National Museum of Indonesia

During my trip to Jakarta, I had the chance to visit the Indonesia National Museum, and I’m so glad I did. From the outside, the museum looks grand and welcoming, with its beautiful colonial-style architecture and quiet courtyard. It felt like stepping into a different time. As I walked through the exhibits, I was amazed by how much there was to see — from ancient statues and traditional clothing to artifacts from different islands across the country. One of the highlights for me was the gold and jewelry section, which showcased the incredible craftsmanship of Indonesia’s past civilizations. I also loved the ethnographic displays — they really opened my eyes to the diversity of cultures across the archipelago. Everything was well-organized, and the descriptions were in both Indonesian and English, which made it easy to understand. It’s a peaceful and educational place that gives you a real sense of Indonesia’s rich history. If you’re in Jakarta and want to learn more about the country beyond the tourist spots, this museum is definitely worth a visit.

A must-visit spot in Jakarta! Museum Nasional Indonesia is a great place to explore the rich history and culture of Indonesia. The collection is impressive from prehistoric artifacts and traditional textiles to royal treasures and ancient statues. Everything is well organized, and the building itself has beautiful colonial architecture 😍 What I liked most was the peaceful atmosphere and the new immersive gallery (ImersifA Room) which brings history to life in a modern way. The staff were friendly, the facilities were clean, and the ticket price was very affordable. It’s also family-friendly and perfect for students or tourists who want to learn more about Indonesia in one place. Some areas are still under renovation due to a previous fire, but most of the main exhibitions are open and worth seeing. Highly recommended if you're in Jakarta and want a meaningful, cultural experience!

If you look forward to validation of what you study as a student, a teacher or a history enthusiast, the National Museum is where to go. Its array of exhibits is so wide that every piece will connect to the one next to it. Dominated by the findings in the ruins of ancient Hindu and Buddhist temples of Central and East Java, they are by no means limited only to Java. East Borneo, among others, also has a contribution on its own. The expo chamber of the museum is the venue for daring and yet encouraging ideas of present Indonesia. It says Indonesia has always existed and will always exist and thrive in the spirits of conservation and refinement.

It is a museum you should visit. For foreigners it costs 50.000 Indonesian. It is huge. On ground floor there is a garden full of statues. There is also a basement with cafe. On ground floor you can find the souvenir store. There are another 2 floors. Well air conditioned. I liked the light and the decoration. Very interesting things to see there. You should come and visit it. Also there is the park and the mosque next to it. You can visit them at the same time.

The museum is *somewhat* accessible to those with disabilities. There's a good ramp out front, and some ramps elsewhere. However there's a special exhibit area you cannot get to unless you can take stairs. Getting to the canteen requires taking the stairs or going down a very fast escalator. There might be an elevator somewhere - but if there was, it was far away. The canteen is tiny and has very limited selections. Basically it's a snack shop, not a place to buy a meal. I don't recall seeing an accessible restroom but there must be at least one somewhere. There weren't many places to sit, and all the available seating was hard, backless benches. We made the mistake of going to the Imersifa show. The photo showed benches for seating, but when we got inside - no seating. Sit on the floor. Very difficult and painful for those of us with arthritis. I hurt myself getting down and up. We were there on a weekday, so there were schoolchildren there with us. It was impossible to hear anything because they were so noisy and kept shrieking. It was so bad even my friend had to cover her ears at times. Teachers and parents did nothing to stop this. Everywhere we went, we could not escape the students, who were so loud and out of control. It was difficult to enjoy the exhibits. I understand there was a fire recently, and they are working hard to recover. It explains why there was lots of space and closed areas. I wish the staff well in their recovery efforts. It was great to be able to get right up to some of the artifacts, which is not the case in most museums. It could be a good place for those who are blind who want to have a tactile visit. My thanks to the staff who offered me a chair while I waited for my friend to get the tickets. I appreciated this. You can also be dropped off directly in front of the entrance which is a great help.

We had a great time visiting the National Museum of Indonesia. The museum has a lot of interesting things to see, showing the history and culture of the country. Everything was well organized and easy to follow. A big thank you to Robbert Görris for the wonderful guided tour. He explained everything clearly and made the visit even more enjoyable. His knowledge and enthusiasm really made a difference!

The National Museum of Indonesia is such a gem—packed with incredible collections, laid out in a modern and comfy way, and full of clear stories that make history feel exciting instead of heavy, every corner invites you to dive deeper into Indonesia’s rich culture.

Beautiful museum in the centre of Jakarta City. The exhibits are mainly stone carved exhibits, both indoor and outdoor. The 3D movie ImersifA is quite an experience though. Foreigners need to pay Rupiah 50k entry fee.