Price: 200 baht
History and society buffs will appreciate a half day visit to the Museum of Siam. The Museum of Siam is an ideal place for visitors to begin to understand what is to be Thai.
Located on Rattanakosin Island and only a hop, skip and a jump from the world-famous Wat Pho, the Museum of Siam is fast becoming a must-see destination in Bangkok.
The museum’s objective is simple, and it tells visitors of the history of Thailand through the stories of the Thai people. The intuitive and interactive journey through the museum is set up as one path for everyone through the building. Starting on the ground floor, visitors wind around and up through each of the three floors taking in the range of permanent exhibitions and the ever-changing, limited time exhibitions. It’s the learning opportunities and interactive activities that truly make the Museum of Siam a great place to really understand what makes Thailand tick. From video presentations to interactive exercises, museum enthusiasts will love this world class museum.
The Museum of Siam is located near the The Grand Palace, inside the former Thai Ministry of Commerce. The building itself is historic and a prime example of older Thai architecture. The grounds contain beautiful gardens and the museum houses a café to sit and relax with a coffee and snack. Sit inside the café and watch as busloads of teachers and students come to learn about Thailand’s history.
Covering subjects ranging from education to food to architecture to history, the museum is interactive, yet with minimal visible use of computers (testament to Thai creative flair). The museum teaches visitors the ethnology, the anthropology, and other factors related to Thai society and SE Asia, giving them a greater understanding of the Thai people and their history, nation, and culture, tying into Thailand’s interaction with their neighbors. Modern digital media methods have been employed to encourage participation in learning and understanding the stories of the Thailand.
‘The Accounts of Thailand’ is a permanent exhibition describing the long history of Thailand. Visitors will learn about the thousand-year-old riddles of Suvarnabhumi. You will learn contributing factors in the golden era of Siam and the various factors that influenced the nation as it became the Thailand we see today. Visitors will enjoy ‘decoding Thainess,’ and will discover some important answers to the question of ‘What is the meaning of Thainess?’
Top tips for visiting the Museum of Siam
- Be prepared for an interactive and multi-sensory experience. This isn’t your usual museum full of old dinosaur bones
- Allow 2-3 hours
- Later in the day (usually from 4pm), entry is often free
The Museum of Siam is at Sanam Chai Rd, Phra Borom Maha Ratchawang, Phra Nakhon and is open from 10am to 6pm, Tuesday to Sunday.
The Museum of Siam is so centrally located that it is easy to include it on a day tour of central Bangkok and visit many other attractions nearby, such as:
- The Grand Palace and Wat Phra Keaw
- Wat Suthat and The Giant Swing
- The Golden Buddha Temple
- Enjoy a Chao Phraya River cruise
Whether it’s opulent temples, raucous street markets or peaceful floating markets, fine dining or street food, natural wonders or theme parks, Your Thai Guide has Bangkok covered. We can show you any of the museums in Bangkok you like. Some other museums and galleries nearby you may like to include on a tour of Thai discovery are:
