Museum Pasifika Tours

Nusa Dua’s answer to Ubud’s art museums, Museum Pasifika, which opened in 2006, is dedicated to the art of Asia Pacific. Balinese artists and expatriates working on the island are well-represented, but galleries showcase art and sculptures from Papua, Vanuatu, Polynesia, historical Indo-China, and beyond.

The Basics
Gain admission to Museum Pasifika for a significant charge, which includes a free drink at the café. While nearby Nusa Dua resorts sometimes offer group tours here, most travelers visit Museum Pasifika independently, and it’s not uncommon to have the place entirely to yourself. It’s worth dividing your tour into two parts, the first covering art made in Bali and Indonesia, and the second exploring the Pacific more generally. Be sure not to miss the works by Matisse and Gauguin.

Things to Know Before You Go

• Museum Pasifika is a must for art lovers and a good rainy-day option for anyone staying in Nusa Dua.
• Large bags and backpacks must be left at the cloakroom; no luggage is accepted.
• Museum Pasifika is fully wheelchair-accessible.

How to Get There
Museum Pasifika is located at the heart of the Nusa Dua resort area on south Bali’s Bukit Peninsula, about a 7-mile (12-kilometer) drive southeast of the airport. The Kura-Kura tourist bus (line 1) stops at the Bay complex, about a 0.5-mile (800-meter) walk to the east. Alternatively, book a private driver.

When to Get There
Museum Pasifika is open from morning until early evening, seven days a week, and is rarely busy. Schedule your trip to fit in with your other activities, rather than the reverse, or plan for a rainy day.

Don’t-Miss Artists at Museum Pasifika
Despite the name, Museum Pasifika is really more of a gallery. Besides a Matisse work and five Gauguin paintings, don’t miss the Indonesian collection. The gallery features works by Balinese master I Gusti Nyoman Lempad and 20th-century Indonesian painters Hendra Gunawan and Affandi. Expatriate artists who helped shape Bali’s art scene include Walter Spies, Adrien-Jean Le Mayeur, and Miguel Covarrubias.