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A century-old palace hides in plain sight within the Bank of Thailand’s riverside grounds, unknown even to many Bangkokians. King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) commissioned Bang Khun Phrom Palace as a residence for Prince Paribatra Sukhumbandhu, and it is often ranked among Thailand’s most beautiful palaces.
The building is a time capsule of late-19th-century European design, confidently blending Baroque and Rococo influences. Ornate stucco, arched windows, marble staircases, carved wooden doors and elaborately decorated ceilings fill the interiors. The grand staircase starts broad and narrows as it rises, echoing Europe’s great palaces and theatres, while the circular, European-style Music Pavilion once hosted performances at royal receptions.
Following the political changes of the 1930s, the palace served as government offices before the Bank of Thailand moved in in 1945 and eventually turned it into the Bank of Thailand Museum. Guided tours cover the palace’s history, life within its walls and the development of Thailand’s monetary system – an unusual meeting of grand architecture and financial history.
Thanon Samsen, Wat Sam Phraya, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok. Saturdays and Sundays only, by advance booking. Two sessions: 10.30am and 2.30pm. Free entry.