Royal Barges National Museum

Getting there was part of the adventure! Go to Phra Pinklao pier on the yellow flag tourist boat and then get a little lost in the alleys! There were signs pointing the way and it was quite easy after the first turn from the main road. You will meet friendly people and see a little of local Bangkok away from the hustle and bustle. You could also hire a private longtail straight there. The museum itself is small and warrants maybe 45 minutes, but if you like history or transportation or learning about the monarchy, it's a great stop!

My father came to visit us in Thailand. He told me stories of when he was stationed Thailand with the US Air Force. He remembers seeing the Kings Barges when he was here between 1964 and 1974. They were beautiful boats/Barges. I am glad we had the experience to see these boats up close.

Fantastic exhibition of both original and more recently build royal barges. Impressive craftsmanship and very well maintained barges. Well worth the visit!

Classic Thailand. This attraction is 20 baht for Thai nationals and 200 baht for foreign tourists. That’s 10 times more. The site wasn’t that interesting either. It takes no more than 5 minutes to walk around. I really wouldn’t recommend visiting. Waste of money to be ripped off for being a foreigner.

The journey on the Chao Praya is part of the experience but be warned that unless you have a private tour boat taking you directly to the museum, you can expect a tortuous, poorly marked route from the pier. The pathways wind through a crowded residential neighborhood and you are essentially walking through people’s front yards. The museum has signs in English and the boats are well presented.

The way to the museum is really interesting itself, but the people there assured us, that we were going the right way ;) The museum itself is very impressive. There arent many ceremonial boats, but the ones that were on display were beautiful to look at and accompanied by interesting texts. The staff was nice, although someone tried to sell us a canal tour afterards, but he wasnt pushy, so it was fine.

Wonderful Historical and Cultural Heritage of the Royal Barges. Magnificent craftsmanship. The museum does a nice job explaining each barge and what it was used for in various ceremonies. Each barge is numbered starting from the entry point. The number matches the plaque next to each barge. The museum offers many exhibits and pictures that explain the royal barges, their construction, and how they were manned. There are ceremonial uniforms, musical instruments and other objects used aboard the barges. There is a fleet of models assembled as they would be in the river during a major celebration such as a coronation. A truly remarkable display. Spend the time to read the exhibits and slowly walk around each barge. My visit took about 1.5 hours plus to really enjoy the museum. The staff at the museum is very nice and polite. My ticket costs 100 baht. Pictures only, no video. A worthwhile visit in Bangkok.

A small but fascinating museum. There are several barges (about 8-10) that are extraordinarily beautifully made and decorated. There are also several display cases with ceremonial uniforms worn by the barges crews. You need less than an hour to visit it. It is quite difficult to get to it, passing through a poor neighborhood of Bangkok, with some strange streets. But it is worth the visit!