Hotels near Neka Art Museum

Founded in 1982 by art collector Wayan Suteja Neka, the Neka Art Museum is Ubud's finest gallery and the best place to understand the evolution of Balinese art from traditional Kamasan-style paintings to modern abstract works. Set across six pavilions on a hillside overlooking the Campuhan valley, the collection spans centuries and styles - from intricate mythological scenes on bark cloth to bold contemporary canvases by Indonesian and resident foreign artists.

Highlights include the Arie Smit Pavilion (featuring the Dutch-born artist who founded the Young Artists movement in Bali), the Photography Archive with black-and-white images of Bali from the 1930s-1950s, and the Lempad Pavilion showcasing the renowned Ubud architect-artist. The museum is well-labelled in English and you can easily spend 1-2 hours here. Entry is IDR 100,000 (€5.50) and the museum is open daily 09:00-17:00. The garden terraces are lovely for a quiet sit between pavilions.

Pro Tip: Visit after the Campuhan Ridge Walk (the museum is a 5-minute walk north from where the ridge path ends). The top-floor terrace of the East-West Art Annex has a panoramic valley view that rivals any cafe in town.