The main reason we visited Kuala Lumpur was to see the Petronas Towers. We have an affinity for visiting the world’s tallest buildings and our list would not be complete without climbing the Petronas Twin Towers.
We flew here from Singapore, just a short, cheap flight away, and stayed in Kuala Lumpur for two days. This is just enough time to visit the Petronas Towers and to get a quick taste of the city. Kuala Lumpur is a great destination for budget travel, with cheap food and accommodations, and cheap airfare to many other cities in Asia. Our visit to Kuala Lumpur was the perfect, quick stop for our tour through Asia.
Our Visit to the Petronas Towers
The Petronas Twin Towers were the tallest towers in the world from 1998 until 2004, when Taipei 101 in Taiwan was built. These towers remain the world’s tallest twin towers today. The Skybridge that connects the two towers is the highest two story bridge in the world. The Petronas Twin Towers are designed with a steel and glass façade resembling motifs from Islamic art, Malaysia’s primary religion.
These towers are a symbol of Kuala Lumpur, along with the nearby Kuala Lumpur Tower, another icon of the city.
The Petronas Twin Towers are a popular tourist attraction, receiving thousands of visitors almost everyday. Visiting the towers is a very organized event, as tourists are shown the Skybridge, the Observation Deck, and of course the infamous gift shop.
Ticket sales open at 8:30 am. We purchased tickets for the first entry of the day, at 9 am, and were given blue lanyards to wear, a way of color coding visitors according to their sightseeing group. After a safety briefing from a hologram, we were herded into the hottest elevator ride ever for a trip up to the Skybridge.
At the Skybridge, we had ten minutes to enjoy the views and take our photos. The Skybridge sits 170 meters off of the ground on the 41st floor of the towers.
Next, we rode a second elevator up to the Observation Deck on the 86th floor. Here we had about fifteen minutes to enjoy these views. We had a 360 degree view over Kuala Lumpur on a very hazy day. My favorite view was across to tower #1.
After viewing Kuala Lumpur from the Observation Deck, our group was taken back to the ground floor with a final visit to the gift shop. The entire visit took forty-five minutes.
For us, this visit was an enjoyable way to get a bird’s eye view over Kuala Lumpur. We love visiting the world’s iconic towers, especially those that were the tallest in the world at some point in their existence.
How To Visit The Petronas Twin Towers
To purchase tickets online directly from the Petronas Twin Towers website and get updated hours and pricing, click here.
The visit takes forty-five minutes. Check in fifteen minutes before your scheduled time. Ticket prices include the Skybridge, Observation Deck, and gift shop.
What To Do Before or After Visiting the Petronas Towers
Go shopping or watch a move at the Suria KLCC Shopping Centre. This shopping mall complex is located at the base of the Petronas Towers and offers upscale shopping, lots of restaurants, and a movie theater. It is a beautiful, modern mall with something to do or see for everyone.
If climbing towers is your thing, don’t miss the Kuala Lumpur Tower, also known as Menara Kuala Lumpur. Built in 1995, it does not share the popularity or stand as tall as the Petronas Twin Towers, but it does give a different perspective of the city. There are several options of visiting here: eat dinner at the revolving restaurant or pay to see the city from the Observation Deck.
The view of Kuala Lumpur from Menara Kuala Lumpur
Where We Stayed
We stayed at the Pacific Regency Hotel Suites, located next to the Kuala Lumpur Tower. This place was brilliant. From here it was a fifteen minute walk to the Petronas Towers, a five minute walk to the Kuala Lumpur Tower, and less than ten minutes away from a street filled with restaurants offering food from around the world. The rooms were enormous, comfortable, and modern, and at night we could see the Petronas Towers from our window. We had two interconnecting rooms, each equipped with a kitchenette, modern bathroom, and work area. The hotel has a pool and a bar on the upper deck with views over the city. We would definitely stay here again.
Visit More of the World’s Tallest Buildings:
- ONE WORLD OBSERVATORY: How to Visit One World Observatory in New York City
- NEW YORK CITY: A Complete Guide to the Observation Decks in New York City
- TAIPEI 101: Taipei, Taiwan in Photos (Taipei 101)
- BURJ KHALIFA: A Photo Tour of Abu Dhabi and Dubai
- SHANGHAI: Hiking Shoes in Shanghai (Oriental Pearl Tower, Shanghai Tower, and Shanghai World Financial Center)
You Might Also Like:
VIETNAM: For a list of the best experiences in Vietnam, check out our Vietnam Bucket List.
PLACES TO GO IN CAMBODIA: In Cambodia, explore the temples in Siem Reap, spend some in Kampot, and visit Phnom Penh.
JAPAN: Journey through Tokyo in photos, learn how to day trip to Nara and Himeji Castle, and learn about the best things to do in Kyoto.
MORE CITIES AROUND THE WORLD: Visit more cities around the world with our guides to Rome, Paris, New York City, London, Barcelona, and Athens.
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Comments 10
Such a helpful and informative blog…Keep posting.
Enjoyed your visit to the Petronas Towers. It’s a good mix of practical info and personal experience.
As a tip to add, accommodating a peanut allergy never is easy in Southeast Asia, and it always is wise to be cautious, but you might want to consider a visit to the Simple Life chain on your next visit to Kuala Lumpur. It’s a vegan joint offering a mix of modestly upscale and healthy versions of Southeast Asian fare. They do use peanuts in some dishes, but in our experience they were quite respectful and accommodating for gluten allergies — despite using wheat and bread in some dishes — and likely would be happy to do the same for a peanut allergy, too. Happy travels!
Author
Thank you for sharing your restaurant recommendation. Happy Travels! Tim
Yes, buying your ticket online for the klcc skybridge is the way to go as they limit the number of visitors that could go up there daily.
Alternatively, like your said, there’s the Kl Tower in Bukit Nanas, which offers better view and no time limit compared to the Klcc.
Wow this post brings back memories! Malaysia was the very first out of country destination I’ve been to 6 years ago. Petronas Twin Towers have become special to me since that day. I wish I could go back to Kuala Lumpur soon!
Hi EarthTrekkers!
Thanks for your great post – I wish, we could also live our life like you do it! But until now, the kids are not old enough. We also visited the Petronas Towers and my wife and kids were totally excited about the view. I just read the recommendations for visiting the Petronas Towers and want to add our experience here: We had some more time in Kuala Lumpur and also would like to see the Batu Caves. If anybody also has plans to visit the Caves, a combo-ticket is much cheaper than visiting both attractions individually. There is the “definite guide for visiting the PT” that lead us to this wise idea 🙂
Have look: http://tower-tickets.com/petronas-towers-tickets/
Regards from Dortmund,
Rainer
Author
Thanks for the recommendation! The Batu Caves look like a interesting place to visit. – Julie
You need to get a picture of the 4 of you similar to the one you started on the website to show the difference
Author
Yes, although the header photo is from the summer 2013, one year before the start of the trip. I chose that one because it seemed perfect at the time, the four of us together, smiling, hiking in Norway, one of our favorite places. After the trip is over I will update the cover photo. Tyler and Kara have changed a lot!
I’ve noticed!