Visiting the Grand Palace in Bangkok With Kids
Visiting the Grand Palace in Bangkok with kids was one of our most visually overwhelming experiences in Thailand.
Every surface seemed to tell a story. Layers of decorative roofs stacked in color and meaning. Finials reaching skyward. Sunlight bouncing off mirrored mosaics in ways our photos couldn’t begin to capture. Walking through the palace grounds felt like stepping inside something alive.
Years ago, we had studied the Ramayana through Torchlight’s curriculum, so seeing the Thai version illustrated across the palace murals felt familiar and new all at once. Foggy memories turned into real images. The kids traced scenes with their eyes, and suddenly old lessons had texture.
Everyone was fascinated by the ornateness of the place, but our youngest was especially intrigued by the Emerald Buddha. He loved learning that the King changes its clothes with the seasons — a small detail that somehow made the whole experience feel more human.
The Emerald Buddha is housed inside the temple, where photography isn’t allowed. This photo was taken from the designated exterior viewing area.
Hydration, Heat, and the Realities of Visiting With Kids
Afterward, we shared a fresh coconut while walking to a small restaurant for pad Thai and mango sticky rice. We drank plenty of water, still warm and sweaty from the palace, grateful for shade and a chance to sit.
Traveling Bangkok with kids means balancing awe with hydration and rest.
Bangkok is stunning. It’s also hot.
Exploring Bangkok by Longtail Boat
Then we hired a longtail boat tour to explore the Yai Canal.
Our carefully discussed itinerary didn’t quite unfold the way we imagined, but that ended up being part of the experience.
A longtail ride through Bangkok’s canals offered a different perspective. Temples rising quietly above working neighborhoods, daily life unfolding on the water below.
Seeing Bangkok from the water offered a completely different perspective. Massive skyscrapers rose in the distance while Wat Arun stood quietly nearby. Homes of varying ages lined the canal. We watched people lower buckets from their stilt houses to water plants on their porches, everyday life unfolding just inches from the waterline.
We traveled through a lock, packed tightly with other boats. Standing in the front row as the rear gate closed and the water level dropped around us was surprisingly thrilling. When the gates finally opened, all the boats surged forward at once, flooding into the next stretch of canal.
The longtail boats themselves were fascinating. The motors looked like modified car engines mounted openly in the back, with long poles stretching down to the propellers underwater. Watching the drivers handle all that horsepower made our oldest laugh. She compared it to being a car enthusiast who just wants the biggest engine possible.
These boat drivers definitely had enough power to move.
The Artist’s House: A Slower Pause
The longtail ride ended at The Artist’s House, and it turned out to be the perfect place to slow down.
People crafted bracelets and paintings, browsed art and clothing, and lingered along the canal. We bought day-old bread to practice merit-making by feeding the catfish and enjoyed lunch on a stilted porch over the water.
It felt creative, calm, and wonderfully unpolished.
A handwritten note tucked into a wooden wall at The Artist’s House: “Thank you for visiting us. May you have a good life.” The whole space carried that same quiet warmth.
The Hiccups
There were a few.
The Grab ride to the Grand Palace was long, and our youngest ended up getting carsick. Thankfully, once it passed, he bounced back quickly.
We also learned there are no bathrooms inside the main Grand Palace grounds. Once you exit, you cannot re-enter. That’s something to plan carefully.
Navigating the harbor and arranging boats required a little patience, even with Google Translate.
Still, it was a beautiful day.
Not perfect. Not seamless. But full.
The giant guardian statues at the Grand Palace are impossible to ignore — dramatic, detailed, and larger than life.
Tips for Visiting the Grand Palace With Kids
If you’re planning to visit the Grand Palace in Bangkok with kids, here’s what helped us:
• Go early. The heat builds quickly.
• Dress appropriately. Shoulders and knees must be covered.
• Use the restroom before entering — there are no bathrooms inside the main grounds.
• Bring water and expect crowds.
• Build in a slower activity afterward, like a canal ride or café stop.
Slow travel in Bangkok works best when big cultural days are balanced with rest.
The Bigger Lesson
Days like this remind me why we travel this way.
Not to chase perfection.
But to stay open. To learn together. To notice the small moments along the way.
Bangkok gave us awe, sweat, hiccups, and perspective — all in one day.
And that’s exactly the kind of day we’ll remember.
The Curious Compass Co.™ 