Looking to keep the kids occupied in a way that’s both fun and educational? Malaysia’s buzzing capital city, Kuala Lumpur, is home to a number of attractions that promise a fun time for visitors of all ages, including some quality museums.
From special exhibits to hands-on activities, these awesome institutions in Kuala Lumpur give children the opportunity to learn new things while keeping boredom at bay.
1. National Planetarium
The National Planetarium (Planetarium Negara) sits atop a hill in Perdana Botanical Garden – an expansive green lung in the heart of the city – midway between the National Museum and KL Bird Park.
Curious young and old space enthusiasts will enjoy spending a couple of hours immersed in all things astronomy-related.
Some items on display here include the Ariane IV space engine, which launched the nation’s first satellite into space, and replicas of ancient observatory equipment.
Kids can hop into the space exploration simulator to get a feel of space travel, look for celestial objects through a telescope, or watch a film at the Space Theatre—a wide-screen IMAX cinema housed in the dome of the planetarium.
Address: 53, Jalan Perdana, Tasik Perdana, 50480 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
2. Bank Negara Malaysia Museum and Art Gallery
The museum and art gallery of Malaysia’s central bank is housed in a modern, beautifully designed building bathed in abundant natural light.
It consists of six permanent galleries that delve into the national economy, the role of the central bank, and historical developments of Malaysia’s financial landscape through the years.
The bright and cheerful Children’s Gallery is often hailed as the highlight of the museum. It is accessed through a ‘money tunnel’ containing 1 million ringgit worth of Malaysian banknotes—an eye-opening, one-of-a-kind display.
From crafting paper money to role-playing at a model bank, there are plenty of games and activities here, all aimed at educating young ones on the concept of money in a casual, fun way.
Address: Sasana Kijang, 2 Jalan Dato’ Onn, 50480 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
3. Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia
Sitting right at the edge of the Perdana Botanical Garden is the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia, the largest museum of its kind in Southeast Asia.
The museum features 12 permanent galleries that house over 10,000 artefacts. The collections originate from India, China, and the Malay world to Persia and beyond.
To make gallery visits fun for the little ones, the museum’s education department has prepared child-friendly worksheets filled with engaging tasks related to the exhibits.
There’s also a dedicated children’s library with both fiction and non-fiction books on Islamic art, history, science, and architecture. Every weekend, educational activities for children are hosted here, from recorded wayang kulit (shadow puppetry) screenings to batik art workshops.
Address: Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia, Jalan Lembah, Tasik Perdana, 50480 Kuala Lumpur
4. Petrosains, The Discovery Centre
The science and technology museum of Malaysia’s national oil and gas company, Petronas, is conveniently located in Suria KLCC shopping mall – a tourist favourite.
Highlights include the Formula 1 exhibit, helicopter simulator, and rapping T-rex, as well as the many science experiment stations set up throughout the centre.
With its interactive and experiential approach, Petrosains offers oodles of fun for the whole family while emphasising science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) knowledge.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the centre is also dedicated to educating the public on the national petroleum industry. By exploring its to-scale model oil platform, visitors can get a rare glimpse into what being on an offshore oil rig is actually like.
Address: Petronas Twin Tower, Level 4, Kuala Lumpur City Centre, 50088 Kuala Lumpur
5. National Science Centre
The National Science Centre is a prominent landmark In the upscale suburb of Damansara Heights, with its colourful facade and iconic geodesic dome.
Comprising four floors and nine galleries of educational science exhibits, the centre is large enough to keep children occupied all day, making it a hit with local families during the weekends and school holidays.
A fascinating aquarium tunnel marks the start of the indoor exhibits, which cover a wide range of themes. The centre introduces little ones to scientific concepts while providing fun activity zones for them to play and explore in.
There’s also much to see on the museum’s sprawling landscaped grounds, like the prehistoric garden and its attention-grabbing dinosaur replicas. The real crowd favourite, however, is the water plaza – a delightful aquatic playground within a large shallow pool.
Address: 50662, Persiaran Bukit Kiara, Bukit Damansara, 50490 Kuala Lumpur
This story by Jacie Tan Cheng Hwee was originally published on AirAsia. Zafigo republished this story in full with permission from the publisher, simply because good stories should be read by as many people as possible! If you have stories that will be of interest and useful to women travellers, especially in Asia, please get in touch with us at info@zafigo.com.
