The Grand Palace

The Grand Palace is a beautiful place, the buildings are beautiful the work and effort that has gone into them is amazing. If you go you should wear Ladies - Long skirt or trousers and Men - Long trousers, this is just a sign of respect. There is a story you can follow going around the walls of the palace which was all hand painted, it really is a lovely place and i would highly recommend anyone visiting Bangkok to go here. It was very cheap i think about £7.50 each for me and my boyfriend, that included us getting picked up from our hotel by minibus, taken there showed around for about 2 hours then taken back or to wherever we wanted to go. We really enjoyed this trip.

This amazing complex houses the former royal palace, temples, and administrative buildings in a sumptuous setting that is really the epitome of Thailand. The holiest Buddhist relic in Thailand, the Emerald Buddha (actually made from Jasper or Jade) is housed in a temple here, which serves as a pilgrimage site for Buddhists from all over the world. The murals depicting facets of the Ramayana that run the entire length of the interior courtyard are also extremely impressive. I would recommend going as early in the morning as possible, as the complex gets impossibly crowded in the late morning. Also be sure to dress appropriately (meaning no shorts or sleeveless shirts); the site is revered and visitors should be respectful of the rules. Other than that, have a great time!

The Grand Palace is definitely a must see if you are in Bangkok, however, I didn't find it to be worth the 350 Baht admission price.

The crowds can get annoying when trying to get around, but on the flip side were quite helpful when I wanted someone to take a picture of me, as I was traveling alone.

The history of this place is wonderful, and the exhibits show pieces of the past. Parts of the temples have been replaced, which I find to be a bit of a shame since a lot of the character is kept in the age of the temples. Roof tiles have been replaced, and so have a lot of other parts of the buildings. Personally I would have like to have seen them restored instead of replaced.
The architecture and design is still remarkable and beautifully intricate.

Remember to wear sensible attire to show respect. Shoulders must be covered and shorts are not allowed. Ladies bring a shawl or a light cover up of some sorts, and wear a skirt if you can. Men should wear long pants and a t-shirt. If you show up without proper clothing, they will rent you suitable garments, but I would suggest you go prepared since a lot of people have worn those rental clothes. Gross

The Grand Palace complex was established in 1782 and it houses not only the royal residence and throne halls, but also a number of government offices as well as the renowned Temple of the Emerald Budha. It covers an area of 218000 square metres and is surrounded by four walls, 1900 metres in length.

After King Rama I's ascension to the throne in 1782 the palace was build. Prior to this, the royal palace and centre of administration had been located in Thonburi, on the west side of the Chao Phraya River. For various reasons the new king considered the old capital to be unsuitable and decided to establish a new capital on the other side of the river. By his royal command, a new palace was build to serve not only as his residence but also as the site of some administrative offices. The royal compund has been known since then as the Grand Palace.

The palace is well worth a visit. Alone to see this extravagant beauty is an experience in it self, one could think that considering the poverty that exists in some Thai provinces spending all the money that building the palace has cost is a strange priority of government money, but no question this is a special representation of Thailand.

I especially enjoyed the court yard infront of the acctual palace building - it's simple but detailed in it's beauty.

One of the greatest experiences of my life was going to The Grand Palace in Bangkok.  Ironically, I almost missed this amazing afternoon; there are two parts to the palace, a sort of outer section, and then the inner section you pay to get into.  From outside, you really can't tell what magic awaits you, and we almost didn't go.  What a HUGE mistake!!  Make sure to go in!

This is one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen.  It's also the home of the famous Emerald Buddah.  Please remember when you go that this is a very religious place to a great deal of people; dress and act accordingly. 

It's only open until 3:30 in the afternoon, so don't wait too late in the day to head over; that being said, we went fairly late, and it actually worked to our benefit, because as people cleared out for the day, it meant we were able to take some amazing pictures without the crowds in the way, so this was a great way to go for us.

Make sure you have a LOT of film, or room in your memory card, before heading over, you're going to need it!