Grand Palace Bangkok: Tickets, Dress Code & Opening Hours

The Grand Palace costs 500 THB for foreign visitors, covers Wat Phra Kaew and the Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles, and enforces one of the strictest dress codes of any attraction in Bangkok. It's open daily from 8:30am, with ticket sales stopping around 3:00–3:30pm depending on the source.

Quick facts

An honest warning about scams outside the gate

A well-documented pattern specifically at this attraction

Dress code

Half the gate price, a short walk away

The dress code here is genuinely one of the strictest of any tourist site in Bangkok. Shoulders and upper arms must be covered (full or capped sleeves, no off-shoulder tops), legs must be covered to below the knee, and ripped, torn, or sheer fabric isn't permitted. Closed shoes or sandals with a back strap are required, flip-flops and open-back sandals are generally turned away. One important, specific clarification: a scarf draped over bare shoulders does not count as a substitute for a sleeved top, staff specifically check for this.

If you arrive underdressed, rental clothing is available at the gate for around 200 THB. Worth knowing: one detailed traveller review specifically found the row of shops opposite the palace walls selling the same trousers for 100 THB, half the gate price, worth the short walk if you're specifically trying to save money.

Sourced from pickyourtrail.com's Grand Palace Bangkok tickets, dress code, and visitor guide 2026, Tripadvisor's Grand Palace visitor reviews and information, tripthaitour.com's Grand Palace Bangkok 2026 tickets and dress code guide, thatbangkoklife.com's how to visit the Grand Palace Bangkok 2026 guide, asiabylocals.com's Grand Palace Bangkok tickets, hours, and what to expect guide, and chiangraitimes.com's Grand Palace Bangkok ticket price, dress code, and hours guide.

Wat Pho is not included, despite being 3 minutes away

Two entirely separate admissions

Worth clarifying directly: Wat Pho, home of the Reclining Buddha and just a 3-minute walk from the Grand Palace, requires a separate 300 THB ticket. The two are commonly visited together on the same day, but they're entirely separate attractions with separate admission, don't assume your Grand Palace ticket covers both.

Closures for royal ceremonies

Not always predictable far in advance

Practical tips

Arrive at or before 8:15am specifically, this consistently comes up as the best window for cooler weather, smaller crowds, and better photos before the site fills up.

Head straight to the official ticket entrance regardless of anyone outside claiming the palace is closed, this is a well-documented scam pattern specifically targeting tourists near the gates.

Buy rental clothing from the shops opposite the palace walls rather than the gate counter if you're underdressed and want to save money, the price difference is significant for the same item.

Book a separate Wat Pho ticket if you're planning to visit both temples, they are not combined under one admission despite being a short walk apart.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Believing anyone outside the palace who claims it's closed or suggests an alternative activity instead. This is a specifically documented scam pattern at this attraction, always verify directly at the official entrance.
• Assuming a scarf over bare shoulders satisfies the dress code. Staff specifically check for proper sleeved coverage, a draped scarf isn't treated as equivalent.
• Arriving close to the 3:00–3:30pm last-entry window expecting a full visit. Security checks, ticketing, and the site itself take time, arriving late leaves little room for a meaningful visit.
• Assuming your Grand Palace ticket covers Wat Pho since it's so close by. It's a separate 300 THB admission at a separate ticket counter.