For people interested in getting a good feel for the history of Thailand, the museum is very much a ‘must see’ destination. Initially established as a palace by King Rama V, the building underwent a number of transformations before becoming what is now called the National Museum in 1887. Housing a definitive presentation of Thai history, the museum has a variety of different sections, each focusing on the history of specific topics (Thai musical instruments, masks, armaments, Thai clothing, etc.). The displays cover Thailand’s ‘prehistory’, move through the Lanna, Sukhothai, and Ayutthaya periods, and bring you right up to the modern Thai kingdom. Certainly worth a visit is the chapel (Phra Thinung Phutthaisawan) which features ‘Phra Singh’ Buddha images and the ‘Throne room’ which caters for numerous special exhibitions put on by the museum. The Tamnak Daeng (or ‘Red House’) is also worth a look. In fact, as with other world-class museums, the National Museum is a place visitors can spend many hours just wandering through exhibitions and looking at displays.
Details: Admission Fee is 40 baht but the museum is free for Thai nationals. The museum opens Wed to sun 9.00 - 16.00 but is usually closed on public holidays. You are not allowed to take photographs. Organised tours are available.
How to get there: The museum is on Na Pha That Road near the Banglumpoo area of Bangkok, near by Royal field, Thammasat University and National Theatre. One of the quickest ways to get there is Express Boat, getting off at Banglampoo Pier. Walk down the river to Pinklao Bridge, go under the bridge and walk towards Sanam Luang. Turn right and the National Museum is on the right.
The following buses will get you there:
Bus Number: 3, 6, 39
Air-conditioned Bus Number:
Contact:
The National Museum
Na Pha That Road
Bangkok
10200
Tel. (662) 224-1396
Hotels in the The National Museum locality 
Restaurants and bars in the The National Museum locality 
