I first heard about Thailand's so-called "Dragon Temple" a long time ago, certainly during my stay in Bangkok between 2017 and 2019. Unfortunately, for reasons I can no longer recall, I never managed to visit it.

As is often the case with destinations I hadn't visited in a long time, I vowed to visit the temple (officially Wat Samphran) as soon as Thailand reopened. That finally happened in January 2022, when I was traveling from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi.

That's the good news. The bad news? Well, the Dragon Temple in Thailand isn't terrible, but I'm not sure it's worth the effort to travel there (and getting there is really difficult).

How to get to Wat Samphran

Before I share my opinion on the Dragon Temple, I'd like to state a few facts. Specifically: How do you get from Bangkok to Wat Samphran? The best way is by car. This allows you to reach Wat Samphran (in Nakhon Pathom, the province west of Bangkok) in just 30 to 45 minutes from Bangkok's city center.

If you don't have a car, there are two options. The easiest is to take a Grab to Wat Samphran and hope you can get back there. Alternatively – and this is essentially option 1.5 – you can arrange a round-trip taxi transfer from your hotel in Bangkok. The second option is to take the BTS or MRT to Bang Wa and then bus 84. However, this bus essentially leads you back to option 1: it stops quite far from the temple, so you'll end up having to take a Grab or taxi again.

5 reasons why Thailand's Dragon Temple disappointed me

It's only impressive from a drone's perspective.

Before visiting the Dragon Temple myself, I found photos and videos particularly impressive, especially those showing it in the context of the surrounding buildings (and the mountains in the distance). Unfortunately, without a drone – and I don't own one – it's impossible to capture this perspective.

(And without such a device, it is almost impossible to estimate the size)

Believe me, I tried. Unfortunately, none of the buildings around the Dragon Temple, Wat Samphran, are open to the public. This means you can only get a reasonably good view of the temple from the road to the east. And frankly, that's completely inadequate.

The interior design is a missed opportunity.

I didn't take any photos inside Wat Samphran, and for good reason: the tunnel leading to the top of the tower (which, to be fair, is located inside the serpentine dragon's belly) is mostly just whitewashed. It's an incredibly missed opportunity, especially if, like me, you enter the temple already disappointed.

The view from the top is zero.

Seeing the Dragon Temple in Bangkok within the context of its surroundings is impressive. The surroundings themselves? Well, I mean, I like Nakhon Pathom just as much as any other traveler. But the reality is that this part of the province hardly differs from most other urbanized places in Central Thailand.

That's not practical at all.

As I mentioned before, Wat Samphran isn't exactly easy to reach. Having your own vehicle makes it a bit less problematic, but I'm guessing most of you reading this don't. Frankly, there are so many better ways to spend your time in Bangkok.

Is Wat Samphran worth a visit?

Don't get me wrong, my tone in this post isn't critical. Even if Wat Samphran isn't among Bangkok's most beautiful temples, it's by no means a bad place. It's a unique structure, especially from the outside, but also from the inside. If you disregard the untapped potential of its winding interior, it could be so much more (and so much more interesting) than what you find inside.

At the same time, Wat Samphran is difficult to reach, especially without a car. The likelihood of getting to the temple by Grab is practically zero, and you're even more likely to be stuck if you want to leave. Those who made the trip without a drone—and are therefore disappointed because they couldn't experience the temple in its full context—might get the impression that the trip wasn't worthwhile.

Other frequently asked questions about visiting the Dragon Temple in Thailand

How do I get to the Dragon Temple in Thailand?

The easiest way to reach the Dragon Temple in Thailand is by car (or a friend's) by calling a Grab or booking a round-trip taxi through your hotel in Bangkok. Alternatively, you can take a bus part of the way (from Bang Wa Station), but you will need a private vehicle for the entire trip to the temple.

Is Wat Samphran worth visiting?

To be quite honest: If you don't own a drone and therefore can't view Wat Samphran from a bird's-eye perspective and within the context of its surroundings, I'm not sure how impressive it will be for you. Therefore, I doubt it's worth the effort to visit. Of course, I'd be delighted if you see it differently.

How much does a visit to Wat Samphran cost?

Entry to Wat Samphran is generally free, but donations are welcome, as is customary in all Thai temples. The cost consists of transportation – likely at least 500 THB for a round trip with Grab to central Bangkok – and the time required for travel to and from the temple, totaling about half a day.

Conclusion

Curious about the Dragon Temple in Thailand? Then there are a few things you should know. First, although it's not far from Bangkok (as the crow flies), getting there without your own vehicle is quite complicated. Second, without a drone, it's difficult, if not impossible, to capture the temple (Wat Samphran) and its surroundings, which somewhat diminishes its otherwise unique impact. Fortunately, Thailand has many other unique sights worth adding to your travel list. And if you entrust me with planning your Thailand trip, I'll seamlessly integrate these into your itinerary.