Bangkok's temples range from grand royal complexes to quiet neighborhood wats.
Home to the revered Emerald Buddha, this is the most visited temple complex in the city and shares grounds with the former royal palace.
Famous for its enormous reclining Buddha and as the birthplace of traditional Thai massage.
The Temple of Dawn sits across the river from the old city, best photographed at sunset from the opposite bank.
Wat Phra Kaew (Emerald Buddha, inside the Grand Palace), Wat Pho (reclining Buddha and massage school), Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn), Wat Traimit (solid gold Buddha), and Wat Saket (Golden Mount views) form the core temple circuit most visitors prioritise.
Wat Benjamabophit (Marble Temple), Wat Mangkon Kamalawat (Chinatown's main Chinese temple), and several quieter alternatives covered in the hidden temples guide reward visitors who have already done the main circuit.
Dress modestly (shoulders and knees covered) at every temple, remove shoes before entering buildings housing Buddha images, and visit the Grand Palace/Wat Phra Kaew first thing in the morning to beat both heat and tour-bus crowds.
Two or three temples is a realistic maximum for one day given the heat and walking involved — trying to cram in more tends to produce fatigue rather than genuine appreciation.