Four blockbuster museums in Asia to put on your bucket list

Blockbuster contemporary art museum M+ has already made a huge splash in the two years since it opened. Built on the scale of Sydney's MCA or MoMA in New York, its vast collection and modern design anchors the buzzy West Kowloon Cultural District of Hong Kong. Plan ahead to attend workshops, talks and performances curated for visitors of all ages. Temporary exhibitions, including Yayoi Kusama: 1945 to Now, a retrospective marking one of the largest exhibits of the Japanese artist's work ever staged, have attracted sell-out crowds. An installation featuring Kusama's signature polka dots is on permanent display. Don't miss all-day dining at ADD+, the museum's acclaimed restaurant serving delicious dim sum, seafood and fusion comfort food (Peking duck pizza!). mplus.org.hk

The most visited museum in Asia, the National Museum of Korea houses a staggering collection of more than 420,000 artefacts from the ancient world to modern times. You could visit every day for a week and not run out of things to see. On special display now: cultural treasures from Mesopotamia and a priceless Buddhist art collection from Tokyo National Museum. If it's a sunny day, spend some time in the outdoor grounds, where pagodas and stone sculptures make terrific artsy backdrops for selfies. Kids will love the interactive learning opportunities at the National Museum of Korea Children's Museum, where cleverly curated displays tell the story of Korea's past and present. Junior explorers are encouraged to be hands-on and curious. The museum is free to enter and open every day. museum.go.kr

Who said art museums are boring? At Jim Thompson House Museum, lovers of silk art, Thai architecture and tranquil spaces will be in heaven. Known as the Thai silk king, the late James H.W. Thompson was a New York architect who lived in Thailand and was instrumental in establishing the nation's silk industry. His untimely disappearance is still a mystery to this day. His former home, located in the centre of Bangkok on Rama 1 Road, has been lovingly restored and now houses the incredible antiques, Asian art and vintage silk he once surrounded himself with. Walking through the rooms, his love for Thailand is clearly on display. An on-site restaurant serves some of the best Thai food you'll eat, featuring classics such as papaya salad, Massaman curry with chicken and mango sticky rice. jimthompsonhouse.org

Designed to represent the welcoming hand of Singapore, ArtScience Museum's eye-catching shape also resembles the organic form of a lotus flower. It's one of the most photographed buildings in Singapore. Inside, you'll find exhibits that explore the connections between art and science through high-tech installations. Shh, don't tell the kids it's educational. Let them think it's all fun and games. It's both. Past exhibitions have included The Deep, a collection of deep-sea creatures and an homage to the work of Nobel Prize laureates. The largest private museum in Singapore, it's part of the huge Marina Bay Sands resort complex. After traipsing through the galleries, refuel at the resort, where you'll find dining venues from chefs including Gordon Ramsay and Tetsuya Wakuda. marinabaysands.com

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