The Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia is one of the finest museums in Kuala Lumpur and one of the largest museums of Islamic art in Southeast Asia. Set on the edge of the Perdana Botanical Gardens, it holds thousands of objects from across the Islamic world, from manuscripts and textiles to ceramics, jewellery and arms, in bright, well-designed galleries under turquoise domes. Even visitors with little background in the subject find the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia easy to enjoy.
Why visit the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia
The museum opened in the late 1990s and is privately funded. Its collection spans regions from Spain and North Africa through the Middle East and Central Asia to India, China and the Malay world, which is one of its strengths: you can compare how calligraphy, pattern and architecture developed in very different places. The building itself is part of the experience, with tiled iwans and domes decorated inside by craftsmen.
The galleries are spacious and air-conditioned, the labels are clear and in English, and there is a good museum shop and a restaurant, which make it a comfortable half-day visit in the Kuala Lumpur heat.
How to get to the Islamic Arts Museum by rail
The museum is in the hilly Lake Gardens area, and no station is right at the door. The closest rail stop on foot is the old Kuala Lumpur railway station, served by KTM Komuter trains, from where the museum is roughly a 10 to 15 minute walk past the National Mosque. Follow signs for Masjid Negara and continue up Jalan Lembah Perdana.
From the MRT network, Muzium Negara on the MRT Kajang Line is also in the area, but the walk from there is longer and involves busy roads, so many visitors take a short taxi or e-hailing ride from KL Sentral or Muzium Negara instead. Some free city bus routes also pass nearby. Pasar Seni station, on several lines, is another starting point for a longer walk.
Islamic Arts Museum tickets and opening hours
There is an admission fee, with reduced prices for students and children. Special exhibitions may cost extra or be included. The museum is open most days of the week, with shorter or changed hours on some public holidays. Check the official website, iamm.org.my, for current prices, hours and exhibitions.
Best time to visit and how long to stay
Weekday mornings are usually the calmest time, with fewer school groups. The museum makes an excellent plan for the hottest hours of the day or for a rainy afternoon, as the visit is entirely indoors. Allow two to three hours to see the permanent galleries without rushing.
Highlights of the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia collection
The architecture gallery
Detailed scale models of famous mosques and Islamic buildings from around the world show how styles vary from region to region, a favourite with many visitors.
Qur'an and manuscripts
Beautifully illuminated pages and calligraphy from different centuries and regions.
The reconstructed room
A richly decorated room interior, panelled in painted wood, gives a sense of how elite homes were furnished in the Ottoman world.
The Malay world, China and India galleries
These galleries show how Islamic art developed in Asia, including pieces from the Malay Peninsula that you will rarely see elsewhere.
Tips for your visit
Pick up a floor plan at the entrance, as the galleries are spread over several levels. Look up as you move through the building: the decorated domes are some of the finest work in the museum. The museum restaurant makes a good lunch stop. If you plan to visit the National Mosque next door, check its visiting times for non-Muslims, as it closes to tourists during prayers, and dress modestly; robes are usually provided at the entrance.
Nearby in the Lake Gardens
- Masjid Negara (National Mosque): next door, with visiting hours for non-Muslims outside prayer times.
- Perdana Botanical Gardens: the city's large park, good for a walk in the cooler part of the day.
- KL Bird Park: a large walk-in aviary in the gardens.
- Kuala Lumpur railway station: the ornate old station building, worth a look from outside.
- National Museum (Muzium Negara): Malaysian history, near the MRT station of the same name.
See the Islamic Arts Museum page for more, or explore other stops on our Kuala Lumpur metro guide.