Bangkok's art scene runs from contemporary museums to temple decoration, palace textiles and classical dance-drama. A contemporary art museum, a free art centre, a house museum and the royal collections in the old town cover most of it. From 29 October 2026 to 28 February 2027 the Bangkok Art Biennale also brings new art into some of the city's best-known temples.
Entry prices and hours below were checked in September 2026. Confirm with each venue before you go.
Bangkok's main art museums at a glance
| Venue | Open | Entry (foreign adult) | Getting there |
|---|---|---|---|
| MOCA Bangkok | Tue-Sun 10:00-18:00 | about 400 THB | taxi or car (Chatuchak) |
| BACC | Tue-Sun 10:00-20:00 | free | BTS National Stadium |
| Jim Thompson House | daily 10:00-17:00 | about 250 THB | BTS National Stadium, Exit 1 |
| Bangkok National Museum | Wed-Sun, until 16:00 | about 240 THB | Tha Chang pier, MRT Sanam Chai |
MOCA Bangkok (Museum of Contemporary Art)
MOCA Bangkok is at 499 Kamphaengphet 6 Road, Lat Yao, Chatuchak, far from the other museums here, so a taxi or car is simplest.
- Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00-18:00. Closed on Mondays.
- Tickets: about 400 THB for adults and about 120 THB for students with ID. Children under 13, visitors over 60 and people with disabilities enter free.
- Special exhibitions: not included in the standard ticket.
- Phone: +66 2 016 5666. Current admission details are on the MOCA Bangkok admission page.
Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (BACC)
BACC is the easiest place to start: entry is free, it stays open into the evening, and it stands next to BTS National Stadium at 939 Rama I Road, Pathumwan. It is also a Bangkok Art Biennale 2026 venue.
- Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00-20:00. Closed on Mondays.
- Entry: free.
- Phone: +66 2 214 6630. Exhibition news is on the BACC website.
Jim Thompson House Museum
The Jim Thompson House Museum is at 6 Soi Kasemsan 2, Rama 1 Road. The nearest station is BTS National Stadium, Exit 1, the same station as BACC, so the two fit easily into one afternoon.
- Hours: daily, 10:00-17:00. The last guided tour is at 17:00.
- Tickets: about 250 THB for adults and about 150 THB for ages 10-21 (ID needed). Children under 10 enter free.
- Guided tours only: the main house can be entered only with a guide. Tours run in Thai, English, French, Chinese and Japanese.
- House rules: you take your shoes off in the house, and bags over 20 cm go in lockers. Photos are allowed inside, but no flash, selfies, individual portraits or video.
- Phone: +66 2 216 7368. Details are on the Jim Thompson House visit page.
Traditional Thai art in the old town
The old town around Rattanakosin, beside the Chao Phraya River, holds the royal collections and the great temples. Dress for temples here: shoulders, upper arms and knees covered, and nothing tight or see-through. The Grand Palace has the strictest rules, so clothes that pass there also work at Wat Pho and Wat Arun.
Bangkok National Museum
The Bangkok National Museum is on Na Phra That Road, Phra Nakhon, in the former Wang Na (Front Palace). Its collections include the Ramkhamhaeng Inscription, royal funeral chariots and Buddha images.
- Days: Wednesday to Sunday. Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
- Hours: 08:30-16:00 on the government site, 09:00-16:00 on the volunteers' site. Arrive before 15:30, the last entry given.
- Tickets: about 240 THB for foreigners and about 30 THB for Thai nationals.
- Getting there: take the river boat to Tha Chang pier and walk about 900 m, or use MRT Sanam Chai.
- Phone: +66 2 224 1333.
Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles
This museum is in the Ratsadakorn-bhibhathana Building inside the Grand Palace. The Grand Palace ticket (about 500 THB for foreigners) covers the palace, Wat Phra Kaew (the Temple of the Emerald Buddha) and this museum: show it at the museum desk.
- Hours: daily, 09:00-16:30, last admission 15:30.
- Museum-only ticket: about 150 THB for adults, about 80 THB for seniors aged 65 and over, and about 50 THB for students and ages 12-18. Children under 12 enter free.
Temple art at Wat Pho and Wat Arun
At Wat Pho the Reclining Buddha is 46 m long. Foreigners pay about 300 THB, and the temple opens daily from 08:00 into the early evening.
Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn) is across the river from Wat Pho. Its central prang is about 70 m tall and decorated with porcelain and seashells. Visitors can climb only to the lower terrace. The ticket is about 200 THB for foreigners, and the temple is open daily 08:00-18:00, with last entry at about 17:30. To get there from Wat Pho, take the cross-river ferry from Tha Tien pier (N8). It costs about 5.5 THB, cash only, and runs about every 10 minutes.
Bangkok Art Biennale 2026
The Bangkok Art Biennale 2026 runs from 29 October 2026 to 28 February 2027 under the theme "Angels and Mara". It uses 10 venues in total. Those announced include Museum Siam, Wat Arun, Wat Pho, One Bangkok, Wat Prayoon and BACC.
In these months a temple visit can include contemporary art. Check the Bangkok Art Biennale website for the full venue list and entry rules.
King Bhumibol Memorial Day (13 October 2026), Chulalongkorn Day (23 October 2026), Loy Krathong (24 November 2026) and Constitution Day (10 December 2026) can bring bigger crowds or changed hours, so confirm with the venue.
Art beyond the city centre
Two large sites in Samut Prakan province suit visitors who like sculpture and traditional architecture:
- Erawan Museum, known for its giant three-headed elephant: open daily 09:00-18:00, ticket sales close at 17:00. BTS Chang Erawan (E17), Exit 2. Phone +66 2 380 5244.
- Ancient City (Muang Boran): a museum park of about 800 rai (about 128 hectares) at 296/1 Moo 7 Sukhumvit Road, Bang Pu Mai. Open daily 09:00-19:00, ticket sales close at 18:00. The nearest BTS station is Kheha. Phone +66 2 026 8800.
Allow travel time each way, and budget for tolls if you go by car.
Khon: classical Thai dance-drama
The Sala Chalermkrung Royal Theatre at 66 Charoen Krung Road stages a Khon show, its "Hanuman" production. The office is open daily 09:00-18:00, including holidays. For show days and prices, check the Sala Chalermkrung website or call +66 2 225 8757-8.
Planning an art day in Bangkok
- Plan museum days from Wednesday to Sunday. MOCA and BACC close on Mondays, and the National Museum on Mondays and Tuesdays.
- Start early in the old town. Palace tickets are sold only from 08:30 to 15:30, although the grounds stay open until 16:30.
- Beat the heat. Visit indoor museums at midday and carry water.
- End at BACC. It is open until 20:00, near the Jim Thompson House.
A simple one-day plan for any day except Monday: the Grand Palace and textile museum in the morning, Wat Pho and the ferry to Wat Arun around midday, then the Jim Thompson House and BACC in the afternoon. MOCA is best on a separate day, or with a car.
Getting between art venues
The old-town sites are reached by MRT Sanam Chai or by river boat to Tha Chang (N9) and Tha Tien (N8). To add MOCA or sites outside the centre on the same day, a car with a driver is easier. The Smile Taxi Service Bangkok Tour is a full-day private car for up to 10 hours at a fixed price per vehicle: 2,700 THB by sedan, 3,000 THB by SUV, 3,700 THB by van and 4,000 THB by VIP van. Pickup in another province costs 500 THB extra, and pickups or drop-offs on the Thonburi side, west of the Chao Phraya, cost 100-200 THB extra. See the Bangkok Tour and other day trips.
Arriving by air? The fixed fare from Suvarnabhumi Airport to central Bangkok, per vehicle and one way, is 600 THB by sedan, 800 THB by SUV and 1,100 THB by van, with expressway tolls and 60 minutes of free waiting at the airport included: book a sedan from Suvarnabhumi to Bangkok. All routes are on the fare list.
You pay the driver in cash (THB) at the end of the trip. If you can only pay by card, message the team for a PayPal payment link (a 5% fee is added). Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before pickup. After that, a cancellation or change costs 25% (less than 24 h), 35% (less than 12 h) or 50% (less than 2 h) of the price, and a no-show 100%, also when you pay the driver in cash (details). An English-speaking driver can be requested when booking, subject to availability.
FAQ
Is BACC free? Yes. Entry is free, Tuesday to Sunday 10:00-20:00, next to BTS National Stadium.
When is the Bangkok Art Biennale 2026? From 29 October 2026 to 28 February 2027. Venues include Wat Arun, Wat Pho, Museum Siam and BACC.
How much is MOCA Bangkok? About 400 THB for adults and about 120 THB for students with ID. It is free for children under 13 and visitors over 60, and closed on Mondays.
Which art museums are closed on Mondays? MOCA, BACC and the Bangkok National Museum. The National Museum is also closed on Tuesdays.
Can I see several art venues in one day with a driver? Yes. The Smile Taxi Service Bangkok Tour gives you a private car for up to 10 hours for a fixed 2,700 THB by sedan (3,000 THB by SUV, 3,700 THB by van, 4,000 THB by VIP van).
To plan your art day or ask a question, message Smile Taxi Service on WhatsApp or LINE.