Bangkok is one of few cities I’ve been to anywhere in the world, where the old and the new really come together to form a harmonious experience. Travellers often stop here for only a couple of days, but Thailand’s capital offers an abundance of attractions. On my last visit, I spent about a month in Bangkok and got to see some of the places that didn’t make it on my list beforehand. What really struck me was the quality of the museums! While most people only get the chance to visit the Royal Palace and the temples, I highly recommend sticking around to explore Bangkok’s museums.

Museum Siam

Museum Siam is literally one of the best museums I have been to – anywhere! First of all, the setting is perfect – it’s located in a beautiful 19^th century building, in the heart of Bangkok’s old city. It doesn’t really matter how old you are or what you are particularly interested in, because it has got something for every person. Museum Siam is incredibly interactive. There are 14 rooms in total and in each you can interact with the exhibit. It explores the Thai culture – what does Thai mean, how has it come about and what does it mean for something to be Thai. For me, the highlights included the 2^nd room where you get to explore different “Thai” objects and their history, and also watch a short interactive video on Thainess. I also really enjoyed the rooms on Thai architecture and cuisine, as well as the final room where you can actually dress up in traditional Thai clothing and pose for a few fun photos. At the end of your visit, don’t miss their gift shop, since it has some really great souvenirs, which you won’t find anywhere else.

Entrance fee: 250 THB per person or free after 4PM (April 2018)
Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 10AM to 6PM
Location: 4 Maha Rat Rd, Khwaeng Phra Borom Maha Ratchawang, Khet Phra Nakho
Getting to Museum Siam: Located only steps away from the Grand Palace, it’s easy to reach Museum Siam by either taxi or the Chao Praya River ferry (pier 7).
Website: www.museumsiam.org  

Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (BACC)

I wish every city had a creative space like the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (BACC). Located right in the heart of Siam district, the first thing that you notice is how stunning the building is. It has murals outside and a spiralling architecture indoors – somewhat similar to the Guggenheim in New York City. On the first few floors, there are smaller art exhibits from local students, some shops and cafes. Then, when you get to the 5^th floor, the actual art centre exhibitions begin. These rotate on a regular basis, but all are dedicated to contemporary art. The space makes for a wonderful setting, and you could really spend anywhere from a couple of hours to the entire day here. It’s also a good idea to check out their website for current and upcoming events. When I visited, there was a music festival with a number of different bands, which was a really nice treat.

Entrance fee: free
Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday 10AM-9PM
Location: 939 Rama I Rd, Khwaeng Want Mai, Khet Pathum Wanm, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon
Getting to BACC: right across the street from the MBK Shopping Centre, BACC is easily reachable via BTS. Just get off at either SIAM or National Stadium and use the over-ground walking paths.
Website: www.bacc.or.th

Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA)

The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) is quite out of the way, so many people don’t make it out here. But, I’d say that if you like contemporary art and want to learn more about art in Thailand, then it’s definitely worth the trip! Set in a stunning modern building and surrounded by a lovely contemporary garden, MOCA offers visitors a chance to indulge in 5 floors of well-curated art. The space is airy, with beautiful lighting and the permanent exhibition is excellent. For me, the highlight was the 4^th floor, which is home to a number of rooms dedicated to xx artist. This was a refreshing and new style for me, coming from a mainly Western perspective of contemporary art. It was also really interesting to see the exhibit on the different realms in the Buddhist religion – the paintings were stunning, but it was also a great educational opportunity.

Entrance fee: 250TBH (student and senior discounts available)
Opening hours: Tuesday to Friday 10AM to 5PM; Saturday and Sunday 11AM to 6PM
Location: 499 Kamphaengphet 6 Road, Ladyao, Chatuchak, Bangkok
Getting to MOCA: it is a good idea to combine a visit to MOCA with a shopping spree at the Chatuchak Market. It’s located only a short taxi ride away from the Mo Chit BTS or the Chatuchak MRT. If you want to save some money, you can grab a moto-taxi or a bus. Just check Google maps on the bus options from the BTS/MRT.
Website: www.mocabangkok.com

Art in Paradise Bangkok

So, I actually didn’t go to the Art in Paradise Museum in Bangkok. I had already gone in Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, and once is really enough. That said, it’s totally worth to visit one of these at some point in your journey around Southeast Asia. This is not so much of a cultural, but a fun experience instead. 3D museums basically offer hundreds of opportunities for really fun photography. You can take 3D photos in fairy lands, fighting monsters, underwater, as part of an optical illusion, etc. I’d recommend coming here with a group, since it makes it so much more fun!

Entrance fee: 300TBH for adults and 200 TBH for children
Opening hours: 10AM to 10PM daily
Location: 408 Ratchadaphisek Rd. Khwaeng Din Daeng, Khet Din Daeng
Getting to Art in Paradise: the museum is only a few minutes away from the Thailand Cultural Centre MRT, inside the Esplanade Shopping Mall. If you are coming from the BTS line, switch to Sukhumvit MRT from Asok BTS.
Website: www.artinparadisebkk.com.th

I am a huge fan of Bangkok – it’s one of my favourite cities around the world. What makes it so unique is the wide range of activities that it offers. If you are planning a trip to Bangkok, see if you can fit in a few extra days in the city. This will give you plenty of time to do that main tourist attractions, such as the Royal Palace, Wat Pho, Wat Arun, Wat Saket and the floating markets. But you will also have the chance to go a little off the beaten path, maybe including some of the exciting museums in this article!