five best museums in bali

We’ve round up a list of the best museums in Bali that will help you learn more about the Island’s history, art, artifacts, and archaeology.

1. Neka Art Museum

As one of the most renowned museums in Bali, Neka Art Museum was established in 1976 by a famous Balinese art enthusiast Wayan Suteja Neka. The Neka Art Museum presents his wide and ever-growing collection since 1976, from classical to contemporary, traditional to modern. Here, you will see paintings, sculptures, traditional tools, and weapons that will give insight into the elaborate culture of Bali.

Neka Museum features traditional keris dagger collection. Many people come to this museum bringing old and new keris to be examined by Neka.

Neka Art Museum, Kedewatan, Gianyar, Bali, Indonesia, +62361 975074

2. Bali Museum

Located in Denpasar, this museum is definitely a heritage centre that depicts Balinese culture and history. Built in the early 30’s, Bali Museum pillars four main structures. In Tabanan complex, visitors can see musical instruments and theatrical masks whilst paintings and sculptures are on display in Karangasem complex. If you are into local textile industry and its history, you can see them in Buleleng complex and archaeological artifacts fan can opt to go straight to Timur complex. Bali Museum  houses various Balinese looms and ancient calendars.

The collections stored in Bali Museum can be classified as a prehistoric object collection.

Museum Bali, Jalan Mayor Wisnu, Dangin Puri, Denpasar City, Bali, Indonesia, +62361 222680

3. Museum Pasifika

Located in Nusa Dua, Museum Pasifika presents an Asia-Pacific melting pot of culture. Masterpieces from 200 artists from 25 countries, 350 paintings, and 250 historical objects are on display here.

Initiated by a small circle of French and Indonesian art lovers and antique collectors, Museum Pasifika houses hundreds of paintings. The Museum Pasifika collection is dominated by cultural and Balinese life themes. Here, one can find the works of Balinese painter Nyoman Gunarsa and Javanese artist Raden Saleh to name a few.

Museum Pasifika,  (ITDC) Area, Block P, Nusa Dua +62 (0)361 774 935

4. Bajra Sandhi Museum

Standing in the centre of a park, Bajra Sandhi Museum displays spectacular and artistic Balinese architecture. It has has numerous dioramas that depict the political and economic events of Bali dating back to thousands of years. T

This historical museum captures the Balinese struggle against the Dutch colonial invasion. The Balinese Struggle Monument with its Balinese architecture and detailed carvings is the icon of the museum.

Bajra Sandhi (Renon Monument), Jalan Raya Puputan No. 142, Panjer, Denpasar, +62 823 3027 2304

5. Agung Rai Museum of Art

Founded in 1996 by Agung Rai,  ARMA allows you to enjoy the special exhibitions, theatre performances, dances, music and painting classes, a bookshop, library and reading room, cultural workshops, conferences, seminars and training programmes.

The painting collection at ARMA ranges from traditional to contemporary, including the classical Kamasan Collection on tree bark, masterpieces by Batuan artists of the 30s and 40s, and the only available works to be seen on the island from 19th century Javanese artist Raden Saleh and Syarif Bustaman.

Agung Rai Museum of Art, Jalan Raya Pengosekan, Ubud, Gianyar+62 361 976659