Petronas Twin Towers, Kuala Lumpur
Petronas Twin Towers · Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
452-m twin towers of Islamic geometry, the totem of Malaysia's modernisation
Know before you go
- Don't hand things over or point with your left hand
- don't be loud or affectionate in mosques
- don't be disrespectful about the royal family or religion
This article is Not yet verified. Please check official announcements for prices, opening hours and dates.
Stories & people
Stories & people
History
Yap Ah Loy and the muddy river mouth
Kuala Lumpur means 'muddy confluence' in Malay; the city began around 1857 as a tin-mining town where the Gombak and Klang rivers meet. Yap Ah Loy from Guangdong came to the Malay Peninsula as a miner at 19 and later became Kuala Lumpur's third Kapitan Cina. The Selangor Civil War nearly razed the town and flooded the mines, and fires, floods and disease followed repeatedly — in 1881 a great fire was followed immediately by a flood. Yap Ah Loy led the rebuilding of the town and the revival of tin mining, and also opened brickworks. Today's capital beneath the Twin Towers grew out of that muddy confluence.
Culture
Culture & customs
Background
Completed in 1998, the 88-storey twin towers weave an Islamic eight-pointed star pattern in stainless steel and glass, and the Skybridge on floors 41–42 is the highest two-storey bridge between twin towers in the world. The fountain shows of KLCC Park below and the bustle of Suria KLCC tell of Malaysia's leap from tin-mining town to one of the 'Asian tigers'. When the towers light up at night, it's Kuala Lumpur's 'Eiffel Tower moment'.
Local customs
- Malaysia is a Muslim-majority country, so dress appropriately in public
- during Ramadan, Muslims fast by day — don't eat and drink conspicuously in front of them
- handing things over with both hands and eating with your right hand are good manners.
Religion & beliefs
- Islam is the official religion. To visit mosques (such as the National Mosque or the Pink Mosque) remove your shoes
- women should wear a headscarf and robe (provided at the entrance)
- visit outside prayer times. The towers themselves are secular buildings.
Etiquette
Etiquette & taboos
Rules that apply here
Malaysia: pass things and eat with your right hand
- Use your right hand to eat with your fingers, to pass and receive things, and to shake hands
- To point the way, make a loose fist and point with your right thumb
- Pointing at people or things with your index finger
Not illegal, but seen as rude.
Not yet verifiedSource: Tourism Malaysia: travel guide
Don’t DON'T
- Don't hand things over or point with your left hand
- don't be loud or affectionate in mosques
- don't be disrespectful about the royal family or religion
- same-sex sexual activity is illegal under Malaysian federal law, and public displays of intimacy easily cause offence — please bear this in mind.
Locals appreciate DO
- Malaysians are warm and hospitable, and appreciate visitors who try bak kut teh, nasi lemak and durian
- a simple Malay 'terima kasih' (thank you) goes down very well.
Plan your visit
Practical info
| Best time | Summer all year; May–September is a little drier |
|---|
Travel tips
- It's summer all year
- May–September is relatively dry. Skybridge + level-86 observation deck tickets cost about MYR 98, with daily limits — be sure to book on the official website in advance
- the towers are most beautiful lit up at night
- combine with Aquaria KLCC.
Eat nearby
What to eat nearby
Must-try
- Nasi lemak
- Hokkien mee
- Bak kut teh
Nasi lemak, Hokkien mee, bak kut teh (more authentic in nearby Klang), satay, roti canai with teh tarik (pulled tea)
| Where to eat | The food floor of Suria KLCC, a walk to the Jalan Alor night market, the Malay food area of Kampung Baru |
|---|---|
| Dining etiquette | Many Malaysians are Muslim — halal logos are certified by JAKIM; during Ramadan, eat discreetly in front of Muslims by day; eat with your right hand (Malay / Indian food) |
| Typical price per person | MYR 25–50 ≈ CNY 42–84 |
| Tips | There's a premium inside the towers, and the Jalan Alor night market has the fullest dinner choice; bak kut teh is mostly pork, so choose separate places if you have halal-observing companions. |
Prices are typical rates as of October 2026, not exact quotes; CNY equivalents are approximate where exchange rates fluctuate.
Mw12310 · CC BY-SA 3.0
Photos
Photos
CEphoto, Uwe Aranas · CC BY-SA 3.0
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James Kerwin from Tbilisi · CC BY 2.0
Dcubillas · CC BY-SA 3.0
Sources & verification notes
UK Foreign Office: Malaysia travel advice — local laws
Compiled from Petronas Twin Towers official ticketing information
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