Two Asian museums have been named among the most beautiful in the world for 2025
Prix Versailles, a prestigious architectural award that recognises gorgeous airports, campuses, hotels, and other buildings worldwide, has released its 2025 list of the world's most beautiful museums. In this case, beauty is not just skin deep – these museums also demonstrate exceptional harmony with their environment and artefacts.
It's a short and sweet list of just seven museums, and two are from Asia. The first is Bali's Saka Museum, a cultural gem in Ayana Bali that opened in 2023. Prix Versailles highlights how its architectural design "embodies the Balinese philosophy of Giri Segara, the sacred balance between mountain and sea" with a sloping roof that visually connects sky and ocean. The beautiful reflecting pool invites visitors to pause for introspection, creating a fitting atmosphere for the museum's showcase of Balinese traditions in the past and present.
There's lots to check out here, including sensory installations fashioned around Bali's sacred Day of Silence, and a showcase that dives into subak, the island's UNESCO-listed irrigation and water temple systems.
Seoul's Audeum Audio Museum, the world's first dedicated audio museum, also made the list. For a spot dedicated to audio equipment, it's fitting that the museum itself is something of an instrument playing on all senses. Prix Versailles spotlights these sensory experiences: an array of vertical aluminium pipes forms a glittering, waterfall-like facade; the lobby is covered in cool, textured stone, bringing to mind a deep valley; while interior spaces are fitted with wood and filled with the fragrance of Alaskan cypress trees.
The Prix Versailles named five other museums, including Paris's Grand Palais and Riyadh's Diriyah Art Futures. Check out the full list below.
These are the most beautiful museums in the world for 2025, according to Prix Versailles:
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The National
10 hours ago
- The National
Highland hotel launches 'first ever' flights over North Coast 500
The five-star Links House at Royal Dornoch, Sutherland, has teamed up with Highland Aviation to launch one-hour 'Sky-to-Shore' flights which will showcase the very best of the NC500 from the sky. Passengers will be able to see the famous 516-mile loop of the Highlands, which is renowned for its coastal beaches, historic castles, and spectacular views, and beat all the traffic too. The plane will take off from Dornoch airstrip, as passengers will board a Piper Cherokee Warrior II plane, and will be treated to views of Dornoch Firth, Dunrobin Castle and Loch Ness from 5000 meters above. READ MORE: French petition to block Bayeux tapestry's loan to UK gains 40,000 signatures The route will also allow passengers to take in sights across Inverness, along with the Culloden Battlefield, Cape Wrath, The Kyle of Durness, John O'Groats and the Unesco-listed Flow Country - the UK's newest natural World Heritage Site. It is believed to be the first time regular tourist flights have been run over the NC500. When passengers come back down to earth, they will be able to take a stroll along Dornoch beach, just a few minutes' walk from the airstrip. Guests will complete their Sky-to-Shore experience with a fine dining experience at MARA, the award-winning restaurant at Links House. (Image: Getty Images) Phil Scott, managing director at Links House in Royal Dornoch, said: 'As the UK's most northerly luxury destination, we're always looking for new ways to elevate the guest experience here at Links House and create the ultimate Highlands getaway. 'In partnership with Highland Aviation, we're now taking the visitor experience to new heights with our Sky-to-Shore adventure flight experience.' He added: 'Our guests are now able to enjoy an exclusive, once-in-a-lifetime view of the far north Scottish Highlands and world-famous North Coast 500 from around 5000m above the ground. 'Highlights of the one-hour flight include stunning aerial views of Royal Dornoch Golf Links, Dunrobin Castle and the Unesco Flow Country - the UK's newest natural World Heritage Site. At the end of their journey, guests will also enjoy the ultimate fine dining experience at MARA, our award-winning restaurant at Links House.'
Time Out
a day ago
- Time Out
This quiet coastal city in Australia is about to blow up – here's why you should visit
l wasn't surprised to discover that Townsville was named one of Australia's top 'up and coming' destinations for 2024. It might be the largest city in regional Queensland, but it still flies under the radar as a launchpad for exploring the World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef. Last year, Townsville North Queensland saw an impressive 11.7 per cent spike in visitor numbers, making it one of the fastest-growing tourism destinations in the country. And it's only just getting started, with the coastal city set to shine even brighter as co-host of the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games and 2027 Men's Rugby World Cup. Our advice? Get in before the rest of Australia catches on. Where is Townsville? Townsville is the largest city in North Queensland, sitting approximately halfway between Brisbane and the top of Australia, Cape York. It's roughly a 15-hour drive north of Brisbane or a four-hour commute south of Cairns. You can also skip the road trip and fly direct from Brisbane (one hour and 55 mins), Sydney (two hours and 45 mins) or Melbourne (three hours). What to do in Townsville? Townsville is an outdoor playground for exhilarating adventures, both on land and offshore. Hiking (or driving) to the top of Castle Hill is a must for breathtaking panoramic views over the entire city and the sparkling Coral Sea beyond. Just 45 minutes from the CBD, Paluma Range National Park also offers a bunch of scenic trails, including Jourama Falls, Mount Spec and Mount Halifax. Pack swimmers for a refreshing dip at Big Crystal Creek and Little Crystal Creek, on the way back. While in the city, take a stroll along The Strand, explore the Jezzine Barracks and brush up on history at the Queensland Museum Tropics. If you're up for a day trip, catch the 20-minute ferry to Magnetic Island, where 23 beautiful beaches, historic shipwrecks, snorkelling escapades, hiking trails and Northern Australia's largest koala colony await. Planning well ahead? You can also ferry over to Hinchinbrook Island – the largest island on the Great Barrier Reef that welcomes only 7,000 visitors annually. While the four-day Thorsborne Trail books out months in advance (capped at 40 hikers at a time), you can still explore the island's cloud-covered mountains, thick rainforest and white sandy beaches on a range of shorter trails. Where to eat in Townsville? With a growing collection of top-tier restaurants and bars, Townsville's dining scene outdoes most regional cities. At the heart of it all is Ardo, the city's first five-star hotel, which is home to not one, but two chef-hatted venues. On the ground floor is Terasu, a punchy Japanese bar and restaurant inspired by the bright lights of Tokyo. On the top floor, you'll find Marmor, an elegant modern Australian restaurant that brings together the best of the land and sea. For a perfect evening, start with a sunset cocktail at the neighbouring Ardo Rooftop, where sweeping views of the Coral Sea meet the city skyline. If you're after something more laid-back, head to Townsville Brewing Co for award-winning craft beers, Quarterdeck for breezy alfresco bites and bevs, Longboard for burgers and tacos with a view, or Shorehouse for relaxed waterfront dining. And don't leave without visiting Grandma's – a beloved local café serving brunch inspired by recipes from grandmas and grandpas around the globe. Where to stay in Townsville? With 180 kilometres of coastline extending out to the Great Barrier Reef, it makes total sense that most of Townsville's hotels and resorts offer views of the sparkling Coral Sea. But if you want to match those five-star vistas with five-star service, Ardo is the place to be. It's Townsville's newest and only luxury hotel, housing 132 elegant rooms and suites, plus the city's only rooftop infinity pool, a dazzling day spa, two fancy restaurants and an impressive rooftop bar with views that'll take your breath away. Guests also score full access to the facilities at the neighbouring The Ville Resort-Casino, which offers an additional 194 hotel rooms. Other popular hotels in Townsville include Rambutan Resort Townsville, Quest Townsville on Eyre, Oaks Townsville Gateway, Grand Hotel and Apartments, Mercure Townsville and Aquarius on The Beach.
Edinburgh Live
a day ago
- Edinburgh Live
Owner of Edinburgh Harry Potter café The Elephant House gives reopening update
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info The iconic Edinburgh café that is said to have been the 'birthplace' of Harry Potter is gearing up to reopen four years after a devastating fire forced it to close its doors. The Elephant House café, on George IV Bridge in Edinburgh's Old Town, was one of many properties that were wrecked by a devastating blaze back in August 2021. Before the inferno, the business was a popular destination for fans who would scrawl quotes, messages and artwork in the toilets as a tribute to the series which meant so much to them. Now, four years later, the owner of the café, David Taylor is ready to take the next steps in restoring the location where JK Rowling is said to have penned elements of the Harry Potter series. In order to do so, he is calling on fans of the beloved books to help and has set up a global crowdfunding campaign to try and raise the £150,000 needed to restore the venue. He said: "The Elephant House has always been a home for writers, dreamers, and fans of literature. The fire was a heartbreaking loss, but the passion and enthusiasm from fans have been overwhelming. The scale of the devastation caused by the fire in such an historic building in the heart of a world heritage site means restoration is complex." According to the fundraiser, a number of steps have to be taken in order to restore the café, including, architectural restoration of the fire-damaged building, the reinstatement of original interior features, a reimagined Writer's Room and accessible facilities, safety upgrades, kitchen refurbishments, and heritage protection compliance. Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages All of this comes with unique challenges due to the building's location in a UNESCO world heritage zone. Planning permission and listed building regulations must be followed and restoration costs, as well as supply chain pressures could delay the project. However, David is dead set on bringing back the magic of the original Elephant House café. He continued: "We are determined to bring back this special place, and with the 'Restore the magic' campaign, we hope to unite the community and fans worldwide to help us rebuild.' His campaign will offer fans multiple ways in which they can support the restoration, including exclusive merchandise, sponsorship opportunities, and donation tiers that will allow fans to leave their mark in creative ways. More information on the fundraiser can be found here.
