Everything is outdoors
This is an open-air site, not an air-conditioned museum. Those who arrive at noon during the hot season will feel it, and there's nowhere to go inside.
The Ancient City and the Erawan Museum
An open-air museum the size of a city, with replicas of Thailand's temples, and next to it a three-headed bronze elephant that you can go inside.
Check availability and pricePrices
From 260 THB, when booked in advance.
Important information:
- The Ancient City is an open-air museum the size of a city, and not an exhibition hall. The distances within it are large, and walking in the sun is part of the visit. A hat, water, and comfortable shoes.
- Both attractions are located in Samut Prakan, southeast of Bangkok: not in the city center. The visit requires travel, and it's worth allotting most of the day for it.
- In the elephant-feeding package, you feed them rice balls. There's no elephant riding in it.
- The Erawan Museum is the cheaper attraction at this site, 260 THB, and it's also the shortest. For those who only have two hours, this is the choice.
- The Ancient City and the Erawan Museum are close to each other, so the combined package at 600 THB saves a separate trip.
What is in the Old City
An open-air museum the size of an entire city
The Ancient City (Ancient City) It's an open-air museum where Replicas of temples, palaces, and historical structures from all over Thailand, some of them full-size and some scaled down.
The area is arranged roughly according to the map of Thailand: what's in the north of the country sits in the northern part of the site, and the south in the south. You can get around on foot, by bicycle, or by electric vehicle.
This is a large, open-air site, not an air-conditioned museum. Those who arrive at noon during the hot season will feel it.
and what's in the Erawan Museum
A three-headed bronze elephant, and you go inside it
The Erawan Museum It's a structure on which stands A three-headed bronze elephant: Erawan from Hindu mythology. The elephant itself is made of hand-beaten copper, and it's visible from the road long before you arrive.
The visit is mainly Inside The statue: you go up into the elephant's body, and there's a space with stained-glass windows and murals. Below it, a floor with collections.
The visit is short: About an hour to two hours, so it combines well with the Ancient City on the same day.
Which ticket to choose
The difference between the cheap and the expensive is fivefold
Erawan only: 260 THB. The cheapest, the shortest, and the most suitable for those who don't have a full day.
The Ancient City only: 380 THB. This is the big part, and requires at least half a day.
Both together: 600 THB. Cheaper than buying both of them separately, and they're close to each other. This is the choice most people look for.
and for those who want an experience too, not just a visit: Papaya salad workshop at 580, Feeding elephants at 800, or Thai cooking class at 1,300.
Who this suits
and when it's better to skip it
For those interested in Thailand's architecture and temples who don't have time to travel to Chiang Mai and Ayutthaya, The Ancient City gives you all of them in one day.
And for families: the area is open, you can ride bikes, and it's an alternative to an air-conditioned mall.
Less suitable for a rainy day or the hot hours. Most of the site is outdoors, and there's nowhere to go inside.
The Ancient City, a museum the size of a city
Muang Boran, and what's really there
Muang Boran isn't an ancient city but A park spanning about 320 dunams where over a hundred structures from all over Thailand were reconstructed - palaces, temples, pavilions, and villages. It's considered one of the largest outdoor museums in the world.
Some of the structures are Full-scale replicas, some of them scaled down, and some of them are original structures that were dismantled and relocated here to save them from destruction.
The park is built In the shape of a map of Thailand: A structure from the north stands in the northern part of the site, and a structure from the south in the southern part. Those who walk through it from north to south are effectively touring the whole country.
Between the structures there are lakes, bridges, gardens, and canals. This is a place for a long walk, and many rent bicycles or ride a golf cart that goes around the site.
The Erawan Museum, the three-headed elephant
and what's inside it
The Erawan is A bronze statue of a three-headed elephant At a height of about 29 meters, standing on a round structure's base. It weighs about 250 tons, and its construction took over a decade.
The three-headed elephant is The mount of the god Indra in Hindu-Buddhist mythology, and in Thai it's called Erawan. The statue isn't decoration, it's a structure, and you can go up into it.
The structure is divided into three floors representing three worlds: The underworld In the basement, where there's a collection of antiquities; The human world at the base, with stained-glass windows and a decorated staircase; and Sky World inside the elephant's body itself.
Visiting both sites on the same day is possible, they're located in the same area, southeast of Bangkok.
What to know before you arrive
Distance, time, and one fine worth knowing about
The two sites are located in the area Samut Prakan, southeast of Bangkok. The convenient way by public transportation is The light rail to Kheha station (E23), and from there a taxi or local bus.
For the Ancient City you need At least half a day, and preferable. Those who try to squeeze it into two hours will see only a small part of the site.
You may not bring a Thai costume from home, a fine of 600 THB for every outfit. There are official rental services on site, and this is the detail that Israeli customers who take photos in the outfits fall into.
The required dress is modest: no shorts or short skirts and no tank tops. The area is open and exposed, so a hat and water are recommended.
Both sites are accessible for strollers and wheelchairs.
Before you arrive
An open-air site the size of a city, and that changes everything
in Samut Prakan
southeast of Bangkok, not in the city center. The visit requires travel, and it's worth allotting a full day for it.
Not to bring an outfit
A fine of 600 THB for every Thai outfit brought from home. There are official rental services on site.
Just two hours?
Erawan Museum alone It's the cheap and short one, the choice for those who don't have a full day.
Gallery
Photo gallery
Frequently asked questions
What to know before you book
What is the Ancient City?
Muang Boran, a park spanning about 320 dunams where over a hundred structures from all over Thailand were reconstructed. It's built in the shape of a map of Thailand.
What's special about the Erawan Museum?
A bronze statue of a three-headed elephant, about 29 meters tall and weighing about 250 tons. You can go up inside it, three floors representing three worlds.
How long does it take?
For the Ancient City, at least half a day. The area is large, and many rent bicycles or ride a golf cart.
How do you get there?
In the Samut Prakan area, southeast of Bangkok. By light rail to Kheha station (E23), and from there a taxi or local bus.
Can you bring a Thai costume for photos?
No. A fine of 600 THB For any costume. Organised rental services are available on site.
How much does a ticket to the Ancient City cost?
฿380 for an adult and ฿310 for a child for the Ancient City only. Erawan Museum only ฿260 and ฿130. Both attractions together ฿600 and ฿400.
What's the difference between the Ancient City and the Erawan Museum?
The Ancient City is an open-air museum the size of a city, with replicas of temples and palaces from all over Thailand, and requires half a day. The Erawan Museum is a three-headed bronze elephant statue that you go inside, and the visit there lasts an hour to two hours.
Where is it located?
In Samut Prakan, southeast of Bangkok. Both attractions are close to each other, so the combined package saves a separate trip.
Is there elephant riding?
No. The elephant package is feeding with rice balls only, and there's no riding in it.
How much time to allow?
For the Ancient City, at least half a day, it's large and the distances within it are long. For Erawan, an hour to two hours. For both together, it's worth allotting most of the day.
What do the workshop packages include?
Papaya salad workshop ฿580, Thai cooking workshop ฿1,300 (child ฿1,050), or elephant feeding with rice balls ฿800 (child ฿600). All of them also include entry to the Ancient City.
What should you bring?
A hat, water, and comfortable shoes. Most of the site is open-air and has no air conditioning.
Is it worth coming on a rainy day?
No. Most of the Ancient City is outdoors. On a rainy day, the Erawan Museum alone is preferable, since the visit there is covered.
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