Kuala Lumpur Museums

(Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory, Malaysia)

Kuala Lumpur has an interesting and diverse collection of museums. Chief of these are the Muzium Negara (National Museum) at the Lake Gardens, and also the Muzium Sejarah National (National History), the latter of which actually started life around 100 years ago, when it was constructed as a simple city bank.

There is also a coin museum within Kuala Lumpur, as well as the rather curious Royal Malaysia Police Museum, along with further cultural attractions celebrating the city's maritime heritage and abundant flora and fauna.

Muzium Negara (National Museum)

Address: Jalan Damansara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, MY
Tel: +60 03 2282 6255
The National Museum features an impressive collection of items covering history, arts and crafts of Malaysia. It is conveniently located at the beautiful Lake Gardens and its most high-profile article is the amok catcher, which was used to treat madmen. Many types of musical instrument and costumes are also on display.
Open hours: daily - 09:00 to 18:00
Admission: charge, children under 12 years free

Royal Malaysia Police Museum

Address: 5 Jalan Perdana, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, MY
Tel: +60 03 2272 5689
Not far from the Islamic Arts Museum is the interesting Royal Malaysia Police Museum, which features police uniforms and vehicles galore, as well as old cannons, swords, handmade guns and knives seized from Malaysia's Mafia (secret societies). These secret society gangs would smuggle, rob and murder with a political agenda, and their reach took on the whole of Malaya and Singapore at one time.
Open hours: Saturday to Thursday - 10:00 to 17:30, Friday - closed
Admission: free

Muzium Sejarah National (National History Museum)

Address: 29 Jalan Raja, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, MY
Tel: +60 03 2694 4590
Better known to English tourists as the Natural History Museum, the Muzium Sejarah National is housed within an especially beautiful building. The architecture is particularly eye-catching and Mogul in its appearance, while inside, the extensive collection of artefacts and treasures celebrate Malaysia's rich past. Particularly notable is a historic gold coin, which dates back over 400 years.
Open hours: daily - 09:00 to 18:00
Admission: free

Maybank Numismatic Museum

Address: Jalan Tun Perak, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, MY
Tel: +60 03 2690 7461
Coin enthusiasts will revel at a chance to visit the Maybank Numismatic Museum, which features a fascinating collection of coins and notes from across the region. The museum is situated within the Maybank Tower (on the first floor) and many come here to see its most valued collection, which hails from the 15th century Malacca Sultanate.
Open hours: daily - 10:00 to 18:00
Admission: charge

Handicraft Museum

Address: 63 Jalan Conlay, Kompleks Kraf, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, MY
Tel: +60 03 2162 7459xxxx
The Handicraft Museum is located within the city's modern Craft Cultural Complex (Kompleks Kraf) and always an interesting attraction if you have a spare hour or two, being home to an interesting selection of local arts and craft works from throughout Malaysia. Highlights include handmade objects created out of everyday items, such as coconuts, shells and fabrics. A reconstruction of a typical village house is a further attraction.
Open hours: daily - 10:00 to 17:00
Admission: free

MISC Maritime Museum

Address: 2 Jalan Conlay, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, MY
Tel: +60 03 2142 8088
Filled with historical maritime exhibits and a strong nautical theme, the MISC Maritime Museum is divided into a number of designated exhibition spaces. Visitors will likely enjoy looking at the multitude of model ships, maps and displays celebrating the seafaring achievements of the Vikings and the Greeks.
Open hours: Monday to Friday - 08:30 to 16:30, Saturday - 08:30 to 12:30
Admission: free