KL Tower, officially Menara Kuala Lumpur, is the city's telecommunications tower, standing on top of Bukit Nanas, a small forested hill in the heart of Kuala Lumpur. At over 400 metres to the tip of its antenna it is one of the tallest towers of its kind in the world. Because it starts from a hill, the KL Tower viewing levels give some of the highest views in the city, and they look straight across at the Petronas Twin Towers, which many people consider a better view than one from the Twin Towers themselves.
Why visit KL Tower
The tower was completed in the mid-1990s and has become one of Kuala Lumpur's best-known landmarks. It offers three main ways to take in the view:
- The observation deck, an enclosed, air-conditioned level with windows all round.
- The Sky Deck, an open-air platform higher up, where you feel the wind and the height.
- The Sky Box, a glass box that juts out from the Sky Deck, with a glass floor so you can stand over the drop.
There is also a revolving restaurant in the tower head for a meal with slowly changing views. The base of the hill is surrounded by one of the oldest protected forest reserves in Malaysia, which adds a green walk to the visit.
How to get to KL Tower by monorail and train
The nearest station is Bukit Nanas on the KL Monorail. From the station, walk to the tower's entrance gate at the foot of the hill, about 10 minutes away. From there, the access road climbs steeply to the tower; a shuttle has run from the gate to the tower, which is welcome in the heat, or you can walk up.
Dang Wangi on the LRT Kelana Jaya Line is a similar distance away and has a pedestrian link to Bukit Nanas monorail station. If you are coming from the Petronas Towers or KLCC, you can also walk, but allow 20 to 30 minutes in the heat. A Touch 'n Go card works on the monorail, LRT and MRT.
KL Tower tickets and opening hours
There are separate ticket levels for the observation deck alone and for packages that include the Sky Deck and the Sky Box, with different prices for Malaysian residents and international visitors. The tower's management has changed in recent years, and prices, packages and hours have changed with it, so check the official Menara Kuala Lumpur website (menarakl.com.my) before you go. The Sky Deck and Sky Box may close in rain, lightning or strong wind, which are common in the afternoon.
Highlights of KL Tower
The Sky Box
The glass box on the Sky Deck is the most photographed spot. Staff manage short turns for each group, so expect to queue at busy times.
The view of the Petronas Towers
From the tower head you look across at the Twin Towers and the KLCC park, with the older parts of the city, the river confluence and the hills on the horizon beyond.
KL Forest Eco Park
The forest reserve on Bukit Nanas has walking trails and a canopy walkway that takes you up among the treetops, a short but surprising patch of rainforest right in the city. Check whether it is open on the day, and bring insect repellent.
Best time to visit and how long to stay
Clear mornings tend to give the sharpest views, before the afternoon haze and storms build up. Sunset and the first hour of darkness are popular for the city lights, especially from the open-air Sky Deck when the weather allows. Haze from regional fires can affect visibility in some months. Allow one to two hours for the tower, plus extra time if you walk the forest park.
Nearby on the same stop
From Bukit Nanas, the monorail runs one stop south to Raja Chulan and on to Bukit Bintang, the main shopping and food district, with Jalan Alor's street food in the evenings. The Petronas Twin Towers and Suria KLCC are a walk or short ride to the east, and Merdeka Square and the old colonial centre are to the west.
See more near the station on the KL Tower page on Around the Metro, and plan the rest of your stay with our Kuala Lumpur metro guide.