Bangkok is a city rich with contrasts, contradictions and juxtapositions. Among its vibrant shopping malls, skyscrapers and hotels, you’ll find many kooky, crazy, or downright bizarre sights – often the result of centuries-old Buddhist culture being pushed into the 21st century.
If you think you’ve seen all that Bangkok has to offer, it’s time to immerse yourself in some innumerable oddities during your visit. Read on for our list of weird and wacky places to see in Bangkok, most of which you can easily reach by train or taxi.
Samut Prakan
Erawan Museum in Samut Prakan is most famous for its massive 3-headed elephant statue, which stands on an equally gargantuan pedestal. Made from pure copper, the 29-metre-tall sculpture weighs around 250 tonnes.
99 Bang Mueang Mai, Samut Prakan 10270, Thailand
Riverside
The Bangkok Forensic Museum at Siriraj Hospital offers morbid exhibitions of the human anatomy. Glass jars containing deformed babies and gruesome autopsy photographs are all preserved for posterity in Bangkok’s very own hall of horrors. This unusual museum is not suitable for kids (or the faint-hearted).
2 Wanglung Road, Bangkok Noi, Bangkok 10700, Thailand
Telefon: +66 (0)2 419 260
David Beckham Temple (Wat Pariwat)
Riverside – Rama III Road
Wat Pariwat is called the David Beckham Temple of Bangkok for a very unusual reason. An altar in the back corner of the temple has a mural carving of the famous football player. Depicted in the style of a garuda (mythical guardian) holding up the altar on his shoulders, this 30-cm-tall statuette was the work of a fan with the agreement of the abbot in 1998.
734 Rama III Rd, Bang Phong Phang, Yan Nawa, Bangkok 10120
Elephant Tower
Chatuchak
The Elephant Tower is one of the most unique landmarks in Bangkok’s Chatuchak district. The 3 towers (A, B, and C) make up a shape of Thailand’s national animal. On the right edge of the building, you can see an eye and tusk. The building serves as a condominium, office space, and a language school.
Khwaeng Chom Phon, Khet Chatuchak, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10900
Giant dragon tower at Wat Samphran
Between Bangkok and Nakhon Pathom
Wat Samphran has a massive dragon sculpture that’s coiled around its 17-storey cylindrical tower. The head of the giant dragon is visible from a distance. Located 40 km west of Bangkok, it’s worth taking a short trip to this unusual shrine.
Mu 7, 92/8 Sam Phran, Sam Phran District, Nakhon Pathom 73110
Robot building
Sathorn
The ‘robot building’ in Sathorn dates back to 1986, serving as the headquarters of United Overseas Bank (UOB). The architect behind this 20-storey building was inspired by his son’s toy robot. Elements of the exterior design serve real purposes – the oversized ‘bolts’ and ‘caterpillar wheels’ act as sunshades and canopies for the building.
UOB building, Sathorn Tai (South Sathorn)
Sathorn Unique Tower (Ghost Skyscraper)
End of Sathorn Road, by the river
Sathorn Unique Tower is a 50-storey unfinished building that remained abandoned since the 1997 economic crisis. It has a strong resemblance with the neighbouring State Tower skyscraper, with its typical round balconies and Roman columns. After several creepy incidents (including a suicide), Sathorn Unique attracts daredevils looking to explore the delipidated structure.
Charoen Krung Rd, Yan Nawa, Sathorn, Bangkok 10330
Museum of Human Body
The Museum of Human Body at Chulalongkorn University is a weird and amazing exhibition of 14 dissected human bodies from Japan. Some might think this is a really creepy idea, but it’s a popular stop for those who are fascinated by human anatomy. Located inside the Faculty of Dentistry building, the museum also serves as an educational exhibit.
34 Thanon Henri Dunant, Wang Mai, Pathum Wan District, Bangkok 10330
Tel: +66 (0)2 218 8635