Kuala Lumpur is the capital of Malaysia and to be fair, maybe not as popular as it should be against other Asian destinations. KL offers great street food, nightlife and a buzzing city centre. Things are cheap here if you avoid the western places. The local food can be as cheap as just a few pounds and taste better than most western Asian places.
So you are thinking about going to either the KL Tower or Petronas Twin Towers but not sure which one is better. We are here to help, below we break down the key points of each to help you make the best decision and also give our verdict on which is better and why.
First of all let’s get down to the numbers (as of July 2023)
| KL Tower | Petronas Twin Towers | |
| Height of attraction | 1,381 feet | 1,483 feet |
| Admission price | from £12 ($16) for adults | from £17 ($22) for adults |
| Time needed to visit | 1 hour without queuing | 45 mins |
They always say bigger is better but there isn’t really too much height given away in this comparison. The prices are pretty similar as well so all seems pretty equal at this point. One thing to note if you are a Malay national then you can get a discounted price.
KL Tower
KL Tower building was started in 1991 and completed in 1994. It is used for telecommunication purposes and as it stands so high is pretty visible in the KL skyline. It is also known as the Menara Kuala Lumpur Tower. Currently it is the 7th tallest telecommunication structure in the world but probably not for long as the rate buildings go up these days.
The Tower shaft has 22 levels and if you fancy walking all the steps there are 2,058 of them. Luckily the building is serviced by 4 elevators so no need to. The head (top) of the tower contains the viewing platform along with a revolving restaurant.
The highlights and best bits – What you get to see at KL Tower
I guess it has to be the views from the observation deck of the city of KL, well yes that’s included in the standard price. The other highlights are the Skydeck which gives you panoramic views of the city and is outdoors. You are about 985 feet above the ground. Also Skybox if you’ve got the minerals. The problem with the last 2 highlights is there is an additional cost for them and can triple the cost of your normal entry fee, but if you don’t plan on coming back to KL then it’s probably worth it.
Other highlights include their latest addition of an upside down house which you can have your picture taken with which is next to the car park. There is also a small zoo you can visit, certainly a good one if you have kids.
Finally the Atmosphere 360 Restaurant which is 925 feet from the ground. This place is tastefully decorated and is certainly a wow factor if you can get a reservation. To be honest the prices are very reasonable if you go for a set menu on a weekday, with prices starting around £20 ($26) for high tea, buffet lunch. Then sit back and take in the views as you slowly rotate round.
The not so good bits
As mentioned, queuing is an issue and during peak times may have to queue up to an hour to get in and then feel overcrowded so hinder the experience. Also the Tower is located on a hill so it is not easy for people with limited mobility.
Petronas Twin Towers
Let’s now talk about Petronas Twin Towers, this structure took 3 years to finally be completed as there was a lot of work needed to make sure the structure was sound based on the design. Construction started in 1994 after planning was kicked off in 1992 and officially opened in 1999.
The structure is two towers (supertall skyscrapers) standing 88 storeys tall, adjacent to each other and connected by a bridge. This design and architecture has a lot of inspiration from Islamic art to reflect Malaysia’s Muslim religion.
It was the tallest building in the world until in 2004 Taipei 101 surpassed it. Petronas Twin Towers has also recently lost its status as the tallest building in Malaysia when The Exchange 106 was completed in 2019.
The highlights and best bits – What you get to see at Petronas Twin Towers
Skybridge is a must given that it connects the two towers and is easily visible when you see it in the skyline. Obviously not at the top of the structure but still something pretty different to most tall buildings. This connects on the 41st and 42nd floors. High enough to still get amazing views of KL.
The Observation Deck located on the 86th floor, from here you can see so much more and looking across the skyline see some of the other tall buildings in which you are higher if only by about 100 feet.
You also have at the base of the towers, Suria KLCC which is a luxury shopping mall which includes a lot of the top brands, international retailers, places to eat and so much more.
Observation Deck: After exploring the Skybridge, head up to the Observation Deck on the 86th floor. Known as the Skydeck, it offers even more breathtaking views of Kuala Lumpur. You can take in the city’s skyline, landmarks, and surrounding landscapes from this vantage point. So if you love to shop or hang out at malls then this will be heaven for you.
There is also KLCC Park which again is at the foot of the towers. It is great to walk through and enjoy the greenery that surrounds you and also has a lake. The last thing of interest is the Art Gallery which is located on level 3 of the KLCC, it is home to Malaysian and international art.
The not so good bits
Same as KL Tower you can end up queuing just to obtain a ticket. You also get limited time at the Skybridge and Observation Deck of 15-20 min each so can feel rushed especially with large crowds. Limited things to do as really for the Towers there are only 2 things actually in there that can be called an attraction.
Which is the best, KL Tower or Petronas Twin Towers?
Basically the same type of attraction, view decks and the stats / costs are similar. But having thought about this long and hard, I am going to give it to KL Towers mainly because it has a few more things to do than Petronas Twin Towers.
KL Tower is best for: Rotating restaurant and Skycube for adrenaline junkies
My rating: 4.2 / 5
Petronas Twin Towers is best for: The Skybridge as it’s a little different to normal tall buildings
My rating: 3.8 / 5