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Petronas Twin Towers: history and why it's worth visiting
The Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur are not just skyscrapers, but a symbol of Malaysia's transformation from an unknown country into an Asian economic tiger. Before their construction, there were no high-rise buildings in the country, and the project itself was ambitious and dramatic from the start.
Construction took place from 1992 to 1998 under the extremely difficult conditions of the monsoon climate. The biggest problem turned out to be the soil: after work had already begun, it became clear that it was too unstable. The entire construction had to be urgently moved 60 meters to the side, which became a real engineering challenge. The project was personally approved by Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, who wanted the architecture to reflect Islamic traditions.
Since the depiction of people is forbidden in Islam, the design was based on geometric shapes. The plan of the towers consists of two intersecting squares, which symbolizes order and harmony.
Some impressive facts about these 'twins':
- Height: 451.9 meters (88 floors). At the time of opening in 1998, they were the tallest buildings in the world.
- Scale: Washing all the windows takes a whole month of continuous work.
- Population: About 10,000 people are inside the towers daily — this is a real 'city in the sky'.
- Cost: Construction cost the oil company 'Petronas' 800 million dollars.
It was after the construction of these towers that the whole world started talking about Kuala Lumpur and Malaysia. Today, it is not just an office center, but the main tourist mecca of the country.
Some tourists choose the observation deck at Menara KL Tower instead of the Petronas Towers, and limit their acquaintance with the Petronas Towers to taking photos in front of them and visiting the shopping malls at the base of the skyscrapers without going up to the observation deck. Indeed, the views from Menara are no worse than from Petronas, and there's no such frenzy over buying tickets as there is with Petronas. You can simply come here and buy tickets to the top right away, and you don't need to stand in line early at the ticket office or order tickets on the website several days before your visit, as is the case with Petronas.
Below we detail all the nuances: from buying tickets to where the right entrance is. But if you absorb information better visually or just don't want to read a long instruction, watch our video. In it, we show using a real example how to find the ticket counters, go through security, and share views from the observation deck and the Skybridge.
How to visit the twin towers and what you need to know
Tourists and travelers come to the Petronas Towers to see this impressive structure, as well as to go up to the famous Skybridge on the 42nd floor (170 meters high) connecting the towers and the observation deck on the 86th floor (360 meters high). At the foot of the towers is the 'coolest' shopping mall in the country – Suria KLCC. On the third floor of the mall is the very popular and famous science and entertainment complex Petrosains, and on the second floor there is an excellent inexpensive food court. In front of the building are fountains, and there are also the best spots for taking photos.
Interestingly, the Skybridge, which tourists are so eager to visit, was designed not at all for tourist visits or for convenient movement between the towers, but for safety. Its main function is fire protection: if a fire occurs in one tower, people can escape to the other.
On the other side of the skyscrapers is a cozy KLCC Park with an artificial lake, Simphoni Lake, fountains, a bridge with a viewpoint, and an open children's pool with an artificial waterfall. There is also a running track in the park where the most active locals go for runs in the evenings. Every day at 8:00 PM, 9:00 PM, and 10:00 PM, a very beautiful light and music fountain show takes place in the park on Symphony Lake.
Now let's move on to the practical aspects, because without knowing them, you might not get into the towers. First, here are the ways you can see the towers and take beautiful photos in general:
- Simply come to the towers, walk around them, take magnificent photos, and in the evening watch the fountain show in the park (all free).
- Come to the towers as described above, and additionally walk inside the luxurious Suria KLCC mall, which is the building connecting both towers (all free).
- See the towers from the observation deck of the KL Tower television tower (formerly called Menara) for a fee, or from the window of one of the high-rise hotels in the area. Such views of the towers from above are also very impressive. List of hotels with tower views below.
- Go up to the observation deck on the bridge and the observation deck on the 86th floor (paid, with tickets).
Answering your possible other questions, here are the answers:
- You cannot just come and walk around the floors of the towers; security will not let you through.
- You cannot stay in the towers; there is no hotel here.
- You cannot go up to the highest 88th floor; only the 86th floor is visited with tickets.
- You can take photos and videos without restrictions.
We think everything is clear about free visits without tickets, and you can do that on your own without problems. We've explained how to get to the Petronas Towers from other areas of KL below. But as for visiting with tickets, there are some complications; without knowing them, you might not get in. We'll tell you everything from personal experience, so read to the end.
What's important to know about tickets and visiting
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It's better to buy tickets in advance online
Theoretically, you can buy tickets on the same day online or even on the spot at the ticket counters, but the chances are almost zero unless you're very lucky. We tried to do this twice in different years and never succeeded. So last time we visited with online tickets. You can buy tickets at:
- Official website (does not accept Russian cards)
- Trip.com (use for payment with Russian card or SBP)
The price of tickets on Trip.com is the same or even lower for combination tickets than at the ticket offices and on the official website, so feel free to buy.
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What you need to know about tickets to avoid mistakes when buying
The tower visiting program is standard, and there is only one type of ticket and one way to visit. However, aggregators also sell combination tickets with a hotel transfer, or including the Petronas Towers + KL Tower (Menara) and other activities. Such tickets are convenient and allow you to save on visits, but carefully read their description to avoid accidentally buying the wrong thing.
But what's most important! The price for tickets for foreigners and locals differs greatly (much more expensive for foreigners). You need to buy tickets strictly as Non-Malaysian or International, otherwise you simply won't be allowed in with tickets for locals, and the tickets will be wasted.
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Choosing a visit time! This is especially important!!!
The visit is strictly tied to a specific time, not that you come with a ticket at any time. Groups are sent every 15 minutes and accompanied throughout. The entire visit takes 45 minutes, followed by free time in the souvenir shop and cafe in the tower.
And here's an important point! You can choose one of two types of tickets:
- More expensive tickets: you choose the exact time from the available slots.
- Cheaper tickets (available on aggregators): you only choose a time slot from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM, 12:15 PM to 6:00 PM, or 6:15 PM to 8:30 PM, and after purchase, you are assigned a random time within that period.
The choice is difficult, and in any case, it's a matter of luck due to the weather. No matter which option you choose, the weather is unpredictable and can change at any moment, especially considering you need to buy tickets several days in advance.
Algorithm for visiting the towers (so you're prepared for everything)
Here's how the visit happens step by step:
- You need to arrive at the ticket counters at the entrance for registration 15 minutes before the start. But considering you still need to find these ticket counters and the entrance (located in the left tower if facing the main entrance), and there are hardly any signs, we advise arriving at least 30 minutes early.
- Near the ticket counters, they check your tickets and gather the group, marking everyone with stickers or bracelets by color.
- You need to go through a metal detector, and your belongings go through an X-ray machine. Water, food, sharp objects, chewing gum, tripods, strollers, e-cigarettes, backpacks, and suitcases are prohibited. Only smartphones, waist or women's bags, small backpacks, and camera bags are allowed. Everything else must be left in the luggage storage.
- Then a guide is assigned to you, who will take you to the lifts for the ascent, to the bridge, and to the 86th-floor observation deck.
- You get 15 minutes on the bridge and on the observation deck; you cannot stay longer than the allotted time.
- After the 86th floor, the group descends to a floor with a cafe and souvenir shop. Here they sell many souvenirs related to the towers, and of course, figurines of the towers. You can also buy a postcard (from 3 ringgit) and send it to yourself or loved ones at a postal address.
- After that, you take the lift down, and that's it.
Opening hours
The towers are open from 9:00 AM to 8:30 PM daily. Twice a month on Mondays and on public holidays, the towers are closed; check the schedule via the ticket purchase links (below).
Regarding the question of when it's best to visit, the ideal time is considered to be the evening, when you can see the city at night, but tickets are more expensive. Just don't expect to see both the daylight and night time in one visit, as your time at the top is limited. At best, you might catch the sunset. On the other hand, the chances of catching clear, sunny weather are higher before noon, plus the entry price is lower. But in any case, it's a matter of luck.
Regarding seasonality, the least rainy months in KL are June-August and December-February.
Admission fee
Prices for locals and foreign tourists differ. Prices also differ on weekdays and at different times of the day (evenings after 6:00 PM and on weekends are more expensive). Here are the prices for foreign tourists:
| Category | Weekday Day | Weekend Day | Weekday Evening | Weekend Evening |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adults (13+) | 127 MYR ≈ 32.03 ₽ |
137 MYR ≈ 34.55 ₽ |
147 MYR ≈ 37.08 ₽ |
157 MYR ≈ 39.6 ₽ |
| Children (2-12) | 65 MYR ≈ 16.39 ₽ |
69 MYR ≈ 17.4 ₽ |
75 MYR ≈ 18.92 ₽ |
80 MYR ≈ 20.18 ₽ |
| Seniors (60+) | 88 MYR ≈ 22.2 ₽ |
96 MYR ≈ 24.21 ₽ |
103 MYR ≈ 25.98 ₽ |
109 MYR ≈ 27.49 ₽ |
