Bangkok National Museum

The Bangkok National Museum is Thailand's principal museum of history and art. Its roots go back to 1874, when King Chulalongkorn opened a museum inside the Grand Palace to show his father's collections, and in 1887 it moved to its present home in the former Front Palace, the residence of the vice-king, beside Sanam Luang. The post of vice-king had just been abolished, and the palace buildings, chapels and pavilions became galleries. The museum has been run by the Fine Arts Department since the 1930s.

There is a great deal to see, so it helps to pick a route. The Siwamokhaphiman Hall, a former audience hall, contains the Thai history gallery, including the Ram Khamhaeng Inscription, which is listed on UNESCO's Memory of the World Register. The Buddhaisawan Chapel, built in 1787 for the revered Phra Phuttha Sihing image, is decorated with murals of the life of the Buddha. The teak Red House shows how an early Bangkok royal residence was furnished. Other galleries cover the Dvaravati, Srivijaya, Lopburi and later periods of Thai art, Buddhist art from across Asia, royal funeral chariots, regalia, textiles, weapons and musical instruments. In 2024 the museum received the bronze Golden Boy figure, returned from the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

Opening days vary, and the Fine Arts Department publishes a monthly opening calendar on its website, so check it before you set off. Foreign visitors pay an admission fee. Labelling is uneven across the older buildings, so a guidebook or an organised tour helps you understand the collections.

The museum suits anyone interested in Thai art and history and makes an excellent counterpoint to the Grand Palace, putting the temples you see elsewhere into context. Allow at least two to three hours; serious enthusiasts can spend a full day. Many of the buildings have steps and are not air-conditioned, so go early and pace yourself.

The museum is at 4 Na Phra That Road, between Thammasat University and the National Theatre, facing Sanam Luang. The Grand Palace is about ten minutes' walk south, Phra Chan and Tha Chang piers on the river are close by, and Khao San Road is around fifteen minutes on foot.