Things to Do in Denpasar, Indonesia: Walking Guide

The best things to do in Denpasar reveal Bali’s cultural and historical life beyond its famous beaches. The island’s capital brings together museums, monuments, religious buildings, markets and coastal places, making it a rewarding destination for travellers who want to understand Bali through its heritage and everyday traditions. Neywo has a free audio guide for Denpasar with 13 narrated places, available in 11 languages.

Denpasar is also a useful base for exploring more of Bali, including nearby destinations such as Ubud, Kuta, Bali and Canggu.

What to see in Denpasar

Bali Museum

The Bali Museum is a natural starting point for discovering the island’s past. Its ethnographic collections include tools and equipment used in daily life, works of art, religious objects, examples of language and writing, and other objects connected with Balinese culture.

The museum was first conceived between 1909 and 1913 by W. F. J. Kroon, described as an architect and assistant resident of South Bali in Denpasar. It officially opened on December 8, 1932, and became a museum visited by the local community.

Bajra Sandhi Monument

Set in a large open area, Bajra Sandhi Monument commemorates the heroes and people of Bali who fought for Indonesian independence. It is both a monument and a museum, with exhibition spaces, a library, photographs of heroes and information areas.

The building was constructed in 1987 and officially inaugurated by President Megawati Sukarnoputri on June 14, 2003. Its design incorporates Balinese concepts. The horizontal layout follows Tri Mandala, dividing the complex into a central learning area, a courtyard with four grand gateways and the surrounding grounds. Vertically, it follows Tri Angga, with the uppermost space treated as the most sacred part of the monument.

Museum Agung Bung Karno

Museum Agung Bung Karno focuses on historical relics connected with Soekarno, Indonesia’s first president. Its collection offers a concentrated look at objects associated with one of the country’s most important national figures.

Ngurah Gede Pemecutan’s Fingerprint Painting Museum

In Kesiman, East Denpasar, the Ngurah Gede Pemecutan’s Fingerprint Painting Museum presents an unusual approach to painting. Its main collection consists of works made using fingerprints, most of them created by the founder, I Gusti Ngurah Gede Pemecutan, using a pointillist technique. Other paintings were made with brushes.

The museum was founded on July 4, 1993, and opened to the public in 1995. It is open from Monday through Saturday, and admission is free.

Putrawan Museum of Art

The Putrawan Museum of Art, also known as PUMA, grew from Made Gede Putrawan’s long-standing interest in art objects. Its collection includes paintings, sculptures and primitive art. It contains 385 works, including 210 described as major collections.

Holy Spirit Cathedral

Holy Spirit Cathedral, officially Gereja Katolik Roh Kudus Katedral, stands in Sumerta Kelod in East Denpasar. It is the seat and centre of the Bishop of Denpasar.

The cathedral parish was formed from Saint Joseph Parish in Denpasar through a decree issued in 2001. The building was formally inaugurated on June 4, 2017, by Bishop Silvester Tung Kiem San. The parish serves parts of East and South Denpasar.

Sudirman Grand Mosque

Sudirman Grand Mosque, also known locally as Masjid Sudirman, is one of Denpasar’s major mosques and an important destination for Muslims living in and visiting the city. It has stood in Denpasar since 1974.

Although the mosque is located within the Kodam IX Udayana military environment, it remains accessible to the public. Its presence, alongside Denpasar’s Hindu and Catholic places of worship, reflects the city’s diverse religious landscape.

Gereja Katolik Santo Yoseph

Gereja Katolik Santo Yoseph, or Saint Joseph Catholic Church, belongs to the Diocese of Denpasar. It stands at number 2 on Jalan Kepundung, in Dangin Puri, Denpasar.

Gereja Santo Petrus, Monang Maning

Saint Peter’s Parish in Monang Maning is the centre of a Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Denpasar. It is located in Tegal Harum village, in West Denpasar.

The parish became independent after separating from Saint Joseph’s Parish in Denpasar, following a decree from the Bishop of Denpasar dated June 12, 1995.

Sanur Beach

Sanur Beach lies on the eastern side of Denpasar and is associated with the first light of day. It is known as a sunrise beach, in contrast with Kuta Beach, which is associated with sunset views.

Arriving early gives visitors the chance to look across the water as the day begins. Sanur also connects Denpasar’s urban and cultural experience with Bali’s coastline.

Le Mayeur Museum

Near Sanur Beach, Le Mayeur Museum preserves the former home and studio of Adrien Jean Le Mayeur de Merprès, better known as Le Mayeur. He first came to Bali around 1932, and the house where he lived and painted is now a museum.

The collection contains around 88 of Le Mayeur’s paintings. They were created on canvas, hardboard, bagor, plywood and paper. The variety of surfaces reflects the difficulty of obtaining painting materials during the Japanese occupation of Indonesia.

Serangan

Serangan is an island area a short distance from Denpasar, known for its turtles and Pura Sakenan. In the past, people travelled by boat to reach the temple and pray. Today, paved roads and limestone surfaces allow motorcycles and cars to cross to the island.

Pura Sakenan’s odalan, or ceremonial festival, takes place together with Kuningan, a major Balinese holy day, every six months. Serangan’s turtles add another distinctive element to the island’s identity.

Turtle Conservation and Education Center

The Turtle Conservation and Education Center offers another place to learn while exploring Denpasar. It is identified as a museum in Denpasar, Indonesia, and adds an educational perspective to the city’s coastal and natural heritage.

Explore Denpasar with a self-guided walking tour

Neywo’s Denpasar self-guided walking tour, “Bali’s Capital Beyond the Beaches: Monuments, Presidents and Places of Prayer,” covers 5.68 km in 111 minutes and includes six narrated stops.

The route visits Ngurah Gede Pemecutan’s Fingerprint Painting Museum, Bajra Sandhi Monument, Holy Spirit Cathedral, Museum Agung Bung Karno, Sudirman Grand Mosque and Gereja Katolik Santo Yoseph. It is the city’s only Neywo walking tour.

Download Neywo and explore Denpasar at your own pace. The app tells the story of each place as you reach it, so you can walk independently, without a group and without a schedule. Discover more of Indonesia after exploring the capital, or continue your trip through Bali with Lovina and Nusa Lembongan.