Bangkok · Central
Wat Arun
Temple of Dawn · Wat Arun Ratchawararam
Wat Arun Ratchawararam, the Temple of Dawn, stands on the Thonburi bank of the Chao Phraya river in Bangkok. Its central feature is a steep Khmer-style prang, encrusted with coloured glass and Chinese porcelain and encircled by four smaller prangs, raised in the reigns of Rama II and Rama III over an older temple that had stood on the site under Ayutthaya. The porcelain was largely salvaged from ballast carried by Chinese trading ships. Because the tower catches the first light across the water, it is among the most photographed buildings in Thailand, and it is reached from the Bangkok side by a short ferry crossing.
Art & Architecture
- Central prang rising about 70 metres above the Chao Phraya
- Surfaces encrusted with broken Chinese porcelain, much of it ballast from trading ships
- Four smaller satellite prangs at the corners of the terrace
- Best seen from the river at first light, which is how it takes its name
Best Season
Festivals
Kathina
Planning your visit
Nearby
Guesthouses and dharamshalas near the temple often take walk-ins. Confirm a single-occupancy rate when you call.
- Riva Arun Bangkok335 m
Rated 4.6 on Google Maps from 901 reviews, a few minutes' walk from Wat Arun. Listed on rating and proximity — we have not stayed here.
Checked by us
Rated 4.6 on Google Maps from 150 reviews, a few minutes' walk from Wat Arun. Listed on rating and proximity — we have not stayed here.
Checked by us
- Chakrabongse Villas463 m
Rated 4.7 on Google Maps from 207 reviews, a few minutes' walk from Wat Arun. Listed on rating and proximity — we have not stayed here.
Checked by us
- Riva Surya Bangkok2.1 km
Rated 4.6 on Google Maps from 1,444 reviews, a short auto ride from Wat Arun. Listed on rating and proximity — we have not stayed here.
Checked by us
- Baan Wat arun156 m
From Overture Maps — not verified by us (2026-08-23)
- ถนนวังเดิม241 m
From Overture Maps — not verified by us (2026-08-23)
Listings drawn from third-party maps are not verified by us and may be out of date. Please confirm directly before you travel.
Sources