Who wouldn’t enjoy a relaxing walk in some tropical gardens before they explore the vast collections that display the best of Balinese culture to curious visitors?
Well, fortunately, there are plenty of options to do just that and we’ve rounded up the 21 best museums in Bali for you to enjoy!
The Best 21 Museums In Bali
ARMA: Agung Rai Museum Of Art
Agung Rai Museum of Art was founded in 1996 by Agung Rai, who was dedicated to developing art and culture in Bali.
If you want cultural workshops, classes, performances, a huge library of works dedicated to Balinese art and a great bookshop, Agung Rai Museum of Art is the place to come. Everything here depicts Balinese culture in a positive light.
The collection of Kamasan paintings (on the medium of tree bark) is particularly noteworthy. They have a great collection of foreign artists too.
Where Is It? Agung Rai Museum of Art, Jl. Raya Pengosekan Ubud, Ubud, Kecamatan Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80571, Indonesia
Online: ARMA
Le Mayeur Museum
As you might expect from the name, this Bali museum is dedicated to the life and work of Adrien-Jean Le Mayeyr, the Belgian artist who married a Balinese Legong dancer and lived on the island for much of his life.
It’s a testament to their love as much as it is an art museum and it would be a hard heart that didn’t find something to enjoy here.
Where Is It? 87G7+2FV, Jl. Hang Tuah, Sanur Kaja, Denpasar Selatan, Kota Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia
Online: Facebook
Museum Rudana
The artistic Balinese architecture makes this one of the most interesting museums in Bali, and it’s a great way to start understanding the important local concept of Tri Hita Karana.
The collection here is stuffed with rare pieces from luminaries of the island’s art scene.
Where Is It? Jl. Cok Rai Pudak No.44, Peliatan, Kecamatan Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80571, Indonesia
Online: Rudana
Ogoh Ogoh Bali Museum
The day before Nyepi, the Balinese host Ogoh Ogoh parades in every town and village on the island.
This museum is the perfect place to understand this tradition and to enjoy some incredible monsters! Some of the stone carvings here are quite terrifying.
Where Is It? JI.Ayodya No.1 Taman Ayun., Desa Mengwi, Mengwi, Kec. Mengwi, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80351, Indonesia
Online: Ogoh Ogoh Bali
Samsara Living Museum
If you’re curious about the traditional daily life of the people here, this is the museum to go to.
It’s also one of the most interactive exhibits on the island. So, take your kids, they’ll love it.
Where Is It? Jl. Telaga Tista, Jungutan, Kec. Bebandem, Kabupaten Karangasem, Bali 80861, Indonesia
Online: Samsara
Museum Pasifika Bali
If you love art, you’re going to love Museum Pasifika which showcases Indonesia’s culture and heritage.
With 11 rooms dedicated to more than 50 local artists and the Indo-European artists that helped to form the local schools of art, such as Walter Spies, you just can’t go wrong.
Where Is It? Complex Bali Tourism Development Corporation (BTDC) Area Block P, Benoa, South Kuta, Badung Regency, Bali 80361, Indonesia
Online: Pasifika
Neka Art Museum
Neka Art Museum is all about Ubud-style paintings plus some of the European artists that helped influence the style.
There are over 500 items in the painting collection at Neka Art Museum and seven galleries to explore. Guided tours bring this place to life. It’s also not far from the Ubud Monkey Forest.
Where Is It? Neka Art Museum, Jalan Raya Sanggingan Campuhan, Kedewatan, Kecamatan Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80571, Indonesia
Online: Instagram
Museum Puri Lukisan
This is one of our favourite museums in Bali and it is the art collection of the former King of Ubud.
It’s still managed by the royal family and there’s a real love of Balinese art and culture in this Bali museum. If you want to see the best of modern Balinese art, there’s no finer place to witness it.
Where Is It? F7V6+J3P, Jalan Raya Ubud, Ubud, Kecamatan Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80571, Indonesia
Online: Puri Lukisan
Don Antonio Blanco Renaissance Museum
The Blanco Renaissance Museum is the former home of Don Antonio Blanco, the Spanish artist with a certain obsession for (nude) Balinese women.
The art is first-rate, however, and the collection here is very pleasant and the garden environment is lovely too.
Where Is It? Jl. Raya Campuhan, Sayan, Kecamatan Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80571, Indonesia
Online: Blanco
Setia Darma House Of Masks And Puppets
If you love theatrical masks, you’re going to love Setia Darma which has brought the wayang kulit shadow puppets from all over Indonesia and traditional masks and given them a home.
It’s also gone further afield and you can find complementary pieces from around Asia and Africa here too.
Where Is It? Jalan Tegal Bingin, Banjar Tengkulak Tengah, Kemenuh, Sukawati, Gianyar Regency, Bali 80582, Indonesia
Online: House of Masks And Puppets
Batur Geopark Museum
If you want to better understand Bali and Indonesia’s volcanoes, you can’t go wrong at the geopark.
It’s a surprisingly technical exhibit that really goes into fine detail.
Where Is It? Penelokan Main Rd, South Batur, Kintamani, Bangli Regency, Bali 80652, Indonesia
Online: PPSDM
Subak Museum
This pleasant local museum helps visitors to better understand the UNESCO World Heritage award-winning Subak System of agriculture.
This system is over 1,000 years old and is completely unique to Bali and its rice fields.
Please Note: As we go to press, this museum is temporarily closed for renovation and there is no firm date for its reopening. Please contact the museum directly to ensure it’s open before you travel.
Where Is It? Jl. Gatot Subroto No.5b, Banjar Anyar, Kec. Kediri, Kabupaten Tabanan, Bali 82121, Indonesia
Online: Subak
Bajra Sandhi Museum
The Bajra Sandhi Museum or Monument is the “Balinese struggle monument” and it depicts Balinese life themes throughout the ages to help you better understand the struggles that the local people have been through over the course of history.
Where Is It? Jl. Raya Puputan No.142, Panjer, Denpasar Selatan, Kota Denpasar, Bali 80234, Indonesia
Online: N/A
Museum Nyoman Gunarsa
This museum is entirely dedicated to the works of Nyoman Gunarsa and it showcases his entire career.
We’d visit Kerta Gosa, which is nearby, at the same time to make it worth the trip.
Where Is It? Jl. Pertigaan Banda No. 1, Takmung, Banjarangkan, Takmung, Kec. Klungkung, Kabupaten Klungkung, Bali 80716, Indonesia
Online: N/A
Museum Manusia Purbakala
This museum is “the museum of early man in Bali” and if you wondered how human life on the island came about, it’s a must-see.
It’s a bit out of the way in Gilimanuk but worth the effort to get there.
Where Is It? Jl. Rajawali, Gilimanuk, Kec. Melaya, Kabupaten Jembrana, Bali 82252, Indonesia
Online: N/A
Museum Buleleng
If you’re passing through Singaraja (and you should, because Bali’s second city is worth a look) then you should stop in at Museum Bulelelng.
The museum’s collection was assembled by the royal family of Buleleng and dates back as far as the 8th century!
Where Is It? Jl. Veteran No.23, Paket Agung, Kec. Buleleng, Kabupaten Buleleng, Bali 81118, Indonesia
Online: N/A
Museum Semarajaya
There’s a bit of everything Balinese in this eclectic and interesting collection from statues by Emilio Ambron to an in-depth examination of the salt collecting and refining process employed on Bali’s beaches.
It’s well worth your effort to explore this museum which is a little off the beaten path for most tourists.
Where Is It? FC73+Q28, Jl. Untung Surapati, Semarapura Kelod, Kec. Klungkung, Kabupaten Klungkung, Bali 80761, Indonesia
Online: N/A
Museum Bung Karno
This museum in Denpasar is dedicated to Sukarno, who is considered to be the “founding father” of an independent Indonesia.
It’s where you can learn all about what brought the nation to revolution against it’s Dutch colonial invasion and the man who gave shape to the country that emerged from the colonial shadow.
Where Is It? Jl. Raya Puputan No.80, Dangin Puri Klod, Kec. Denpasar Tim., Kota Denpasar, Bali 80234, Indonesia
Online: N/A
Bali Museum or Bali Provincial State Museum or Museum Negeri Propinsi Bali
This may be the most famous of all the museums in Bali and yet, it’s one of the least visited as it’s in the capital.
If you want a brilliant showcase of the culture and history of the island, it’s worth a visit.
Where Is It? Jl. Mayor Wisnu No.1, Dangin Puri, Kec. Denpasar Tim., Kota Denpasar, Bali 80232, Indonesia
Online: Disbud
Museum Gedong Kirtya
This is one of the oldest museums on the island and it houses over 10,000 pieces including some truly ancient manuscripts.
There is also a Wayang Kulit Theater on this site and the theater is free to enter for everyone!
Where Is It? Jl. Veteran, Paket Agung, Kec. Buleleng, Kabupaten Buleleng, Bali 81118, Indonesia
Online: N/A
Gedong Arca Archeological Museum (Museum Arkeologi)
This museum is all about archeology and it houses some amazing ancient stone sarcophagi, stone carvings and more.
The collection here dates back through the years far further than the collections in other museums in Bali.
Where Is It? F7JV+563, Bedulu, Blahbatuh, Gianyar Regency, Bali, Indonesia
Online: N/A
Museum Yadnya
This is an ethnological museum that offers deep insights into the ethnology and anthropology of Bali and Indonesia at large.
If you love rituals, and ceremonies and learning about religion and folk traditions, this is a great place to spend an hour or two.
Where Is It? Jl. Ayodya, Mengwi, Kec. Mengwi, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80351, Indonesia
Online: N/A
Does Bali Have Museums?
Yes, Bali has museums! In fact, as you can see from the list above, Bali has more than 20 different museums for you to enjoy.
Balinese culture is a fascinating thing and you can learn about everything from developing Balinese art, to musical instruments, to theatrical masks, to artistic Balinese architecture in Bali’s museums.
What Is The History Of The Bali Museum?
The Museum Bali or Bali Museum is better known as the Bali Provincial State Museum or Museum Negeri Propinsi Bali and it was founded back in 1910 by a Dutch colonist and scholar W.O.J. Nieuwenkamp.
He foresaw a need to preserve the culture and heritage of the nation and developed a unique heritage centre to act as a custodian of the nation’s past for future generations.
This historical museum captures several ages of Balinese culture and each of the four buildings represents a period in Balinese history.
Where To Book A Holiday To See The Museums In Bali?
We always recommend that you book a holiday in Bali through the awesome people at the Bali Res Centre.
Because the Bali Res Centre is locally owned and managed, it can get you the most up-to-date information on what’s happening on the island and help you plan your holiday to avoid any potential pitfalls and incorporate anything new and exciting.
Their prices are always competitive thanks to their local connections and using the Bali Res Centre to book flights, accommodation, travel and tours in Bali means your holiday dollars stay in the local economy!
Final Thoughts On The Best Museums In Bali
As you can see, there are some incredible museums to choose from in Bali and whether you year to enjoy an Ubud-style painting collection, traditional Balinese statues, or a traditional Keris dagger collection or gain some insight into the local textile industry, there’s something for everyone.
These 21 museums are each unique and exciting and many are more than just a museum. They also have cultural workshops so you can learn more about the aspects of the local culture that they portray.
Once you’ve learned as much as you can about the culture of this paradise island, why not join us at FINNS to have some fun and watch the spectacular sunset over the Indian Ocean?
