The Best Museums in Bangkok, Thailand

Housed in a striking granite building in the north of Bangkok, the Museum of Contemporary Art Bangkok (MOCA) is dedicated to the new era of non-traditional Thai art inspired by Buddhism. Spread out across five floors, the 20,000-square-metre exhibition space makes it the largest art museum in Bangkok. The museum exhibits paintings by national artists including Chalermchai Kositpipat, Panya Vijinthanasarn and the late Thawan Duchanee. The admission fee is 250 baht (£6.60) for adults and 100 baht (£2.65) for students with ID.

Inside the colonial-looking building, Museum Siam’s exhibition space spans over 3,000 square metres, making it one of the largest museums in Bangkok. As its name suggests, the museum’s main focus is the history of Siam, the former name of Thailand. This educational experience is made accessible through a mix of interactive screens and audiovisual tricks rather than old artefacts. Kids will love the main permanent exhibition, Essays from Thailand, which transports them back in time by a few thousand years. Get here by the MRT underground train, as the Sanam Chai station itself is also a great spot for photographs.

Located in Wat Phra Kaew, the Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles traces the history of Thai clothing, fabrics and royal garments. Learn about how these precious textiles are made, what their patterns represent and the influences of other cultures. The highlights of the collection are the special occasion outfits designed by Pierre Balmain, which Her Majesty the Queen Mother Sirikit wore in the ’60s. The museum’s building also once served as the Ministry of Finance and the Office of Royal Ceremony. As it is located inside the Grand Palace, no shorts or flip flops are allowed (there’s a trouser rental service if needed).

All the flowers used in traditional Thai ceremonies possess different meanings, which you can learn about at the Museum of Floral Culture on Samsen Road. Founded by engineer-turned-artist Sakul Intakul, this compact museum turns a century-old colonial house into a six-room exhibition space that showcases the development of floral arrangements used throughout the history of Thailand. Wind down at the museum’s café, Dok Mai Thai Salon du Thé, where you can try flower-inspired tea sets. The museum also hosts a number of workshops, the details of which can be found on their Facebook page.

The marshy banks of the Chao Phraya River were once a snake paradise – a fact that Bangkok’s reptilian residents like to remind its bipedal inhabitants of every now and again. In the past few years, the number of snake-related calls to the Fire and Rescue Department has roughly tripled, and you can learn more about why at the Siam Serpentarium. Located further out of town in Lat Krabang, the museum is divided into three zones. Start with the immersive exhibition explaining the snake’s life cycle, then see over 70 species of them at Snake Planet, including the rare Golden Cobra, before concluding your trip with a visit to the snake show at the museum’s 400-seat Naka Theatre. The ticket is priced at 550 baht (£14.50) for adults, and 250 baht (£6.60) for kids.

Situated closer to the city centre, the Science Centre for Education is a place that all Bangkok students must have visited at one point on a school trip. It’s a great spot to bring the kids for the afternoon, since they will enjoy the life-sized dinosaurs, interactive games and the natural science zone. The main attraction is the dome-shaped planetarium, where you can kick back and stargaze at the HD projection of the galaxy. For the English-language session, visit on Tuesday at 10am.

Situated in the Old Town between Khaosan Road and Sanam Luang, the Coin Museum is a great place to visit for history buffs. The development of Thai coins is not the only theme, though, as the exhibition also traces the origins of currencies in different continents. Besides the collection of coins from around the world, kids will enjoy walking inside the simulated cave showing 3D visuals of how people used to do transactions before coins existed. Admission is free, as are the guided tours.