Planning to travel to Bangkok for the first time? You can’t miss the Grand Palace Thailand. Since I posted some of my travel photos in Thailand on my Instagram, many people asked me questions about their up coming travels in Bangkok through private messages. So here are the top 10 travel tips to the Grand Palace Thailand for the first time visitors.
Get there early.
The Grand Place opens daily from 8am to 4pm. Make sure you go there early! Why? Because you’ll be bombarded by countless large group tours (20 -30 people) after 9am. If you want to get some of those “exclusive” photos without so many tourists in the background, get in early.
How to Get there
Many people get there by boat. Other people go by Sky Train then boat. The easiest way? By taxi. Getting a taxi in Bangkok is very convenient and cheap, as long as your taxi driver uses the meter. Just make sure you ask your taxi driver to switch their meter on politely (or firmly if you have to).
Reasonable entrance fee
The current entrance fee for foreigners is 500 Bart for foreigners which is significantly higher than what Thai locals are paying. You might feel slightly discriminated but considering tourism is Thailand’s main source of income, don’t. The ticket will also give you access to Wat Phra Kaeo, The Royal Thai Decorations & Coins Pavilion and Queen Sirikit Museum of Textile, which are located within the Grand Palace compound, and to Vimanmek Mansion Museum on Ratchawithi Road. There have been quite a few people on travel forums complaining that the entrance fee is a bit expensive but I think the 500 Bart (about $20) fee charged is very reasonable.
Dress code
It’s always very hot in Bangkok, so you’ll be tempted to wear shots or tank tops to go out and about. The Grand Palace has strict dress code and you won’t be allowed to get in wearing clothes that are considered inappropriate for the sacred sits of Thailand. But don’t worry, you can rent something to cover yourself up for free easily at the Grant Place if you are stopped for not wearing long enough pants. All you need to do is to pay a small deposit which will be returned to you once you’ve returned the rented clothes.
Once you are in the Grand Place, make sure you are covered properly and behaving respectfully.
It’ll be more crowded than you’ve imagined.
You’ll see more people than you can imagine, especially after 9am. You’ll see many large group of Chinese tours, way more than you can imagine. Don’t expect to take photos of the landmarks without any tourist in the background.
Bring drinking water and a sunhat
It’ll be hotter inside the Grand Place than outside. Make sure you have plenty of drinking water to keep you hydrated. A sunhat would be helpful too if you are not used to heat like this.
Take a guided tour or not
The choice is yours. Maps and brochures are available to help you explore. There are also free guided tours in English are available from 10am, 10:30am, 1pm and 2pm. Those guided tours last about 40 minutes and go in one direction. You can also rent an audio tour for 100 Bart and explore at your own pace.
Shoot up and go for detailed shots
It might be hard to shoot the landmarks without lots of tourists in your photos but here’s a trick or two to help you get perfect photos:
- Shoot up. You’ll be able to photograph those glorious architectures with perfect blue sky as your background. Lots of opportunities for detail shots. if you shoot up, you see blue sky and get a great.
- Go for close-up, detailed shots. There are so many amazing details that be your perfect photo objects.
Don’t miss the Temple of Emerald Buddha
Among many temples in Thailand, the Temple of Emerald Buddha – Wat Phra Kaew, is regarded the most sacred and a must see. Shoes need to removed before entering the temple. Once you get in, look around and you’ll admire those walls around you. The Emerald Buddha is quite small in size, about 66 centimetres (26 in) tall, carved from a single jade stone. Wat Phra Kaew is located within the compound of the Grand Place so make sure you don’t miss it.
You’ve got go
#Obviously. Ok the point is, Grand Place Thailand is THE must go historical sight in Bangkok. I know someone would go to Bangkok and spend most of their time drinking in the bars. Some people might be on a business trip with not much time for sightseeing. If you can make a trip to one sight in Bangkok, go to The Grand Palace. One of the best known and most sunning landmark in Bangkok, the compound is home to a collection of royal palaces, which blend European and Thai architecture. Every visitor to Bangkok must go to see the Grand Place:).
