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A favorite with kids, the attractions at Safari World include a jungle walk and cruise, safari terrace, marine park, and spy war zone as well as orangutan boxing, Hollywood cowboy stunts and dolphin, bird, and sea lion shows.

A veritable heaven for curious kids, hands-on exhibits include a studio where children can make TV shows. They can also learn about life underground and watch a puppet show.

This zoo was initiated a century ago by Rama V (see 1868: Rama V Crowned ), who had been impressed by the zoos he saw in Europe and was aware of their power to educate visitors. Today, Dusit Zoo contains all the big mammals – lions, tigers, elephants, bears, and hippos – as well as lots of slithery reptiles and colorful birds. A kids’ playground, elephant rides, pedalos on the lake, refreshment kiosks, and shady picnic areas add to the zoo’s appeal.

This museum was created by Tongkorn Chandavimol in the 1950s after a visit to Japan, which aroused her interest in the various types of dolls from different countries and periods of history. The dolls on display are from all over the world and are from the owner’s personal collection. Dolls can even be purchased for around B400–500. The museum is tricky to find, but well worth the effort.

Aspects of the universe are projected onto a huge domed ceiling at this planetarium. There are also exhibits on space travel, astronomy through the ages, and the life of stars and the solar system, as well as a separate computer zone and an aquarium. Allow at least half a day to see everything of interest.

Located in the outskirts of the city, Siam Park is a water park, amusement park, and themed attraction rolled into one. The highlights of the water park are a speed slide, a super spiral, and a wave pool. The amusement park has a mini carousel, a swan boat, and adventure safari, while the theme park has a Jurassic adventure and a miniature train.

This amusement park has four main areas: Dream World Plaza, Dream Garden, Fantasy Land, and Adventure Land. A sightseeing train runs around the Dream Garden, which has models of world-famous sights such as the Great Wall of China and the Taj Mahal.

Named for the birthplace of the Buddha in Nepal, this is the only decent-sized park in the center of Bangkok. Though slightly crowded at times, it has a pleasant environment with lots of shady trees, picnic spots, and a large lake (see Lumphini Park ).

One of Bangkok’s newest attractions is this superb facility at Siam Square. It is divided into seven zones, which include Deep Reef, Living Ocean, and Rocky Shore. Attractions include glass-bottom boat rides and the chance to dive with sharks. There are also penguin and shark feeding sessions, plus a Magical Mermaid Show.

Founded as the Pasteur Institute in 1923, the Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute, better known as the Snake Farm, is now run by the Red Cross. Venom-milking sessions of cobras and pit vipers take place at 11am daily, with an extra session on weekdays at 2:30pm. Brave visitors can also get a souvenir photo with a snake curled around their neck (see Snake Farm ).