Things to see and do Kuala Lumpur

Galerie Ilham is one of the capital's most renowned art institutions in terms of modern and contemporary art, and offers a great opportunity to discover both local and international artists. The programming is of undeniable originality and quality, not hesitating to venture into Malaysia's sometimes thorny social issues - a much-needed breath of freedom. Located in an ultra-modern tower, the space is very pleasant and also boasts an arts and crafts boutique with a fine selection of objects.

The iconic 88-storey Petronas Towers rise to a height of 452 m. Inaugurated in 1998 after 6 years of construction, they house the offices of Malaysian oil giant PETRONAS. They were the world's tallest towers until 2004, when they were dethroned by the Taipei 101 Tower. Among other things, they contain stores, a concert hall and a mosque, and have been used as the backdrop for a number of films, including Haute Voltige. They can be visited, but only 1,400 admissions are allowed per day. We recommend reserving your ticket in advance on the Internet, or arriving early in the morning to wait in line: in the afternoon, there's virtually no chance of getting in. You can stop at two different levels: the skybridge and the top. The skybridge is located on the ^41st floorandconnects the two towers, at a height of 146 m. The ascent to the ^86th floor in one of the 78 elevators takes 90 seconds. The whole tour takes just over 45 minutes. The best view, however, is from the towers themselves, not from them! We therefore recommend that you go to the top of the KL Tower, from where you'll have a magnificent view of the Twin Towers. The shopping center, Suria KLCC, at the foot of the towers is magnificent and well worth a visit, as are the gardens just beyond. On the^4th and^5th floors, you can visit Petrosains, an interesting and entertaining museum dedicated to science (daily 9.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m., 6.30 p.m. at weekends).

It is not only an office but a vast and beautiful white colonial villa with a red tile roof. In 1989, the Malaysian government installed the MaTiC there. You will find brochures, a café and batik workshops on site. You can also get tickets for MaTiC tours, buy bus tickets, use the computers, rent bicycles, withdraw or change money. In case of problems, a Tourist Police Counter is available.

Nicknamed the "Friday Mosque" by the faithful, Masjid Jamek was opened in 1909 on the initiative of the Sultan of Selangor. Designed by British architect Arthur Benison Hubback, it blends Moorish, Mughal and English styles. The architect designed many other buildings in Kuala Lumpur, including the railway station and the former town hall, leaving a mark that gave Kuala Lumpur its colonial identity. The mosque is built at the confluence of the Gombak and Klang rivers on a former Muslim cemetery. It remained the city's main mosque until the Masjid Negara was built in 1965. You enter the compound through a beautiful garden planted with palm trees. A large courtyard with an ablution basin precedes the prayer hall. The prayer hall is crowned by three bulbous domes, typical of the Anglo-Indian style. The main dome, in the center, reaches a height of 21 meters. Two minarets frame the prayer hall and dominate the brick and plaster ensemble. The mosque has undergone a number of transformations over the decades. The most important was the covering of the rectangular courtyard. As you can see, the bricks are a different shade from the original pinkish building to the more recent brick-red one. One of the domes collapsed in 1993, following torrential rains, and has since been rebuilt. This little haven of peace, surrounded by lawns and palm trees, stands in stark contrast to the modern buildings and urban bustle, and is an invitation to meditation.

A miniature rainforest has been recreated in the Taman Rama Rama Park(rama means "butterfly"), with all the necessary moisture produced by a network of streams and waterfalls. There are 6,000 butterflies of 150 different species, some impressive in size and color, which happily stamp their feet, drunk on the juices of the 15,000 plants available to them. An enchanting experience, although the permanent exhibition area that follows the garden, with vivariums and information panels, could use a little refresher.

Welcome to the largest aviary in the world! It reproduces the natural habitat of birds in a huge park. More than 3,000 birds, including 200 endemic species, live here in a space of 85,000 m². Two shows are performed every day at 12:30 and 15:30. Among the birds in semi-liberty, the rhinoceros toucan, one of the largest toucans in the world, is honored. The photo-souvenir with parakeets, eagles or multicolored macaws is part of the visit. And for the romantics, don't miss the Love aviary and its inseparable birds.

Tourism Branch Malaysia.

This museum is a good introduction to the coutumes customs and culture. As clothing, musical instruments, descriptions of the rites of marriage or their religion animist, visitors can thus have an overview of the life of these Aboriginal people. To get there, take bus 174 of the terminus Lebuh Ampang.

We provide the address more for the consultation of the website than the information to be gleaned on the spot. It is actually the Ministry of Tourism, which is more concerned with managing tourism politically and economically than with welcoming tourists. You will find on their site all the actors of the tourism industry in Malaysia, in a rather dense and somewhat indigestible directory. Unfortunately, there are no filters to refine your search and you have access to local agencies, bus or plane companies, etc.

Tourism Branch Malaysia.

This is the Chan clan kongsi, built in 1906. Originally, it was a clan house where members met in semi-clandestinity. The temple inside provided a religious façade for a secret society. The first thing you'll notice is the façade, richly decorated with glazed ceramic bas-reliefs. Scenes from daily life and Chinese legends are depicted. At the entrance, numerous ancestral tablets can be seen on the right, and photos of the Chan are to be found everywhere.

Nestled in Lorong Ampang, this art space consists of two beautiful buildings in contrasting styles: the main hall, a century-old red-brick gudang (warehouse) that gained a sulphurous reputation in the 1980s and 1990s as a nightclub, and a more modern, tree-lined, semi-open building that will delight architecture enthusiasts. The program is diverse and original, with a particular focus on contemporary art and architecture, including exhibitions, performances, workshops and more.