Siriraj Medical Museum (The Death Museum)

If your idea of a great museum runs toward the macabre and the genuinely educational, Siriraj is Bangkok’s answer to Tokyo’s parasite museum — and then some. Tucked inside the country’s oldest hospital, it’s actually several museums in one: forensic medicine, pathology, anatomy, and parasitology.

Why It’s Interesting

The collections were assembled for teaching, so the framing is medical rather than ghoulish — but it’s still extraordinary. Forensic cases (including the preserved body of a notorious mid-century killer), parasitology displays, and anatomical specimens make it a fascinating, slightly unsettling few hours. It’s a favourite of travellers who seek out the strange and the scientific over the scenic.

Getting There

Siriraj sits on the Thonburi bank of the Chao Phraya — a short ferry hop from the Grand Palace pier. Some galleries prohibit photography and have age guidance; check current opening days, as parts close on public holidays.