The Petronas Towers are one of the main attractions of Malaysia’s capital, Kuala Lumpur. This striking structure has long become a true symbol of the city—and of the entire country. I’m pretty sure that most travelers who come here make their way to the towers’ observation decks to admire the heart of Kuala Lumpur from several hundred meters up. Personally, I didn’t manage to get up there on my first try. Here’s my account of visiting the skyscrapers and a bit of their history.
Construction History and Tower Specifications
The design of the massive towers began in January 1992. Construction started 15 months later and took six and a half years. The towers officially opened to the public in the summer of 1999.
Each tower has 88 above-ground floors, and each skyscraper weighs around 300,000 tons. The buildings sit on a foundation that’s 120 meters deep—Wikipedia even calls it the world’s largest concrete foundation. Beneath the surface are five more floors with parking and technical facilities.
The height of the Petronas Towers is 452 meters. As mentioned above, they are the tallest twin towers in the world. According to online sources, from 1998 to 2003, these skyscrapers were the tallest buildings in Asia—until they were likely surpassed by Taipei 101 in Taiwan.
The towers are named after Malaysia’s national oil and gas company, Petroliam Nasional Berhad (PETRONAS), whose headquarters are located in the buildings.
Visiting the Observation Decks
I initially planned to buy tickets for the observation decks online, but there were no available slots for the nearest dates. So, I headed to the on-site ticket counter, hoping to purchase tickets and go up right away. Unfortunately, I was disappointed to learn that visiting the towers really does require booking several days in advance—so be sure to plan your visit ahead of time. I bought my tickets on February 22, and the earliest available slot was only on the 26th.
As of July 2025, an adult ticket to the observation decks costs 98 ringgit per person. Tickets are available on the official website, and you need to arrive at least 15 minutes before your scheduled time.
I use the plural “observation decks” because technically, there are several. The visit begins on the 41st floor, where a 750-ton double-deck skybridge connects the two towers. Here, visitors are given a short presentation in English about the towers’ history and around 10 minutes to take panoramic photos.
After the skybridge, the tour continues higher. On the 83rd floor, you switch to a smaller elevator that takes you up to the 86th floor of one of the towers, where the upper observation deck is located. This level stands at approximately 370 meters above the ground.
The entire visit to the observation decks takes about 50 minutes. In my general article about Kuala Lumpur, I mentioned that a fountain show takes place at the base of the towers every evening—you can try to time your visit to catch the view and the show together.
My next story about the Kuala Lumpur trip will focus on the Bird Park, often called one of the largest in the world.
Have a nice trip!
