Worth a Journey

Read by 254k monthly readers

The World’s 100 Best Palaces

Grand Palace

Bangkok, Thailand

  1. THE WORLD’S BEST PALACES WORTH A JOURNEY · 2026 ✦ ✦ N° 52 2026
Grand Palace

Royal palace complex in Bangkok's old city, founded in 1782 by King Rama I, with gilded spires, tiered roofs and decorated buildings. Visitors walk open courtyards past murals and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, though many buildings stay closed.

Highlights

  • Temple of the Emerald Buddha
  • Wall murals
  • Air-conditioned museum near exit

Good to know

  • Shoulders and knees covered, strictly enforced
  • No entry after 3:30 PM
  • Ignore touts claiming the palace is closed

Also in Asia

  1. City Palace N° 29 City Palace Udaipur, India Palace
  2. Amber Palace N° 34 Amber Palace Jaipur, India Castle
  3. Summer Palace N° 45 Summer Palace Beijing, China Palace
  4. Potala Palace N° 46 Potala Palace Lhasa, China Palace
  5. Katsura Imperial Villa N° 59 Katsura Imperial Villa Kyoto, Japan Villa
  6. Changdeokgung N° 69 Changdeokgung Seoul, South Korea Palace