Temple Of Dawn (Wat Arun)

Wat Arun rises straight from the bank of the Chao Phraya River, its central spire (prang) encrusted with millions of fragments of coloured porcelain and seashell that catch the light. Up close, what reads from across the river as pale stone reveals itself as an intricate mosaic of floral patterns made from broken Chinese ceramics, ballast from trading ships, repurposed into one of Bangkok's most distinctive temples. You can climb the steep lower steps for a closer look at the decoration and a view over the river.

Despite the name "Temple of Dawn," Wat Arun is most beautiful at sunset, when the spire glows and is then lit up after dark, the classic view is from the opposite (eastern) bank, where riverside restaurants line up to watch. Reaching the temple itself means a short, cheap ferry hop across the river, which is half the fun.

Don't miss

• The central prang's porcelain mosaic, best appreciated up close
• Climbing the steep steps for a river view
• Sunset, when the spire glows golden then lights up
• The classic photo from the eastern riverbank across the water
• The short cross-river ferry ride to reach it

Tickets & tours

Ways to visit Temple Of Dawn (Wat Arun)

Cheapest way inVisit Wat Pho and Wat Arun with Local Expert4.5★ · 32 travelers~3 hoursFree cancellationFrom$14 per personSee dates →Most bookedGrand Palace & Temples of Bangkok with experienced guide4.8★ · 1,261 travelers~4 hoursFree cancellationFrom$21 per personSee dates →Private & flexiblePrivate Tour to Grand Palace of Bangkok, Pho and Arun Temple5★ · 78 travelers5–6 hoursFree cancellationFrom$131 per personSee dates →

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Know before you go

• Dress respectfully, shoulders and knees covered; it's an active temple.
• The prang steps are very steep with a handrail, take care, especially in the heat.
• For the famous photo, cross back to the eastern bank at sunset; several restaurants there have terraces facing the temple.
• Combine it with Wat Pho and the Grand Palace, all clustered around the same stretch of river.

A bit of history

A temple has stood on this site since at least the Ayutthaya period. It rose to prominence when King Taksin established his capital at Thonburi here in the 18th century, and the towering central prang in its current form was largely completed in the early 19th century under Rama II and Rama III. It is named for Aruna, the Hindu god of dawn.