Bali guide › Sanur and Denpasar
What to see on the Sanur boardwalk and at Le Mayeur Museum?
The Sanur boardwalk is first and foremost a long seafront walk, the first of its kind in Bali (soon to be joined by a new promenade in Candidasa, on the east coast). It runs for 5 to 8 km (3 to 5 miles) depending on where you start, from Mertasari in the south to near the harbour in the north. Halfway along is Le Mayeur Museum: the home of a Belgian painter and his Balinese wife, left much as it was, for a visit of about an hour.
What you'll see along the way:
- Jukung: the fishermen's outrigger canoes, like giant water spiders, painted in bright colours with an eye on the bow, pulled up on the sand.
- Small beach temples and offerings at the foot of the trees, with people praying in the morning.
- A string of warungs, cafés and hotel gardens, where you can stop for a fresh coconut facing the lagoon.
- The modern (and air-conditioned) Icon Bali shopping centre.
- Pura Blanjong, set back a little to the south: this small temple holds a carved stone pillar dated 914. It's the oldest dated inscription in Bali, proof that Sanur was already a port over a thousand years ago.
The museum's story reads almost like a novel. Adrien-Jean Le Mayeur de Merprès, a painter from Brussels, arrived in Bali in 1932 and settled in Sanur, then a fishing village. There he met Ni Pollok, a legong dancer (Bali's classical dance), who became his model, then his wife. Their home became a museum after his death in 1958.
What you'll see in the museum:
- Le Mayeur's paintings: Balinese women, gardens and beach scenes in bright, Impressionist-style colours.
- The house itself: carved wood, painted shutters, period furniture, photos of the couple and a garden full of statues.
Let's be honest: the conservation isn't great. Sea air and humidity have damaged some canvases, the lighting is dim and some of the works on display are reproductions. You come for the atmosphere and the story rather than the curation.
Practical info:
- Getting there: the museum is on the beach in north Sanur, at the end of Jalan Hang Tuah. The easiest way in is along the boardwalk.
- Opening hours: usually about 8am to 3.30pm, but only until 12.30pm on Fridays. It may close on religious holidays.
- Price: up to IDR 100,000 (about US$5.50) for foreigners, cash only.
- Time needed: 45 minutes to an hour for the museum, and a morning for the boardwalk at your own pace.
Verdict: the boardwalk is one of Sanur's great pleasures, worth doing at least once at sunrise if you're an early riser. The museum is small, imperfect but endearing: worth a stop if you're passing, not a trip from the other side of the island.
Tip: set off early to walk with the sun rising over the sea and the fishermen coming in. And remember the museum is closed on Friday afternoons.
Information checked in October 2026; check before you travel.
More landmarks in this section
- What is there to do in Sanur and Denpasar?
- Can you swim at Sanur Beach, and when should you go?
- What to see at the Bali Museum and Bajra Sandhi Monument?
- Is Badung Market in Denpasar worth it, and when should you go?
- Can you visit Pura Jagatnatha, Denpasar's main temple?
- Is the Serangan turtle centre worth visiting, and is it ethical?