Bali Museum (Museum Negeri Propinsi Bali)

There is a charge to enter the Bali Museum, and children go half-price. As the museum is located in central Denpasar, far from Bali’s beaches, rice fields, and tourist circuit, tours that include it are most often Denpasar city tours or general Bali sightseeing tours. (Denpasar’s dense traffic and confusing 1-way system are not kind to drivers.) While you don’t need a guide to visit, a tour can help you navigate the extensive and poorly signed collection.

• The Bali Museum is a must for history buffs and culture vultures.

• Avoid the “guides” who tout for business outside the museum. They rarely understand the collections.

• Steps between the different pavilions mean the museum is not wheelchair accessible.

The Bali Museum stands on Puputan Square in the heart of Denpasar, the island’s capital city, about 10 miles (16 kilometers) north of Ngurah Rai International Airport. Given the complexities of public transport in Denpasar and the hassles of driving in the city, most visitors arrive with a private driver or on an organized tour.

The Bali Museum is open from early in the morning to early afternoon six days a week but closes at lunch on Fridays. It’s at its quietest and most serene in the afternoons during the working week (Monday to Friday), which also means you’ll beat Denpasar’s morning and afternoon rush hours.

The design of the Bali Museum, with its charming gateways, doors, and pavilions, alone justifies the entrance fee for many visitors. The northern pavilion mimics the style of palaces in Tabanan (west Bali); the central pavilion echoes the architecture of the kings of Karangasem, east Bali.