The best museums in Indonesia for fascinating art, culture, and history

What is it? A sprawling museum of Javanese history and culture. Encompassing human history, natural history, and art, this is one of the most complete collections of Javanese artefacts, which include ceremonial daggers, musical instruments, and traditional costumes and masks.

Why go? Not just to see the artefacts but also the interactive displays such as traditional Indonesian games and animations. You can also join a batik workshop to learn how to craft this ancient art form. Be sure to visit in the evenings for nightly shadow puppet and gamelan performances. 

What’s on Exhibition rooms include the Toy Room, Prehistory Room, Metal Room, Carving Room, Batik Room, Mask Room, Puppet Room, Weaponry Room, and Balinese Room.

What is it? Opened in 1868, this is arguably the best museum in Indonesia, home to a whopping 61,600 prehistoric and anthropological artefacts, as well as 5,000 archaeological artefacts from around Indonesia and Asia.

Why go? To discover four floors of fascinating Indonesian history housed in a neoclassical Dutch colonial building. From the origins of humankind (including the famous Flores ‘hobbit’) to gold treasures unearthed from Brahu Temple, there’s so much to take in. Fashion lovers will want to check out the textile collection with stunning traditional fabrics from across the country, while history enthusiasts should explore the fossilised skeletons.

What’s on The Indonesian Heritage Society offers free English tours at 10am on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday, with an additional tour on Thursday at 1.30pm.

What is it? Indonesia’s one-stop destination for modern and contemporary art from Indonesian and international artists. 

Why go? To see pieces from internationally-renowned artists like Yayoi Kusama and Indonesia’s pioneering Romantic painter Raden Saleh. As well as paintings, the museum also has an ever-changing roster of installation art – previous exhibitions have included the LED-filled Infinity Mirrored Room and the Obliteration Room with its thousands of polka dot stickers. There’s also a dedicated space for children to experiment with art, as well as talks and open mic nights.

What’s on Primate Visions: Macaque Macabre (until April 2025); Korakrit Arunanondchai: Sing Dance Cry Breathe (until April 2025).

What is it? A prominent collection of Indonesia’s natural and geological history, housed in a handsome Art Deco building. 

Why go? It’s one of the oldest museums in Indonesia, established during the Dutch colonial era. Once used as a research centre for Dutch geologists, today it’s home to an impressive collection of fossils, rocks, and minerals from around the archipelago. Admire gemstones like jade and ruby, and discover how Indonesia – the country with the most volcanoes in the world – is impacted by natural disasters like earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanic eruptions. 

What’s on The museum holds regular film screenings, talks, and workshops.

What is it? A museum dedicated to batik, Indonesia’s ancient art form. One of the country’s most established batik companies, founded in 1967, Danar Hadi opened this cultural complex in 2008. It has the country’s most extensive batik collection, with over 700 curated pieces.

Why go? To learn about the history of batik fabrics, from its origins to its use in modern fashion. Discover different types of batik from various parts of the country, each design having been influenced by their environment or other cultures, including China, India and colonial Dutch. You’ll also get to see the royal collections like Batik Kraton and Batik Sudagaran before finishing at the on-site workshop to watch artisans creating intricate designs.

What’s on Your entrance ticket includes a guided tour in English.

What is it? A museum in Nusa Dua which showcases artwork from various Pacific Ocean cultures over the centuries.

Why go? To see over 600 paintings by 200 artists. Find work from pioneering Indonesian artists like Raden Saleh to European artists like Willem Hofker and Miguel Covarrubias, who made Bali their home. There is also art from Oceania, including Fiji, Tonga, and Vanuatu, as well as more famous works from Matisse and Gauguin. 

What’s on: The museum offers a variety of workshops, including painting classes, Balinese dance, gamelan music classes, wood carving, and batik making.

What is it? One of Bali’s best fine arts museums located in Ubud, a town widely known as Bali’s centre for arts and culture. The museum is home to an impressive collection of artwork, covering everything from local painters in the 1930s to contemporary Balinese and international artists. 

Why go? To see the vast collection of art amassed over the years by founder Agung Rai, a prominent local art dealer. The pieces are housed in two beautiful buildings that reflect Balinese architecture, surrounded by lush tropical gardens. There are classical Kamasan paintings and Batuan-style works (art styles which originated from Balinese villages of the same name), as well as works by expat European painters such as Walter Spies and Willem Dooijewaard. 

What’s on The museum is also a cultural centre with regular theatre shows, dance and music performances, painting classes, and cultural workshops.