Unusual Bangkok Attractions: the Beckham Temple, the Museum of Death and Other Oddities

The David Beckham Temple (Wat Pariwat Ratchasongkram)

Imagine: you walk into a Buddhist temple, and a golden David Beckham is looking at you. Next to him – Che Guevara, Barack Obama, Einstein, Superman, and Pinocchio. This is not a dream or a joke, but reality. In the late 1990s, someone local decided to decorate the temple ubosot with images of celebrities and fictional characters. So a modest temple from the Ayutthaya era turned into the most surreal temple in Bangkok.

The gilded Beckham statue appeared here in 1998 in honor of the football World Cup. Since then the temple has become a local landmark, although tourists rarely get here – it is too far from the center. If you have already seen the main temples and want something completely unexpected – this is the place for you. More about Wat Pariwat in Bangkok.

The crocodile temple (Wat Chakrawatrachawat Woramahawihan)

Wat Chakrawatrachawat Woramahawihan, also known as Wat Sam Pleum or simply the Crocodile Temple, is one of the most unusual temples in the capital. It does not shine with beauty or architecture, and is generally little known, but as is obvious from the name, crocodiles live in it, and real, live ones at that. There are 4 reptiles living here in total, and every day at about 5 pm the monks feed them.

To be fair, besides the crocodiles there is something to see here – it is one of the oldest temples in the capital. And it is also hidden in the dense buildings of Chinatown so that it is hard to find without a navigator. More about the crocodile temple.

The boat temple Wat Yannawa

This temple is not very well known among mass tourists. But if this is not your first time here and you want to see something new, we recommend visiting this unusual temple. Its architectural feature is the vihara, built in the shape of a snow-white Chinese junk, a sailing vessel from the 19th century.

Inside the boat temple there is a Buddha statue, and the structure itself is so unusual that photos take themselves. It is located next to BTS Saphan Taksin, so getting there is easy. More about the boat temple.

The Penis or Fertility Shrine (Chao Mae Tuptim)

An interesting and unusual place, although it is not necessary to include it in the must-see program of walks around Bangkok. Its charm is that it is a rare and unique place, and few tourists come here. The Penis Shrine, the Shrine of the Pregnant, or the Fertility Shrine is in fact not a place of admiration for the male reproductive organ, but a place where people come to ask for offspring and fertility, or to pay tribute to the Goddess for help.

Important: as of 2026 the shrine is practically abandoned, and we do not recommend visiting it at the moment. But it is quite possible that this is temporary and it will be restored. More about the Penis (fertility) Shrine Chao Mae Tuptim.

The city pillar shrine Lak Muang (Lak Muang)

Lak Muang, the city pillar shrine, or the temple pillar, is one of the sacred and iconic places for Bangkok residents. It is believed that this is the first building in Bangkok, and it was from this place that the city began to grow. In 1783, by decree of Rama I, a temple pillar and temple were installed here, and this laid the foundation for the construction of the city. It is also the conventional geographical center of Bangkok, since distances are measured from here.

Tourists almost never come here, and for no good reason – the place is atmospheric and is just two steps from the Grand Palace. More about the Lak Muang temple.

Wat Ratchapradit temple (Wat Ratchapradit Sathit Maha Simaram)

A tiny royal temple lost in a narrow alley a hundred meters from the Grand Palace. There are no queues or noisy tourist groups here – only silence, marble floors, and frescoes depicting a solar eclipse, reminiscent of King Rama IV's trip. The temple was built in just seven months in 1864 by order of the monarch, and his ashes are kept inside.

If you have already seen the main attractions and want to find a quiet place to rest right in the center of the tourist area, it is worth stopping by. Admission is free, and it is a 5-minute walk from the Grand Palace. More about Wat Ratchapradit temple and how to visit it.

Wat Ratchabophit temple (Wat Ratchabophit Sathitmahasimaram)

The personal temple of King Rama V, built in 1869, is one of the most underrated pearls of the historic center. There are no crowds of tourists here, and European Gothic unexpectedly combines with Thai traditions: inside the main hall there are pointed arches and Italian decor, and the walls are covered with mosaic of five-color benjarong ceramic of such quality that it can be mistaken for a photograph.

On the grounds there is an active royal cemetery with 34 burials of members of the royal family. More about Wat Ratchabophit temple and how to visit it.

Wat Thong Thammachat temple (Wat Thong Thammachat Worawihan)

An ancient third-class royal temple on the Thonburi side, in the Khlong San area, opposite Chinatown. The main reason to stop by is the frescoes inside the ubosot, created in the era of Rama III, which is called the golden age of Thai temple painting. Besides scenes from the life of the Buddha, the artists wove into the murals the daily life of the Siamese of that era: clothing, houses, everyday activities.

There are almost no tourists here – only the shade of trees, silence, and local cats. Admission is free, and on the way you can combine it with a walk around ICONSIAM or the Khlong San area. More about Wat Thong Thammachat temple and how to visit it.

Museum of Medicine (Siriraj Medical Museum)

The Siriraj Medical Museum might not have been noticed by tourists at all if not for one circumstance: it was named by Times magazine the most unusual museum in the world. And no wonder, since it has its own "folk" name – the Museum of Death. Its exhibits are shocking to the ordinary person: human organs, mummies, babies with mutations "preserved" in formalin, victims of crimes, terrifying old medical instruments, human parasites.

In short, all the things after which you will not want to eat anything for several hours, or even days. So objectively weigh how strong your nerves are and whether you are too impressionable before heading here. More about the Museum of Medicine in Bangkok and photos.

Human Body Museum

The Human Body Museum is not a traditional museum for tourists, but, as one might say in our terms, a departmental museum, since it is located on the grounds of a medical university and hospital. However, anyone can visit it.

The museum is not for the faint of heart, since its exhibits are human bodies and organs, located in two spacious and well-lit halls. Each exhibit is described in detail by an information plaque with diagrams in Thai and English. More about the museum.

Bangkokian Museum

The Bangkokian Museum is one of the hidden gems of Bangkok worth visiting. It consists of two wooden houses on the grounds of a single estate that belonged to a family of Bangkok residents during World War II. The houses are surrounded by a garden, and the estate itself is fenced off, which protects the courtyard from the noise and bustle of the city, and you can completely forget that this place is in the center of one of the noisiest metropolises in the world.

Inside the houses, the setting corresponding to the time when the family lived here has been recreated, and many exhibits belonged to family members. More about the Bangkokian Museum.

Banglamphu Museum

A small historical museum in the old district of Bangkok, within walking distance of Khao San Road. There are not many exhibits here, and they are modest in themselves – the main value of the museum is in the tour. The guide in English enthusiastically talks about the Banglamphu area, its residents, and their daily life, bringing even a small exhibition to life.

The tour lasts about 30–40 minutes and is included in the ticket price (only 30 baht). If you have already seen the main attractions and want to learn about Bangkok from another side, it is worth stopping by, especially in combination with a walk to Phra Sumen Fort (a 5-minute walk). More about the Banglamphu Museum and how to visit it.

Phaya Thai Palace

Phaya Thai Palace is almost unknown to tourists, but it is a very important place for Thais. The thing is that the palace houses an exhibition dedicated to the life of the much-loved King Rama IX Bhumibol Adulyadej. It tells about his life, from birth to death. There are almost no exhibits or furnishings here; everything is very modest. But there is a special mesmerizing atmosphere: in the silence, Thais, as if spellbound, move from one information board to another, lovingly examining photographs and reading stories from the king's life. More about the palace.

Ancient Artillery Park-Museum

The Ancient Artillery Park-Museum is a small park in front of the administrative building of the Thai Ministry of Defense, where about a dozen different ancient cannons used by the Thai army are displayed in the open air. The park is not for relaxation; there are no benches here, but there are information plaques describing each gun.

It is not worth going here specifically, but if you are walking around the Grand Royal Palace, you can stroll through the park.

Baan Khrua

A historic district in the very center of Bangkok, where among skyscrapers and BTS overpasses a corner of the old city with wooden houses, narrow winding streets, and the Darul Aman mosque has been preserved. The descendants of Vietnamese and Cambodian settlers live here, having preserved their way of life since the 19th century.

The place is not part of standard tourist routes – tours do not come here and there are no crowds. It is worth stopping by if you have already seen the main attractions and want to see the real Bangkok. The Jim Thompson Museum is nearby – convenient to combine. More about Baan Khrua and how to visit it.

Flower market (Pak Khlong Talat)

This is the largest flower market in Thailand. The counters here are piled with the roses, lilies, and chrysanthemums we are used to, as well as exotic orchids and other unknown flowers. Under the same roof there is also a vegetable market.

It cannot be said that this place is a must-visit, but if you have already seen everything in Bangkok or want something unusual, it is worth stopping by. More about the Bangkok flower market.

Amulet market (Amulet Market)

In Bangkok there are many places where you can buy amulets, but the largest and most interesting of them is the amulet market next to the Grand Royal Palace and opposite Wat Mahathat on Maha Rat Street. This is a unique place, and we recommend visiting it if possible. And it is definitely worth coming here if this is not your first time in Bangkok.

Here you can not only stroll among the rows of amazing crafts and souvenirs that breathe religion, mysticism, and antiquity, but also buy yourself an amulet (if you believe) or a souvenir (if you do not). By the way, amulets here are very inexpensive; prices start from 20 baht. More about the amulet market.

Mae Klong railway market (Mae Klong)

The Mae Klong village and market are 80 kilometers from Bangkok in Samut Songkhram Province. This is a great place for a day trip from Bangkok to places little known to tourists, to see a unique tourist attraction on the one hand, and an everyday phenomenon for Thais on the other. Here is the railway market, where vendors with their goods and stalls set up right on the railway tracks.

It is called deadly dangerous, although in fact, objectively, trains appear here only 4 times a day strictly on schedule. Nevertheless, by the time the train arrives, a huge number of tourists with cameras and photo cameras gather to capture this attraction. More about Mae Klong.

The dragon temple Wat Sam Phran

The Sam Phran dragon temple is one of the most unusual temples in the capital, and possibly in all of Thailand. The thing is that this temple complex consists not only of traditional temple buildings, the ubosot. On its grounds, next to the main ubosot, a cylindrical pink tower 80 meters or 17 floors high has been erected, wrapped around by a giant dragon.

The dragon temple is not an ancient temple; it was officially opened in 1985. Naturally, it was built using modern technologies, and they even provided an elevator in the building, but it does not work, so you will have to go up on foot. Only the first floor is open to visitors, but honestly, you will not see anything remarkable there. But the most interesting thing is that you can enter the body of the dragon and climb to the very top to the observation deck, from where a panoramic view of this outlying district of Bangkok opens up. More about the dragon temple in Bangkok.

The adult street Soi Cowboy

This is a small street in the Sukhumvit area, one of the most famous adult entertainment streets in Bangkok. Of course, this is far from the place to go to see something interesting or beautiful, or just to take a walk. But if you are looking for a place to have adult fun in the evening, this is one of the best options.

It is packed with bars, go-go clubs, and other adult establishments. Moreover, you do not necessarily have to come here solely to end the evening in a room with a girl (or a boy, whatever you prefer). In fact, you can have a pretty good time here just over a mug of beer in a bar and enjoy chatting with other tourists, expats, or successful Thais. More about Soi Cowboy street.

The adult street Patpong

This is the legendary adult entertainment street where the development of the sex industry in Bangkok began in the middle of the last century. It consists of several streets with adult entertainment and bars with girls and boys. Most of them are concentrated in the alley Soi Patpong 2. There is also Soi Jaruwan street, where establishments for lovers of ladyboys and boys are located, and Soi Thaniya street with very expensive night establishments for straight men.

Besides the night establishments, this area is known for its tourist night market on Soi Patpong 1, where you can buy all sorts of consumer goods: clothes, bags, souvenirs, and fakes. More about Soi Patpong street.

Nana Plaza

Nana Plaza is a three-story entertainment complex in the Sukhumvit area, considered one of the most famous nightlife spots in Bangkok along with Patpong and Soi Cowboy. Inside there are several dozen bars and clubs working late. This is not a place for a family holiday and not an attraction in the classic sense – people come here for the atmosphere and adult entertainment.

If you are just curious, you can go inside and walk around the floors; no one will force you to stay. But keep in mind: bags may be checked at the entrance, and the staff of the establishments inside overly actively beckon passersby. Drink prices are above the city average, especially in popular bars. We believe Nana Plaza is more of an experience than a recommendation, but it is worth knowing about its existence if you are walking around Sukhumvit in the evening.