The Grand Royal Bangkok Palace

The Grand Bangkok Palace in Bangkok is without a doubt one of the most impressive spectacles in bkk and no tourist trip is complete without visiting this famous landmark. Depending on where you are coming from in the Bangkok Metropolitan area you can get here by tuk-tuk, ferry (for only 12 baht) or by foot. The Grand Palace Bangkok hours go from 8:30am until 3:30 pm. You should plan on it being very hot and crowded but none-the-less, well worth the visit.

the grand royal bangkok palace

This location was originally built in 1782 as the Royal court and administrative seat of the government and also served as the home of the King for 150 years. The beautiful architecture and history here continue to draw crowds of visitors from all over the world with the intricate detail and creative craftsmanship of the Thai people. Today the complex serves as the spiritual heart of the Thai Kingdom but was once also the Thai war ministry, state departments and mint combined.

The Grand Bangkok Palace Layout

The layout and orientation of this complex are similar to how Ayutthaya which was the former capital of Siam prior to being raided by the Burmese. The outer court used to house the government departments of the King who was directly involved with civil administration, the army and treasury.

Also located in this complex is The Temple of the Emerald Buddha also known as Wat Phra Kaew. is located in one corner of this outer court. The Kings halls used for conducting business were located in the Central Court. The inner court was like a small city and was entirely populated by women and small boys prior to puberty. The Grand Palace and Emerald temple blend together almost seamlessly transitioning from Thai design to European inspired architecture.

Other highlights are Boromabiman Hall and Amarinda Hall, the original residence of King Rama I and the Hall of Justice where I was not supposed to take any pictures or video but managed to sneak one in before being told “no pictures” by the several guards and signs inside.

The Central Court is where the residence of the King and halls used for conducting state business were located. Only two of the throne halls are open to the public, but you’ll be able to marvel at the exquisite detail on the facades of the architecture.

If you plan on visiting The Grand Royal Bangkok Palace then plan on wearing at least a t-shirt especially for women as you must cover your cleavage and shoulders. Men also cannot wear tank tops and both must wear a sorang or pants that cover past your knees. As you can see after living in Thailand for almost 1 year now I finally had to buy some of these super comfy but extra touristy pair of elephant pants for 100 baht to enter. If you end up in a similar situation you can buy some directly across the street from the main entrance. Also, the Grand Palace Bangkok entry fee visit the palace for a farang or foreigner is 200 baht.

Thanks for reading, I hope you found this information useful and please feel free to ask me for any questions or advice. You can dm me on Instagram @nomadicnava and check out more posts here.