15 Bangkok museums to make your jaw drop!

Museums in Bangkok are a must-see in Thailand, as the merchandise in the many malls is almost identical in every corner of the world, but the collections in the metropolis are unique in their own way. Only there you can see the cultural relics of the country with its own great and tragic history, for which tourism in general and sex tourism in particular – is only an outer and very deceptive shell. We advise you to begin an introduction to the historical and cultural heritage of the Kingdom of Siam with a visit to Rattanakosin Island, the old city of Bangkok, where the Grand Palace, Wat Pho temple and a constellation of museums are located.

Bangkok National Museum

The Bangkok National Museum is not only Thailand’s main and official museum, but also the largest institution of its kind in Southeast Asia. It opened in 1874 with the personal participation of King Rama V. Its collection includes a rich collection of historical artefacts, objects of national art (frescoes, bronzes, jewelry, sculptures) as well as personal items of the country’s royalty, religious objects, weapons and musical instruments.

National Gallery

The National Gallery opened relatively recently, in 1974, but its display of traditional Thai art spans the period from the early 17th century to the present day. You can also see paintings by royalty such as Rama VI and Phumpion Adulyadej, who passed away in October 2016.

Museum of Siam

If you want to know the answer to the question, “Who are Thais,” you should definitely visit this museum. Its exposition is an illustration of the country’s history from antiquity to the present day. At the beginning of the tour you will be offered a short film with subtitles. Then you will walk through the thematic rooms, where you will see with a visual eye real household items that surrounded the inhabitants of the kingdom of Siam in antiquity, and which they used in the middle of the last century. The exhibit is interactive. You can learn how to cook Thai dishes, participate in virtual medieval battles, visit a diner with an authentic interior from the 1950s-60s, and sit in a public scooter van tuk-tuk.

The Queen Sirikit of Textiles

The Queen Sirikit Textile Museum is part of the Bangkok Grand Palace complex. It is located to the right of the entrance to the royal apartments. Learn the history of traditional Thai costume and the technology of silk threads and fabrics made from them. In addition to collections of textiles from Asia – South, East and Southeast Asia, Queen Sirikit’s personal costumes are on display.

Jim Thompson’s House

The Jim Thompson Museum in Bangkok is a folk architecture museum consisting of six traditional Thai houses built from teak wood. It is named after an American businessman who brought these structures from all over the country between 1950 and 1960. There are several similar displays in the capital, but Jim Thompson’s House is the most popular. If your trip to Thailand is limited to Bangkok, you must visit it to get a rough idea of the country.

Suan Pakkad Palace

This museum was once a country estate. In 1952, the owners turned it into a museum. The small grounds contain five traditional Thai houses, one of which (Lacquer Pavilion) is 450 years old. Inside the pavilions is a collection of historical objects and works of art. The houses are called traditional, but they were not inhabited by peasants. Their interiors are richly decorated, using gilding and black lacquer.

Kamthieng House Museum

The Kamthieng Museum is another historic outdoor civic architectural complex. It is located near the Bangkok Sukhumvit subway station. It’s a late 19th century teak farmhouse. It formerly stood on the banks of the Ping River – northwest Thailand. Next to it stands a barn for rice. The main part of the exhibition tells about the Lanna people, their traditions and rituals. You can look at the tools – plow, loom, presented authentic silk fabrics. The museum area is a small shady park surrounded by skyscrapers. A good place for a stroll on a hot afternoon.

M.R. Kukrit’s Heritage Home

The small park where former Prime Minister Kukrit Pramoy has assembled five Thai houses, traditionally built of teak wood that is not susceptible to decay. The oldest is more than a hundred years old.

The Royal Thai Air Force Museum

The Royal Thai Air Force Museum, located near Don Muang Airport, is not as large as similar institutions in London, Paris or the United States. But it will also be of interest to fans of military equipment, as it is possible to see unique Japanese planes from the Second World War. The exposition consists of 30 aircraft, some of which are located on the open concrete ground, and others in hangars.

Erawan Museum

The Erawan Museum in Bangkok is dedicated to the mythical animal, the three-headed elephant Airavata. The building is decorated with its sculpture, which is 20 meters high and weighs 250 tons. It is both a Thai temple and a visual representation of how the universe is constructed according to Thai mythology. The first floor (plinth) is entirely devoted to the world of Naga – the lord of hell, on the second (rotunda) is the world of living people. And the third is located in the body of the elephant and it symbolizes the Buddhist paradise.

Siriraj Medical Museum

Museum of Medicine in Bangkok is named after Siriraj Hospital. But it also has a popular name, the Museum of Death. It consists of six independent exhibitions. But only three of them are of any interest to those without a medical degree. Their topics are forensic medicine, anatomy and pathological anatomy. In the rooms devoted to forensic medicine, the mummy of the first Thai serial killer is on public display. He was exposed and executed, and his body has become a physical warning to those prone to violence. Also in the windows of this peculiar kunstkammer you can see skulls and other human body parts. Most of them are victims of violent crimes. In this museum your jaw will definitely drop in amazement! The nervous types are not allowed!

Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum

Madame Tussauds Museum in Bangkok is much more interesting than institutions of its kind in Paris, for example. That’s because its main goal is to entertain tourists. That’s why there are many wax versions of world celebrities, heads of state, athletes, artists and even royalty. If you want to take pictures with any of them, head to Siam District and find the Siam Discovery Center.

Royal Barge National Museum

For Bangkok, built in the swampy floodplain of the Chao Praya River (formerly the Menam) and until the early 20th century riddled with canals in such a way that Venice simply rests, boats and barges are the primary means of transportation. And it is very interesting to see the boats for important people. The museum has fifty royal boats on display, each one unique. The most valuable of them are kept in a special hangar. All of them are able to move on the water. You can combine the tour with a ride on a river streetcar or a rowboat similar to the ones you saw in the museum.

Museum Ancient City (Muang Boran)

Museum that is a scale replica of Thailand. There you can see models of all the most historically significant structures. They are arranged exactly as their originals. A total of 120 buildings – palaces, temples and monasteries. The area of the museum is 130 hectares. It is located 32 km outside the city. If you like ancient architecture, you should definitely check out one of the 10 most beautiful ancient cities in Thailand!

The Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall

Bangkok also has its own Elysian Fields. Its architectural dominant feature is a white marble palace two stories high. It is a throne room, but everyone – citizens and visitors alike – can visit it. The museum exposition is constantly renewed. Works by folk artists are exhibited there, as well as works by students of the Chitralada arts and crafts center.