Museums & galleries
Neka Art Museum
The Neka Art Museum is a museum located in Ubud on Bali, Indonesia, It was established in 1982 by Pande Wayan Suteja Neka, better known as JMK Suteja Neka, a Balinese art dealer who had begun collecting Balinese art with the advice and help of painters Rudolf Bonnet and Arie Smit among others.
What it is
The Neka Art Museum is a private collection of Balinese and Indonesian painting, founded in 1982 by art dealer Pande Wayan Suteja Neka. He built the collection with guidance from painters Rudolf Bonnet and Arie Smit, and the museum's several pavilions trace the development of Balinese art alongside works by Indonesian and foreign artists who painted on the island. It's a good stop for anyone wanting to understand Balinese painting styles beyond what's sold in tourist galleries.
Getting there
The museum sits north of central Ubud, along Jalan Raya Sanggingan. From Ubud's centre it's roughly a 10-15 minute drive or scooter ride, or about 25-35 minutes on foot. Metered taxis are scarce in Ubud, so most visitors arrange a driver, use a ride-hailing app, or rent a scooter. From Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS), allow around 1.5-2 hours by car depending on traffic.
How much time to allow
Plan on 1.5 to 2 hours to walk through the pavilions at an unhurried pace, more if you want to read the accompanying background on individual artists.
When to go
Mornings tend to be quieter and cooler for walking between the outdoor pavilion areas. The museum is less central than other Ubud attractions, so it generally sees fewer crowds than sites right in town, though this can vary with tour bus schedules.
What to combine it with
The museum is somewhat separate from Ubud's other art institutions, but can be paired with a broader gallery day. The Blanco Renaissance Museum and Puri Lukisan Museum are both about 1.9km away, and Pura Taman Saraswati (2.1km) and Ubud Palace (2.2km) are close to each other in the town centre, making it easy to combine a temple and palace visit on the same trip.
Sources: open data from Wikipedia and OpenStreetMap · Updated August 5, 2026 · Edited by the World by City editors
