Located in Medan Merdeka Barat, Central Jakarta, on the west side of Merdeka Square, the National Museum of Indonesia is the pride of Jakarta, providing visitors an insight into Indonesia’s long history and cultural heritage from the prehistoric days up to today. Having recently been expanded, the museum houses an impressive collection of no less than 109,342 objects covering Indonesia’s Prehistory, Archaeology, Ethnography, Numismatics-Heraldic, Geography and Historical Relics. The museum is regarded as one of the finest museums in Indonesia and Southeast Asia.

The Neka Art Museum displays the personal work and collection of the famed Balinese teacher, Suteja Neka. In addition to preserving works from earlier generations, it also features many modern painters. There is ample historical materials on sculpture and photography, as well as some shadow puppets and prints. Neka felt the Balinese cultural relics should be preserved. The pavilion is roughly divided into nine exhibition halls, each with a different theme, from traditional to modern, from Bali to the global.

The Agung Rai Museum of Art and resort was the vision of Mr Anak Agung Rai. The complex and resort are spread through beautiful gardens over four acres. It is a cultural center and a living repository of traditional and modern Balinese art. It features classical works such as Javanese artist Raden Saleh including his portrait of a "Javanese Nobleman and his Wife." There are also works by Lempad, Hofker, Bonnet, and Le Mayeur. The cultural center offers opportunities to learn about traditional dance, music, and crafts. Call ahead for a schedule of classes.

This museum is committed to traditional Javanese wayang puppetry, and contains a collection of thousands of puppets from throughout Indonesia. The place offers insight into this beautiful and longstanding piece of the culture. The puppets aren't just for viewing: they often entertain at the museum, usually with gamelan music. The museum site has an interesting history itself: the original building was built in 1640 as a Dutch church; it was renovated several times, and finally in 1938 was somewhat restored to its original Dutch colonial architecture.

Jl. Pintu Besar Utara No.3 Jakarta Barat, Indonesia

The Blanco Renaissance Museum is a small museum with a light and beautiful architectural style blending influences from Bali and Spain. The design of the museum courtyard itself is a marvel. The museum houses works by Blanco in various periods. The collection is exquisite. It is certainly a worthwhile visit to see the work of this enigmatic personality.