The Great Palace Travel Guide

Cover your shoulders and knees completely. Wear long trousers or a below-the-knee skirt and a top with sleeves, and closed shoes or back-strap sandals. Shorts, sleeveless or off-shoulder tops, see-through fabric, ripped jeans and leggings-as-trousers are refused at the gate. The rule applies to men, women and older children alike.

You will be stopped at the entrance and sent to the rental booth to cover up before you can go in. It is not a warning system; staff turn away underdressed visitors every day. Rent long trousers, a wrap or a shawl there for a refundable deposit of about 200 THB per item.

The booth near the entrance takes a refundable deposit of roughly 200 THB (about ₹500) per item and returns it when you hand the clothing back on the way out. Keep your receipt. The queue is longest mid-morning, so it is faster to dress correctly before you arrive.

Not reliably. Staff at the Grand Palace often do not accept a light scarf or shawl draped over bare shoulders as a substitute for a proper sleeved top. Wear an actual top with sleeves, and treat a scarf only as extra insurance rather than your main cover.

Older children and teenagers follow the same shoulders-and-knees rule as adults. Toddlers and very young children are treated more leniently, but it is safest to dress them in light long clothing too. Children under 120 cm enter free.

Closed shoes or sandals with a back strap are fine. Plain flip-flops or backless slides are discouraged; if flip-flops are all you have, wear them with socks. Whatever you choose, pick something you can slip off easily, because you remove your shoes to enter the temple buildings.