If you want to understand and know the national history of Thailand better, you have come to the ultimate place. The Siam Museum is relatively new and presents the Thai culture in full, about its people, its tradition and the incarnations it has gone through over the years. The place is housed in a large and impressive building with Italian design. It was previously used as a government office of Thailand and in 2008 was converted into a museum. The museum is unique in that it excels in innovative design and cool media through which it conveys the information in an interactive and fun way to visitors. Of course, this is an experience recommended for all ages.
At the entrance to the museum you can see a kind of small theater. There you can watch a video that gives some background on the main topic the place deals with - what does it mean to be Thai? After the short introduction, you can enter the complex that will try to answer the same question through a collection of different items - models, traditional objects, photos, etc. From there, you can wander through the museum independently, through its 14 designed spaces.
In the Prehistoric Gallery of Southeast Asia, you can explore and enrich your knowledge through different and varied exhibits, dealing with the issues that made Thailand what it is today. Among other things, you will find exhibits on important topics such as Buddhism that came from India, the Chinese influences on Thailand, the ancient kingdom of Ayutthaya, the wars with neighboring Burma and the establishment of the capital city of Bangkok.
At the end of the tour you can visit the museum's small souvenir shop or sit in the cafe in the museum courtyard.
How to get there – The museum is in Rattanakosin district, on Sanam Chai road. If you want to save money and not take a taxi, there are plenty of public bus lines from around the city that reach the place: 3, 6, 9, 12, 44, 47, 48, 53, 82, 524. You can also get to the museum by boat on the river, by taxi -river. Get off at the stop at Rajinee pier (stop number 7).
Opening times - Tuesday-Sunday: 10:00-18:00 (closed on Mondays). Keep in mind that the tour takes an average of two to three hours.
Prices - A ticket grants entry for the whole day (you can leave and come back) and costs 200 baht. Groups (5 people or more) have a discount: 100 baht per person. Every day after 16:00 and on national holidays the entrance becomes free.
