Bung Karno Museum is dedicated to the political career and life of Indonesia’s first president, Ir Soekarno and was opened by his daughter in 2015.

It is an amazing place for local children to learn the history of Indonesia’s struggle for independence and for foreigners to meet the father of the Proclamation and the Indonesian nation, loved and respected by all Indonesians.

About Museum Bung Karno

Sukarno or Bung Karno (1901 – 1970) was the first president of independent Indonesia between 1945 and 1967, who fought tirelessly against Dutch colonial rule and his rule was associated with the rise of the nation, anti-imperialist movement, and “guided democracy”.

The last years of his life he spent under house arrest and was proclaimed a National hero in 1978.

The Bung Karno Library Foundation oversees the Bung Karno Museum in Bali and allowed his daughter, Megawati Soekarnoputri (the first and only Indonesian female president), to found it in 2015 to preserve her father’s legacy.

Some say that Soekarno’s mother was from Bali, so the island was really close to his heart.

Online: Instagram

Where Is The Bung Karno Museum?

Museum Bung Karno’s location is in Denpasar centre, minutes away from the Renon square and magnificent Bajra Sandhi Monument and park.

Address: Jl. Raya Puputan No.80, Dangin Puri Klod, Kec. Denpasar Tim., Kota Denpasar, Bali 80234, Indonesia

How To Get To Museum Bung Karno

The museum is located in the city centre, so it is easily accessible from anywhere in Bali. Although traffic can be heavy if you’re coming from South Bali.

In terms of distance, the closest tourism hubs from the museum are Kuta and Sanur – only 20-30 minutes by bike or car.

If you have an international driver’s license, rent a bike and cruise around Denpasar before or after visiting the museum. It is easier to get here by bike, as cars will get stuck in traffic forever.

If you live in Kuta or in Denpasar, you can also try your luck with public buses. For ex., from the IKEA Bali terminal, there is a K2B bus making a stop near the Bung Karno museum.

Is There An Entrance Fee At Bung Karno Museum?

Yes, you will have to pay the entrance fee to visit Museum Bung Karno, and it is about 25,000 IDR (2.5 AUD) per person.

Best Time To Visit Bung Karno Museum

Very few people know about this museum, and it is mostly a must-see attraction to visit on the domestic tourism map among students and adults.

It is never crowded or busy, so if you come within opening hours, you will get the full attention of the museum’s curators.

What To Expect At Museum Agung Bung Karno

The museum building stands out thanks to the big bird statue perched on top of it and two big golden figures on its facade: Soekarno and his third wife, and Indonesia’s first lady, Fatmawati.

You will notice that the figures have names and titles – Soekarno as president, and Fatmawati as national flag tailor, as she was the one who created and saw Indonesia’s flag.

You will also see Soekarno’s statue and his old car in front of the main building of the museum.

The building itself is quite interesting, especially inside, with all the walls laid with thousands of bricks.

There are 5 floors in the museum, although sometimes only a few are open to the public due to renovation.

First Floor

The entrance to the museum directly leads to the hall, with a Bali map carved out of stone on the left and all the artefacts lined up along the walls.

The collection of the first floor is focused on Soekarno’s biography from childhood to presidency, books about him, his portraits, framed newspaper pages, memorial stones, as well as any documents relevant to his time as head of the government.

You will even see his suit on display! There are a few chairs to sit down and talk or read through things. In the back room, made like an office, you can see thousands of political and non-fiction books.

Soekarno’s personal belongings, like furniture, a radio, and a phone, are on both the first and second floors.

Second Floor – Bung Karno’s Historical Relics

Stone carvings on the country’s history, more paintings, and more engraved stone plates dedicated to certain moments in Indonesia’s past.

There is also a conference room here for events and lectures, with walls covered in photographs of Soekarno, his writings and speeches.

In other small rooms, you will find his bed, a wardrobe, and a working desk, some spiritual relics like a sacred dagger (keris), bullets, weapons, and lontars (scriptures and important texts on palm leaves), as well as some personal belongings of the president’s mother.

More than 40 paintings and hundreds of photographs of the president, black and white or in colour, decorate the walls of the museum.

Third & Fourth Floor

There are even more personal belongings, original artworks and reproductions, and photos on the third floor. While the 4th floor contains more books and some 3D reproductions, and miniatures.

We highly recommend either having a local friend with you or a guide because there are no signs in English, and many items or photos have no context or explanation provided.

More Museums Dedicated To Bung Karno

If you are interested in the political career of the first president, you can visit other museums in Indonesia, namely three: Istana Mancawarna in Bali, Bung Karno Museum in Blitar city, and Rumah Pengasingan Bung Karno in Flores.

Istana Mancawarna Sukarno Centre, Bali

In Bali, there is also a Sukarno Centre (Istana Mancawarna) in Tampak Siring, Gianyar. This house was the president’s residence in Bali and remains a replica of his life at the time.

This two-storey centre is modern, stunning, and very well maintained. It contains hundreds of artefacts, photographs, books, and even some full-size carriages used during Soekarno’s presidency.

The second floor is mostly a replica of the dining room with tableware, tables, decor, and so on.

However, visiting this museum can be a hit or miss, since sometimes, the museum workers are simply not there to let you in.

Where Is It? Jl. Pejeng Kaja – Tampak Siring No.751, Sanding, Kec. Tampaksiring, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80552, Indonesia

Museum And Library Of Bung Karno, Java

The big museum dedicated to Soekarno is located in Blitar city in East Java, 2 km from where he was buried next to his mother’s tombstone.

Gebang Palace (Istana Gebang Blitar), restored by architects Pribadi Widodo and Baskoro Tedjo, was once Soekarno’s childhood house and has now become the new museum, divided into several pavilions.

The Museum and Library of Bung Karno is where visitors can find Soekarno’s mausoleum, a huge reference collection with CDs, law encyclopedias, and thousands of books on philosophy, physics, chemistry, technology, his belongings from bicycles to tables, and so on.

This is also the place to find his father’s grave (his father’s coffin was moved there from Jakarta).

On the third floor, you will find a lot of paintings and photographs. A must-see highlight is a “living painting” of Soekarno that is believed to have a beating pulse at the president’s heart spot.

The Museum Bung Karno is a place of pilgrimage for many Indonesians who come and pay their respects.

Where Is It? Jl. Ir. Soekarno No.152, Bendogerit, Kec. Sananwetan, Kota Blitar, Jawa Timur 66133, Indonesia

Rumah Pengasingan Bung Karno, Flores

This house-museum is where Soekarno was exiled in the 1930s by the Dutch.

He lived in a simple house for 4 years, and staying here is often credited with the creation of the Pancasila or the 5 governing principles of the future republic.

He wrote theatrical plays here, too, to better explain his political ideas.

The house still has all the items and furniture he used.

Where Is It? 5J5V+PRH, Jl. Perwira, Kel. Kotaraja, Kec. Ende Utara, Kabupaten Ende, Nusa Tenggara Tim., Indonesia

FAQs

What Is Special About Gelora Bung Karno?

Gelora Bung Karno is a massive stadium and park built in 1962 in Jakarta with a capacity of over 110,000 people (at the time), and it was the world’s first football stadium with a circular roof protecting visitors from sun and rain.

Gelora Bung Karno is named after Indonesia’s first president, Soekarno.

What Is The Largest Museum In Indonesia?

Indonesia’s National Museum (Museum Nasional Indonesia) in Jakarta is the biggest museum in Indonesia, and one of the largest national museums in Southeast Asia, with collections spanning over 140,000 cultural, historical, and archeological items.

Final Thoughts On Museum Bung Karno

Indonesia’s tumultuous history is poorly known by foreigners, but Bali has dozens of amazing museums and centres to learn about their struggle against the Dutch, civil and military coups, and so on.

A museum full of Bung Karno’s historical relics is worth checking out if you want to understand this place better.