Most visitors photograph Wat Arun from across the river but climbing the prang reveals a completely different temple.
A steep staircase rises up the central prang — the steps are genuinely steep, some almost vertical; the climb rewards with views of the Chao Phraya and Bangkok skyline.
The entire surface of the prang is covered in colourful porcelain and shell pieces — patterns and images created from broken Chinese porcelain donated by locals.
8 AM–6 PM daily; 100 THB entry; uncrowded before 9 AM; the climb is accessible but not suitable for those with vertigo or mobility issues.
Photograph from the east bank opposite at sunset (see Wat Arun sunset guide); visit inside during morning when the light is good for the porcelain detail.
