Visiting Muzium Negara Malaysia: National Museum of Malaysia in KL

Muzium Negara or National Museum of Malaysia showcases Malaysia’s rich cultural and historical heritage with a repository of artifacts from Malaysia’s prehistoric era, colonial influences, Malaya independence, and modern Malaysia development.

I’m Sue, and we have passed by the National Museum of Malaysia many times when driving through Kuala Lumpur. Our family decided to visit Muzium Negara one Saturday to check it out. Read our Muzium Negara review below.

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Main Galleries In Muzium Negara, Malaysia

Gallery A: Early History (First Floor)

This gallery showcases the early human history in the Malay Peninsula including artefacts from the Palaeolithic, Hoabinhian, and Neolithic ages including stone tools, pottery, and burial urns. One of the main highlights is a replica of Perak Man.

Gallery B: Malay Kingdoms (First Floor)

See the development of Malay civilization in the Malay Peninsula and Borneo. There is a dedicated section on the Melaka Sultanate. The key attractions here are keris, local jewelry, the Avalokiteshvara statue and elements from the Palace of Setul.

Gallery C: Colonial Era (Second Floor)

This gallery documents the foreign colonial influence in Malaya, Sabah and Sarawak. It explores how colonial powers shaped political, economic and social life. Some compelling exhibits here include the Golden Flower, a model of the Portuguese ship Flor De La Mar, and colonial currencies.

Gallery D: Malaysia Today (Second Floor)

Gallery D highlights achievements in nation-building, political development, cultural diversity, and modern infrastructure. Key exhibits include political documents (Letter of appointment of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong), traditional clothing from the country’s many ethnic groups, and Merdeka First Day cover.

Outdoor Exhibits

Outside the museum building includes several old vintage vehicles and a Megalith garden. It showcases old transportation modes including bullock carts, trishaws, the first Proton Saga car and even a traditional Malay wooden house from 1884 originally belonging to the Sultan of Terengganu.

Muzium Negara For Kids

• Interactive Screen On The First Floor

There is a small interactive digital screen exhibit on the first floor near the main entrance. Little E enjoyed pressing and rotating the ancient gun display on the screen for a few minutes.

• Outdoor Vehicle Collection

Little E was happy to see a steam locomotive, Wilayah Mini Bus, Dennis fire engine, small mobile cannon and the old Bukit Bendera Penang railway coach at the museum’s compound. If you have boys, they would probably enjoy them too.

• Focus On The Visual Exhibits

Kids can focus on more large visual exhibits including the Portuguese ship Flor De La Mar, a detailed tin dredge model, traditional keris, armour, and even a reconstructed cave.

• Ceria Kids Program on Saturdays

Children aged 7 to 12 can join the CERIA@Muzium Negara programme which runs every Saturday at 11am. This hands-on session in the Central Hall focuses on arts and crafts activities, including making traditional toys or learning simple crafts inspired by Malaysian heritage.

• Interactive Turning Blocks

Children can enjoy the fun interactive displays including turning blocks featuring Malaysian state flags and pictures of national development in the Malaysia Today Gallery D. These colourful and movable exhibits provide a playful way of introducing the themes of unity and national progress to the children.

• Glass Floor In Gallery C

There is a small glass floor section that some kids might find amusing. Little E enjoyed walking back and forth on the glass floor looking down at the ground with what looked like giant Lego sand bricks.

• More Suitable for Older Children

We think that Muzium Negara is more suited for older children (7 years old and above) who can read interesting facts about the exhibits, enjoy the interactive features, and participate in kids programmes like CERIA. Toddlers, on the other hand, may find the darker and text-heavy indoor galleries less engaging and even a little intimidating and prefer the outdoor exhibits more.

• Take A Guided Tour

For families with older children, guided tours by Museum volunteers add another layer of engagement. Instead of only reading exhibit descriptions, children can hear stories, ask questions, and learn about the artefacts in a more narrative style.

Guided Tours in Muzium Negara

There are FREE guided tours (1 to 2 hours) in English, French, Japanese, Korean and Mandarin from 10am onwards.

Muzium Negara Opening Hours

Monday to Friday: 9am to 5pm. Closed on the first and second day of Hari Raya Aidilfitri.

Muzium Negara Address

Muzium Negara, Jabatan Muzium Malaysia, Jalan Damansara, 50566 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

How To Get To Muzium Negara

• Car

For those driving, Muzium Negara’s outdoor parking fee is RM3 for the first hour, and RM2 for each additional hour.

• KL Hop On And OFF Bus

The KL Hop-On Hop-Off Bus is great for tourists who want to combine the National Museum visit with other attractions around Kuala Lumpur. Alight at Stop 20 – Muzium Negara.

• RED GoKL Bus

Budget-conscious travellers can take advantage of the FREE RED GoKL City Bus which stops directly at Muzium Negara.

• Grab

Set your destination to Muzium Negara on the Grab e-hailing app, and you will be dropped right at the entrance.

• MRT

The Muzium Negara MRT station exit is just steps away from the museum entrance. Visitors travelling by LRT, KTM Komuter, Monorail, or ERL can alight at KL Sentral, then follow the covered 240-metre pedestrian walkway that connects directly to Muzium Negara MRT Station.

How long does it take to visit Muzium Negara?

Our family spent about 1 hour at Muzium Negara. For those doing a more casual or self-guided walk-through (skipping detailed reading or only focusing on the highlights), about 1 hour to 1 and a half hour would suffice. 

Is there a dress code for entering Muzium Negara?

There’s no strict uniform or formal dress code to enter Muzium Negara. You can wear casual clothes and dress modestly.

Muzium Negara Ticket Price

Malaysian Citizen:

• Adult: RM2
• Senior citizens & person with disabilities: RM1
• Children under 12: FREE
• Secondary school students: FREE (with uniform), RM2 (without uniform)

Foreign Visitor:

• Adult: RM5
• Children aged 6 to 12: RM2
• Children under 5: FREE

Note: Tickets are only available for purchase at Muzium Negara’s ticketing counter.

Other Attractions Nearby Muzium Negara

• Malay World Ethnology Museum

This museum focuses on the heritage and cultural diversity of the Malay world (Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei and southern Thailand). Visitors can explore displays of traditional textiles, weaponry, musical instruments, and performing arts of those regions.

• Orang Asli Crafts Museum

This smaller museum celebrates the rich traditions of Malaysia’s indigenous communities. Exhibits include intricately carved wooden statues, woven baskets, traditional blowpipes, and beadwork crafted by the Orang Asli community.

• KL Bird Park

KL Bird Park is about a 5-minute drive or 20-minute walk from Muzium Negara. It is one of the world’s largest free-flight walk-in aviaries. Here, you can enjoy its landscaped gardens while spotting hornbills, flamingos, peacocks, and over 200 other species of birds.

Is It Worth Going To Muzium Negara?

Yes, Muzium Negara is worth a visit as it provides an affordable and engaging journey through Malaysia’s rich history and culture.