Wat Arun after dark at a glance
The temple is lit at night, and the central prang and the smaller prangs stand out against the dark sky above the Chao Phraya. The lights usually come on around dusk, between 18:00 and 18:30, and stay on through the night. Treat these times as typical, not fixed, and look at the sky on the evening itself.
The paid visitor area closes at 18:00. That means the night view is a view from outside: you see the lit prangs from the water or from the opposite bank, but you do not walk the grounds after closing. If you want both, visit in the afternoon and stay until closing, then cross the river for the lights.
In 2024 Wat Arun was named a World Night View Heritage site by the Japanese YAKEI Convention & Visitors Bureau. This is a night-view recognition and not UNESCO World Heritage status. For an evening on the water, see our page on Chao Phraya river cruises.
Where to watch Wat Arun at night
Four ways to see the lit temple, from the shore to a dinner table on the water.
From the east bank at Tha Tien
The Tha Tien pier area faces the temple across the river. It is the same side as Wat Pho and the Grand Palace, and the MRT station Sanam Chai is the usual way in. The east bank is also the place most visitors choose for sunset photos.
How to get to Wat Arun →From a river boat
A boat puts the lit prangs and the skyline in one frame. One dinner cruise sails nightly from 20:00 to 22:00, with check-in between 18:00 and 19:45. At high water some boats cannot pass under the Memorial Bridge to reach Wat Arun and take a southern route instead, so ask about the route before you book.
River cruise options →From the cross-river ferry
The ferry from Tha Tien runs from early morning to about 19:00, and some sailings run until about 19:30. Do not plan your return around a late crossing. If you stay on the temple side after dark, know your way back, for example on foot to the MRT station Itsaraphap.
From the temple side before closing
Arrive in the afternoon, stay until the 18:00 closing and watch the light change on the prang. The grounds are not open after closing, so leave time to walk out and decide where you will see the lights.
Tickets and opening hours →Good to know: A royal barge procession to Wat Arun is planned for 6 November 2026. Boat trips and river views on that day may be changed or cancelled, so check with your operator before you plan around it.
Our pick: an evening on the river
If you want your evening on the Chao Phraya, this dinner cruise gives you the river, though Wat Arun is passed by boat and not visited.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Evening trips and tours near Wat Arun
River cruises, dinner boats and temple tours, with live prices and availability.
Sunset at Wat Arun
Plan the light before the lights.
Sunset times change through the year, so look up the time for your date and be in place well before it. The east bank looks toward the temple, which is why photographers choose it. The sky fades through dusk, the prangs turn dark against it, and then the floodlights come on.
From the water the picture changes with every minute. A longtail boat in front of the temple makes a typical sunset photo, but the boats move, so be ready to wait for the frame. A tripod can help for low light, though crowds on a pier may not leave room for one.
What you see is the normal lighting of the buildings, so expect a calm view and not a performance.
Ways to see Wat Arun at night compared
Prices are 2026 examples and can change.
| Option | Where | Cost | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Watch from the east bank | Tha Tien and the Phra Nakhon side | – | Reach it by MRT Sanam Chai or by express boat to Tha Tien |
| Cross-river ferry | Tha Tien to Wat Arun | THB 5 to 7 one way | Last crossings around 19:00 to 19:30 |
| Dinner cruise | Departs from Asiatique, pier 2 | THB 1,550 for adults (offer price) | Sails 20:00 to 22:00, route depends on the water level |
| Daytime visit until closing | Temple grounds | See Tickets | Closes at 18:00 |
For most visitors the best mix is an afternoon visit, the ferry back to Tha Tien before it stops and the lit temple from the east bank. Add a dinner cruise if you want to see it from the water.
More about the temple and the river
Pages that fit an evening at Wat Arun.
The central prang
What you see in the evening light and what you can visit by day.
History of Wat Arun
From the Ayutthaya period to the restoration.
Ferry, express boat and MRT
The routes to Tha Tien and across the river.
Bangkok canal tours
Longtail boats through Thonburi, with Wat Arun as a photo point.
Wat Arun at night: frequently asked questions
Can I enter Wat Arun at night?
The visitor area closes at 18:00 every day. After that you see the temple from outside, from the river or from the east bank. A night visit to the grounds is not part of the normal opening hours.
When do the lights come on?
Usually around dusk, between 18:00 and 18:30, and they stay on through the night. The exact time can vary, so arrive a little early.
Where is the best place to see Wat Arun lit up?
The east bank near Tha Tien looks straight at the temple, and a river boat gives you the skyline as well. Both work, and the choice depends on whether you prefer to stand on the shore or sit on the water.
Can I see Wat Arun on a dinner cruise?
Some dinner cruises pass the temple, but at high water some boats cannot go under the Memorial Bridge and take a southern route instead. Ask your operator whether Wat Arun is on the route for your date.
Is the World Night View Heritage title the same as UNESCO status?
No. The title was given in 2024 by the Japanese YAKEI Convention & Visitors Bureau for the night view. It has nothing to do with UNESCO World Heritage.
Is this the official Wat Arun website?
No. This is an independent travel guide. It is not run by the temple, by the Tourism Authority of Thailand or by any tour operator.