Dragon Boat Festival Trip Abroad ~ Wat Pho in Bangkok

Dragon Boat Festival long weekend~ Of course, it's time to travel abroad!
Among the largest attractions in Bangkok, Wat Pho is our favorite. In fact, this complex houses many of the top landmarks: the city's largest Reclining Buddha, Thailand's largest collection of Buddha statues, and the country's earliest public education center.
The highlight of Wat Pho is the impressive Reclining Buddha, so massive that it almost exceeds the temple's shelter, located in a pavilion on the west side of the temple complex. You will even find that the number of visitors here is slightly less than the nearby Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha).
Wat Pho covers eight hectares, with the main tourist attractions occupying the northern side and the temple facilities located on the southern side. The temple is also the national headquarters for the teaching and preservation of traditional Thai medicine, including Thai massage, which was decreed by King Rama III when the tradition was on the verge of extinction. This famous massage school has two massage halls within the temple area and additional rooms in the training facilities outside the temple.
A common public ritual at Wat Pho is placing coins (representing alms) into a long row of metal bowls behind the Buddha statue. If you don't have enough coins, the staff will provide you with large denomination change.

Tickets and Other Useful Information
Open from 8:30 AM to 6:30 PM
Ticket price is 200 THB (includes 1 free bottle of water—trust us, you will need it)
Dress code requires wearing long skirts/pants and shirts with sleeves when visiting. Shoes must be removed before entering the temple. At the entrance, you will be given a plastic bag to wrap your shoes and carry with you during the visit. Once outdoors, please place the bag into the collection bin for reuse.

Post by Alyssa Keir | Jun 1, 2025