The best museums in Kuala Lumpur

If you are a museum buff, then you are in for a treat when you visit Kuala Lumpur, for the city is equipped with several interesting museums that are definitely worth visiting. Moreover, unlike elsewhere in the world many of the museums in KL offer visitors free access or then only charge a nominal fee for admittance.

Listed below are a few of the city’s museums which are considered to be a must-do on any trip to the vivacious Malaysian capital city.

The National Museum

Kuala Lumpur’s National Museum which is housed in a typical Malay-style building is located on the outer fringe of the Taman Tasik Perdana (The Kuala Lumpur Lake Gardens), a prominent attraction of the city. The National museum is the most prominent museum in Malaysia. This museum was established in 1963 and offers a valuable insight into the culture and history of the country via its vast repository of exhibits that are arranged within various viewing galleries like the History Gallery, the Cultural Gallery, the National Sports Gallery and the Natural History Gallery. The museum also hosts a conservation laboratory and library which features more than 6500 titles, and serves as a useful source for students and researchers. The grounds of the museum also host several interesting exhibits like vintage cars and locomotives. The National museum is deemed to be an attraction that is appropriate for all ages.

http://www.muziumnegara.gov.my/

Opening hours: 9am - 6pm, daily.

Petrosains –The Discovery Centre

A museum that is sponsored by a petroleum company may at first appear as a bizarre concept.  However, the Petrosians located on level 4 of Suria KLCC is well worth a visit, for it provides visitors with much information about a resource known as ‘liquid gold’ in a highly entertaining fashion. 

Petrosains is a showcase for the Malaysian petroleum industry and it offers more than 150 exhibits designed to educate the general public about the role that science and technology play in the industry. Many of the exhibits at Petrosians are highly interactive. Some of the museum’s star attractions include the Dark Ride where visitors are transported in a vessel shaped like an oil drop through rainforests and over mountain peaks, Speed which provides Formula 1 racing enthusiasts with a valuable insight into the science and technology behind the sport and the Geotime Diorama which takes visitors back 200 years, to meet a singing dinosaur and learn about earthquakes, fossils and petroleum. The Petrosians museum is guaranteed to be a hit with visitors of all ages.

http://www.petrosains.com.my/

Operating hours

Tuesday- Friday: 9:30 am - 5:30 pm (Last Admission: 4:00 pm)

Monday: CLOSED

Saturday, Sunday and Public Holiday: 9.30 am-6.30pm (Last Admission: 5:00 pm)

The museum is open on all public holidays excepting on days like Hari Raya Puasa and Hari Raya Haji

The Islamic Arts Museum

The Islamic Arts Museum showcases Islamic art from various eras and regions of the world. The museum which is located on Jalan Lembah Perdana, is equipped with various themed galleries like textiles, architecture, Malay World, jewelry, the Qu’ran, Arms and Amour, Metal works and Ceramics. These various galleries showcase a wide array of exhibits, which provide much information into the reigns of various Islamic empires like the Ottomans of Turkey and Syria and the Mughals who invaded India and ruled it from the 16th to 19th centuries. The museum is also equipped with a delightful restaurant that offers delectable halal fare from the Arab world and beyond.

Museum Opening hours: 10am - 6pm Monday to Sunday

http://www.iamm.org.my/i_ex/