If you think you’ve “done Thai temples” because you’ve seen Wat Pho and a couple of Chiang Mai wats, Ubon will quietly prove you wrong. The top 5 temples in Ubon Ratchatani are not about selfie platforms and ticket booths – they’re about forest monks, Lao-style stupas, and some of the most quietly surreal architecture in Thailand.
You’re in the far east here: less tour groups, more incense smoke, monks doing actual monk things, and a sky that turns nuclear orange over the Mekong.
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Getting there: Bangkok to the back of beyond
Ubon Ratchathani is far. That’s the point.
By plane (the sane way)
- Bangkok (DMK) → Ubon Ratchathani (UBP)
- – Airlines: AirAsia, Nok Air, Thai Lion Air, Thai Smile
- – Time: ~1 hr 5 mins
- – Price: 800–1,800 THB one-way if you book sensibly
Airport is 10–15 minutes from town. Taxi or Grab into the centre: 120–200 THB.
By train (for train nerds and masochists)
- From Bangkok Hua Lamphong or Bang Sue to Ubon Ratchathani
- Time: 8–10 hours
- 2nd class A/C seat: 500–650 THB
- 2nd class sleeper (fan/A/C): 750–1,000 THB
Nice if you like old-school Thai rail and can cope with questionable air-con and 80s fluorescent lighting.
By bus (cheapest, least fun)
- From Bangkok Mo Chit 2
- Time: 9–11 hours overnight
- Price: 500–900 THB depending on “VIP-ness”
You roll into Ubon’s bus station 1, groggy at sunrise, wondering where it all went wrong. Tuk-tuk into town: 80–120 THB.
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Where to stay in Ubon: Sleep, then go worship
You want to be central-ish: within striking distance of Wat Thung Si Muang, Wat Si Ubon Rattanaram, and food.
Budget: Ubon Backpackers Hostel
- Price: Dorms from 250 THB, privates ~600–700 THB
- Central, walkable to the old town temples.
- Simple, social, not a party zoo. Good if you want to swap temple tips rather than buckets.
Mid-range: T3 House
- Price: 800–1,200 THB
- Quiet guesthouse staple, clean, A/C, decent beds, walkable to Thung Si Muang.
- Feels more like a low-key hotel than a guesthouse, which is exactly what you want after a day in 36°C heat.
Comfortable: Sunee Grand Hotel & Convention Center
- Price: 1,600–2,500 THB
- Massive local favourite with attached mall, cinema, and more air-con than is strictly moral.
- 10 minutes’ drive from the main temples; good pool, reliable staff, painless.
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What to eat in Ubon: Isaan food with actual teeth
You don’t come to see the top 5 temples in Ubon Ratchatani and then eat Pizza Company. The food here will smack Bangkok’s tame “Isaan” offerings into the middle of next week.
1. Som tam and grilled chicken – Somtam Jor Jai (ส้มตำจอร์ใจ)
- Location: Near city centre (search the Thai name on Google Maps)
- Order:
- – Som tam thai / som tam pla ra – 50–60 THB
- – Gai yang (grilled chicken) – 80–120 THB half
- – Sticky rice – 15 THB
- Proper local heat and funk. If you can’t handle fermented fish (pla ra), you’re in the wrong region.
2. Lao-style noodles – Khao Piak Sen at Krua Laos Ubon (ครัวลาว อุบล)
- Location: Central, easy Grab
- Khao piak sen (Lao-style fresh rice noodles in chicken broth) – 60–70 THB
- Great breakfast before temple crawling. Soft, thick noodles, chicken that actually tastes of chicken.
3. Grilled river fish – Muang Ubon Riverside stalls
- Head to the Mekong / Mun riverside evening stalls
- Look for whole grilled fish (pla pao) stuffed with lemongrass
- – Pla pao – 120–180 THB
- – Serve with lettuce, herbs, nam jim seafood
- Eat it with sticky rice and a plastic chair view of the river. Spiritual experience not guaranteed, but likely.
4. Night local spread – Thung Si Muang Night Market
- Next to the park of the same name
- Grab:
- – Larb moo / larb duck – 50–70 THB
- – Grilled pork neck (kor muu yang) – 70–90 THB
- – Khao jee (Isaan grilled sticky rice with egg) – 10–15 THB
- This is where you end up after sunset at nearby temples, slightly sweaty and very hungry.
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Top 5 temples in Ubon Ratchatani (and how to actually do them)
1. Wat Phra That Nong Bua – Ubon’s sci‑fi stupa
If you only have time for one, this is it.
Huge white-and-gold chedi modelled on Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya, India – but with a very Thai sense of “let’s make it shinier”. The geometry is so clean it feels like a religious spaceship parked in suburban Ubon.
- Why go:
- – Looks completely different to standard Thai wats
- – Glorious at sunset, fantastic lit up at night
- What to look for:
- – Inner chamber with Buddha images and relics
- – Gold reliefs and intricate base-level details most tourists walk past
- When:
- – Late afternoon → blue hour → night. Stay for all three if you can.
- Getting there:
- – ~10 km from city centre.
- – Grab / taxi each way 120–180 THB.
2. Wat Thung Si Muang – The wooden Tripitaka library on water
This one actually feels old, which is rare in Thailand where everything is constantly being rebuilt shinier.
Famous for its wooden Tripitaka library on stilts in a small pond. It’s like a tiny Ayutthaya-era fortress for scripture, reflecting in the water when the light hits right.
- Why go:
- – Architecture is genuinely unique, not just “another temple”
- – Has a calm, slightly worn-in atmosphere – you feel the age
- What to look for:
- – The teak library building over the pond
- – Mural fragments and old stucco details on the viharn
- When:
- – Morning for soft light; combine with nearby wats on foot.
3. Wat Si Ubon Rattanaram – Sacred, central, surprisingly intense
Sometimes called Wat Si Thong, this is effectively the city’s main royal temple.
The hook is a small, extremely revered topaz Buddha image (Phra Kaeo Butsarakham), brought from Vientiane ages ago. Locals actually come here to pray, not pose. Good place to see live Thai religious practice without the Bangkok circus.
- Why go:
- – Actively used, properly respected urban wat
- – Classic Thai architecture similar to Bangkok’s Wat Benchamabophit
- What to watch:
- – People making merit, offering candles and flowers
- – The smaller inner space housing the topaz Buddha
- Tip: Dress properly here; people notice.
4. Wat Nong Pah Pong – Ajahn Chah’s forest monastery
This is where Ajahn Chah, one of Thailand’s most influential meditation masters, did his thing. If you’re interested in Theravada Buddhism, this is a pilgrimage spot.
The grounds are forested, low-key, and the mood is much more “monastery” than “tourist site”.
- Why go:
- – To see the heartland of the Thai Forest Tradition
- – Completely different vibe from city temples
- What to look for:
- – The stupa containing Ajahn Chah’s relics
- – Forest paths, simple kutis (monk huts)
- Getting there:
- – ~15 km from town. Grab / taxi 200–280 THB
- Etiquette:
- – This is a working monastery. No drones, no fashion shoots, no shouting into phones.
- – If there’s a meditation retreat on, ask before wandering.
5. Sirindhorn Wararam Phu Prao (Wat Phu Prao) – The “glow in the dark” hill temple
This one’s out of town near the Lao border but worth the ride, especially if you’re already doing the Mekong / Pha Taem loop.
Perched on a hill with a sweeping view over Laos and Sirindhorn Dam, the temple’s party trick is a glow-in-the-dark tree of life mural on the back wall that lights up green after dark when it’s properly charged by sunlight.
- Why go:
- – Sunset views over the reservoir that make Instagram filters redundant
- – The glowing mural is gimmicky but cool if you give it time to charge
- What to expect:
- – Popular with Thai visitors; can get busy on weekends and holidays
- Getting there:
- – ~70 km from Ubon city. Hire a car or arrange a driver.
- – Expect 1,500–2,000 THB for a half-day return trip with waiting time.
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What to skip (or at least de-prioritise)
You’re here for the top 5 temples in Ubon Ratchatani; there are endless others people will try to pad your day with.
- Wat Ban Na Muang (boat temple):
- – Temples shaped like royal barges sound great; in reality they’re more “cute novelty” than must-see. If you’ve got time and a car, fine. Otherwise skip.
- Temple fatigue tours:
- – Any local tour that tries to ram eight or ten temples into one day. After four decent wats your brain turns to gold-leaf paste and you stop seeing anything.
- Souvenir-heavy amulet shops:
- – Around some city temples you’ll see aggressive amulet stalls. Interesting for a nose around, but don’t let anyone hustle you into paying 1,000+ THB for something you don’t understand.
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Practical Info
Dress code: – Shoulders covered, knees covered; long shorts at a minimum, long trousers / skirt preferred. – Remove hats and sunglasses in temple compounds and buildings.
Opening hours & fees: – Most temples: 05:30–18:00 – Generally no entrance fee; donations of 20–100 THB are appreciated.
Getting around: – Grab works well in Ubon city; usual rides 60–150 THB. – For Wat Nong Pah Pong and especially Wat Phu Prao, either: – Rent a car: 900–1,200 THB/day – Hire a driver via hotel / local agency.
Best time to visit: – Cooler season: Nov–Feb. Still hot, just less suffocating. – Candle Festival: Around early July (Asalha Puja / Buddhist Lent) – Ubon goes all out with giant carved wax candles near Thung Si Muang. That’s when the temples feel especially alive.
Temple etiquette: – Take off shoes before entering buildings. – Don’t point your feet at Buddha images. – Keep photos low-key during ceremonies; if in doubt, hang back.
Do the top 5 temples in Ubon Ratchatani properly – with time, respect, and plenty of sticky rice breaks – and you’ll wonder why everyone is still queuing outside the Grand Palace instead.
