7 days in Malaysia- 6/16- 6/21/2024

Day  7-Petronas towers-Observation deck-6/21/2024

We took a bus from George Town back to Kuala Lumpur (5 hours drive via bus) and then checked in our hotel and resting a bit before headed to the Petronas Twin towers.  Knowing how popular the Petronas Twin Towers are, we booked our tickets in advance so we wouldn’t miss the chance to go up.

At the base of the towers is already impressive, the stainless-steel façade rising in shimmering tiers, reflecting the sky and the city all around.

 With our tickets in hand, we move through the lower levels, then step into the elevator, where the doors close and the ascent begins almost silently but incredibly fast.

 When the doors open at the SkyBridge, the feeling is immediate, you’re no longer just in a building, but suspended between two of the world’s most famous towers. The bridge itself is surprisingly airy and light-filled, with long windows on both sides.

To our right and looking below Kuala Lumpur spreads out in every direction, roads like fine lines, cars like moving dots. The view down and out is like reading a three-dimensional map of Kuala Lumpur, each building and green space framed perfectly between the towers

In the center, the building with a triangular roof is the KL Main Library (Perpustakaan Negara Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur branch). Its distinctive sloped, triangular roof and stepped stone façade stand out among the surrounding structures. The building’s design references traditional forms while remaining contemporary, making it easy to spot from high above.

These high-rises form the denser cluster of downtown, neatly juxtaposed against the open design of the nearby civic and cultural buildings.

To the left of the skybridge you can see KLCC Park below.  First is the Lake Symphony fountain zone with water jets. From above, the jets form neat lines and patterns in the long pool, like delicate white stitches on dark blue fabric. When they are active, you can imagine the water rising and falling in rhythm, even if from this height it looks gentle and controlled. It’s the most dynamic part of the park, designed to bring movement and sound into the landscape.

Beyond that, the park unfolds into a sequence of smaller pools, curved paths, lawns, and dense clusters of trees. The design feels very intentional: water leading into greenery, greenery opening into wider spaces. The tropical trees soften everything, their rounded shapes breaking up the strict geometry of the city. From above, the park feels peaceful and orderly, a green sanctuary carefully woven into the urban grid..

And then, just beyond the edge of the park, the city rises again with tall modern buildings lifting straight up from the greenery, hotels, offices, and luxury residences forming a wall of glass and steel. This contrast is striking.

The bridge is designed to slightly shift with the wind and heat, even if we can’t feel it, which makes the experience quietly awe-inspiring.

The Petronas Twin Towers SkyBridge is about 558 feet above the ground. That already places you higher than most skyscrapers in many cities, which is why the view feels so dramatic even before going to the top.

After the Skybridge on the 41st floor, we took another elevator ride, this time much faster and steeper to the first Observation Deck on the 86 Floor.

The way the tour is structured is quite specific: you first go up to the SkyBridge at 41st–42nd floors, and then you’re taken up to the observation deck on the 86th floor for the main panoramic city views, and then to the 83th floor for Souvenirs and viewing area.

When the doors open on the 86th floor, we are suddenly surrounded by glass on all sides.  We are on one of the tallest public viewing levels in the towers, roughly 1,130 feet above the city. From here, 360-degree views allow you to see Kuala Lumpur’s skyline, parks, horizon, and distant ridges through large uninterrupted windows.

Kuala Lumpur spreads out in every direction.

The height gives a completely different feeling from the SkyBridge which is less about being between buildings, and more about floating above the entire city.

As the sun began to set, the light softened and the city below slowly changed character. Even with the clouds, the sky turned into layers of muted orange and smoky grey-blue, blending gently into one another. From the height of the towers, the colors felt broader and calmer, like slow brushstrokes across the horizon.

On the 86st floor of the Petronas Twin Towers, we are approximately 1,130 to 1,150 feet above the ground. At this height we are above most other skyscrapers in the Kuala Lumpur skyline.

Up there, above the noise and traffic, the scene felt quiet and suspended in time: a city shifting from day to night under a sky painted in soft fire and mist. It was the kind of view that makes you stop talking for a moment, just watching Kuala Lumpur breathe as the light slowly disappeared.

The horizontal bars aren't just for decoration or safety; they are stainless steel sunshades (also called brise-soleil). Since Kuala Lumpur is only about 2 degree of the Equator, the tropical sun is incredibly intense. These bars act like "permanent blinds" that reflect the sun’s heat before it even touches the glass, keeping you cool inside.

This is the center room in the Observation Deck and in the middle is a display of a scale model of the Petronas Twin Towers and the surrounding Kuala Lumpur City Center (KLCC).  The lighting in this room is intentional and futuristic, designed to create a "digital museum" atmosphere

Scale model of the Petronas Twin Towers and the surrounding Kuala Lumpur City Center.

Blue and Green lights are the corporate colors of PETRONAS (the national oil and gas company of Malaysia). The lighting isn't just for style; it’s meant to evoke a sense of "energy" and "technology."

These huge columns between the windows are actually the structural "bones" of the tower. Because these towers are built mostly of high-strength reinforced concrete (rather than the steel frames common in US skyscrapers), the columns are massive to support the weight of 88 floors.

Great view of the sun setting over the city.

The way the sun sets in Kuala Lumpur is world-famous, but seeing it from the 81st floor is something else entirely.

Walking around and through the windows, we aren't just seeing the city but we are getting an up-close look at the spire of the opposite tower.

At this height, the perspective of the opposite tower is breathtaking. Because the towers are identical and built in a specific symmetrical alignment, we get a rare architectural view of the pinnacle. You can clearly see the "mast" and the circular rings that hold the aviation lights.

From the 86st floor, we are high enough that the opposite tower doesn't just look like a building, it feels like a companion.

Since we are only 1 floor away from the very top (Level 88), we have a perfect eye-level view of the opposite tower's pinnacle and spire.

At this height we can see the intricate stainless steel ribbing and the way the exterior "steps" inward as it reaches for the spire. The tall building that looks like a giant, futuristic telephone handset is the Telekom Tower (also known as Menara TM). Architecturally, it was designed to look like a sprouting bamboo shoot (a symbol of growth in Malaysia). However, because it’s the headquarters for the national telecommunications company, almost everyone calls it the "Telephone Building."

If you are a Marvel fan, you might recognize it as it looks remarkably like Stark Tower (Avengers Tower). In 2018, they actually projected the Avengers logo onto the side of the building for a movie premiere!

As the sun dips toward the horizon, the sky turns a deep, tropical orange. Because you are at around 1,150 feet, we were told can we see the sun stay visible for a few minutes longer than the people on the ground.

 The white tower with the circular, bronze-colored head and the long antenna is the KL Tower. While it looks like a modern needle, the architecture is actually inspired by Persian "Muqarnas" (honeycomb) patterns. The entrance of that tower features beautiful glass-tiled domes that sparkle like diamonds.

On the 86th floor, the top of the tower itself became part of the view. The steel structure rose above us in layers of silver and soft blue, catching the last light of day. The mast gleamed brightly, its lights shining against the sky, which was painted in fading orange and deepening blue.

It felt almost surreal, standing inside one of the towers while watching its elegant crown glow against the evening sky.

From the 86th floor we are going down to the 83th floor.

Right below the main deck, level 83 often serves as a transition area and has a small gift shop and displays. Many visitors stop here on the way down to pick up postcards, mementos, or photos taken earlier in the tour. There’s also a newer Sky Café located on level 83, called Sky Café @83, where guests can enjoy refreshments and light bites while still high above the city. perfect for a break after enjoying the views (though this is separate from the main observation experience).

On the 83rd floor, we had one last panoramic view, though the windows were smaller now, no longer stretching from floor to ceiling like on the observation deck above.

 The sun was sinking fast. The sky glowed in soft layers of orange fading into gray-blue, and the city below was beginning to light up.

From this height, the skyscrapers that had felt so tall on the street looked almost miniature, like carefully placed models. It was a quiet, beautiful way to end the visit, suspended between day and night, watching Kuala Lumpur slowly turn to gold and shadow.

NEXT... Day 7-Dinner and Petronas Towers at night