Madame Tussauds Bangkok: All You Need to Know Before You Go

Unless you’re a major Hollywood superstar, what are the chances of you taking selfies with Angelina Jolie, Tom Cruise, Madonna, and a hundred other celebrities, all in one day?

At Madame Tussauds Wax Museum, that’s exactly what you get. Not only can you pose with Hollywood A-listers, you’ll also find yourself standing next to world leaders, sports legends, and even the late Queen Elizabeth II.

While many tourist attractions come and go, Madame Tussauds has somehow stood the test of time. Its legacy stretches back more than 250 years, which is pretty impressive for a museum best known today for celebrity selfies.

Fun (and slightly dark) facts about Madame Tussauds

Madame Tussauds might feel playful and light-hearted now, but its origins are anything but.

The museum was founded by Marie Tussaud, a Frenchwoman who learned the art of wax sculpting at just 16 years old from her mentor, Dr. Philippe Curtius, an anatomist with a flair for wax modelling.

Things took a grim turn during the French Revolution, Marie was imprisoned and later forced to make plaster casts of the heads of people executed by guillotine, including the King and Queen of France.

She reportedly held these severed heads on her knees to capture their features before the casts were paraded through the streets of Paris as a symbol of revolutionary victory.

After the revolution, Marie left France and toured her collection around Europe before eventually settling in London, where she opened a permanent waxworks exhibition.

That modest business later evolved into the first Madame Tussauds museum.

Some more interesting facts:

• A major fire in 1925 destroyed many figures, though the original molds survived, allowing them to be recreated.
• During World War II, a bomb hit the museum and destroyed around 350 head molds.
• The first overseas Madame Tussauds opened in Amsterdam in 1970.
• Today, there are 24 Madame Tussauds museums worldwide.
• Each wax figure takes about six months, over 250 measurements, around 20 skilled artists, and can cost up to USD 300,000 to complete.
• Living subjects are invited for a sitting; for historical figures, teams rely on hundreds of photographs and references.
• The figures’ hair is washed and makeup retouched regularly.
• Madame Tussauds Bangkok opened in 2010, making it the third Madame Tussauds in Asia.

Madame Tussauds Bangkok ticket prices

• Adult (12 and above): From THB 891
• Senior (60+): From THB 711
• Child (2 – 11): From THB 711
  Child (Below 2): Free

Prices aren’t fixed and can be higher on weekends or during peak periods. There’s also the option to buy combo tickets that include SEA LIFE Bangkok.

Madame Tussauds opening hours

10:00 a.m. – 08:00 p.m. daily (last entry 07:00 p.m.)

How to get to Madame Tussauds Bangkok

Madame Tussauds Bangkok is located on the 4th floor of Siam Discovery Shopping Center.

Address: 4th Floor, Siam Discovery, 989 Rama I Road, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330.

There are a few different ways to get there:

• By bus: Take any of the following bus routes: 15, 16, 25 (Paknam-Thachang), 40, ปอ.40, 48, 54, 73, 73ก, 79, 141, 159, 162, 183, 204, 501, 508, and stop at the Siam Discovery Shopping Center.
• By BTS Skytrain: Madame Tussauds is a five-minute walk from BTS Siam station. BTS Siam station is right in the middle of the city and an easy journey from anywhere in Bangkok.
• By MRT: Stop at MRT Silom, Sukhumvit or Chatuchak Park station, and transfer to BTS Sky train. (See above).
• By car: Drive along Rama I Road, pass Siam Paragon entrance 2, and turn left to Siam Center car park.

For disabled guests: Madame Tussauds Bangkok is a disabled-friendly establishment. A free wheelchair service can be provided with advanced booking.

Call 02-842 2000 or send an email with the subject ‘MTBK Wheelchair Service Pre-booking’.

What to expect at Madame Tussauds Bangkok

I’d always been curious about Madame Tussauds, and knowing there was one in Southeast Asia made it even more tempting.

Still, wax museums don’t strike me as the most solo-traveler-friendly places. You really want someone around to help take photos (since that’s the whole point of visiting), and I wasn’t keen on constantly asking strangers.

Since I usually traveled on my own, I kept postponing the visit even though I’d been in Bangkok many times. So, when my partner agreed to come with me, I was ecstatic.

When we arrived, part of the entrance was under renovation, with plywood covering sections of the floor. It wasn’t the best first impression, and to be honest, I was starting to wonder if this was going to be worth our money.

Thankfully, things improved almost immediately once we stepped inside.

The museum is divided into 9 themed zones, featuring a mix of international and regional personalities. This is the updated list of sculptures you can find in Madame Tussauds Bangkok:

As Bangkok attracts many visitors from all over Asia, you’ll see celebrities from neighboring countries too, some of whom might not be very famous internationally.

But don’t worry — the majority of the figures in Madame Tussauds Bangkok are world-renowned.

And in any case, there are descriptions of each one of them if you’re not sure who it is you’re taking a selfie with.

What I liked most is how interactive everything is. Unlike traditional museums, you’re encouraged to touch, hug, and pose with the figures.

Props are provided to help you get creative with photos, and there are interactive areas where you can dance, sing karaoke, shoot hoops, or even play mini golf.

At the end of your visit, you’ll get to watch a super fun 4D movie (no, I won’t spoil the surprise for you).

The cinema comes with 4D glasses, moving seats, and all kinds of special effects. Admission is included with your ticket.

How long to spend at Madame Tussauds Bangkok

I think we spent close to two hours at the museum. There were not many people around, so we were able to take as much time as we wanted with each figure.

When planning your visit, I’d say plan for about 1.5 to 2.5 hours. That gives you enough time to:

• Walk through all nine zones without rushing.
• Take your photos, play with props, and explore the interactive areas.
• Watch the 4D movie at the end.

If it’s busy, you might need a little extra time just waiting for photos or moving through crowded zones.

Is Madame Tussauds Bangkok worth visiting?

For me, yes. I can’t compare it to other Madame Tussauds around the world, but I genuinely enjoyed myself. It’s oddly fascinating to stand next to life-sized celebrities and realizing just how tall (or not) they actually are — Nicole Kidman is very tall.

It’s not cheap by Thai standards, but considering it’s an international attraction and the only Madame Tussauds in Southeast Asia, I think it’s worth the price, especially if you live in or often travel around the region.

Have you been to a Madame Tussauds museum? Where was it, and which figure impressed you the most? Comment below.

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