The 5 best Museums in Bali; Make it a Part of Your Bali Tour Package

A city rich in culture, art, and religion, Bali has a lot more to explore than its beautiful islands and sumptuous food. The museums in Bali are the must-visit attractions of the city for its majestic paintings, wood carvings, textiles and so much more.

So while you’re on Bali trip, don’t forget to explore these 5 museums that define the city to its best

1 Agung Rai Museum of Art:

Located in Ubud, the most artistic town of Bali, this museum is known to provide an exquisite experience of art, architecture, and culture. It is founded by Agung Rai, and displays collections from Indonesia’s well-known artists, as well as Bali’s original talents and some international creators. Not only that, this museum allows the visitors to enjoy theatre performances, music and painting classes, fairs, a bookshop, dances, a library and reading room, conferences, cultural workshops, seminars, and training programs.

The painting collection at ARMA exhibits both classical and contemporary touch, which includes Kamasan Collection on tree bark, masterpieces by Batuan artists of the 1930s and 1940s, and the only existing works to be seen on the island from 19th-century Javanese artist Raden Saleh. The museum also displays the collection of foreign artists who contributed to the expansion of Balinese arts. ARMA is one of the best museums to experience Bali’s art history.

2. Bali Museum:

This museum is an absolute heritage center that displays Balinese culture and history beautifully. Located in Denpasar, it has four sections that portray different themes: Music and Theatre in Tabanan, Sculptures and Paintings in Karangasem, Textiles in Buleleng, and Archaeological finds in Timur. They also have a range of artifacts that can be traced back to the megalithic period, like a sarcophagus, superstitious formulas, ethnographic objects, religious ceremony tools, many ancient tools, weapons, etc. It also has different Balinese looms and ancient calendars.

Make sure you witness this historical museum and then head down to an Indian restaurant in Seminyak to satiate your hunger pangs.

3. Neka Art Museum:

It is one of the most renowned museums in Bali. Established in 1976 by Wayan Suteja Neka, this museum houses many art pieces that display the progress of Bali’s visual arts. Almost every kind of art can be found in Neka, from classical to contemporary, traditional to modern. Here, you can see paintings, traditional tools, sculptures, and weapons that will give insight into the detailed culture of Bali. This area is filled with unique styles of painting.

Neka also features a traditional Keris dagger collection in one of the pavilions. As this museum is the founder’s own passion, he managed to collect 272 curved daggers through half of his lifetime. Many people even come to this museum bringing old and new keris to be examined by Neka.

4. Setia Darma:

Established in 2006, Setia Darma has a massive collection of masks and puppets that represents the different regions and cultures of Indonesia, Asia, and Africa. They have more than 1,500 masks and 5,700 puppets, which also include intricate wayang kulit, leather characters for shadow puppetry, and masks for dances. Every mask there has a story behind it, and some of it even portrays the real spirit of Bali’s courageous and flamboyant character. The outdoor of this museum is available for hire and suitable for performances, training, group outings, and filming.

5. Museum Pasifika:

Located in Nusa Dua, this museum is home to a collection of artworks from all over the Asian Pacific region. It displays masterpieces from 200 artists from 25 countries, 350 paintings, and 250 historical objects. The Museum Pasifika’s collection portrays cultural and Balinese life themes. Here, one can find the works of Balinese painter Nyoman Gunarsa, Javanese artist Raden Saleh, and many more. Once done witnessing these pleasing pieces of art, make sure you head down for a satisfying meal to an Indian restaurant in Nusa Dua

Make sure these museums are in your ‘to-do list’ when you visit Bali, as they will definitely help you in getting a better insight into the city’s culture and heritage.

Once you are done exploring the museums, head over to one of the best Indian restaurants in Bali, Queens.