Tha Tien Pier Bangkok – Between Wat Pho and Wat Arun

Tha Tien Pier sits beside Wat Pho in Bangkok’s Old City and faces Wat Arun across the Chao Phraya River. It provides easy ferry access between these two major temples and has a kiosk selling canal boat rides.

Riverside Setting beside Wat Pho

Tha Tien Pier faces Wat Arun across the river and sits directly beside Wat Pho, the Temple of the Reclining Buddha. It has long functioned as a key river crossing between the Grand Palace area and Thonburi on the opposite bank. The pier area combines small shops and food stalls with steady foot traffic from visitors heading to Wat Pho or crossing to Wat Arun.

Visiting Wat Pho and Wat Arun

From the pier, Wat Pho is less than five minutes on foot. The temple’s origins predate Bangkok’s founding, and its restoration under King Rama I helped establish the area’s prominence. Within the complex, the Ordination Hall enshrines part of King Rama I’s ashes beneath a large seated Buddha image, while the Reclining Buddha, completed in 1848 during the reign of King Rama III, reflects the scale of his later expansion works. Across the river, construction of Wat Arun’s central prang was nearing completion only a few years later, in 1851. The two temples were thus taking shape within the same period, marking a defining phase in Bangkok’s religious and architectural development on both banks of the Chao Phraya.

Practical Access and Nearby Surroundings

Public boats stopping at Tha Tien Pier do not call at Wat Arun Pier, and the same applies in reverse. Instead, a separate cross-river ferry runs frequently and is the simplest way to travel between the two temples. Those wishing to explore further can join local canal-boat tours departing from the kiosk on the pier, which offer short trips through nearby waterways. For travel guidance and official maps, see the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

Role along the River

Tha Tien Pier demonstrates how the Chao Phraya River connects Bangkok’s cultural and religious landmarks. Standing between Wat Pho and Wat Arun, it offers a direct link between two of the city’s oldest and most recognisable temples. For travellers exploring by boat, it remains one of the most convenient points for entering the city’s historic centre.