Bangkok Temples on a Budget: Golden Mount's 344 Steps, the Grand Palace and a 5-Baht Ferry to Wat Arun
One of our best days in Bangkok: 344 steps up the Golden Mount, the dark history of Wat Saket, the Grand Palace in the midday heat, a 5-baht ferry and running out of baht at Wat Arun.
By Hafiz Tayyab · 20 October 2026 · 1 min read
The route
- HoteltoGolden MountBus mix-up, then a long walk
- Golden MounttoGrand Palace
- Grand PalacetoWat Arun5-baht ferry
Golden Mount
344 steps, bells and a 360° view of Bangkok.
Grand Palace
Gold stupas and the royal guard drill.
5-baht ferry
The cheapest way across the Chao Phraya.
This was one of our best days in Bangkok, and one of the hottest.
Morning: the Golden Mount (Wat Saket)
A bus mix-up meant a long walk, but we reached Wat Saket and climbed the 344 steps of the Golden Mount. Prayer bells ring all the way up, and at the top there's a view across the whole city.
At the base is something most visitors walk past: a memorial to the 1820 cholera epidemic. Thousands of bodies were brought here, and the temple became known for its vultures. It's a dark, important part of Bangkok's history.
Midday: the Grand Palace
From there we went to the Grand Palace. Ticket: 500 baht. Inside are the sacred grounds of Wat Phra Kaew, towering gold stupas, and the royal guard drill.
Go early. By midday the heat on the white stone is intense.
Afternoon: a 5-baht ferry to Wat Arun
To cross the Chao Phraya River to Wat Arun, the Temple of Dawn, we took the local ferry for 5 baht.
Then the problem: we had run out of baht and only had US dollars. We had to hunt for an exchange counter before we could get into Wat Arun. Don't make our mistake.
Tips for this day
- Start early, ideally at the Golden Mount by opening time.
- Carry enough baht for tickets, ferries and water.
- Dress modestly. Temples check shoulders and knees.
- Use the river ferries. They're cheap, fast and beat the traffic.
More Bangkok: halal food guide, Siam Amazing Park, and the whole Thailand and Malaysia route.
Watch the episodes
Bangkok Grand Palace to Wat Arun | River Ferry & Cash Trouble
30 Jan 2026
Bangkok: 500 Baht Ticket Aur Jeb Khali! 🇹🇭💸
29 Jan 2026
Ye koi mandir nhi ye ik esa budha ha jo soya hua ha #shorts #travelvlog #thailand #hafiztayyab
10 May 2025
Thailand ki sasti tareen boat ride #shorts #travelvlog #thailand #hafiztayyab
11 May 2025Questions people ask
How many steps are there at the Golden Mount?
344 steps to the top of Wat Saket's Golden Mount.
How much is the Grand Palace ticket?
Hafiz Tayyab paid 500 baht.
How do you get from the Grand Palace to Wat Arun?
Take the local ferry across the Chao Phraya River. It cost 5 baht.
Can you pay with US dollars at Bangkok temples?
Not easily. They ran out of baht and had to find an exchange counter before entering Wat Arun.
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