Thailand Temple Etiquette: Dress, Shoes, Feet and Monks

Short answer

At Thai temples, cover your shoulders and knees, take off your shoes before entering a building with a Buddha image, step over the threshold and keep your feet from pointing at any Buddha image. Women must not touch a monk or his robes. The Tourism Authority of Thailand has listed these rules since 2018, and the Grand Palace, which charges foreigners 500 baht, publishes a stricter written dress code. On our Bangkok temple tour all three entrance tickets are included.

By SB Excursions · Updated 2 November 2026

01Cover your shoulders and knees, and wear shoes that slip off easily, because shoes come off before the buildings that hold Buddha images.

02Keep your feet away from Buddha images, never touch or point at them, and do not raise yourself above one.

03The Grand Palace publishes its own list of banned clothing, and the Wat Pho and Wat Arun tickets, as well as the palace ticket, are included on our Bangkok temple tour.

Cover your shoulders and knees

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) put the basic dress rule in an etiquette guide in August 2018. Swimming shorts and tank tops are fine for the beach but not for a temple. Men should wear a shirt with sleeves and long trousers, or shorts that cover the knees. Women should wear a skirt longer than the knee and a top with sleeves, not spaghetti straps. TAT adds that shoes are the norm, and sandals should have a strap at the back.

Wikivoyage's Thailand page advises playing it safe: cover the whole torso, wear ankle-length trousers if you are a man, and cover at least shoulders and knees if you are a woman. It adds that some places require ankle-length trousers or skirts and long sleeves, and that the rules are stricter for foreign visitors, so a local in shorts is not a guide. A light scarf or shawl in your bag solves most problems at the gate.

The Grand Palace has its own written list

The Grand Palace is run by the Bureau of the Royal Household, and its website lists clothes that are not accepted: sleeveless shirts, vests, short tops, see-through tops, short pants, torn pants, tight pants, bike pants, mini skirts, "pants skirts" and sleeping suits. It calls the palace a place of reverence for the Thai people. The site gives the foreigners' ticket as 500 baht, which includes Wat Phra Kaew and the Queen Sirikit Museum of Textile.

Tickets are sold from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm. The same page says that drones are not allowed to fly over the palace, and it links to the Bureau's regulations on visits, filming and photography. Our guide to the Grand Palace dress code and opening hours covers the gate in more detail, and the palace can close for royal ceremonies, so check the date before you go.

Shoes off, and step over the threshold

TAT says that anyone entering a temple building is expected to do so barefoot, and that shoe racks or designated spaces are found outside temples. Most temples have a raised threshold, and it should be stepped over, not stepped on. Wikivoyage explains why: the threshold is regarded as a sanctuary for spirits. It calls entering a temple with footwear a major faux pas.

Choose shoes that come off without hands. Our Grand Palace, Wat Pho and Wat Arun tour notes that shoes come off before the religious buildings at Wat Pho, so slip-ons or sandals with a back strap save time. The Longest Way Home's etiquette guide, updated on 15 March 2026, warns that temple floors get scorching under the midday sun and suggests carrying a pair of thin socks in your day bag. Keep a small bag for your shoes.

Feet, pointing and photographs around Buddha images

TAT's etiquette guide gives the rules for Buddha images. Sit with your feet pointing away from the statue, never at it, as that is a sign of disrespect. Do not touch or point at the statue, walk around sacred objects clockwise, do not turn your back to the image, and back away a short distance before getting up. Do not raise yourself higher than the Buddha image.

On photographs, TAT says that most temples allow them, but it is rude to get in the way of anyone praying or making a donation; The Longest Way Home adds no flash and no shoving in close. Remove your hat and sunglasses, put your phone on silent, speak quietly, and do not smoke, chew gum or snack while walking around. Wikivoyage adds that a T-shirt with Buddha imagery and a Buddha tattoo are seen as disrespectful, and that taking a Buddha statue out of the country needs a licence from the Fine Arts Department.

Monks and women

TAT says that women are not allowed to touch a monk or his robes. A woman who needs to pass something to a monk can give it to a man to hand over, or put it down and let the monk pick it up. Wikivoyage describes the same custom: women should give monks room on the street, and a seated visitor should stand when a monk comes into the room.

Do not hand money to a monk. Wikivoyage says that monks are not supposed to touch money, so cash belongs in the temple's donation box, and a gift to a monk should be food. If you want to give something, ask your guide how it is done: a question at the gate avoids a mistake inside the hall.

What to wear and bring on a Bangkok temple day

Our Grand Palace, Wat Pho and Wat Arun tour meets at about 8:30 am near the Grand Palace and lasts about 4 hours. It is from $75 per person, and the price includes the three entrance tickets: 500, 300 and 200 baht at the gate. On our tour we ask guests to cover shoulders and knees, avoid sleeveless tops, shorts and short skirts, and bring shoes that slip off easily.

Bring water, a hat, sunscreen and a scarf or shawl if you need to cover your shoulders; hats come off inside temple halls. Alcohol is also out of place: TAT's May 2026 notice lists temples among the places where alcohol sales or consumption are restricted, and our alcohol hours guide has the rest. Drones are another no: see our drone rules guide.

Closures, ceremonies and mourning dress

The Grand Palace sometimes closes early or for the whole day for royal ceremonies, and its official calendar lists the dates. In October 2025, TAT reported that the Bureau of the Royal Household closed the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew from 26 October to 8 November 2025 for a royal merit-making ceremony after the passing of Queen Sirikit. If your date is affected we tell you on WhatsApp.

The same TAT announcement asked the public to dress in black or subdued colours for 90 days from the announcement, and civil servants to wear mourning attire for a year. Those periods have passed by October 2026, but royal occasions can bring new requests. Plain, modest clothes are a safe choice at any royal site. Read our guide to the Grand Palace closed scam before you trust a stranger who says the palace is shut.

Practical checklist

Wear a top with sleeves and trousers or a skirt below the knee on temple days.
Choose shoes you can slip off, and carry a scarf or shawl for your shoulders.
Sit with your feet pointing away from any Buddha image, and never touch or point at one.
Women should keep clear of monks and never hand them anything directly.
Switch your phone to silent, take off your hat and sunglasses, and do not eat, smoke or drink inside.

Questions and answers

What should you wear to a Thai temple?

TAT says men should wear a shirt with sleeves and long trousers or knee-covering shorts, and women a top with sleeves and a skirt below the knee. The Grand Palace bans sleeveless tops, short pants, tight and torn trousers and mini skirts.

Do you have to take your shoes off in Thai temples?

Yes, before entering a temple building. TAT says shoe racks or designated spaces stand outside, and Wikivoyage advises shoes that slip on and off easily. Step over the raised threshold, not on it.

Can women touch monks in Thailand?

No. TAT says women are not allowed to touch a monk or his robes. To pass something to a monk, give it to a man who hands it over, or put it down so the monk can pick it up.

Can you take photos inside Thai temples?

Most temples allow photographs, says TAT, but it is rude to get in the way of people praying or making a donation. The Grand Palace has its own regulations on filming and photography, so follow the signs.

How much is the Grand Palace entrance fee for foreigners?

The Grand Palace's official website gives 500 baht for foreigners, including Wat Phra Kaew and the Queen Sirikit Museum of Textile. On our tour, all three temple tickets are included in the price.

Thailand temple etiquette: what to wear, what to do and what to avoid at Thai temples