Petronas Twin Towers

Petronas Twin Towers, Kuala Lumpur

The Petronas Twin Towers were the tallest buildings in the world from their completion in 1998 to 2004, when Taipei 101 surpassed them. At 452 metres across 88 floors, they remain the tallest twin towers in the world. The design by Argentine architect Cesar Pelli drew on Islamic geometric patterns – each tower is built on a plan of two overlapping squares forming an 8-pointed star, with semi-circular additions between the points – and the postmodern Islamic architecture is both legible and structurally distinctive.

The towers sit above Suria KLCC, a large shopping mall on the south side of KLCC Park. The KLCC LRT station is connected directly to the mall. Entry to the mall is free; the towers themselves are occupied by Petronas and other corporate tenants and are not open to the public as office buildings.

The Skybridge and Observation Deck

The public access to the towers is through two separate ticketed experiences.

The Skybridge at floors 41-42 connects the two towers at 170 metres and offers views east and west through glass panels. It was built as a structural element (providing lateral stability against wind sway) rather than as a tourist attraction, though it has served as one since the towers opened.

The Observation Deck on level 86 is the higher of the two options, at 370 metres. Views extend across Kuala Lumpur’s skyline in all directions; the Petronas tower rooftop itself is visible from above through the glass on the north side.

Tickets must be purchased at the KLCC Ticket Counter (lower ground floor of Tower 2) or booked online in advance. The combined Skybridge and Observation Deck ticket is the standard choice. The daily visitor quota is limited and sells out – particularly on weekends and public holidays. Online booking is worth doing a few days ahead.

Around KLCC

KLCC Park is a 50-acre public park directly below the towers, free to enter, with a lake, children’s wading pool, jogging track, and the best ground-level view of the towers from the south lawn. The towers are illuminated at night and the fountain show at the lake runs in the evenings.

Aquaria KLCC inside the mall has a walkthrough underwater tunnel and houses sharks, rays, and the usual large public aquarium complement. It’s a credible aquarium by regional standards; a couple of hours covers it.

Menara KL (KL Tower), about 2 km southwest of the KLCC complex, is an older telecommunications tower with its own observation deck at 276 metres. Less visited than the Petronas observation deck, it offers a view that includes the Twin Towers themselves in the skyline – something the Petronas deck obviously cannot provide.

Eating and Drinking

Atmosphere 360 is the revolving restaurant at the top of KL Tower. Food quality is adequate for a revolving restaurant; the view is the reason to go.

The food court below Suria KLCC (basement level) has competent Malaysian food at mall prices. For better street food, Jalan Alor in Bukit Bintang (15 minutes by taxi or about 30 minutes on foot through KLCC Park and down Jalan Ampang) runs a row of outdoor restaurants specialising in Chinese Malaysian cooking, active from about 5pm until midnight.

Changkat Bukit Bintang is the main restaurant and bar street for the upscale dining and nightlife crowd, about 1.5 km from KLCC.

Where to Stay

The hotels immediately adjacent to KLCC command premium pricing for the view. Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur directly on the park’s east side has the most direct tower-facing position. Traders Hotel on the park’s north side is more reasonably priced and has a rooftop bar (Skybar) with a good angle on the towers.

Bukit Bintang, a 15-minute walk south, has a denser concentration of mid-range hotels and the Pavilion mall.