Shoes - when to take them off, Bangkok

It is alright to wear shoes when you are walking around the grounds of a Buddhist temple, but not inside the chapel where the Buddha image is kept. Females should also ensure that their shoulders and legs are covered before they enter the temple. Please be respectful and do not wear shorts.

It is a general custom all around Thailand that you do not wear shoes or flip flops when entering certain places. Generally this is the way for restaurants, internet cafes and most shops, although you are not expected to do so in shopping centres!

Before you go into the bot (interior and sacred part of the wat) you must take your shoes off. There are usually nice little shelves for this. Otherwise you just push them to the side-neatly, so others can get by.
As the picture says, they are not responsible for shoe thieves. I have never heard any incidents of this-but if you are worried about this, you can put them in a bag and carry them with you.

At most temple, women and men wear shoes that slip off easily and the put to the side. At Wat Phra Kaew, you are not allowed to wear shoes that are open toed or show the heel. They don't enforce this too much. They will enforce the clothes part. For shoes, it's not bad to wear snearkers anway. You will be doing a lot of walking and then standing on pavement that's hot or quite dirty (due to all the people visiting).

For instance, at Wat Phra Kaew and some others, when you sit in the bot of the wat with others. Never point your feet or toes at a Buddha image. If there are many-just worry about the main image up front. women should sit with their legs to the side.

Thais like to show off our feet to one another. JOKING. No we're not a foot fetish or anything like that. No offense to those who are...

Its our way to take off shoes before entering a house. How can you not? Look at the streets, there you see doggies' poop..this and that everywhere.

This also is a must for when you go to a temple.

Add:
Even though nowadays, we pamper our feet more like a foot massage or some beauty treatment or product just for feet.. We still regard them as the lowest and hmm dirtiest part of the body.

When you go into some stores or places you are required to remove your shoes, you just take them off and leave them at the front door, if its a busy place you may loose your shoes in amongst the other, but there allway there some where.
So just repect there customs and ways and you will have a great time of it

Remember to remove your shoes when entering temples. This is a sign of respect for Buddha. You should have no trouble at the larger, and busier temples because there will be a pile of shoes at the entrance. Once inside the temple, never point the soles of your feet at the statue of Buddha.

Barefoot - as in most temples

Also, don't point your feet at Budha. Remember to kneel when you are inside a temple.