1. Jim Thompson House Museum, Bangkok
Jim Thompson was an American architect who lived and worked in Thailand for almost 25 years. His interesting life story starts from when he served as a soldier in World War II and later made the Thai silk industry famous all around the world. The Jim Thompson house was a teak house designed and built by Jim himself, where he focused on filling the space with rare Asian art silk pieces that he collected from all over Thailand. Today, this famous museum in Thailand has ongoing art exhibitions all year round where you can admire the traditional Thai architecture of the house, read more about Jim's life story, or buy some art.
Timings : Every day from 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Last guided tour at 5:00 PM
Entry Fee : Adult: THB 200
Below 22 years: THB 100
Children under 10 years of age accompanied by an adult: Free entry
2. Bangkok National Museum
Not usually categorized as one museum, the huge National Museum Bangkok is spread over six different buildings housing Thai art, artifacts, instruments, handicrafts, furniture, costumes, and many other ethnological collections of items from past Thai kingdoms. This is the perfect museum in Thailand to learn about this nation's rich history, art, culture, and traditions with all the information in one stop. Some of the rare and famous exhibits include the Buddha footprint from the Sukhothai period, the Buddha Jawan Chapel, and King Pinklao's bedroom furniture, among others. You can explore on your own or take a guided tour inside to learn more from a local guide.
Timings : 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM (Wednesday - Sunday), Last ticket is sold at 3:30 PM
Entry Fee : THB 200
3. Chiang Mai National Museum
Thailand is a long country, and the north, central, and south parts are very different from each other. Chiang Mai City was the capital of the Lanna Kingdom from 1296 until 1557, when it was invaded by the Burmese. The Chiang Mai National Museum is a popular museum because it is home to some of the most ancient relics of the Lanna Kingdom, like Lanna-style art, artifacts, ceramics, handicrafts, sculptures, statues, and historic photographs. The museum serves an important purpose in educating the visitors about the cultural, geographical, and economic background of tribals from the Lanna period.
Timings: Wednesday to Sunday: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Entry Fee: THB 30
4. Museum of Siam, Bangkok
The Museum of Siam is an interactive and interesting museum displaying the spirit and culture of the country. Chronologically tracing out the country's history from the past during Ayutthaya to wars, the birth of Buddhism, and finally to the modern country it is today. From room to room, you will find digital and video exhibits with English subtitles that explain the history and events of Thailand in a way that will transport you to the past of this glorious country. Beautifully decorated, this museum is perfectly designed for families traveling with kids. It has a cafe and a souvenir shop for visitors too.
Timings: Tuesday to Sunday: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Entry Fee: THB 100
5. Death Railway Museum, Kanchanaburi
Showcasing the glorious history of the 145 km train track Thai-Burma railway that was built during the World War II period. Known as the 'Death Railway', this track resulted in the death of around 12,000 allied POWs and 75,000-100,000 Asian laborers who were involved in the building process. These were the people who faced hunger and diseases under the harsh rule of the Imperial Japanese Army. Home to many photographs and summaries of railway construction, conditions of prisoners, and death casualties, among others, this museum in Thailand is the most informative exhibition to learn about how the Thais were treated during the World War.
Timings : Daily: 09:00 AM - 04:00 PM
(Subject to Thailand’s official closure regulations)
Ticket Price : Adults: THB 160
Children (7-12 years of age): THB 80
Former PoWs and Asian laborers who worked on the railway or their family members are encouraged to identify themselves with the management or send an email to the administration in advance stating the arrival date and time. They will be greeted and assisted in the visit personally.
6. Hellfire Pass Museum, Kanchanaburi
One of the most haunting phases of the history of Kanchanaburi is brought to life at the Hellfire Pass Museum, rightly named so due to the hell-like treatment given to prisoners. The prisoners were known to work eight hours a day carving the hard stone by hand, using hand drills, picks, and shovels to make the railway. Built and maintained by the Australian government, this museum is dedicated to the allied prisoners of war and Asian laborers who spent their lives working here in this depressing atmosphere. There are free audio guides for visitors, which provide you with all the information about the pain and suffering caused to the prisoners.
Timings: Daily: 09:00 AM - 04:00 PM
Closed on:
1) April 13-15 - Songkran Festival
2) December 5 - Thai National Day
3) December 24-27 - Christmas/Holiday Season
4) December 31 - New Year’s Eve
5) January 1 - New Year’s Day
Entry Fee : Free.
There is a THB 200 deposit for the audio equipment device, which is given back upon return.
7. Erawan Museum, Bangkok
The unique Erawan Museum in Bangkok, Thailand, has an enormous 45-meter three-headed Elephant weighing nearly 200 tons representing the Hindu mythology's Airavata. This stunning beast, which took ten years to be built, is cast in pure green-hued copper and stands on a pedestal. The museum is home to many Thai antiquities, photographs, visual arts, religious scriptures, and historical documents that are trying to preserve Thailand's heritage. Around the museum, there is a stream of flowing water where you can make a lotus offering, which is said to bring good luck, and a complex of gardens with some rare flora where visitors can wander around.
Timing - Monday to Sunday; 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Entry fee - THB 300
8. Siriraj Medical Museum, Bangkok
Gruesome yet intriguing, the Siriraj Medical Museum in Bangkok is rightly known as the Death Museum in Thailand. It is home to some of the weirdest exhibits, which are not meant for the weak-hearted. From skulls and skeletons of murder and rape victims to deformed and diseased children's dead bodies preserved in formaldehyde, this museum is intense. Besides that, the other displays include the development of forensic medicine, brutal photographs of human deaths from calamities, organs infected by diseases, animal organs, and many other artifacts. The usual visitors to the museum include medical students from Thailand as well as all around the world. Today, you can also find many tourists here who come to check out this uniquely informative museum.
Timing: Wednesday to Monday: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Entry Fee: THB 40
9. Bangkok Art and Culture Centre
The futuristic Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (BACC) showcases Bangkok's burgeoning contemporary scene through art. This art museum not only displays art and design but also music, theatre, photography, and films by both Thai and international artists. It's a huge building of nine stories, expansive galleries, and a stunning interior, giving the visitor a perfect way to indulge in Thailand's modern art and culture. From big sculptures to the smallest installations, the museum is very well curated, with many photography exhibitions and award functions happening regularly so the artists can be well recognized. There is an art library and many tiny cafes where visitors can hang out.
Timings: Tuesday to Sunday; 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Entry Fee: THB 350
10. Phuket Trick Eye Museum
The three-dimensional, mind-blowing, and odd trick-eye museum of Phuket promises a fun escape from the beaches of Phuket for your family day out. It has over 100 painted and sculpted scenes that place you in hilarious situations. There are various galleries that include paintings of Van Gogh and Da Vinci, for example, a funny version of the Mona Lisa, reproduced in a hyper-realistic way, movie-like scenes where you stand in front of a waterfall, a zombie or walking the lanes of a beautiful Italian town. It is not only amusing for children, but even adult visitors can see this museum in Thailand trying to capture the perfect and realistic pictures with the exhibits. Snacks and drinks are available in the museum too.
Timings: 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Entry Fee: Adults: THB 500,
Children: THB 250
So, when you think about planning your Thailand holiday, don't add just the beaches to your must-visit list. These museums in Thailand will give you a taste of the rich art and culture scene of the country, along with providing you detailed information about its glorious past, which you cannot always find over the internet.
