Aceh Tsunami Museum
Aceh Tsunami Museum
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.0
556 reviews
Excellent
206
Very good
236
Average
88
Poor
19
Terrible
7
Paul B
2 contributions
Feb 2020 • Family
In Banda Aceh you definitely need to take a few minutes to visit the Tsunami Museum. It was a major, devastating event that killed 1 in 5 people here, ended a long-simmering war, and shaped the life of this town. Sadly, the museum was poorly designed to begin with and has been left to fall apart in a mere 15 years. There's no timeline of the day of the earthquake and no model of the area affected showing the epicenter, and how the waves hit land around the Indian Ocean basin. Perhaps originally this kind of critical information was conveyed by one of the broken computer monitors that supposedly hosted an interactive display at one time. But, sadly, all of these are broken now. Other than a short movie with original footage from people's phones and a few photos, there's very little here to bring the event to life and explain it. Most rooms are empty or have these broken interactive displays.
Written February 16, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Alex J
Athens, Greece1,139 contributions
Aug 2019
The museum is not really worth visiting - a visit to the ship PLTD Apung 1 is much more informative.
Few displays, many rooms are closed off. The supposed tsunami experience (feeling water, hearing sounds) is ridiculous.
Displays are not explained in English.
We spent most of the time on moving from one floor to another than actually seeing anything.
Few displays, many rooms are closed off. The supposed tsunami experience (feeling water, hearing sounds) is ridiculous.
Displays are not explained in English.
We spent most of the time on moving from one floor to another than actually seeing anything.
Written September 12, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jeff J
Barrie, Canada663 contributions
Mar 2015 • Business
Great attraction for Banda Aceh. Not only is it completely Free (free parking, free admission, free movie inside) but it is informative, educational, emotional considering the tales of destruction inside and also Safe. It is Safe because it is a giant three story building made of concrete (Three high ceiling floors, so equivellant of six stories) and thus it is also a tsunami shelter for the people should another disaster happen in this Earthquake zone of the world. Very impressed.
Written April 1, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hany Lai
Surabaya, Indonesia27 contributions
Jan 2015 • Friends
The building is very beautiful , tall and artistic. It seems good from outside. But inside, I think there are still many space or room for display something there. A big building with a little display there. So wasting space
Written January 27, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kim B
Hong Kong12 contributions
Jul 2013
Disappointed as just tried to go to the museum but it's closed on a Monday....only in Aceh for the day so will miss it this trip unfortunately. I did get a driver to take me to the tanker ship that the tsunami dumped 5km from the sea though..... This ship is huge and gives you an insite into just how powerful the tsunami was and the devistation it caused. Some of the pictures in the gallery there ate a little disturbing and bought a fre tears. I also managed to see the boat on a house roof. Banda Aceh have recovered well from such an awful ordeal but good to see they are remembering in some ways too. As a final point the people in Banda Aceh are so happy, warm
and helpful, very different to other Indonesian cities that I've experienced.
and helpful, very different to other Indonesian cities that I've experienced.
Written July 8, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Aeisha
Malaysia481 contributions
Dec 2019 • Friends
The entrance is free because it is the month of remembering Tsunami. The building design is impressive and the entrance ambience is a highlight. Next, you can see the list of Tsunami victims and also visual during the tsunami.
The exhibit area is well coordinated but I observed quite a number of exhibits or facilities are no longer in place. Plus, we didn't come across to any staff of volunteers that we can ask further. Basically, you need to explore this place on your own but don't be afraid becsuse you will not get lost.
This is a must visit place if you visit Acheh, together with other Tsunami attractions.
The exhibit area is well coordinated but I observed quite a number of exhibits or facilities are no longer in place. Plus, we didn't come across to any staff of volunteers that we can ask further. Basically, you need to explore this place on your own but don't be afraid becsuse you will not get lost.
This is a must visit place if you visit Acheh, together with other Tsunami attractions.
Written December 29, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jorien H
Apeldoorn, The Netherlands26 contributions
Dec 2019 • Couples
When you enter the museum, you walk through a dark hall with water coming down the walls. Aceh has lost so many people to the tsunami, and this is displayed through a wall full of names. This was impressive to see. The rest of the museum is disappointing: often no text or only text in Bahasa was provided; very big rooms are filled only with limited images. We only needed 30 minutes to walk through it, and that was already long compared to the exhibition available.
Written December 10, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tia Claudia
4 contributions
Nov 2019 • Couples
I went there with my office colleagues. they charge ticket 3.000 for local people and 10.000 for foreigner. the current condition of the museum is devastating. Rooms are empty, exhibition walls are placed untidy. walls are losing colours. And mostly annoying is they don’t show the only interesting material like the 30minutes video in the time between 12-2PM. it was waste of time.
Written November 5, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
cr0ixf
Fuzhou, China326 contributions
Feb 2019 • Couples
This museum was very enlightening. There’s English and Indonesian language available. The story is heartbreaking and really makes you stop and think. The layout is quite brilliant and the models of the land give a unique perspective. The admission price for foreigners is 10,000idr. Worth a visit but expect to walk away eyed.
Written February 21, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
arievo
Jakarta, Indonesia56 contributions
Jan 2018 • Friends
This museum is very unique. Built as memorial of tsunamy 2004 that claimed the lives of thousands people from some countries. Is has great architecture with some details of the tragedy and this museum is telloing stories.
Written March 4, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
How much will it cost in a tuk tuk from the pier at Banda Aceh (where boat from/to Pulau Weh) ?
Written August 6, 2019
There is a free bus, called TransKoetaradja. No need for Tuktuks
Written November 26, 2019
Can I leave my bag at reception? I won't sleep in the city, I wanted to visit the day I'm taking my flight.. (would be coming from Pulau Weh)
Written October 23, 2017
I think this is possible. The reception is rather large and locked. We had actually waiting our tricycle with all our luggage. Good luck
Written October 23, 2017
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