Wat Saket

Wat Saket sits atop an artificial hill in Bangkok’s old town, and the climb up the 344 steps to the golden chedi at the summit is rewarded with the best panoramic views you can get without paying for a rooftop bar. From the top you can see the spires of the Grand Palace, the prang of Wat Arun, the Democracy Monument, and the sprawl of the old city stretching in every direction. The view alone justifies the visit, but the temple has genuine historical weight too — the hill was originally built during the Ayutthaya period and served as a cremation site during 19th-century plagues.

The climb is a gentle spiral up a tree-shaded path wrapped around the hill. It is not steep or strenuous, but in Bangkok’s heat even easy walks can be tiring, so bring water and go in the morning before the sun is directly overhead. Bells and small shrines line the path on the way up, and there are shaded rest spots if you need to catch your breath. The summit platform around the chedi is open-air with a light breeze that makes lingering worthwhile.

The temple is in the older part of town east of Rattanakosin and is not near any BTS or MRT station — taxi or tuk-tuk from Khao San Road or the Grand Palace area is the easiest option. During the annual temple fair in November (around Loy Krathong), the Golden Mount is wrapped in red cloth and lit up at night, and the grounds host a lively fair with food and carnival stalls. That week is the most atmospheric time to visit but also the most crowded.