Aceh Museum is the place to put Banda Aceh's older history back into the picture. Its collection covers Acehnese court culture, weapons, ceramics, textiles, Islamic manuscripts, and daily objects, giving useful context for a province that often gets reduced to disaster and politics.
The compound includes a traditional Acehnese house, which is one of the most interesting parts of the visit. Labels can be uneven, but the museum is still worth an hour before or after Gunongan Historical Park and the grand mosque.