The central prang
Centre of the temple, by the river
Bangkok, Thailand
Wat Arun — Temple of Dawn
Discover Wat Arun, Bangkok’s iconic riverside temple, renowned for its porcelain-covered towers and intricate craftsmanship. Explore its peaceful grounds and admire one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks on the Chao Phraya Rive
Favourite places
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The four smaller prangs
Corners around the central prang
Four satellite towers in the same porcelain decoration surround the main prang. Look for the figures of the wind god and other guardians set into their niches.
Open in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)Ordination hall (ubosot)
Behind the prang, guarded by two giant yakshas
Two huge demon guardians stand at the gate of the hall. Inside is a Buddha image said to have been designed by King Rama II, whose ashes are kept in its base.
Open in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)Riverside terrace
Along the Chao Phraya
The riverfront in front of the temple has open views up and down the river, with long-tail boats and express boats passing.
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Local food
Khao tom (rice soup)
Bangkok, Thailand
A light rice soup with pork, prawns or fish, flavoured with garlic and ginger — a typical early-morning dish in the Thonburi neighbourhoods around the temple.
Pad thai
Bangkok, Thailand
Stir-fried rice noodles with egg, tofu, shrimp, bean sprouts and peanuts, finished with lime. The old-town shops around Maha Chai Road are famous for it.
Mango sticky rice (khao niao mamuang)
Bangkok, Thailand
Sweet ripe mango with sticky rice and salted coconut cream — the classic Thai dessert, at its best in the hot-season mango months of March to May.
Where to eat
Tha Tien riverside cafés and rooftops
Maharat Road, opposite Wat Arun
Several cafés and restaurants on the Tha Tien side have river-facing terraces with the classic view of Wat Arun at sunset.
Open in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)Wang Lang market
Thonburi bank, by Wang Lang (Siriraj) pier
A local market up-river on the same bank, with street snacks, noodles and Thai sweets.
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Where to stay
Rattanakosin (Old Town)
Bangkok, Thailand
The historic island around the Grand Palace, Wat Pho and Wat Arun. Small guesthouses and boutique hotels in old shophouses put the main temples within walking distance, and the streets are quiet at night.
Open in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)Riverside (Charoen Krung & Sathorn)
Bangkok, Thailand
Bangkok's classic hotel strip along the Chao Phraya, next to Sathorn pier and BTS Saphan Taksin. Easy to reach the Old Town by boat and the rest of the city by Skytrain.
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Culture
Wat Arun is a royal temple and an active monastery: cover shoulders and knees (sarongs can be rented at the entrance) and take your shoes off inside the ordination hall. The temple is named after Aruna, the Indian god of dawn. It appears on the 10-baht coin, and during the Kathin season at the end of the rains the royal barge procession has traditionally ended here.
Tour plans
Wat Arun and the old town
Half dayStep 1: Wat Arun in the morning
Arrive early by the cross-river ferry and climb the lower terraces of the prang.
Step 2: Back across to Wat Pho
Take the ferry to Tha Tien and visit the Reclining Buddha.
Step 3: Lunch at Tha Tien
Eat in the restored shophouses by the pier.
Step 4: Evening view
Come back to the Tha Tien riverside at sunset to see Wat Arun lit up.
Travel information
Best time to visit
November–February; visit in the early morning for soft light and fewer people, and see it from across the river at sunset.
Getting around
Wat Arun is on the Thonburi bank. The easiest way in is the short cross-river ferry from Tha Tien pier (by Wat Pho); the Chao Phraya Express Boat also stops at Wat Arun pier. The temple grounds are compact and best seen on foot. The steps of the prang are very steep — use the handrails and take care coming down.
