With the Thai king and royal family among the most revered institutions in the country, why not kick off your tour at a former royal palace? The Suan Pakkad Palace Museum, the former home of Prince Chumbhot and his wife Mom Rajawongse Pantip, highlights the significance of royalty in ancient Thailand as well as in current everyday life. The eight houses making up the museum are built in traditional Thai style and were converted into a museum in 1952. The antique Ban Chiang collection is the exhibition's highlight and dates back to to 3600 BC to 200 AD.



Other royal exhibits, still in use today, can be admired at the Royal Barge Museum next to the Chao Phraya River. The impressive royal barges, measuring up to 50 metres in length, are stored and maintained here when not being used in one of the spectacular barge processions in honour of the royal family. If you're not lucky enough to be in the capital during one of these events, you'll get a fairly good idea of the scope of these processions when visiting this museum.

There's no way past the National Museum, located on the former grounds of the 18th century Wang Na Palace. Housing the country's largest collection of local art and artefacts, it makes for a perfect sightseeing day out when combined with the nearby Wat Phra Kaew, or Grand Palace. The once somewhat jumbled collection has been newly organised into three clear sections, chronicling the development of Thai history. Established by King Rama V, it exhibits the the antique riches given to him by his father. The exhibits are clearly labelled in English.

More gruesome displays of Thailand's history can be seen at the Bangkok Corrections Museum on Maha Chai road. Housed in a former prison, visitors are confronted with the old Thai penal system which was based on revenge and brutal puninshment. How about a huge rattan ball spiked with inward pointing nails, in which the prisoner was placed and then kicked around by an elephant? There are also life-sized execution scenes as well as fine handicrafts and furniture made by prisoners from all across the country. These make for quirky and unique souvenirs.

Get respite from the bustling traffic and non-stop shopping at Jim Thompson's House, nestled in a quiet lane along one of the last remaining typical canals in Bangkok. Here you can see the history of the Thai silk trade, revitalised by the late Jim Thompson who later mysteriously disappeared while trekking in the Malaysian Highlands. Take a guided tour before relaxing in the caf? in the lush gardens.