Whether you’re traveling to Thailand for the first time or the 10th, visiting one of the iconic temples is probably high on your bucket list. It gives you an opportunity to learn about Thai culture and offers a glimpse into the Thai people’s way of life — both past and present. However, when we’re traveling with kids, especially to a new country, we as parents can have a few worries like: will this place be kid-friendly? Will my kids get bored easily? Will they be too loud or rowdy for this type of place? With living in Thailand for the past 16 years, we’ve been able to figure out which are the best family-friendly temples in Bangkok:
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Most Iconic of Family-friendly Temples : Temple of the Emerald Buddha at the Grand Palace
If this is your first-time to Thailand, then the Grand Palace should be one of the top tourist places in Bangkok on your family’s itinerary. Thankfully, the Grand Palace is kid-friendly and one of the most famous cultural landmarks in Bangkok.
The Grand Palace was previously the residence for kings in Thailand from 1782 to 1925. It is currently where many royal and religious ceremonies take place. It is also where the Temple of the Emerald Buddha is located, which is regarded as the most sacred buddhist temple in all of Thailand. The shiny, golden architecture will mesmerize your kids and will not soon be forgotten!
HOW TO GET TO THE GRAND PALACE:
- Take the BTS Sky Train to Saphan Taksin Station (Exit 1).
- Walk down the stairs following the signs that say ‘Cross-River Pier’ and go left over the bridge following the signs that say ‘Buy Tickets’ to get the Hop-On-Hop-Off river taxi tickets that will take you to the Tah Tien Pier for 30 baht (about $0.85 cents) for just a single trip ticket.
- You could also buy a Hop-On-Hop-Off River Taxi All Day Pass for 125 baht (about $4.10 USD) if you want to explore more than just one landmark along the river.
- I highly recommend pre-booking to get the discounted price from Klook. Klook is similar to Viator or Get Your Guide, but the secure Klook website focuses on attractions or tours in Southeast Asia. Check out this blog post for a detailed itinerary of One Day in Bangkok and all the sightseeing you can do from the Hop On Hop Off River Taxi in Bangkok.
GRAND PALACE OPENING HOURS: EVERYDAY 8:30am – 3:30pm
TIME NEEDED: About 2-3 hours
GRAND PALACE ENTRANCE FEE:
- 500 baht (about $15 USD)
- FREE for kids under 120cm (nearly 4 feet)
Unfortunately, there is no way to book tickets online in advance for the Grand Palace itself, but usually the lines aren’t longer than 30 minutes.
If you do want to make sure you aren’t wasting any time in line and you’d like a guided walking tour in English to learn even more historical and cultural information, then I recommend this one: Grand Palace Walking Tour for a Half Day.
BOREDOM BUSTER: If you need a quick way to entertain the kids while walking around, play a game of ‘I-Spy.’ Example: I spy the color gold. I spy a black bird. I spy a monk. I spy a person with red hair.
OTHER TIPS:
- Grab lunch at The Deck, very near the Tha Tien Pier. It has stunning views of Wat Arun along the river, and the kids will enjoy watching all the boats and barges pass-by.
- Be sure to dress appropriately because the Grand Palace is highly revered by Thais. Dress in pants or a skirt that goes past the knees and in a shirt that has sleeves and doesn’t reveal your belly.
- Beware of pick-pockets in this area. We usually wear our backpack on our front, put our wallets and passports deep inside a pocket, and even put our phones in our front pocket.
- Also beware of all the scammers in this area (especially the TukTuk drivers who will tell you that this is not the Grand Palace and you are in the wrong spot and try to take you to the ‘right place!’)
Wat Arun Temple of the Dawn : Best Overall of Family-Friendly Temples in Bangkok
Another very famous temple and landmark in Bangkok is WAT ARUN, Temple of the Dawn. The ornate architecture of this temple was built about 700 years ago during the Ayutthaya period. The main pagoda of Wat Arun reaches about 81 meters tall and is an iconic landmark in Bangkok.
HOW TO GET TO WAT ARUN:
The best way to get there is similar to the Grand Palace way. Take the BTS Sky Train to the Saphan Taksin BTS Station and then get on a River Taxi to the Wat Arun pier. Actually, just like with the Grand Palace, I highly recommend pre-booking the Hop-On-Hop-Off River Taxi All Day Pass. I also add the Grand Palace and Wat Arun to my ideal 3 Day Bangkok Itinerary for families.
WAT ARUN OPENING HOURS: Everyday 8:30am – 5:30pm
TIME NEEDED: About 30-90 minutes
WAT ARUN ENTRANCE FEE:
- 200 baht (about $6 USD)
- FREE for kids under 120 cm (about 4 feet tall)
BOREDOM BUSTER: To make it fun for the kids, consider renting the traditional Thai costumes available for rent near the ticket booth.
Traditional Thai Dress Rental Costs: 200 baht (about $6 USD)
OTHER TIPS:
- Like all other temples in Thailand, shirts with sleeves and pants or skirts past the knees are mandatory.
- There’s a small outdoor cafe on-site that has good smoothies if you need a break in the shade
- But if you are looking for where to eat, I recommend heading across the river to the Tah Tien Pier. The Deck has the best view of Wat Arun and the kids will enjoy watching the long tail boats whiz by. However, try Pad Thai Kratong if you’re looking for the best Pad Thai. For other yummy Thai food, try The Sixth 6th Restaurant down the little alley near the pier.
Golden Mount Temple has the best sunset views!
Take your kids on an urban hike up the 344 steps at this family-friendly temple in Bangkok called Golden Mount Temple.
HOW TO GET TO GOLDEN MOUNT TEMPLE:
- Unfortunately, it’s not really near any public transportation. So it’s best to book a GRAB taxi to Wat Saket (aka Golden Mount) for about 130 baht ($4 USD) from the city center.
GOLDEN MOUNT OPENING HOURS: Everyday 7:00am – 7:00pm
GOLDEN MOUNT ENTRANCE FEE: 100 baht (about $3 USD)
TIME NEEDED: About 1-1.5 hours
BOREDOM BUSTER: Give your kids a goal of hitting the golden gong when they reach the summit
OTHER TIPS:
- Go at sunset for incredible views of the Bangkok skyline and much cooler weather.
- Due to the high number of steps, this temple is probably best suited for families with elementary aged kids and teenagers. However, my 5 year old could do it fairly easily.
- Remember to wear shirts with sleeves and long pants or a skirt (no shorts!). If you forget, you can buy a Thai sarong at the ticket counter for 100 baht (about $3 USD).
- For dinner, take a stroll to Krua Pa & Ma Restaurant for an authentic Thai meal. If you’re feeling adventurous and can handle a little spice, I recommend the Tom Yum Goong (Spicy Coconut Shrimp Soup) or the Papaya Salad. Both are the most popular food choices amongst the locals. My kids like Chicken Fried Rice or the Garlic Chicken and Rice dish.
Wat Pho with the Reclining Buddha def makes the cut for most family-friendly temples in Bangkok
This is another one of those kid–friendly temples in Bangkok with a larger than life reclining buddha that is worthy of adding to your Bangkok Bucket List. Wat Pho temple is also a registered UNESCO World Heritage Site and is actually a vast 20 acre complex with multiple temples and a monastery. If you have time, your kids will enjoy exploring all the different pathways and beautifully landscaped area.
HOW TO GET TO WAT PHO AND THE RECLINING BUDDHA:
- If you are still at Wat Arun, walk to ‘Pier 4’ to take the boat across the river to the Tha Tien pier. It is less than 5 baht (about $0.25 cents) to ride this ferry.
- Then walk straight off the pier, and Wat Pho will be on the right in about 3 minutes.
- If you havent picked a hotel yet, check out my recommendation for the best hotel for families on the Chao Praya River on my blog post of ‘The Best Hotels in Bangkok for Families.’
WAT PHO OPENING HOURS: Everyday 8:00am – 7:30pm
TIME NEEDED: About 30 minutes (if just visiting the Reclining Buddha) or up to 3 hours to meander through the whole complex
WAT PHO ENTRANCE FEE:
- 400 baht (about $11 USD)
- Kids under 120cm are FREE
BOREDOM BUSTER FOR KIDS: play this ‘Photography Game’ idea where you try to find shapes and letters in the architecture and take a photo of them. For example, take a picture of a steeple that looks like the letter A.
WAT PHO DRESS CODE: As with all of the temples and royal landmarks, shirts with sleeves and long pants or skirts are required.
Ancient City aka Muang Boran is the best day trip to one of the family-friendly temples in Bangkok.
Ancient City is not necessarily a ‘temple’, but it is an incredible 320 acre outdoor museum and park that is in the shape of Thailand and has life-size replicas of the most famous temples and tourist attractions from all over Thailand. Let your kids explore more than 100+ famous Thai monuments and let them get hands-on without worrying about being too loud or too rambunctious.
WHAT TO DO THERE?
- Rent bicycles, e-bikes, or a golf cart to explore this HUGE outdoor museum
- Ride elephants (a very rare opportunity so close to Bangkok)
- Enjoy a traditional Thai Dance performance
- Dress up in Thai costumes for a fun photo op
- Play hide-n-seek amongst the ancient ruins
- Buy handmade toys and souvenirs from the Old Market Town or enjoy Pad Thai and Coconut Ice Cream at the Floating Market
- Read my blog post with a detailed itinerary for an epic day visiting Ancient City with your family
HOW TO GET TO ANCIENT CITY: Ancient City is a bit outside the city, so it’s best to book a GRAB taxi to ‘Muang Boran’ for about 350 baht (about $10 USD) from the city center.
ANCIENT CITY OPENING HOURS: Everyday 9:00am – 7:00pm
TIME NEEDED: About 4-8 hours
ENTRANCE FEE:
- 700 baht/adult but you can Pre-book your tickets to get this special 50% discount offer from Klook –> Ancient City Discounted Tickets Here.
- 350 baht/kid (aged 6-13)
- Kids under 5 are FREE!
Not coming to Thailand for a few more months? Pin this post so you can easily find this special offer again later.
OTHER TIPS:
- Bring a hat, sunglasses, and wear sunblock because most of these sites are outside in the heat
- There are two good areas to eat a meal inside Ancient City: one is near the Old Market Town and the other is near the Ghost Museum.
- This is an awesome Private Temple Tour with an English Speaking Guide that will take you to 3 different temples in one day: Ancient City, Erawan 3-headed elephant, and Wat Paknam Temple with the largest buddha. Plus they’ll take you to one of our favorite restaurants with gulf views: Sailom Bangpu. Then you’ll get to end your night at the Jodd’s Fair, an outdoor open market that is a foodie paradise! Highly recommend this for the $200 price*. But do note it does not include entrance fees to the temples.
*PLEASE NOTE : the price ranges are up-to-date as of the date of publishing this post. They may vary from season to season.
Ayutthaya Ancient Ruins and Temple Grounds
The Ayutthaya Historical Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that has numerous ancient ruins and historic temples dating back to the 14th century. Ayutthaya was once the flourishing capital city of Siam from about 1350 to 1767. It is kind of an ‘island’ within the mainland as it is surrounded by 3 rivers flowing from the North.
The Ayutthaya Historical Park is such a fascinating area to visit — literally letting you step back in time. The kids will enjoy getting to walk through all of the ancient doorways and down the different pathways of the semi-well preserved ruins.
HOW TO GET TO AYUTTHAYA ANCIENT RUINS:
- Technically this is not in Bangkok, but it is only about 1 hour away by taxi and costs about 900 baht (about $30 USD).
- However, we opted for the more slow and scenic route by taking the train from the Hua Lamphong Railway Station, which is easy to get to from the MRT Subway Station of Hua Lamphong. The trains run from Bangkok to Ayutthaya throughout the day and take about 1.5-2 hours depending on if you get an express train or regular train. We chose the 3rd class seats with the open-air cabin and wooden seats. This made the trip feel more like an adventure and also gave us the chance to see life along the countryside and out of the big city. The train tickets were only 12 baht per adult (about $0.35 cents)! Crazy cheap!
- If you’d rather not venture there on your own, this is a good option for a private guided tour that includes pick up from your hotel in Bangkok and admission to 4 of the main sites Ayutthaya Temple Tour.
AYUTTHAYA HISTORICAL PARK ENTRANCE FEE:
- 50 baht per ancient ruin site (about $1.50 USD)
- Or 220 baht (about $7 USD) for an all-inclusive ticket to visit all the sites
- Kids are FREE!
OTHER TIPS:
- Download the AR Smart Heritage App to get a better understanding of the historical significance of this place.
- We rented bikes to ride around from site to site for only 40 baht per day.
- But truthfully, the ancient ruins are all scattered about the rather big city and there were no biking lanes, so unless you have teenagers, my suggestion would be to hire a tuk tuk driver when you arrive at the train station. It’s about 600 baht (or $18 USD) for a 2 hour tour to go from site to site.
- Since Ayutthaya is on 3 different rivers, another fun thing to do is take a long tail boat ride for 200 baht per person (about $6 USD), which stops at 3 different kid-friendly temples and other ancient ruins.
- Thailand is hot and humid year round, and these ancient ruins sites have very little shade. So I recommend wearing sunscreen, a hat, comfortable walking shoes and bringing an umbrella (for rain or shade!)
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Big Snake Dragon Temple
The Big Snake Dragon Temple, also known as Wat Sam Phran, is like watching some Marvel action movie. A huge angry dragon circles its body around a red 16 story temple with its big dragon head resting at the top of the building. Your kids will enjoy riding the elevator up to the very top of this temple and be face to face with the dragon head.
HOW TO GET TO BIG SNAKE DRAGON TEMPLE:
- It’s also about 1 hour away from central Bangkok
- Take a Grab Taxi for about 600 baht (or $20 USD)
SNAKE DRAGON TEMPLE OPENING HOURS: 7:00am – 6:00pm
TIME NEEDED: Once you arrive, just about 1 hour to see it all
DRAGON TEMPLE ENTRANCE FEE:
- Currently FREE but accepting donations to help maintain it
- 10 baht to ride the elevator each way or you can walk down (about $0.25 cents)
OTHER TIPS:
- Go around sunset for spectacular views from the top
- Here is a recommendation for a great private all-day tour to Nakhon Pathom for around $150 USD* that will take you to the Dragon Temple, the largest buddhist pagoda Chedi in Thailand, a coconut farm, and an instagram worthy cafe called Bubble in the Forest. *Price depends on how many are in your group.
Our Top 3 Hotel Picks for Families Visiting Bangkok:
Best Island Hopping Tour
MOST LUXURIOUS FAMILY HOTEL:
SIAM KEMPINSKI HOTEL BANGKOK
If you're looking for a kid-friendly 5 star accommodation right in the heart of Bangkok, then Siam Kempinski is our top choice!
Between the massive swimming pool, the fun Kids Club room, the cute child-size robes and slippers, and the exquisite breakfast buffet, you will be met with luxury at every turn.
BEST FAMILY HOTEL ON THE RIVER:
SHANGRI-LA BANGKOK
- Get the Family Fun Experience Package that includes airport transfer, a 2 hour sightseeing boat tour on the Chao Praya River, and a family suite.
- Luxurious pool overlooking the Chao Praya River
- Expansive breakfast buffet
- Forbes voted the Shangri-La Bangkok as the ‘Best Hotel in Bangkok for Families’
- Only 220 meters to Saphan Taksin BTS Sky Train Station
- Very easy to take the river taxis
Hey there, we're Brittany and Witt!
Tips for Phone and Internet Service in Thailand
It’s a no-brainer that you’ll need to stay connected while traveling in Thailand — whether it’s for using GPS, researching the best island hopping tour packages, or letting the kids have some downtime a little Bluey on YouTube.
Don’t do the T-Mobile or AT&T International Roaming plans for about $10 a day — it’s a total rip off!
You can get the same exact service for much cheaper and just as easy with our tips below:
E-SIM: I highly recommend getting an eSIM from Airalo to have great internet service all over Thailand. They are actually using the same local providers that AT&T, T-mobile and Verizon will use.
I have personally used Airalo many times traveling to multiple countries all over the world, and it works great and is SUPER easy to install.
To use your Airalo eSIM, you simply buy a package then scan the QR code they send in an email to install and activate the eSIM.
The packages run from only $9.90 for 50 GB of data to $19.95 USD for Unlimited Data in Thailand.
TIPS FOR TRAVELING AROUND THAILAND WITH KIDS: If you let your kids watch YouTube, Netflix, etc, then I recommend getting the Unlimited Data. But if you’re not video streaming, then 50 GB of data is enough to browse the internet, use Google Maps, and stay in touch with friends back home.
PHYSICAL SIM CARD: You could also pick up a physical SIM card at the airport upon arrival or at any mall, which would have a TRUE shop, DTAC shop, and/or AIS shop. You would need your passport on hand. The physical SIM + a prepaid service card would cost about 350 baht (~$10 USD), but it usually only comes with 5GB of Data. So Airalo is a much better deal.
TIP: If you plan to use a physical SIM card, then be sure to contact your local phone provider (such as AT&T or Verizon) before traveling overseas to check that your phone is already unlocked. They can usually do this for you over the phone.
TRANSPORTATION TIP FOR BANGKOK:
Get a BTS Sky Train Pass called a ‘Rabbit Card‘.
Having this card has multiple benefits:
- Go straight to the BTS gate, tap your card, and it will automatically calculate how much the ride was based on where you exit.
- Save lots of time not needing to queue to buy individual BTS ride tickets
- You can pick up this Rabbit Card from Klook at the Suvarnabhumi Airport or at Central World (a mall in the center of the city). This makes it easy to quickly jump on the BTS Sky Train and make your way around the city with ease.
- This one from Klook is pre-loaded with 200 THB already (about $7 USD).
- If you buy yours from the BTS Station, you should pre-fill it with about 100-200 baht per day that you’ll be in Bangkok. You can top up more later, but it is quite difficult to get a refund on any amount left in the card.
- Get 1 Rabbit Card per person above 90cm (about 3 feet). Kids under 90 cm ride for free.
If you’ll be stopping at multiple BTS Sky Train stations all in one single day, it would save you money to have a BTS One Day Pass. With this card, you can go to an unlimited number of stations in one day, saving you time buying individual tickets at the long queues. This is most helpful if you’ll stop at 3+ stations in a single day. But this pass is only good for one single day and can not be ‘topped up’ like the above Rabbit Card.
Best Time to Visit Thailand
Thailand has a tropical climate, which means it is mostly hot and humid year round. The temps range from about 75’F (22’C) to 100’F (40’C), but mostly stay in the high 80s (low 30’Cs).
Thailand generally has two seasons: wet and dry.
The Wet Season
- heavily influenced by the monsoon winds
- typically lands between June to September
- During the wet season, there will be moments of heavy rainfall.
- It might rain cats and dogs for 30 minutes, and then be clear for the next 6 hours.
- Or it could rain heavily for 3 hours straight.
- But in our experience of living here for the past 16+ years, the heavy rain usually passes within an hour.
TIPS FOR TRAVELING TO THAILAND WITH KIDS DURING RAINY SEASON: Pack shoes that can get wet, quick drying clothes, and a poncho or umbrella.
The Dry Season
- generally is between November to April
- Has mostly clear, sunny days
*Do note that May and October are shoulder months. The days could be either dry or wet. It just depends if the monsoon season comes early that year or late.
That being said, the very best time to visit Thailand with kids is between December to February.
Pin this post to remember the most iconic temples in Bangkok worth visiting with your family!
More Thailand Blog Posts
If you’d like to visit the most famous landmarks in person, this is an epic One Day in Bangkok Itinerary with kids on the Hop on Hop off River Taxi.
The Best Things to Do in Bangkok with Kids with recommendations to the best cultural activities, museums, kid-friendly restaurants, indoor playgrounds, and what to do on a rainy day in Bangkok.
The Best Bangkok Hotel Guide for Families with location, what makes it family friendly, and an estimated price per night.
Also, don’t forget to read up on the recently updated Tourist Visa measures!
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Here’s our top ones that also includes where it is, what you can do for fun there, and other benefits or disadvantages of that park.
