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Vimanmek Teak mansion
The home of King Rama V in the early 1990's is a beautiful 'L'- shaped three storey mansion built of golden teak and is said to be the world's largest golden teak building. The interior of the mansion contains various personal effects of the king and many early Rattanakosin art objects and antiques. There are English language tours every half hour between 11:15 and 15:00 hr. The three-storey palace contains 81 rooms, halls and ante-chambers. A guided tour inside the building which we can recommend is provided to visitors, the tour takes about 1 hour. Other buildings in the compound also house museums displaying a variety of artifacts and precious art objects. Vimanmek Mansion Museum is open daily from 9:30 am to 3:15 pm. As like Wat Phra Keow, visitors should dress decently.

Jim Thompson's Thai house
This remarkable Thai-style house is named after the man who created it from several exceptional examples of traditional Thai domestic architecture. The American Jim Thompson came to Thailand at the end of World War II and became famous for reviving the Thai silk industry before disappearing under mysterious circumstances somewhere in Malaysia. Now a museum, the house is located at the end of Soi Kasemsan 2, opposite the National Stadium on Rama I Road. On permanent display are Jim Thompson’s connoisseur collections of Asian artifacts and antiques. The museum is open every day from 9 am to 5 pm with the last guided tour at 4:30 pm.

The Grand Palace + Wat Phra Kaew
Bangkok’s most famous landmark comprises two significant sections: The Grand Palace, the King’s Royal Residence surrounded by other exquisite palaces, and Wat Phra Kaeo where the Emerald Buddha (the national Buddha image) sits and where some of Thailand’s most significant religious ceremonies are performed by the King. The 1 square km compound encompasses over 100 buildings that represent 200 years of local history and architectural experimentation. The compound of Wat Phra Kaeo and the Grand Palace is open daily from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm. This is one of the most sacred places of Thailand and visitors should dress and behave decently during their visit. If you wear shorts or short sleeved shirts you may be refused entry.

Temples
Wat Saket's major feature is the Golden Mount, dating from 1800, an artificial hill topped by a gilded pagoda 260 feet in height from its base. Initiated by King Rama III and completed in the reign of King Rama IV, the golden mount is one of the most celebrated landmarks in Bangkok’s historic district and offers a panoramic city view from the top. Wat Arun is named after the Indian God of dawn, Aruna. It is located on the Thonburi (west) side of the Chao Phraya river. Popularly known in Thai as Wat Chaeng and in English as the Temple of Dawn, Wat Arun was originally included in the compound of King Taksin the Great’s palace. The temple’s most outstanding feature is its 82 metres high pagoda, making it the tallest of the historic buildings around Rattanakosin Island. Wat Benchamabophit was built during the reign of King Rama V using marble left over from construction of Anantasamakom. Thus it is also known as the Marble Temple, it employs European ecclesiastic details, such as stained glass windows, and contains a superb cloister collection of bronze Buddha images including the image of Phra Buddha Chinnarat.

Museums & Art galleries Click on the buttons for a detail description.

• NATIONAL MUSEUM

  • Within walking distance of the Grand Palace is the largest and one of the most comprehensive museums in Southeast Asia. If you want to learn something about Thai art then this is the place to go. Bangkok’s National Museum houses a vast collection of artifacts recovered from all parts of the country and dating all the way from Neolithic times, from Dvaravati through the Sukhothai and Ayutthaya periods to the Rattanakosin and Bangkok era. The complex consists of several beautiful old buildings of colourful Thai design. Open Wednesday to Sunday from 9 am to 4 pm, Admission 40 baht. Guided tours are given free by volunteers in English and French on Wednesday and Thursday at 9:30 am. The tours in English are on Thai Art, Religion and Culture. Those in French are on Pre-Thai history, Thai Art and Culture. Tours are also given in German on Thai Art and Culture on Thursdays, and in Japanese (1st and 2nd Wednesday of the month on the Buddhaisawan Chapel; 4th and 5th Wednesday of the month on Pre-Thai and Thai Art). Tours in Spanish can be arranged.
• ROYAL BARGE MUSEUM

  • The elaborately decorated and skillfully crafted barges used in royal pageants on the river are maintained in dry dock by the Royal Thai Navy alongside specimens formerly used in battle. The most glorious of the barges is the Suphannahong , exclusively used by the king for the spectacular Kathin ceremony and river procession, a Buddhist tradition of offering robes to monks which generally takes place some time in October or November.
• MUSEUM OF SCIENCE & PLANETARIUM

  • The subjects of astronomy, communications technology and biology are covered within this museum located next to the Eastern Bus Terminal (Ekamai) on Sukhumvit Road. Attractions include an excellent aquarium, computer world, a planetarium and numerous devices that combine scientific education with fun. Open daily except Mondays and public holidays from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Admission 30 baht for adults and 15 baht for children.
• NATIONAL SCIENCE MUSEUM

  • Six exhibition floors are devoted to different aspects of science and technology, including traditional Thai technology. Visitors are encouraged to touch and play with exhibits as part of a hands-on educational approach. Located at Technopolis, Khlong 5, Rangsit-Nakhon Nayok Road. Open Tuesday-Sunday, 9:30 am to 5 pm.
• NATIONAL THEATRE

  • The official arts centre for Thai classical performances, the theatre hosts regular concerts and special shows. Located on Na Phra That Road next to the National Museum. Contact us for a program.
• THAILAND CULTURAL CENTRE

  • A fully-integrated venue for social, educational and cultural activities equipped with a state-of-the-art acoustic system and located on Ratchadaphisek Road. Opera, ballet, concerts and multi-lingual conferences are all hosted here. The Centre is also home to a permanent exhibition on the history of the Thai people. Open Monday- Friday from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm, the exhibition reveals how lifestyles and the Thai cultural identity have evolved through the ages. Call 0 2247 0028 ext 103 for a current program.