Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn)

Standing on the west bank of the Chao Phraya, Wat Arun is the most recognisable silhouette on Bangkok's river. Its central prang, a Khmer-style tower, and the four smaller towers around it are covered in fragments of Chinese porcelain arranged into flowers, so the structure glitters as the light changes through the day.

You can climb part of the way up the steep steps for views across the water towards Wat Pho and the Grand Palace. Most visitors arrive by the short shuttle ferry from Tha Tien pier, which makes it easy to pair with the temples on the opposite bank. Come early in the morning for softer light and fewer crowds, or view it from across the river at dusk when the prang is lit up.