Thailand offers an abundance of sacred sites to explore, with more than 40,000 temples across the country. From city compounds to jungle shrines, temple options abound for admirers of sacred architecture. These are 10 of the best temples in Thailand, offering everything from ancient ruins to contemporary marvels. Whether you seek holy relics, panoramic views, or architectural wonders, you’ll be sure to find it at these Thai temples.
Doi Suthep
Wander through the leafy compound at Doi Suthep to discover small shrines, stunning waterfalls, and monks in prayer. Your guide can tell you about history, customs, and etiquette as you explore the temple’s golden chedi and intricate architecture that fuses the Lanna and Theravada styles. Walk to the edge of the area to take in a panoramic view of Chiang Mai.
To visit this iconic Thai temple, catch a tuk-tuk or songthaew (a truck with benches in the back) outside Chang Pauk Gate to head up Doi Suthep mountain. The scenic drive takes you on windy roads through lush jungle. When you arrive, climb the 306-step Naga serpent staircase to discover a world where natural beauty intertwines with spirituality.
Wat Pho
Wat Pho is one of Bangkok’s oldest Thai Buddhist temples and often lands on travellers’ must-visit list thanks to its 46m (150 ft) golden reclining Buddha. The figure represents entry into nirvana and features 108 auspicious symbols on its delicately decorated feet. The extensive grounds have Thai-style gardens, towering chedis, picturesque stupas, a centre for traditional medicine, and a massage school where students from around the world study Thai massage and visitors can get one.
Ayutthaya
The former Thai capital is a UNESCO World Heritage Site containing approximately 50 historic temple ruins that date from the Kingdom of Siam. Stroll through Wat Mahathat, with its famed stone Buddha head encased in the roots of a sacred banyan tree. The temple of Wat Yai Chai Mongkol can be located by its distinctive towering chedi and rows of seated Buddhas, and Wat Phu Khao Thong, also known as Monastery of the Golden Mount, blends Thai and Mon architectural elements to create a temple with an eye-catching white chedi and golden spire.
Wat Suan Dok
As one of Chiang Mai’s oldest temples, the serene 14th-century ‘flower garden temple’ has an expansive layout, and you can stroll through gardens, altars, and shrines on the grounds. Ashes of many members of Chiang Mai’s royal family rest here, as does a relic of the Buddha in the golden central chedi. A series of white pagodas encircle the chedi, giving it a striking appearance. This Thailand temple also houses Mahachulalongkorn Rajavidyalaya University, which draws Buddhist scholars and monks for their studies.
Wat Arun
Take a ferry across the Chao Phraya River to visit Wat Arun, one of the best temples in Bangkok. Beckoning from the riverside, this 17th-century temple draws the eye with a series of iconic chedis decorated with intricate ceramic mosaics that make it unlike any other temple in Thailand. The temple’s architecture melds Khmer and Thai styles and brings in elements from Hinduism.
Climb the steps of the chedis to see the whole complex — and the city — from a new perspective, but be careful not to climb on the ledges or window frames as this is considered disrespectful. Enjoy incredible views from the temple across the river and into Old Town.
Wat Saket
Tucked away in a less-visited part of Bangkok’s Old Town, Wat Saket, known as the Golden Mount, is well worth the trip. Visitors who climb its famed 318 stairs, which twist around a lush jungle hill, are rewarded with views of the historic section of the city and the opportunity to ring a wall of bells meant to bestow prosperity and good luck.
This Buddhist destination in Bangkok has a tranquil atmosphere that extends to the temple at the top of the hill, which features a glowing gold chedi, a bell-shaped stupa, and plenty of quiet corners for reflection and enjoying the views. The neighbourhood surrounding the temple is home to noodle shops, family businesses, and places selling Buddhist mementoes, including pendants, bracelets, and items for home shrines.
Sanctuary of Truth
Get off the beaten path in Pattaya to explore the Sanctuary of Truth. The privately owned compound is considered a ‘living’ temple because construction is ongoing. Workers are balanced in the eaves or lie on scaffolding as they add to the carved depictions of Buddhist and Hindu scenes and Thai myths, folklore, and history.
The sheer size – 2,115 sq-m (22,766 square-foot) — of the temple and its ever-evolving architecture is astonishing and make it easy to pass half a day here as you contemplate the intricate dark wood carvings, take a tour to gain a deeper understanding, or step outside to feel cool breezes from the oceanfront temple.
Wat Rong Khun
Wat Rong Khun (White Temple) is one of Chiang Rai’s top attractions and among the most famed temples in Thailand. The unforgettable white exterior — featuring dramatic arches and intricate mirror mosaics — is a modern masterpiece.
Created by Chalermchai Kositpipat, a notable Thai artist, the temple has an otherworldly feeling, and it’s best to earmark several hours to appreciate this architectural marvel. Wander through its landscaped gardens, over bridges, and past fountains to observe the temple from a variety of angles and observe how light reflects off its multifaceted surfaces.
Wat Sri Suphan
Take in culture in Chiang Mai’s Old Town by wandering through Wat Sri Suphan (Silver Temple). This distinctive Buddhist temple in Thailand pays homage to the area’s silversmiths and the silver trade, and many silver shops ring the area where the temple is located. Visit during the day to watch the sun reflecting off the small temple’s exterior, which also glimmers by night from the lights of the nearby market. Women are not allowed inside this temple, but the most beautiful aspects of it are on the exterior.
Phra Phutta Ming Mongkol Akenakiri Buddha
This place of worship, known to visitors as Phuket’s ‘Big Buddha,’ sits at the top of Nakkerd Hill and offers some of the island’s best views, especially at sunrise and sunset. Climb to its viewpoint to see the turquoise Andaman Sea dotted with several tiny islands.
The Buddha is Thailand’s third tallest statue, measuring 45m (148 ft) high. The striking white marble statue shades several smaller altars, shrines, bells, and statues that are worth visiting.
