This museum has a worthwhile claim to fame, being Thailand’s first public museum and boasting the largest selection of Thai art in the country. And it’s not just paintings—the Bangkok National Museum features myriad priceless artifacts from various points throughout history. The National Museum was initiated by King Rama V and currently stands upon the previous grounds of an 18th century Thai palace. Originally founded in 1859, the museum is now operated by Thailand’s Department of Fine Arts that recently renovated the building to upgrade its displays.


The museum is split up into separate sections that showcase art from different periods in Thai history: displays include archeological objects, neolithic sculptures, ancient textiles and costumes, traditional handicrafts, as well as both Buddhist and Hindu art. You can see paintings and objects that date back to the Dvaravati period through to Sukhothai, Ayutthaya, and Rattanakosin eras, as well as periods in between. Situated nearby the Grand Palace, the building is primely located: most visitors spend a day seeing both of these excellent sites. Costing a reasonable 200 THB, tourists seeking an overall look at Thai art would do well to come here.