the most beautiful temples in Bangkok, however, also one of the few you must pay an entrance fee to visit. The temple is located a short distance from Bangkok Grand Palace, so it is possible to combine the two visits.
We explored the temple during a sourcing day, but it was worth the effort. It is very similar to other temples, featuring traditional style, statues and a big revered Buddha Statue inside.
It is an unmissable sight and must be in every Bangkok itinerary, even if it’s your first time in the city. This guide will take you through all the information needed to make the most of your visit to Wat Suthat temple.
Is Wat Suthat Temple worth visiting?
Yes. Wat Suthat is massive and offers incredible features, including frescoes inside the main room where the 8-metre-tall Buddha Statue is located. You will be impressed by the carved wood details, white marble and statues.
The fee to get in is minimal (we are talking about $0.50 per person. The temple is a short distance from Bangkok Grand Palace, and perfect for crafting an itinerary of a packed one day in Bangkok.
Things to know before visiting Wat Suthat
The complete name of the temple is “Wat Suthat Thepwararam Ratchaworamahawihan”, a 19th century building, in traditional Thai style. It was first built to house the 25-foot-tall Buddha Statue cast 800 years ago in Sukhothai.
Today it is one of the most prominent temples in the city, holding the title of the highest-ranking Royal Temple in Bangkok. It is a pretty active temple with worshippers every day coming to pray and light up candles. You can walk around the temple, and the visit might take between 1 to 2 hours.
On another note, Wat Suthat temple is often recognized as the Temple of Giant Swing, which is the main sight outside the area. You can recognize it by standing at the entrance of the temple, which has been for years the symbol of Bangkok.
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Wat Suthat Opening times and entrance cost
Wat Suthat temple is open every day, weekends included from 8 am to 8 pm. The admission costs 100 THB and gives you access to the ground, corridors and Buddha Statue worship place.
How to get to Wat Suthat
Wat Suthat Temple is in between Bangkok Royal Palace and the Golden Mount Temple, about 30 minutes walk from Khao San Road (one of the best areas to stay in Bangkok for first-timers).
The best way to Wat Suthat is to take the MRT and get off at SAM Yot Station. Walk for about 10 minutes from the station to the temple, and follow the giant Red Swing for reference.
The main entrance to Wat Suthat is in front of the swing, at the roundabout. However, there is a side entrance too. All entrances are guarded, so there is no option to skip the ticket price.
Dress code at Wat Suthat Temple Bangkok
Like every other Buddhist temple, you must follow a modest, cast attire. Avoid having shoulders and knees visible. Never show the bottom of your feet and don’t take selfies with the Buddha Statue.
For ladies, carry a scarf or something to cover your shoulders and/or legs. For men, a sarong is perfect to cover your legs. Remember to take off your shoes entering the worship room, or adjacent corridor. You can keep the shoes while walking around the temple perimeter.
What is particular about Wat Suthat
Apart from the traditional architecture that recalls many temples in Thailand, in Buddhism in general, Wat Suthat has to give credit to the Giant Swing at its entrance for its popularity.
In fact the Red Swing, which resembles the imagery of Asian culture, is an important historic sight. The swing was once used for Brahmanic ceremonies. The temple and the area were a Hindu sacred location, where devotees gathered.
In terms of architecture, Wat Suthat has high ceilings and sweeping roofs. The murals on the Ordination hall are insanely vibrant, with scenes of life in dark colours. Outside, the vivid colours are wonderful, and we could catch great photos while there.
The corners around the temple are ideal for finding shade on hot days. In fact, you can sit and admire the architecture of the hexagonal pagodas. Other details are the sculptures of armoured soldiers made of Chinese-coloured stones.
Walk around the Buddha Corridor
One of the most interesting things about this temple is the corridor with Buddha Statues on the side. It is not only a photography marvel but also interesting to read notes and see the offerings. We had a similar experience in Vientiane’s Golden Temple, with the same corridor lined with Buddha Statue in a sitting position.
Best tours of Wat Suthat
If you don’t feel comfortable to get around on your own, or need transportation we suggest booking one of these tours below. These are not only convenient but bundle more attractions and temples at once, ideal if you have limited time in Bangkok.
What to do around Wat Suthat
Get a coffee at Buttercoffs Cafe: This minimal-style cafe is also a thriving hostel, the atmosphere is fantastic and is just 10 minutes walking away from Wat Suthat.
This shop offers the best Pad Thai: Still to date, here we have the best Pad Thai. It’s a very random, small but cute shop in a local area between the Royal Palace and Khao San Road. The name is in Thai, but we put the reference on Google Maps for you.
Visit the other temples: Wat Suthat is a short distance from other sights of Bangkok. Within a one day itinerary of Bangkok with temple hopping we suggest checking into Bangkok Grand Palace and Temple of Emerald Buddha and Wat Pho.
Cross the river to Wat Arun: Within 20 minutes walking you are at Tha Tien Pier to catch the connecting boat between the two sides of Cha Phra River. The boat takes you to the entrance of Wat Arun and costs only 5 THB.
Get a drink on the top of Roof – Rooftop Bar: If visiting the Wat Suthat Temple in the afternoon, walk for about 20 minutes to the Roof. This rooftop bar is one of our favourites in Bangkok (right after the Mahanakhon Glass Walk) as it gives an open view of Wat Arun. The ideal is to stay there for sunset.
Where to stay in Bangkok
Bangkok is an incredible city, but is so vast that it is easy to end up in the wrong district, or far away from the main attractions. That’s why we wrote an extensive guide about Where to stay in Bangkok for first timers – Give it a read!
Below you will find some quick suggestions on where to stay near Wat Suthat Temple, which are always good in terms of transportation, nightlife and proximity to main attractions.
Here Hostel
One of the hidden gems in Bangkok backpackers district, the one you can just whisper about to avoid getting to the mass. It boasts an unbelievable 8.9 rating for dorms starting at just $10 per night (€10 | £8.5). BOOK HERE!
RALPH BANGKOK
SAMSEEN STREET
CHILLAX HOTEL
CHERN BANGKOK
