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If you're planning to visit Bangkok, be prepared for a bustling metropolis with modern infrastructure and buildings, shopping malls and hotels, contrasted against traditional architecture. There are hundreds (maybe even thousands) of temples in Bangkok alone, and I only visited two so you probably want to add more onto your list! This list is very short and sweet - I didn't actually take that many photos as I spent most of my time eating lots of food and shopping for yet more food to take home instead.
Wat Pho
Wat Pho, also known as the Temple of the Reclining Buddha is located in Phra Nakhon District which is north of the Chao Praya River. We stayed at the Sofitel Bangkok Sukhumvit so we took the MRT Blue Line from Sukhumvit to Sanam Chai to make sure we got there for the temple's opening time which is 8am (just check Google Maps). From Sanam Chai station, it was relatively easy to walk to Wat Pho's entrance. Be alert when you're en route to temples as there may be scammers. A random man started to follow us to tell us that the temple wasn't open, which of course it was. Read my Top Tips for Travelling Bangkok and other things to be mindful of when visiting!The entrance fee was 200 THB per person and because we got there so early, there were hardly any tourists. The surroundings were serene, and the archiecture, especially of the tower-shaped spires, was very intricate and unlike anything I had ever seen before. The reclining Buddha statue is inside the temple, and is 43m long and 15m in height. In fact, so large that I couldn't even get the whole statue into my camera shot. There are also bowls next to the statue where people put money in for luck. The gardens are also really peaceful and we enjoyed strolling around and admiring the scenery.
Also, don't forget that you need to cover your shoulders and knees when entering temples and shrines.
Wat Arun
Wat Arun, the Temple of Dawn is on the south side of the Chao Praya River, and if you're visiting Wat Pho, you should definitely visit Wat Arun too as it's so close. I just followed Google Maps to No. 8 Tha Tien Express Boat Pier to get a boat to the other side - the boat ride is super cheap and only a few baht!This temple looks like a tiled ceramic structure - there is one extremely tall tower (known as a prang) in the centre with 4 smaller ones around it. The largest prang is 67m high and the tallest one in Thailand. It's a dominating structure from far away, but you definitely need to see it close up to admire the unique intricacies of the exterior.
Other Temples Nearby:
The Grand Palace
Wat Benchamabophit
Erawan Museum
Erawan Museum is located a little further out from the busy Sukhumvit area. We took the BTS SkyTrain to Bang Na Station and then took a taxi there. Entry fee was quite expensive which I think was 400 THB per person, available at the ticket office. The gardens are pretty, but the grounds are relatively small. The uniqueness of the temple is that a huge three-headed elephant statue sits atop it. Inside (again, shoulders and knees should be covered!), the interiors include winding staircases, a lot of pink and a mesmerising stained glass ceiling. Be aware that it is also incredibly hot inside (as in I was literally on the verge of fainting) and although overall the place was a lot smaller than I had expected, it was still a beautiful place to visit.
99 Bang Mueang Mai, Mueang Samut Prakan District, Samut Prakan 10270, Thailand
