Chao Sam Phraya National Museum

The Chao Sam Phraya National Museum is the essential cultural companion to exploring Ayutthaya's temples and should not be missed. Opened in 1961, the museum houses the finest collection of Ayutthaya-period art and artefacts in existence, including the extraordinary gold treasures excavated from the crypt of Wat Ratchaburana in 1957 — golden votive objects, royal jewellery, ceremonial weapons, and miniature Buddha images of breathtaking craftsmanship. The collection also includes Buddha statues from across the Ayutthaya period showing the evolution of Thai Buddhist art across four centuries. Seeing these treasures helps visitors understand the immense wealth and sophistication of the Ayutthaya Kingdom at its peak, when it was one of the most powerful trading empires in Asia.