The 5 Best museums and galleries to check out in Kuala Lumpur

Sarah Khan

11 Oct 2016

updated the Tuesday, October 11, 2016

1/5
Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia
The Islamic Arts Museum of KL is a must-visit if you're in the city. The stunning museum is home to some of the best collections of Islamic art in the world. The museum building itself is breathtaking, with majestic domes and beautiful glazed tile work.
It houses excellent exhibits, including Islamic textiles, carpets, jewellery and calligraphy-inscribed pottery. Should you get hungry while making your rounds, there's a great Middle Eastern restaurant for you to get your food fix. The museum also has one of the city's best museum gift shops, stocking beautiful items from around the Islamic world.
Jln Lembah Perdana, Kuala Lumpur
Photo: Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia (Facebook)
2/5
National Museum
The National Museum of Malaysia offers a rich insight into Malaysian history. The best exhibits to check out? The Early History gallery, with artifacts from neolithic and Bronze Age cultures, and the Malay Kingdoms section, which depicts the rise of Islamic kingdoms within the Malay Archipelago.
Keep your eye out for a gorgeous traditional raised house outside the museum, and ancient burial poles from Sarawak. The museum is also home to two small free side galleries worth checking out - the Orang Asli Craft Museum and Malay World Ethnology Museum.
Jalan Damansara 50566, Kuala Lumpur
Photo: National Museum
3/5
National Visual Art Gallery
The National Visual Arts Gallery specialises in modern and contemporary Malaysian art. It is home to a permanent collection of 4000 art pieces, including paintings by Zulkifli Moh'd Dahalan, Wong Hoy Cheong, Ahmad Fuad Osman, and the acclaimed batik artist Chuah Thean Teng.
Occupying a pyramid-shaped complex, the interior of the museum features a distinctly Guggenheim Museum–style staircase that provides access to the main galleries. The NVAG regularly hosts various temporary shows from both local and regional artists. Its National Portrait Gallery also has regularly changing exhibitions on the ground level.
Photo: Balai Seni Visual Gallery / National Visual Art Gallery Malaysia (Instagram)
4/5
Bank Negara Malaysia Museum and Art Gallery
Housed in a stunningly-designed complex, the bank’s art collection is impressive and offers a comprehensive insight into Malaysian art from the last few decades. With an art collection of about 1700 pieces, this niche gallery specialises in mainly fiscal and money-related exhibits here, although this does not mean the art works are the least bit dull.
You will enjoy its collection of ancient coins and money, and the impressive 3 metre-long tunnel lined with RM1 million. The museum also gives an insight into the history of the distinctive Islamic banking system.
Sasana Kijang, 2 Jalan Dato’ Onn, 50480 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Photo: Bank Negara Malaysia Museum and Gallery
5/5
MAP Publika
MAP Publika was initially a housing complex (known as Solaris Dutamas) before developers decided to convert and develop the space into the arts hub and district it is today.
Established as a nucleus for all art activities in the Hartamas area, MAP consists of two spaces: the White Box (an exhibition space) and Black Box (a new media space). Both feature an open space and flexi-walls that allow for them to be transformed to cater to its different exhibits or needs. Even its restrooms are being turned into conceptual art works. MAP Publika definitely buzzes with what feels like the pulse of KL's contemporary art scene.
Level G2, Block A5, Solaris Dutamas, No 1, Jalan Dutamas 1, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Photo: MAP KL (Facebook)

In need of a culture fix? Check out our top 5 picks of museums and galleries to visit in KL!

If museums and galleries aren’t already at the top of your preferred leisure activity list, it should be. With their stunning artifacts and exhibitions, they truly are a portal into a slice of a distant past and can convey rich and multi-layered stories. Today, both museums and galleries have evolved to become very interactive and make for a great leisure activity, whether you’re a local living in the city or a tourist visiting on holiday with your family. And the fact that some of them can make for the perfect Instagram-worthy photo is just an added bonus!

Despite its comparably short history as a city, Kuala Lumpur is home to a diverse selection of museums and galleries. Not to fret, we have shortlisted our top 5 picks from the city you must visit – you can marvel at the magnificent beauty that is Islamic art at the must-see Islamic Arts Museum of Malaysia, or delight in contemporary art pieces and exhibitions at the new art space Map Publika KL. Whichever museum takes your fancy, a visit to any of these is guaranteed to give you a deeper appreciation and understanding of what has made KL the city it is today. Head up to the gallery to see which museum or gallery is next on your list for your dose of culture fix!

Sarah Khan

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The 5 Best museums and galleries to check out in Kuala Lumpur

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