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One of the most popular countries to visit in Southeast Asia is Malaysia. Malaysia is a stunning country full of stunning things to see and do — it is possible to go trekking for orangutans on the Borneo side and see one of the most eye-catching Hindu temples is the Batu Caves in Kuala Lumpur. Kuala Lumpur is a large and modern city and the beating heart of Malaysia. One of the most notable attractions in Kuala Lumpur are the massive Petronas Towers.
The Petronas Towers are also called the Petronas Twin Towers, the Twin Towers, or the KLCC Twin Towers. These are mega 88-story skyscrapers in the glitzy business center of Kuala Lumpur. Today they are the world's tallest twin towers and one of the best known feats of engineering in Southeast Asia.
The Petronas Twin Towers - The Engineering Icons Of Malaysia
The Petronas Towers were built in the 1990s and completed in 1999. They were the tallest buildings in the world for a time (overtaking Taipei 101 in Taiwan).
They remained the tallest buildings in Malaysia until The Exchange 106 was built (which overtook the Petronas Towers by 1.7 meters or around the height of the average person).
- Height: 452 Meters or 1,483 Feet
- Floors: 88 Floors
The Petronas Towers has become one of the key landmarks of Southeast Asia and are readily visible around the city.
The Petronas Towers are structurally built in a tube in tube design and are largely built out of reinforced concrete. Owing to the depth of the bedrock beneath the towers, they are built with one of the deepest foundations in the world.
The 104 concrete piles of the towers run to depths between 60 meters (197 feet) and 114 meters (374 feet).
While the Petronas Towers are massive, they would be dwarfed if the Jeddah Tower in Saudi Arabia is ever completed (it would be the first building to be more than a kilometer high).
Visiting The Petronas Towers & Observation Deck
At the base of the Petronas Towers is a massive shopping mall called Suria KLCC. The giant shopping mall stretches 6 stories and is a premier shopping destination that has over 300 flagship stores.
At the top of the towers is an observation deck that is open to the public. It is open every day except for Mondays.
Opening Hours: 10.00 am to 6.00 pm
- Days: Tuesday To Sunday
- Closed: Monday
Admission Fees (for Non-Malaysians):
- Child: RM 33.00 ($7.50)
- Adult: RM 80.00 ($18.00)
The Observation Deck is located on the 86th Floor (almost all the way to the top). Here visitors can stand above the clouds and gaze out over Kuala Lumpur.
Visitors can also explore some state-of-the-art exhibits and digital displays about the history of the towers. Admission also include the double-decked Skybridge that links the two towers together halfway up.
The highest observation deck in the world is unsurprisingly in the Burj Khalifa in Dubai — the tallest building in the world.
Arguably the best observation deck in New York City is from the Rockfeller's Top of the Rock (the observation deck in the Empire State Building is higher, but one can't see the Empire State Building in the skyline if one is standing in it).
Guided Tours Of The Petronas Towers
Perhaps the best way to explore the Petronas Towers is with a guided tour. Consider booking the exclusive PETRONAS Twin Towers Guided Tour Evening Experience.
There are up to 10 people in each group and can only be booked online (and at least 2 days before the date). There are three sessions per day.
- Private Tour: RM 1,200 ($275) - For up to 10 People
- Time Slots: 6.30 pm, 6.45 pm, 7.00 pm
- Duration: 45 Minutes
The tours are offered from Tuesday to Sunday (not offered on Mondays). There are 24 sessions per day and the tickets are released at 9.00 am on a first come, first served basis.
The tour lasts around 45 minutes and visits three floors of the tower - the Skyridge on the 41st Floor, the Observation Deck on the 86th Floor, and the 83rd Floor with digital displays and informative videos.
Visiting the Petronas Towers can even be done while having a long layover in the Kuala Lumpur International Airport.