Reaching Wat Arun across the river

How much is the ferry to Wat Arun?

A few baht, paid in coins at the pier before you board. It is one of the cheapest rides in Bangkok, so keep some small coins ready.

The cross-river ferry leaves from Tha Tien pier, a few minutes on foot from Wat Pho. You pay at the pier, walk onto the floating pontoon and wait for the next boat, which comes every 10 to 15 minutes. The crossing takes 3 to 5 minutes, and the boat lands at the temple's own pier on the other bank. Coming back, you do the same in reverse: pay at the pier by the temple and cross to Tha Tien. The ferry runs all day until the evening. If you plan to stay for the sunset, check the time of the last crossing at the pier.

The ferry is separate from the temple's entry fee. Foreign visitors pay that small fee in cash at the ticket counter by the gate; Thai citizens don't pay the entry fee. Some tours include the ferry and some include the temple tickets too, so check the includes box before you book.

Where do you take a boat to Wat Arun?

Three kinds of boat reach it. The cross-river ferry from Tha Tien pier lands at the temple, the blue-flag tourist boat stops at Wat Arun pier itself, and the orange-flag express boat stops at Tha Tien on the opposite bank.

• The cross-river ferry from Tha Tien pier (N8), next to Wat Pho: the shortest and cheapest way across, and the one most visitors use.
• The blue-flag tourist boat runs up and down the river from Sathorn pier, by BTS Saphan Taksin, about every 30 minutes. It is the only line that stops at Wat Arun pier, so you step off at the temple without changing boats. It has English announcements and is sold as a day pass that lets you hop on and off.
• The orange-flag express boat is the everyday river bus. It stops at Tha Tien, on the Wat Pho side, and from there you take the cross-river ferry. It is cheaper than the tourist boat and busier with commuters.

Board in the direction you want to go: the flag colour is on the boat, and staff on the pier can point you to the right side. Timetables change from time to time, so check the Chao Phraya Express Boat website before a long ride.

Which BTS station is closest to Wat Arun?

No BTS Skytrain station is close to Wat Arun. The nearest train is the MRT Blue Line at Sanam Chai, Exit 1. If you are on the BTS, ride to Saphan Taksin and take a boat upriver from Sathorn pier.

The BTS does not reach the old town. Saphan Taksin, on the Silom Line, is the station built beside the river, and Sathorn pier is right below it. That makes the BTS plus a boat a good choice if you are staying in Silom, Sathorn or along Sukhumvit. The MRT is quicker if your hotel is on the Blue Line, and Sanam Chai is its stop for the old town. Some guides also mention Itsaraphap MRT station on the Wat Arun side, about 1 km on foot, but the walk is through side streets and the Sanam Chai route is simpler for a first visit. The table compares the main routes.

How do you get to Wat Arun from MRT Sanam Chai?

Leave Sanam Chai station by Exit 1, walk about 5 to 10 minutes to Tha Tien pier, pay the ferry at the pier and cross. It is the simplest route in this guide.

• Step 1: take the MRT Blue Line to Sanam Chai. The station itself is worth a look, with a grand hall decorated in an old Thai style.
• Step 2: leave by Exit 1 and walk towards the river, with the long white wall of Wat Pho beside you, to Maha Rat Road. Signs point to Tha Tien.
• Step 3: at Tha Tien, walk through the small market lane to the river and look for the cross-river ferry, which leaves from its own part of the pier.
• Step 4: pay the few-baht fare at the pier, wait for the boat and cross in 3 to 5 minutes. The temple gate is a short walk from the landing.

The same route works in reverse, and it is the natural link between the two temples. If you plan to see Wat Pho the same day, the Wat Pho and Wat Arun guide explains which to see first.

The two temples on foot in three hours, with a guide, the ferry crossing and a fresh coconut between Wat Pho and Wat Arun. Several start times a day, rated 4.6 from 1,803 reviews. Entry fees are paid at the gates.

★ 4.6 (1,803) · 3 hours · Full refund up to 24 h ahead

Explore the Wat Pho and Wat Arun walk →

How do you get to Wat Arun by boat from BTS Saphan Taksin?

Walk from Saphan Taksin station down to Sathorn pier. Take the blue-flag tourist boat straight to Wat Arun pier, or the orange-flag express boat to Tha Tien and then the cross-river ferry.

• Step 1: take the BTS Silom Line to Saphan Taksin and follow the signs to Sathorn pier, also called Central pier, just below the station.
• Step 2, the direct way: buy a ticket or a day pass for the blue-flag tourist boat at its counter on the pier. Boats leave about every 30 minutes. Get off at Wat Arun pier, and the temple is in front of you.
• Step 2, the cheaper way: board an orange-flag express boat heading upriver, and pay on board or at the pier. Get off at Tha Tien (N8), then take the cross-river ferry to the temple.
• Step 3: on the way back, the blue-flag boat also stops at Tha Chang for the Grand Palace, so you can go on to the palace by river.

The river ride is slower than the MRT, but you pass old warehouses, churches, temples and ICONSIAM on the way, and it is cooler on the water than in the street. Going upriver, the Wat Arun bank is on your left.

Arrive by the canals instead: a longtail boat from Tha Tien along the Bangkok Yai canal to the giant Buddha of Wat Paknam, then back to Wat Arun. About three hours, rated 4.5 from 558 reviews. The Wat Arun entry fee is not included.

★ 4.5 (558) · 3 hours · Full refund up to 24 h ahead

Explore the longtail canal tour to Wat Arun →

Can you take a taxi or Grab to Wat Arun?

Yes. Ask for Tha Tien pier and take the ferry across, which is usually quickest. A car can also drive round to the temple's own side on the Thonburi bank, via Arun Amarin Road, but that means crossing a bridge in traffic and takes longer.

Taxis and Grab cars reach Tha Tien from anywhere in the city, and the drop-off is on Maha Rat Road, a short walk from the pier. The old town is busy during the day, so allow extra time around the Grand Palace in the morning. Use the meter in a taxi, or the price shown in the Grab app. If you want to avoid boats completely, ask to go to Wat Arun on Arun Amarin Road: the driver crosses the river by bridge and comes back down the Thonburi side to the temple.

A tuk tuk is fun for a short ride, but agree the price before you get in. Hotel pickup with a private tour takes the whole question away: the car waits for you between the temples and drops you back at your hotel.

How do you get from Khao San Road to Wat Arun?

Walk about 2 km south to Tha Tien pier, which takes about 25 to 30 minutes, then cross by ferry. Or take the blue-flag tourist boat from Phra Arthit pier, near Khao San Road, straight to Wat Arun pier.

On foot: walk south past Sanam Luang, the big open field in front of the Grand Palace, then along the palace walls and down Maha Rat Road to Tha Tien. The walk is flat and easy, but it is hot by late morning, so go early and carry water. You pass the Grand Palace and Wat Pho on the way, which is why many people see all three in one morning.

By boat: Phra Arthit pier is a few minutes from Khao San Road, on the river. The blue-flag tourist boat stops there and runs downriver to Tha Maharaj, Tha Chang and Wat Arun pier. An express boat heading downriver to Tha Tien is the cheaper option; check on the pier that it stops there. By taxi or tuk tuk: a short ride to Tha Tien, though traffic around the palace can make walking just as quick.

What if someone says Wat Arun is closed today?

Smile and walk on to the official gate. If a stranger outside tells you a temple is closed today, it is almost always the start of a tuk tuk ride to shops, and the temple is open as usual.

The temple area is safe and calm, and the people you meet are mostly other visitors, monks and vendors. The one trick worth knowing happens on the walk to the pier: a friendly stranger says the temple is closed for a ceremony and offers a cheap tuk tuk to somewhere else, which usually ends at a gem or tailor shop. Wat Arun opens from 8 am to 6 pm every day, and it sells its tickets only at its own counter by the gate, so there is nothing to buy on the street. If you ever need help, the Tourist Police hotline is 1155, with English spoken.

Everything else about the visit, from the ticket counter to the steep steps of the prang, is in the tickets and hours guide, and what to wear is in the dress guide.

Frequently asked questions