The General Post Office in Bang Rak is a place which is very famously known among teenagers for a very long time. Not to send out the post to their loved one, but to take a photo with this building and post it on social media. Honestly, this kind of activity was also on my bucket list during my teenage time as well. Why? Well… one thing I can say is the building itself appeared to be a symbol of creativity from its unique Art Deco building style which makes you feel like you are living abroad, in a modern and prosperous life, as well as it used to appear in many teenage films back then. There are also many nice attractions and coffee shops around this place to hang out with your friends which make it a great place to meet and snap a photo with your friend during the weekend.
Since the arrival of Thailand Creative and Design Center (TCDC) which serves its function as a creativity, innovation and design hub to this place, it even elevated the story of this place to become an actual hub of creativity in Bangkok. This is the story of this place and activities you can do if you plan to visit here.
History of The Impressive Building
The General Post Office in Bang Rak is a historic building that stands as a symbol of Thailand’s postal service and its architectural heritage. It was constructed in 1940 during the reign of King Rama VIII to serve the growing demand for postal and telegraph services. During World War II, the building played a significant role in communications and was one of the prominent government structures of the era.
The main building was designed in Art Deco style, reflecting a combination of modernism and functionality that was popular in the early 20th century. Its design is characterized by clean, geometric lines and monumental proportions. There are very few buildings left in Bangkok which are constructed in Art Deco style, which also makes this building more unique.
Inside it also has lavish looks with nice details of the doors and windows, high ceiling with chandelier. Of course it is still a post office and you can send some post back to your hometown as well! (see the open hours below)
Arrival of Thailand Creative and Design Center (TCDC)
TCDC offers inspiration for designers, entrepreneurs, students, and the general public. There are Resource Center and Library which offer collections of materials and design resources. Visitors can explore samples of fabrics, metals, plastics, and other innovative materials as well as a vast collection of books, magazines, journals, and digital media focused on design, creativity, business, and innovation. If you want to find a quiet place for readings or work on your laptop, this is a good place you may consider as well.
The arrival of TCDC not only turned this place into another library, but also hosted many cultural and creative business events which facilitate the local cultural products to the global scale such as Bangkok Music City where artists and musicians can pitch their work to the business vendors from around the world and get updates on the music trends from seminar sessions. There are also many art exhibitions arranged in this venue as well. For such activities, as individual visitors, you can also attend and get some new inspiration. You can always check the list of events, exhibitions or workshops you might be interested to join from the TCDC link here.
Opening Hours and Entrance Fee
General Post Office offers the postal services following opening hours below:
Monday to Friday from 8:30-16:30
Saturday from 7:00-16:00
Sunday is closed
Entrance fee: General Post Office: Free for everyone. Even you did not want to send any post, you can still enter and walk around the inside of the building.
TCDC opening hours
Tuesday to Sunday from 10:30-19:00
Monday is closed
Public holiday is closed
Entrance fee: TCDC requires a membership or purchasing a 1-day pass to experience the resource center. The fee follows the info below:
1-Day Pass. (excluding meeting rooms)
Rate 100 Baht/day
Yearly Membership (for student / Thai government employee / senior citizen)
Rate 600 Baht/year
Yearly Membership (for general public)
Rate 1,200 Baht/year
How to get there?
By Boat. Get off the boat at Si Phraya Pier. At the exit of the walkway from the pier, turn right and go along the street. Go along the street to Chareonkrung main street. From Chareonkrung main street, turn right and go along the street around 200 metres. The General Post Office building will be on your right.
You can take a short cut by passing Warehouse 30. Turn left at the end of the warehouse and go along the street you will see the Chareonkrung main street. The General Post Office building will be on your right.
By BTS. Go to Saphan Taksin station. Walk along the Chareonkrung street to the north. Around 1.1 KM, the General Post Office building will be on your left. By walking you will experience the local life of Chareonkrung Community where many local shops can be found along the street. The community is famously known as the “jewelry trading district” where you can find any kind of gemstone and crafted jewelry here.
