TO be honest with you. Before I visited Kuala Lumpur I thought the Petronas Twin Towers were another place that people go to. You know the kind. People say they are great. They are really just too expensive and full of people taking pictures. I figured I had seen buildings before. that How different could the Petronas Twin Towers be?
I realise that I was completely wrong.
The moment I stepped out of the KLCC metro station and looked up at the Petronas Twin Towers my jaw dropped. There they were. Two silver Petronas Twin Towers rising into the sky like something out of a movie.. I just stood there staring up at the Petronas Twin Towers with my mouth open.
If you are planning a trip, to Malaysia the Petronas Twin Towers are something you have to see. The Petronas Twin Towers are the reason to visit Kuala Lumpur.. In this blog I am going to tell you everything you need to know about the Petronas Twin Towers before you go to see the Petronas Twin Towers.
A Little Bit of History (The Cool Kind, Not the Boring Kind)
Finished in 1998, Petronas Twin Towers quickly rose to become the world’s tallest buildings – for a period up until 2004. Standing at 452 metres in height, each tower features 88 floors, and they remain the world’s tallest twin towers, having held the title for 25+ years!
Designed by the renowned architect Czar Pelli, if you observe the design closely you will see it’s inspired from Islamic art, the star-shaped plan is based on an 8-pointed star pattern which is common throughout the architecture of Islam, a unique feature that relates the towers to Malaysian culture and identity.
These towers are owned by Petronas-the national oil company of Malaysia, and they’re not merely a tourist sight, they’re actual working offices and they accommodate thousands of workers daily. So, it goes without saying that you’ll actually be entering and observing a working skyscraper. Cool, huh?
Getting There: Easier Than You Think
Easy to get to is a major plus point about Petronas Towers. Anywhere central you may be staying in Kuala Lumpur will only be minutes away.
KLCC LRT station is literally at the bottom of the towers,when you walk out of the station and you’re at the building itself, so no taxis, directions and stressful scenarios involved.
If coming from the airport (KLIA), a journey using the KLIA Ekspres to KL Sentral and then connecting to the LRT line will take roughly an hour and cost much less than a taxi would.
Grab( Malaysia’s uber) also works very well if door-to-door transport is preferred.
What to Do at the Towers: The Complete Guide
- Visit the Sky Bridge (Floor 41)
This is it, the renowned glass bridge linking the two towers and honestly, one of the most exhilarating things I have ever stood upon. You are 170 metres above ground level and suspended between two towers, looking straight down through the glass floors.
Being only 58 meters long the stay is short – about 10 to 15 minutes long, but these 10 minutes are well worth the experience.
The view over the city of Kuala Lumpur is unbelievable, as is the feeling of being between two huge towers.
A quick tip – the Sky Bridge access is included with your general admission ticket, but time slots are allocated to each visitor and sell out rapidly. Log onto petronastwintowers.com.my and pre-book online far in advance- particularly on weekends it’s booked up very quickly. - Observation Deck (Floor 86)
Once you come off the Sky Bridge, it will bring you up to the 86th floor observation deck. That is as far up as a tourist can go, and views over Kuala Lumpur are spectacular from this height – you are really getting a 360-degree perspective from here.From here, if the day is clear, you can see over the entire city to the far horizons; the old colonial buildings, directly below is the KLCC Park, the KL tower shoots up on the horizon and row upon row of buildings are visible all the way to infinity. It is truly a gorgeous view.The best time to go is late afternoon if you are able to. The city below gets a wonderful gold hue as the sun sets, and then as the city lights come up it is like a sea of stars below you. I have been to views from the tops of many buildings all over the world, and this one truly comes close to the top of my list. - Caféon Floor 86
Oh yes, there is indeed a real caf on the 86th floor. Have an coffee or a cool drink and sit there just watching the city life. It is that rare moment of travel where everything feels slow down and the thinking ‘this is why I travel’.
Of course it is expensive, like any caf more than nearly 400m from the ground should be. But was it worth it? Absolutely.
- KLCC Park (Free!)
This is a bit of insider info that I doubt most tourists will find-you can actually enjoy the Petronas Twin Towers enormously without even purchasing a ticket to the top!
Just below the towers is the KLCC Park, and believe me it’s incredibly beautiful, particularly at night. The grounds have perfectly manicured gardens, jogging trails, a lake and some impressive fountains which put on a show in the evenings. With the towers towering in the background, the effect as they light up is truly magical, if a bit kitsch at the same time!
This is definitely where you’ll get your photo ops too. If you stand near the fountain you can get the towers framed perfectly behind you-it really is the classic KL picture postcard. Plenty of professional photographers lurk about trying to sell you a snap for a small fee and they do know all the best angles to find you.
The park is open daily, free of charge and even if you’re unable to acquire tickets to tour the towers, a visit to this park at night is more than enough for most people.
- Suria KLCC Mall
At the foot of the Petronas Towers is the Suria KLCC shopping mall, which is a fantastic one by all means in KL. International and Malaysian brands, both high-end, are to be found here, along with an excellent food court and the top floor restaurants.
It is still worthwhile visiting even if you do not fancy shopping for some refuge from the Malaysian sun (trust me, it’s a must-do), to grab a bite or observe other people. This is also the place where you’ll find a good bookshop, from which you can purchase travel guides on Malaysia and souvenirs.
Best Time to Visit
If you are taking photos of the outside: Visit between about 7:30 p.m. To 8:30 p.m.. You will have full lighting on the towers, fountain show, and you will still catch some of the color from the sunset. that time is known as “golden hour” and the best time to capture tower shots.
If you are going inside: Go on a weekday morning, open at 9 a.m. The masses will not yet have arrived so you will be able to easily navigate and relax on the Sky Bridge and the observation deck
Do not go on a Monday, it is closed, and do not go Saturday night, it is packed on the outside.
Weather Tip: KL experiences very large afternoon showers between April and October so be prepared for potential rain if you want to shoot from the outside and choose a time for the morning rather than after dark.
Ticket Prices and Booking
Entry Ticket:Entry ticket to the towers (Sky Bridge & Observation Deck) cost approximately between RM80-100 for an adult & RM30-40 for children. The price varies slightly so double check with their website prior to visiting.
Book your tickets online:I can’t stress this enough. Walk-in tickets sell out at a very minimal rate. Head to petronastwintowers.com.my and book your preferred timeslot a good few days in advance – longer if you’re traveling during the school holidays and a busy tourist period.
The tour is organized: You’ll be in a relatively small group of approx. 20 people, guided by a knowledgeable guide who will take you through the history and information of the towers. It felt like a personal tour and nothing was rushed.
Is It Worth the Money?
Yes, definitely.
The Sky Bridge and the observation deck are really one of a kind. You can not find any place on earth where you can walk between two towers like the Petronas Twin Towers. The views of the Petronas Twin Towers are amazing the tour of the Petronas Twin Towers is well organized and the whole experience of the Petronas Twin Towers takes about an hour. Which is just the right amount of time to see the Petronas Twin Towers.
Even if you are worried about money remember that the KLCC Park and the view of the Petronas Twin Towers from outside are completely free. You can have an evening in the KLCC Park watch the fountain show at the KLCC Park take some great photos of the Petronas Twin Towers and not spend any money at all.
Either way. You only just pay for a ticket to see the Petronas Twin Towers. You visit the KLCC Park for free. The Petronas Twin Towers will make a big impression, on you.
Final Thoughts
Malaysia has just SO many amazing destinations, Penang street food, Langkawi beaches, Bornean rainforests.. You never run out of experiences there! However, the Petronas Twin Towers stand in a realm all of their own.
The Petronas Twin towers are true icon of modern Malaysia and portray culture, determination and innovation all at once! Seeing them, you can’t help but stand in awe beneath them and feel something undefinable looking up at the two silver giants as they disappear into the clouds.
You absolutely must go. Go and see them yourself!
When traveling to Kuala Lumpur for the first time, this is the number one place that you have to start. Head to the towers and let Malaysia surprise you!
Have you ever seen the Petronas Twin Towers before? Let us know your experience below! Planning your trip to Malaysia? Check out our guides to visiting Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Langkawi here!
-The GlanceAsia Team
- If you Likes Skyscraper Then you Must visit Burj Khalifa
