A guide to Bangkok’s most unusual museums
Weird and wonderful Bangkok.
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7 years ago
The Museum of Floral Culture
Owned by celebrity florist Sakul Intrakul, this museum sits in a 100-year-old teak mansion. Focusing on Thailand’s rich culture of floral art, guided tours are available in Thai, English and Japanese, and private tours can also be requested with Sakul himself, who will personally lead you through the collection to provide his own unique insight. The tour ends with a casual cup of tea and chat in the museum’s beautiful Thai-meets-Zen garden.
315 Samsen Soi 28, Yaek Ongkarak 13. Open Tue-Sun 10am-6pm. Admission is B150 for adults and B75 for children
Bangkok Planetarium
Navigate the galaxy at the country’s oldest planetarium, which recently had a much-needed renovation. The venue now boasts a state-of-the-art digital theater system with 360-degree visuals and 5.1 surround sound, plus an impressive aurora-themed decor. The educational and entertaining shows guide visitors through a history of space travel and an eye-opening look into all corners of the galaxy.
The National Science Centre for Education, 928 Sukhumvit Rd. BTS Ekkamai. Open Tue-Sun 8:30am-4:30pm. Admission is B30 for adults and B20 for children. www.fb.com/bkkplanetarium
The House of Museums
With its charming collection of vintage curios, this museum invites visitors to take a closer look at everyday life in Thailand dating back to the 1960s. You’ll find everyday household items ranging from toys to kitchen utensils to propaganda posters. It’s all split into various zones, including an old-fashioned pharmacy area set up with old Chinese medicine bottles, and the upstairs electronic section filled with old radios, televisions and mobiles.
Khlong Pho Land, 170/17 Moo 7, Khlong Pho Soi 2. Open Sat-Sun 10am-5pm. www.fb.com/House-of-Museums
Bangkok Seashell Museum
Explore the beauty of seashells from around the world without having to leave the city at this unique museum that features more than 3,000 specimens of 624 selected species of mollusks. Learn all about underwater life through exhibits ranging from 100-year-old ammonite fossils to colorful poisonous cones—plus, don’t miss the giant seashell from Indonesia which weighs more than 300kg.
Bangkok Seashell Museum, 1043 Silom Soi 23, 02-234-0291. Open daily 10am-6:30pm. www.bkkseashellmuseum.co.th
Siriraj Hospital by Creative Commons SA 3.0
Siriraj Forensic Museum
Set in one of the city’s most renowned hospitals, this museum moves away from artistic and cultural artifacts and focuses on exhibits about the human body. The space is split into the Pathology Museum showing the evolution of medicine; the Forensic Museum involving the process of investigating murder crimes; the Anatomical Museum showcasing more than 2,000 specimens of human antomy; the Prehistoric Museum exhibiting the evolution of life forms; and the Parasitology Museum showcasing various kinds of parasites and their life cycle.
2/F, Adulyadej Vikrom Building, Siriraj Hospital, Phran Nok Rd., 02-419-2618. Open Mon-Sat 9am-4pm. Free entry.
Museum of Counterfeit Goods by Creative Commons SA 3.0
Museum of Counterfeit Goods
Learn all about Bangkok’s notorious reputation for producing fake items and how buying these products can actually encourage ill-treatment of workers in these factories, many of which include child labour. Expect to see exhibits of counterfeit goods ranging from T-shirts to watches to chocolate bars that are nearly impossible to tell apart from the real thing in an interesting museum that highlights the scale of this issue in Bangkok and around the world.
26/F Supalai Grand Tower, 1011 Rama 3 Rd., 02-653-5555. Open on appointment, Mon 2pm and Thu 6pm. www.tilleke.com/firm/community/museum
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