Riva Arun sits at 392/25-26 Maharaj Road, in the heart of Rattanakosin, with the river a one-minute walk away and Wat Pho two minutes. The booking page describes an upscale hotel in a four-class bracket, near the Museum of Siam and the Grand Palace, with nine room types, a terrace and hot tub, a coffee shop and an on-site restaurant called Above Riva that serves breakfast through dinner with al fresco seating. Rooms are equipped with a minibar, an in-room safe, a 40-inch television, bathrobes and free toiletries, and the property offers free WiFi, free self-parking, a 24-hour front desk, a concierge, luggage storage, laundry and dry cleaning, tour and ticket assistance and a business computer station. A buffet breakfast is available for a fee, listed at about 450 baht per person. The distances matter most here: the booking page gives the Grand Palace as a five-minute walk, Wat Arun as a ten-minute walk, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha as a twelve-minute walk and Sanam Chai MRT station as a five-minute walk, which makes it one of the best-placed hotels in the city for temple sightseeing on foot.
Why it works for sightseers
The Grand Palace, Wat Pho and Wat Arun are the three sights every visitor wants, and they are the three that suffer most from the middle-of-the-day heat. Staying here lets you start at opening time, go back to the hotel for an air-conditioned break and return in the late afternoon, which is what experienced travellers do.
The riverside setting adds a cross-river ferry to Wat Arun and an easy boat route to the Skytrain at Sathorn pier. For the evening, Maharaj Road has a growing set of cafes and bars, including riverside rooftop spots that look across to Wat Arun.
Who it suits
First-time visitors with a temple-heavy itinerary, couples, history lovers and photographers. It is less suited to travellers who want a big resort pool or a busy nightlife district; the old town is quiet by Bangkok standards after dark. A terrace and hot tub give some relaxation, but this is a hotel to use as a base, not a destination in itself. The Sala Rattanakosin and Riva Surya, also in the old town, offer other styles of stay, while this one is the straightforward, well-placed choice.
Practical notes
Don Mueang International Airport is listed as about a 38-minute drive, and Bangkok Thonburi station is a 12-minute drive. The booking page is inconsistent on the distance to the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, giving 0.7 miles in one place and 0.9 miles in another, so treat it as a walk of roughly fifteen minutes.
In peak season and on weekends, ask for a higher floor or a river-facing room if available, and if you plan to visit the Grand Palace early, check the entry dress code and the ceremony closures in December 2026 before you arrange your days.
Why stay here
- ✓Wat Pho two minutes on foot
- ✓River one minute away
- ✓Above Riva restaurant
- ✓Terrace and hot tub
- ✓Coffee shop
- ✓24-hour front desk and concierge
- ✓Free WiFi and self parking
- ✓Tour and ticket assistance
Good questions
How far is Riva Arun from Wat Pho and the Grand Palace?+
The hotel lists Wat Pho as a two-minute walk, the Grand Palace as a five-minute walk and Wat Arun as a ten-minute walk.
Is breakfast included?+
A buffet breakfast is available for a fee, listed at about 450 baht per person.
What is the nearest rail station?+
Sanam Chai MRT station is listed as a five-minute walk.
