The Curated Journey: 5 Museums Define the Modern Escape

To step inside a world-class institution is to move beyond the surface of a city, gaining access to the collective soul, intellectual heritage, and creative future of a culture. These hallowed halls offer a rare commodity in today’s frantic world: the luxury of deep focus. Beyond their avant-garde architecture and priceless archives, these landmarks provide the vital context that transforms a fleeting visit into a profound connection.

Tracing a path from the sculptural corridors of Seoul to the ancient treasures of Giza, these landmarks foster a dialogue between a storied past and a transformative future.

MOMA’S NEW CHAPTER

Seoul, South Korea

New York’s Museum of Modern Art has marked two decades of partnership with credit card company Hyundai Card by opening the world’s first MoMA Bookstore (Tues-Sat: 12:00-21:00, Sun: 12:00-18:00) in Seoul’s Dosan Park. Browse over a thousand books about art, design, and architecture, including rare exhibition catalogues, or discover the curated selection of exclusive MoMA merchandise, such as varsity jackets, sweatshirts, and limited-edition design objects. With its striking white façade, vibrant interiors, and shelves lined with beautiful tomes, this bookshop is a work of art in itself – and a cultural bridge that now connects Asia’s art lovers with MoMA’s celebrated collection.

Inspired by a new bookstore? Fly to Seoul with Thai Airways!

DIVE INTO MARINE LIFE

Singapore

Singapore’s old aquarium has been reborn as a state-of-the-art ocean institute complete with live habitats and high-tech exhibits. Head for the Singapore Oceanarium at Sentosa Island (Weekdays: 10:00-19:00, Weekends: 09:00-21:00) to journey through prehistoric seas, float among thousands of pulsing moon jellies, walk suspended nets above sharks, or peek into real research labs where knowledge about the aquatic world is deepened. This exhilarating blend of natural wonders and digital innovation doesn’t just make science compelling – it aims to inspire visitors to love and protect our oceans.

Curious about the underwater world? Fly to Singapore with Thai Airways!

ETERNAL HORIZONS

Egypt

Standing as a geometric titan upon the Giza plateau, the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) fully unveiled its splendor in November 2025 as the world’s largest institution dedicated to a single civilization. This billion-dollar masterwork by Heneghan Peng Architects presents a rhythmic façade of translucent alabaster and limestone, with a roofline that echoes the silhouettes of the nearby Great Pyramids.

The experience centers on the Grand Staircase, a dramatic six-story ascent lined with 87 monumental statues of pharaohs and deities. At its summit, the complete Tutankhamun collection awaits. For the first time since 1922, all 5,000 treasures—from the iconic 11-kilogram gold death mask to the pharaoh’s celestial meteorite dagger—are reunited in one immersive gallery. By housing the 4,600-year-old Khufu Solar Boat and over 100,000 artifacts, the GEM serves as the definitive bridge between Egypt’s eternal past and a visionary future.

THE FALCON’S FLIGHT

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Rising like a sweeping falcon from the Saadiyat Cultural District, the Zayed National Museum stands as a majestic tribute to the UAE’s storied past and future. Officially opened in December 2025, this architectural marvel by Lord Norman Foster features five steel wings soaring 123 meters high. These towers function as “thermal chimneys,” harnessing desert breezes to naturally cool the galleries below.

The journey begins in Al Masar Garden, a verdant path leading to a collection of over 3,000 artifacts. Spanning millennia, highlights include 300,000-year-old stone tools and the legendary 8,000-year-old Abu Dhabi Pearl. Whether marvelling at the Bronze Age Magan boat or exploring galleries dedicated to Sheikh Zayed’s leadership, the experience is a masterclass in storytelling. This landmark bridges Abu Dhabi as a global cultural capital.

WHERE ART TAKES SHAPE

Paris, France

The new home of the contemporary art museum Fondation Cartier (Tues: 11:00-22:00, Wed-Sun: 11:00-20:00) is nothing less than revolutionary. In an historic building at Place du Palais-Royal, just a short walk from the Louvre, Pritzker Prize-winning architect Jean Nouvel has worked his magic — floor-to-ceiling windows flood artworks with light, while the building’s five moveable floors can be raised and lowered, resulting in new galleries and new perspectives on every visit. No wonder the art world is excited.

Discover the new home of the contemporary art. Fly to Paris with Thai Airways!