Wat Suthat and the Giant Swing

Wat Suthat is a first-class royal temple in the heart of the Old Town, and the big red frame standing in front of it is the Giant Swing. Most visitors photograph the swing and walk on. The temple behind it is the reason to stop: a very long ordination hall with painted walls, a large bronze Buddha brought from Sukhothai, and far fewer people than at Wat Pho or the Grand Palace.

The temple

Construction began in 1807 under King Rama I, to house a large bronze Buddha image, Phra Si Sakyamuni, brought from Sukhothai. Rama I died before the temple was finished. Rama II is recorded as carving the wooden doors of the main hall himself, and Rama III completed the work in 1847 (Wikipedia). Here is what to look for:

• The main hall (viharn) holds the Sukhothai bronze, which one scholar describes as about eight metres high and of the 14th or 15th century.
• The ordination hall (ubosot) is regarded as the longest in Thailand. Its walls carry murals painted by court artists of Rama III's reign, and the window and door frames are topped with small spired pediments.
• Twenty-eight Chinese-style pagodas stand around the lower terrace of the main base, said to stand for the twenty-eight Buddhas of the Theravada tradition.
• Stone sema markers at the edge of the cloister, in eight shrines.

It is far less famous than Wat Pho or the Grand Palace, so we'd expect fewer tour groups (our judgement; we have no visitor counts). That is the main argument for it over a fourth or fifth big-name temple.

The Giant Swing

The Giant Swing (Sao Chingcha) was built in 1784 in front of the Devasathan, the Brahmin shrine of the royal court. It was used in a Brahmin ceremony, the Triyampawai. The ceremony stopped in 1935 after several fatal accidents. The present structure is a 2005–2007 reconstruction using six teak trunks, and the original timbers are kept in the Bangkok National Museum (Wikipedia).

Once a year, usually in early March, the setting sun lines up with the centre of the swing, which draws photographers (it fell on 6 March in 2025).

Tickets and hours

Listings disagree, so treat these as a guide only. Two give 20 THB for foreign visitors, one says free and one says 100 THB. Closing times range from 6:00pm to 9:00pm, and opening from 8:00am to 9:00am. We couldn't find an official price list or timetable (checked October 2026). The giant swing itself is on the street and costs nothing.

Dress code

Shoulders and knees covered, as at Bangkok's other temples. Take your shoes off before entering the halls.

Getting there

• MRT Sam Yot (Blue Line), about 10 minutes on foot.
• Taxi or Grab from anywhere in the Old Town. See the Old Town guide for the neighbourhood.

Combining Wat Suthat

Wat Suthat sits between the Golden Mount and the shophouse food streets around Maha Chai and Tanao Roads. A sensible second Old Town day is the Golden Mount, Loha Prasat, Wat Suthat and a lunch of street food (Bangkok street food). Since the swing's old timbers are in the Bangkok National Museum, the two pair well.

• Bangkok Old Town (Rattanakosin)The historic royal heart of the city, and where most first trips begin. It is also more pleasant to stay in than most visitors assume.
• Best Temples in BangkokYou don't need to see ten temples. You need to see the right three, in the right order, and maybe one quiet one where you can actually sit down.