The Petronas Towers

The Petronas Towers are the gleaming symbol of Kuala Lumpur and of modern Malaysia, a pair of soaring 88-storey skyscrapers of steel and glass rising over 450 metres, their design inspired by Islamic geometric patterns. Once the tallest buildings in the world, they are linked near the top by a double-decker skybridge, and visitors can ascend to it and to a higher observation deck for sweeping views over the city, spectacular by day and dazzling when the towers are lit at night.

History

The towers were designed by the Argentine-American architect César Pelli, with a facade of steel and glass recalling motifs of Islamic art and a cross-section based on the Rub el Hizb, and planning began on 1 January 1992 (Wikipedia, Petronas Towers).

Highlights

• The twin towers - the iconic soaring skyscrapers, dazzling at night.
• The skybridge - the double-decker bridge linking the towers.
• The observation deck - the views over the city from near the top.
• KLCC Park - the park and fountains below the towers.

When to go

Year-round; the towers are most spectacular after dark, when they are brilliantly lit, best seen from KLCC Park or a rooftop bar. Book skybridge tickets ahead, as they are timed and limited and sell out.

Things to know

Tickets to the skybridge and deck are timed, limited and sell out, so book ahead; many are content to admire and photograph the towers from the park below, which is free and gives the classic view. It is a modern icon rather than a historic sight. The best photos are from KLCC Park or a nearby rooftop bar after dark.

Nearby

The Batu Caves, Chinatown and the Bukit Bintang district are elsewhere in Kuala Lumpur.

Key facts