Marble Temple (Wat Benchamabophit)

Where it is & how to get there

• Taxi or Grab: About 10 minutes from the Grand Palace, in the royal Dusit district.
• Bus: Several city buses stop on Si Ayutthaya Road.
• Dress code: Cover shoulders and knees.

The story of the Marble Temple

Wat Benchamabophit was built from 1899 under King Rama V, who modernised Siam while keeping its traditions. Its ordination hall is clad in white Carrara marble imported from Italy, blending Thai design with European materials.

Inside the cloister are dozens of Buddha images from across Asia, showing different styles. The ashes of King Rama V are kept under the main Buddha image. The temple appears on the Thai 5-baht coin.

Best time to visit

Tips before you go

• Quieter than the main temples, great for photos.
• Come early to see monks collecting morning alms outside.
• Walk around the cloister to see the collection of Buddha statues.

What's around the Marble Temple

• Dusit Palace areaRoyal district with parks.
• Dusit Zoo areaGreen space nearby.
• Democracy Monument10 minutes by taxi.
• Khao San RoadBackpacker street, 15 minutes away.

Questions travellers ask