How to visit the Wat Sam Phran dragon temple in Bangkok. Wat Sam Phran near Bangkok (Thailand) has to be one of the most extra temples I’ve ever seen. It’s not a historic building (it was constructed in 1978-1985), so don’t go there if you’re only into so-called “authentic” sightseeing (whatever that means..). But the design is absolutely mesmerising. And just the fact that someone actually sat down and decided to build a giant rose-pink cylindrical building with a dragon wrapped around it – and got permission to do so – is the most amazingly Thai thing ever! It may be modern, kitsch and OTT, but Buddhism is a living, breathing, real-life religion after all, so why not check it out? Read on for how to visit the Wat Sam Phran dragon temple from Bangkok.
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How to get to the Wat Sam Phran Dragon Temple
This iconic dragon temple is well worth a visit. But it’s located quite a way (about 40km) to the West outside Bangkok itself. Your main options to get there are:
- Hire a car for the day. Car hire in Thailand is pretty cheap. Driving in Bangkok itself is a bit hectic, but once you get out onto the main motorway it’s not too bad. In Thailand they drive on the left.
- Use Grab (the most popular ride share app in South East Asia). Not the cheapest (but won’t break the bank either) but definitely the most convenient. Expect to pay between 400 – 600 baht depending on the time of day and whether you hit the morning rush hour. You can also ask your driver to wait for you and take you back to the city for an agreed fee as they’ll need to go back anyway.
- You can take public transport (bus 84) part of the way and then get a grab (car or scooter) for the final leg of the journey.
*Return Journey. Note that if you order a Grab from Wat Sam Phran itself to go back to Bangkok, this usually is possible but you may need to wait a while. It took me about 15 minutes to get accepted by a driver. So just make sure to allow plenty of time, and don’t panic. My advice is to go really early in the morning, so that you can pick up a Grab that’s dropping later visitors off. (E.g. arrive at 7am and then when more people arrive at 9am/10am you can hop in the Grab that brought them there). Another option is to ask your original Grab driver to wait for you, but for this you need to know how long you’re going to spend there.
What to Expect at Wat Sam Phran Dragon Temple
Wat Sam Phran was very quiet when I arrived there, but that was at 6:45 in the morning! Official opening hours are 7am – 6pm. There is a car park at the front and then the temple itself is surrounded by gardens and trees. You can wander all the way around the outside.
There is no fee to enter inside, but you are encouraged to make an 80 baht donation (cash). You need to take your shoes off. Once inside, you can walk inside the belly of the dragon(!) all the way around to the top of the building. The walk is a gradient (rather than stairs) and is said to represent the ascent from hell to happiness and enlightenment. Once on the roof, you can make a wish and touch the dragon’s beard to make it come true! They also have flower garlands on the rooftop.
There are quite a few devotees (wearing white) working there, and they were incredibly friendly and happy to chat. They even pointed out the best photo spots!
What is the dress code for Wat Sam Phran?
As with all Buddhist temples, you should ensure that your shoulders and knees are covered when you actually go inside. A sleeveless top is fine if you bring a shawl to wrap around your shoulders. Some temples have cover-ups that you can borrow, but Wat Sam Phran does not. If you are dressed inappropriately they may refuse you entry.
Can I fly a drone at Wat Sam Phran?
At the time of writing there were no drone restrictions at Wat Sam Phran. In fact, some of the monks gave me the thumbs up when they saw the drone and pointed out the best angles. They seemed excited that the temple has become so popular with tourists. There’s plenty of space to take off and land safely in the car park in front of the temple.
How much time do I need to visit Wat Sam Phran?
To visit Wat Sam Phran from Bangkok you need to allow for just over an hour travel each way (if driving / using Grab). Plus some buffer time in case it takes you a while to book a Grab for the return journey. Then you can expect to spend 1-2 hours at the temple itself. This will depend on whether you’re stopping to take lots of photos and chatting to the devotees.
Practical Guidance for Bangkok, Thailand
Hopefully you have found this guide on How to Visit the Wat Sam Phran Dragon Temple in Bangkok useful. I’ve also included some useful information for Bangkok and Thailand in general below. If you plan all the boring stuff in advance you can relax and enjoy your trip more!
How to get around Bangkok
The easiest way to get around Bangkok is to use Grab. Grab is a Singaporean-headquartered rideshare app (like Uber) that operates in a number of countries in South East Asia. You can choose to book either a car or a scooter. Scooters are cheaper and much faster as they can weave through the traffic. It’s also safer to use Grab and have a local driver rather than hiring a scooter yourself. I recommend downloading the app in advance before your trip so that you can set up the payment card etc. The best card to link in order to avoid high FX exchange fees is a WISE card (see below).
Public transport in Bangkok is also very good. This is much cheaper than using Grab. The BTS Skytrain is efficient and easy to navigate. The buses are also very good, although sometimes it can be hard to find the bus stop, even using Google Maps. Once on the bus, there will be a ticket conductor who you can buy your ticket from. Bus tickets are insanely cheap so I definitely recommend using the buses if you’re on a budget.
Getting from Bangkok airport to your Accommodation
Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) is outside of the centre of the city itself. The best way to get into the city centre is to use the airport rail link. It’s cheap too – up to 45 baht depending on where you’re going. Go downstairs to the bottom floor in the airport to find the airport station and follow the signposts. There are two lines: the City Line, which stops at all 8 stations and the Express Line, which goes straight through to Makkasan. Trains run every 10-15 minutes. Depending on where you get off, you can then connect to BTS Skytrain routes. Note that the trains will be crowded during the morning and evening rush hours.
If grappling with a heavy suitcase on public transport during rush hour does not sound like your cup of tea, then treat yourself to Welcome Pickups. You can book an airport pickup in advance with Welcome Pickups. You prepay when you book at a flat rate that matches the local standard fare. The advantage of Welcome Pickups over rideshare apps is that there is no surge pricing. The Welcome Pickups app is also incredibly easy to use and I was able to chat to my driver via the app to coordinate a meeting spot. Welcome Pickups operate in lots of different countries worldwide. You can sign up here.
Money in Bangkok, Thailand: (THB)
If you’re visiting Thailand you’ll need Thai Baht (THB). To get THB at the best rates, I highly recommend getting a WISE card before you go. This allows you to convert money into Thai Baht (or any other currency!) at the best rates and then spend on your Wise card as though it were a local bank card or withdraw cash in Thailand without hidden fees. Wise is a UK-based financial services company (available in most countries worldwide) and is highly regulated in the various regions it operates in (in the UK it is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority).
Get your WISE card here.
SIM Card and Data for Thailand
There are two main options for getting a SIM card and data to use in Thailand:
Option 1: eSIM with Airalo
The main advantages of purchasing an eSIM via Airalo (enter the referral code ROWAN1271 for a discount) are:
- you do not need to insert a physical SIM card, so you can keep your home country SIM in your phone
- you can get a multi-country eSIM rather than having to get a new one each time you go to a new country
- you can download the eSim before you leave your home country, meaning that you will have data immediately on arrival. This gives you peace of mind and is perfect for using Google Maps and rideshare apps etc.
- You can top up your data allowance via the app
Option 2: Buy a local physical SIM card
The main advantages of purchasing a local SIM card are:
- Local SIM cards generally offer better rates. You can often (depending on the country) get a lot more data for a lower price.
- You will get a local phone number which is better for making local calls / text messages
Personally I think Airalo is the best for short holidays or if you are only spending a short time in each country. If you’re staying for a longer time, or if like me you use a lot of data, a local physical SIM card may be better.
Get your Airalo eSIM here. Enter the referral code ROWAN1271 for a discount.
Travel Insurance
Make sure that you have travel insurance to cover you for your trip. I can highly recommend Heymondo. I use them to cover me for all my trips and their app is very easy to use.
Purchase Heymondo travel insurance here.
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