National Museum of Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur · Malaysia · Founded 1963
Photo: Bahnfrend · CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
National Museum of Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia — the National Museum of Malaysia (Muzium Negara) opened on 31 August 1963 on Jalan Damansara, on the site of the Selangor Museum, which was bombed in 1945. Open daily, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Admission: RM2 for Malaysian adults; RM5 for foreign adults. Allow 1.5–2 hours.
Visitor information last reviewed 25 September 2026. Check the official museum site for current details.
National Museum of Malaysia at a glance: hours, tickets and time needed
| Opening hours | Daily: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
|---|---|
| Closed | on the first two days of Hari Raya Aidilfitri and the first day of Hari Raya Aidiladha |
| Admission | RM2 for Malaysian adults; RM5 for foreign adults |
| Free or reduced entry | Malaysian children 12 and under free · Malaysian secondary students in school uniform free · Foreign children under 5 free; foreign children 6–12 RM2 · Malaysian seniors and OKU RM1 · ICOM members free · Last entry 4:30 PM |
| Booking | Tickets usually available on the day |
| Time needed | 1.5–2 hours |
| Best time to visit | Open every day including Mondays. |
| Getting there | Metro: MRT Kajang Line to Muzium Negara station, which comes out right beside the museum grounds |
| Address | Jalan Damansara, 50566 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia |
| Official website | muziumnegara.gov.my |
Checked 2026-09-25 against the official website. Prices and hours change — confirm before you travel.
What is National Museum of Malaysia known for?
Muzium Negara stands on the site of the Selangor Museum. Founded in 1887, it served as the country's de facto national museum until it was bombed in March 1945, during the Second World War. After independence, Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman pushed for a new national museum to house the country's historical and cultural treasures. The new building was officially opened on 31 August 1963 by the third Yang di-Pertuan Agong. Today the museum is run by the Department of Museums Malaysia (Jabatan Muzium Malaysia), which is based on the same Jalan Damansara site.
Architect Ho Kok Hoe based the design on Malay royal palaces and traditional Malay architecture. The long, three-storey building is topped by a steep, tiered roof with crossed gable ends. Two large mosaic murals across the façade show scenes from Malaysian history and culture. The floor of the central hall uses tiles given by the government of Pakistan. Outdoor exhibits fill the grounds, including Istana Satu, a carved Terengganu timber palace built in 1884. There are also a Kitson steam locomotive, a tin dredge display, a Melaka bullock cart and an early Proton Saga, Malaysia's first national car.
The permanent exhibition has four galleries. Gallery A (Early History) covers the formation of the Earth and the stone tools of the Palaeolithic, Hoabinhian and Neolithic periods. Its star exhibit is a replica of Perak Man, Southeast Asia's oldest near-complete human skeleton. Gallery B (Malay Kingdoms) centres on the Melaka Sultanate. Gallery C (Colonial Era) follows Portuguese, Dutch, British and Japanese rule in Malaya, Sabah and Sarawak. Gallery D (Malaysia Today) covers the nationalist movement, independence in 1957, the formation of Malaysia in 1963 and the years since.
The museum is open daily from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (last admission 4:30 PM). It closes only on the first two days of Hari Raya Aidilfitri and the first day of Hari Raya Aidiladha. Tickets are sold only at the counter, with no online booking, and Malaysians must show MyKad or MyKid for citizen rates. The compound also includes the Malay World Ethnology Museum, the Orang Asli Crafts Museum, a Music Gallery and two temporary exhibition galleries. Muzium Negara MRT station is next to the museum and linked by walkway to KL Sentral.
Best for: History Enthusiasts · Families · First-timers · Budget Travellers
How long do you need at National Museum of Malaysia?
Allow 1.5–2 hours. Walk Malaysia's story in order, from prehistory to the present, then finish outdoors at the Terengganu palace. Follow the stops in order:
- 1
Façade murals and central hall
📍 Main entrance
Before going in, look at the two mosaic murals across the façade. Inside, note the central hall's tiles, a gift from Pakistan.
- 2
Gallery A: Early History
📍 Ground floor
See the Perak Man replica and the sequence of Palaeolithic, Hoabinhian and Neolithic stone tools.
- 3
Gallery B: Malay Kingdoms
📍 Ground floor
The Melaka Sultanate section is the core. Find the bronze Avalokiteshvara, a National Heritage artefact.
- 4
Galleries C & D: Colonial Era to Malaysia Today
📍 Upper floor
Look for the Bunga Emas replica, then follow the path from the independence movement to 1957 and the formation of Malaysia in 1963.
- 5
Istana Satu and outdoor exhibits
📍 Outdoor grounds
Finish at the 1884 cengal-wood palace from Terengganu, the Kitson steam locomotive and the tin dredge display.
What are the must-see works at National Museum of Malaysia?
5 highlights that define the collection: Perak Man (replica), Bronze Avalokiteshvara, Bunga Emas (Golden Flower) replica and more.
Perak Man (replica)
Prehistoric human skeleton · c. 10,000–11,000 years old
📍 Gallery A: Early History
A replica of the oldest near-complete human skeleton found in Southeast Asia, discovered in Perak. It anchors the gallery's story of Palaeolithic, Hoabinhian and Neolithic life on the peninsula.
Bronze Avalokiteshvara
Hindu-Buddhist period
📍 Gallery B: Malay Kingdoms
A bronze statue of the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, recognised as a National Heritage artefact in 2009. It is one of the museum's key objects from the peninsula's early Hindu-Buddhist kingdoms.
Bunga Emas (Golden Flower) replica
Tribute of the northern Malay rulers to Siam
📍 Gallery C: Colonial Era
A replica of the ornamental 'golden flower' that rulers of the northern Malay states sent to the Siamese king in Bangkok, a symbol of the region's diplomatic relationships.
Istana Satu
Terengganu timber palace · 1884
📍 Outdoor grounds
A full-size timber palace built in 1884 for Sultan Zainal Abidin III of Terengganu. It is made of carved cengal wood and was moved to the museum grounds in April 1974.
Kitson steam locomotive
Kitson & Co · in service 1921–1969
📍 Outdoor grounds
A steam locomotive from Malaya's railway era, displayed outdoors with a tin dredge exhibit and early vehicles, recalling the tin-and-rail economy that built Kuala Lumpur.
Collections and highlights
- • Gallery A: Early History (prehistory, Perak Man replica)
- • Gallery B: Malay Kingdoms and the Melaka Sultanate
- • Gallery C: Colonial Era (Portuguese, Dutch, British, Japanese)
- • Gallery D: Malaysia Today (independence to present)
- • Outdoor exhibits: Istana Satu, steam locomotive, tin dredge, vehicles
- • Temporary exhibitions in Galleries 1 and 2
Tips for visiting National Museum of Malaysia
- 1.
Best time to visit
Open every day including Mondays. Go at 9:00 AM on a weekday and allow 1.5–2 hours. Last entry is 4:30 PM.
- 2.
Crowds & busy periods
School groups visit on weekdays during term time; weekends and school holidays bring families.
- 3.
Tickets & booking
No online booking; tickets are sold only at the museum counter (cash or debit/credit card). Show MyKad/MyKid for Malaysian rates.
- 4.
Food & cafés nearby
On-site cafeteria; NU Sentral mall and KL Sentral food outlets via the MRT walkway; Brickfields (Little India) restaurants a short ride away.
- 5.
Accessibility
The museum lists facilities for visitors with disabilities and provides wheelchairs. The raised timber Istana Satu on the grounds has steps.
- 6.
Photography rules
Photography without flash is allowed. Special photography and filming need prior approval by official letter.
How do you get to National Museum of Malaysia?
- metro MRT Kajang Line to Muzium Negara station, which comes out right beside the museum grounds
- train KTM Komuter, LRT, Monorail or ERL to KL Sentral, then walk through the connecting walkway (~240 m) to Muzium Negara MRT
- bus Free GOKL City Bus Red line to the Muzium Negara stop; KL Hop-On Hop-Off stop 20
- car On-site parking: RM3 for the first hour, RM2 for each hour after (including SST)
Address: Jalan Damansara, 50566 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
National Museum of Malaysia: frequently asked questions
How much does the National Museum of Malaysia cost?
Foreign adults pay RM5, foreign children aged 6–12 pay RM2, and foreign children under 5 enter free. Malaysian adults pay RM2 and Malaysian seniors and visitors with disabilities (OKU) pay RM1. Malaysian children aged 12 and under enter free, as do secondary students in school uniform. ICOM members enter free. Show your MyKad or MyKid at the counter to get citizen rates.
What are the opening hours, and is it open on Mondays?
Muzium Negara is open every day, including Mondays, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Last ticket sales and entry are at 4:30 PM. It closes only on the first and second days of Hari Raya Aidilfitri and the first day of Hari Raya Aidiladha, so check those dates if you are visiting around the Eid holidays.
Can I buy National Museum tickets online?
No. Tickets are sold only at the National Museum's ticket counter, and there is no online sale. You can pay by cash or by debit or credit card. There is no timed entry and prices are low, so you can simply turn up on the day.
How long should I spend at the National Museum?
Plan 1.5–2 hours for the highlights of National Museum of Malaysia. Our 5-stop route — Façade murals and central hall, Gallery A: Early History, Gallery B: Malay Kingdoms and more — is designed to fit that time. Add extra time for temporary exhibitions, the shop and the café.
How do I get to Muzium Negara by public transport?
Take the MRT Kajang Line to Muzium Negara station, which comes out right beside the museum. From KL Sentral, which is served by KTM Komuter, the LRT, the Monorail and the ERL, follow the walkway of about 240 metres to the MRT station. The free GOKL City Bus Red line stops at Muzium Negara, and the KL Hop-On Hop-Off bus stops there at stop 20.
Can I take photos inside the National Museum?
Yes. The museum allows photography without flash. Special photography and filming need permission by official letter. The museum also asks visitors not to touch exhibits. Food, drink, pets and dangerous items cannot be brought inside, and smoking is not allowed anywhere in the museum.
What are the highlights of the National Museum?
In Gallery A, see the replica of Perak Man, Southeast Asia's oldest near-complete human skeleton at about 10,000–11,000 years old. Gallery B centres on the Melaka Sultanate and shows a bronze Avalokiteshvara listed as a National Heritage artefact. Gallery C has a replica of the Bunga Emas tribute sent to Siam. Outside, the carved Istana Satu palace (1884) stands on the grounds.
Can I combine the National Museum with the Islamic Arts Museum?
Yes. The Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia is about a 20-minute walk away, or a short taxi ride. A good plan is to arrive at Muzium Negara at 9:00 AM and spend the morning there. Then move on to the Islamic Arts Museum, which is open until 6:00 PM and has a restaurant for lunch. The National Mosque is right next to the Islamic Arts Museum.
Is National Museum of Malaysia free to visit?
Not for everyone. Standard admission: RM2 for Malaysian adults; RM5 for foreign adults. Free or reduced entry: Malaysian children 12 and under free; Malaysian secondary students in school uniform free; Foreign children under 5 free; foreign children 6–12 RM2; Malaysian seniors and OKU RM1; ICOM members free; Last entry 4:30 PM.
