The Grand Palace is Bangkok's most famous sight, and staying nearby changes the way you see it. You can be at the gates when they open, long before the tour buses and the midday heat. Just remember to cover your shoulders and knees when visiting temples.
We've chosen just a handful of hotels here, all within walking distance or a short ferry ride of the palace. Most are small and full of character, set in restored riverside buildings with views across to Wat Arun. Wat Pho, home to the Reclining Buddha, is practically on the doorstep, and Sanam Chai MRT is close by.
Evenings here are wonderfully calm once the day-trippers leave. Watch the sun set behind Wat Arun from a riverside terrace, then wander to a neighbourhood restaurant for dinner. Few places put you closer to the heart of old Bangkok
A stylish boutique hotel on the Chao Phraya, with balconies, Jacuzzi rooms and a rooftop restaurant looking straight at Wat Arun.
Boutique
Trendy
Restaurant
Rooftop bar
On-site parking
Room sizes from 22 m²Read the full story
On the Chao Phraya in the Old Town
Riva Arun stands right on the banks of the Chao Phraya, in the heart of Bangkok's Old Town. Across the water, the porcelain-covered spires of Wat Arun catch the morning sun and glow after dark. Wat Pho is practically next door, and Sanam Chai MRT is a short walk away. The Grand Palace and Museum Siam are close by, and Tha Maharaj pier, with its riverside restaurants and boats, is just up the road.
Old Bangkok Style, Modern Comfort
The look takes its cue from the old city's Chino-colonial buildings. Expect carved wood, ornate ironwork and a modern touch throughout.
Balconies, River Views and Jacuzzi Rooms
Every room has its own balcony, and most face the river. Deluxe rooms greet you with a river view as you walk in, and Grand Deluxe rooms add more space. Book a Grand Deluxe Jacuzzi room to see Wat Arun from the bath. The Premium Jacuzzi Suites are the largest in the hotel.
Above Riva and a Riverside Café
Above Riva, the rooftop restaurant, is reason enough to stay. The Twist of Thai menu mixes local flavours and market-fresh produce with ideas from around the world, and the river views are magnificent. Come for a sunset cocktail and stay for dinner as Wat Arun lights up. Down by the pier, the lobby café serves coffee, Western comfort food and Thai street food all day.
A sleek, minimalist hotel on the river opposite Wat Arun, with a rooftop bar made for sunset.
Boutique
Trendy
Restaurant
Rooftop bar
Room sizes from 25 m²Read the full story
Rattanakosin Island
Sala Rattanakosin is on Rattanakosin Island, where Bangkok was founded. Step out of the front door and Wat Pho and the Grand Palace are a few minutes' walk away, with Sanam Chai MRT close by. Step onto the terrace and Wat Arun is right in front of you, just across the river. Ferries from the nearby piers make it easy to explore by boat.
Clean Lines and Temple Views
Rooms are cool and minimal, with a Marshall speaker, a Nespresso machine and a well-stocked minibar. Pick your view: Wat Pho, the river or Wat Arun itself. The suites face the temple head-on.
Riverside Dining and Oysters on the Roof
The riverside eatery serves modern Thai dishes with a creative twist, plus international favourites, from breakfast to dinner, and offers a long wine list. As the sun sets, head up to the fifth-floor rooftop bar for cocktails, fresh oysters and Wat Arun turning gold across the water.
A riverside residence in historic Thonburi, once home to the Patravadi Theatre, with an open-air pool and suites facing the Grand Palace.
Affordable
Boutique
Swimming pool
Restaurant
Room sizes from 32 m²Read the full story
Thonburi & Wang Lang
Theatre Residence is on the quieter Thonburi side of the river, in one of Bangkok's oldest neighbourhoods. The Grand Palace is right across the water. Wat Rakang, the Temple of the Bells, is a hundred metres away, and Wang Lang Market, a busy day market full of Thai food and fresh fruit, is next door. Wat Arun is a five-minute tuk-tuk ride away, and ferries cross to the Grand Palace and Wat Pho.
A Theatre by the River
This riverside site once housed the Patravadi Theatre. Today the building is modern, but it fits easily into the surrounding old neighbourhood.
River Suites and Kitchenettes
This is a serviced residence, so rooms feel more like apartments, and everyone has a kitchenette. The riverfront suites look across to the Grand Palace and Wat Arun from sunrise to sunset. Poolside rooms open straight onto the courtyard, and top-floor rooms have river views.
Sunset on the Terrace and a Neighbourhood Café
The riverside restaurant offers front-row views of the river's famous landmarks. Its terrace is the place for a sunset cocktail as the light shifts across the temples, before dinner inside. For something lighter, the café takes its cue from the streets around Wat Rakang, with local dishes, good coffee and seasonal fruit juices.
Free Local Experiences and an Open-Air Pool
Theatre Residence makes it easy to get to know the neighbourhood. A free guided walk takes guests through Wang Lang Market or to Wat Rakang every day, and the lobby hosts a free workshop each afternoon, from Thai dessert-making and garland folding to bracelet-making and a traditional Thai music performance by local students. Afterwards, cool off in the open-air pool, where a quiet corner is set aside for yoga.
A royal riverside home built in 1908, with tropical gardens, a pool and private Thai dinners facing Wat Arun.
Luxury
Boutique
Swimming pool
Restaurant
On-site parking
Room sizes from 12 m²Read the full story
Tha Tien & the Old Town
Chakrabongse Villas sits in the heart of old Bangkok, on the banks of the Chao Phraya. From the riverside terraces, you look straight across to Wat Arun. Wat Pho and Museum Siam are a short stroll away, the Grand Palace is close by, and Sanam Chai MRT is a few minutes' walk. Tha Tien pier is right on the doorstep for river boat trips.
A Prince's Riverside Retreat
Prince Chakrabongse built the house in 1908. He changed there before ceremonies at the Grand Palace and enjoyed the river. Today his granddaughter, Narisa, runs it as a boutique hotel that reflects her family's history and her love of Thai art, food and culture.
Four Villas and Three Rooms
With just four villas and three rooms, Chakrabongse feels more like a private home than a hotel. The villas range from a garden suite to a riverside teak apartment and a traditional Thai house on stilts, and some include kitchens and private verandas. The Moroccan-themed rooms are compact and charming, with desks overlooking the garden.
Royal-Era Recipes by the River
Dinner is served in a riverside pavilion, with Wat Arun as the backdrop. Narisa chooses the set menu herself, mixing traditional Thai and fusion dishes from the Rattanakosin era, with home-grown vegetables. Book ahead, as reservations are essential.
Tropical Gardens and a Pool
The pool sits among tropical gardens full of orchids and birdsong, and the riverside terraces are made for lazy afternoons.
A small, owner-run boutique hotel on the Chao Phraya, with river-view rooms, Wat Arun across the water and the Grand Palace a short walk away.
Affordable
Boutique
On-site parking
Room sizes from 25 m²Read the full story
Tha Tien & the River
You couldn't ask for a better base for the Old Town. Aurum sits down a quiet lane in Tha Tien, one of Bangkok's oldest trading districts. Wat Pho and its famous massage school are a few minutes' walk away, the Grand Palace is just beyond, and Sanam Chai MRT is around the corner. Step out for street food, cafés and riverside restaurants, or stroll to Tha Maharaj for dinner by the water. Ferries and long-tail boats pass all day out front, with Wat Arun on the far bank.
From Warehouse to Boutique Hotel
The owners grew up in this Thai-Chinese neighbourhood and turned a 50-year-old riverside warehouse into a small, European-style hotel. The name Aurum is Latin for gold, and the gold-leaf logo nods to the Thai custom of pressing gold leaf onto Buddha images.
City, Side-River and River View Rooms
Rooms come with city views, partial river views, or full river views, and each features high-quality bedding and linens. Breakfast is included in the rate.
Coffee with a View of Wat Arun
Start the day like the locals do, with coffee by the river. The hotel's coffee housefaces Wat Arun, the perfect spot to watch ferries and long-tail boats go by before a day at the temples.
