In this guide
The Short Version: Perched on Level 4 of the six-storey Suria KLCC shopping mall beneath the Petronas Twin Towers, Petrosains, The Discovery Centre is Malaysia’s major interactive science and technology museum. International adult tickets cost RM40 (RM25 for children), granting access to 11 immersive zones including a slow-moving oil drop Dark Ride, a two-storey offshore oil rig replica, robotic programming pods, and a 3D Formula 1 racing simulator. Combined with Suria KLCC’s luxury fashion boutiques, the immense Books Kinokuniya flagship, and the Signatures Food Court overlooking KLCC Park’s Lake Symphony fountains, this complex provides a popular indoor day out in central Kuala Lumpur. Combine your visit seamlessly with Petronas Twin Towers tickets or Aquaria KLCC, both accessible directly from the mall concourse without stepping outside. Or book a tour: pair your Petrosains visit with skyline views by booking a Petronas Twin Towers timed entry e-ticketad (from RM 182, 4.6 stars from 1,560 reviews) in the same building.
The shopping atrium inside Suria KLCC. Photo: Leoboudv, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.
Petrosains Discovery Centre: 11 interactive science zones
Established in 1999 by Malaysia’s national energy company, PETRONAS, Petrosains covers over 7,000 square metres of high-tech educational displays. Unlike traditional glass-case museums, everything here is designed for tactile experimentation: pushing buttons, operating hydraulic levers, and programming robots.
A typical tour takes between two and three hours, guiding visitors through a sequence of themed zones:
1. The Dark Ride
The experience begins and ends with the signature Dark Ride. Visitors step into four-passenger, teardrop-shaped mechanical pods that glide along a concealed floor track. The audio-visual ride transports you through illuminated tunnels depicting prehistoric Malaysian rainforests, ancient fossil formations, the dawn of human civilization, and futuristic renewable energy visions before disembarking in the main exhibition hall.
2. Oil Platform & Exploration
One of the most elaborate installations in Petrosains is a life-sized, two-storey recreation of an offshore oil extraction platform. Visitors walk across steel-mesh catwalks, inspect deep-sea diver diving bells and underwater blowout preventers, explore offshore crew sleeping quarters, and operate scale drilling cranes via hydraulic joysticks.
3. Speed & Formula 1 Simulator
Highlighting the engineering partnership behind the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One team, the Speed zone tests reflexes and aerodynamic principles:
- F1 Simulator: Climb into a scale Formula 1 racing cockpit to steer through simulated Grand Prix circuits with realistic force-feedback steering wheels and pedal systems.
- Reaction timers: Measure your braking and starting-light reflexes against professional Grand Prix drivers.
- Wind tunnel aerodynamics: Adjust miniature car chassis designs inside high-velocity wind chambers to study downforce and aerodynamic drag.
4. Space & Geotime
- Geotime: Step onto a shaky seismographic earthquake simulator platform experiencing tremors up to magnitude 7.0 on the Richter scale. Marvel at a 200-million-year-old singing fossil exhibit and life-sized animatronic T-Rex dinosaurs.
- Space: Explore orbital satellite communications, simulate Mars rover missions, and feel the optical illusion of space station zero gravity.
5. Sparkz & Maker Studio
Dedicated to younger children and inquisitive minds, Sparkz features hands-on robotics labs, kinetic wind pipes where children design paper parachutes and watch them shoot into the ceiling, thermal imaging cameras, and musical floor synthesizers.
Or book a tour
To secure your entry time and avoid ticketing lines inside Suria KLCC, book the Petrosains Discovery Centre Ticket on Klookad{rel=“sponsored nofollow noopener”} with instant digital confirmation.
Petrosains ticket prices and visiting hours
Because Petrosains operates with controlled capacity entry windows, purchasing advance tickets online is recommended on weekends and public school holidays.
| Ticket Category | Counter Price (Walk-in) | Advance Online Ticket | Eligibility & Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| International Adult (13–60) | RM40 | ~RM36–RM38 | Full admission including Dark Ride, science zones, and interactive labs |
| International Child (3–12) | RM25 | ~RM22–RM24 | Identification required; children must be accompanied by an adult |
| International Senior (61+) | RM20 | ~18–RM20 | Passport proof of age required at turnstile check |
| Infant (Under 3 years) | Free | Free | Admission free of charge with paying adult guardian |
| F1 Racing Simulator Ride | RM10 | RM10 (On-site token) | Optional paid add-on experience inside the Speed Zone |
Advance online tickets can be booked via the official Petrosains portal.
Operating timetable
- Tuesday to Friday: 09:30 to 17:30 (last entry at 16:00).
- Saturday, Sunday & Public Holidays: 09:30 to 18:30 (last entry at 17:00).
- Monday: Strictly closed for routine maintenance (except when a national public holiday or school holiday falls on a Monday).
Suria KLCC shopping guide: luxury, bookstores and supermarkets
Suria KLCC spans 1.5 million square feet across six expansive levels. It functions as the retail anchor of the entire Kuala Lumpur City Centre development, catering to luxury shoppers, everyday fashion hunters, and cultural book lovers.
Mall levels and retail highlights
- Ground & Concourse Levels (Luxury & Flagships): Home to top international luxury fashion houses including Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Dior, Cartier, Prada, and Rolex. The central sunlit atrium regularly hosts high-fashion pop-up pavilions and seasonal floral displays.
- Level 1 to Level 3 (Fashion, Electronics & High Street): High-street international brands including Zara, Uniqlo, Mango, Sephora, and Apple’s authorised premium outlets.
- Level 4 (Books Kinokuniya & Culture): The Malaysian flagship of Books Kinokuniya covers 30,000 square feet. It is widely regarded as one of Southeast Asia’s finest bookstores, stocking tens of thousands of English non-fiction and fiction titles, an enormous Japanese manga and literature section, fine art coffee-table volumes, and curated Japanese stationery.
- Department Stores: Japanese retail giant Isetan occupies six levels on the eastern wing, while Parkson anchors the western wing.
- Supermarkets: The concourse level houses a sprawling Cold Storage supermarket and Isetan’s Foodmarket, offering imported produce, fresh Japanese sashimi, artisanal cheeses, and Malaysian confectionery for travel gifts.
Dining at Suria KLCC: from street hawkers to high tea
Suria KLCC provides one of the city’s most versatile dining ecosystems, accommodating every price bracket:
1. Affordable hawker food courts
- Signatures Food Court (Level 2): Offers dozens of regional Asian food stalls serving beef rendang, Hainanese chicken rice, claypot noodles, fresh fruit juices, and Yong Tau Foo (averaging RM12 to RM22 per meal). The dining tables along the floor-to-ceiling glass windows look out directly over KLCC Park and Lake Symphony.
- Rasa Food Arena (Level 4): A traditional Malay and Nyonya food hall specialising in satay skewers, laksa, and nasi campur.
2. Acclaimed Malaysian restaurants
- Madam Kwan’s (Level 4): Renowned for its fragrant Nasi Lemak (served with spiced fried chicken, chicken curry, and sambal ikan bilis) and rich Nasi Bojari (tri-coloured rice with crispy whole chicken leg and beef rendang). Expect to spend RM35 to RM55 per person.
- Little Penang Kafe (Level 4): Acclaimed for northern Malaysian street classics including Penang char kway teow, assam laksa, pie tee cups, and freshly shaved chendol dessert.
3. International dining & afternoon tea
- Harrods Tea Room (Ground Floor): British loose-leaf teas, warm scones with clotted cream, finger sandwiches, and patisserie served in an opulent brass-trimmed salon.
- Din Tai Fung (Level 4): Michelin-starred Taiwanese chain celebrated for delicate soup dumplings (xiao long bao), egg fried rice, and pork chop noodle bowls.
For late-night open-air dining after the mall closes at 22:00, take a 15-minute walk along the pedestrian skybridge to Jalan Alor night food street or browse our complete guide to where to eat in Kuala Lumpur.
KLCC Lake Symphony water and light show
Directly outside Suria KLCC’s southern park exit lies the 50-acre KLCC Park and its 10,000-square-metre artificial lake, Symphony Lake.
Every evening, choreographers stage free outdoor water fountain shows set against the illuminated backdrop of the Petronas Twin Towers:
- Light and Sound Musical Fountain: 20:00, 21:00, and 22:00 daily (water jets shoot up to 42 metres into the air choreographed to classical and contemporary soundtracks).
- Light-Only Water Display: 19:30, 20:30, and 21:30 daily.
The outdoor esplanade steps directly outside Suria KLCC provide prime front-row viewing.
How to get to Suria KLCC
- By LRT: Take the Kelana Jaya Line directly to KLCC station (KJ10). Turnstiles open directly into the Concourse level of Suria KLCC mall.
- By MRT: Alight at Persiaran KLCC station on the MRT Putrajaya Line.
- By Elevated Pedestrian Skybridge: Walk along the air-conditioned, covered glass walkway from Bukit Bintang and Pavilion KL, terminating inside the adjoining convention centre. Follow the walkway guide in our Bukit Bintang to KLCC walk.
- By Grab / Taxi: Set drop-off to “Suria KLCC Ampang Mall Entrance” or “Suria KLCC Ramlee Mall Entrance”.
Discover more itineraries in our guide to things to do in Kuala Lumpur and explore convenient hotels in where to stay in Kuala Lumpur.
Tours and guided options
Petrosains tickets can be purchased directly on their official booking portal. Booking combo tickets or hop-on hop-off passes provides convenient transport directly to the Suria KLCC concourse.
Petronas Twin Towers timed entry e-ticket
From RM 182 · 4.6 stars from 1,560 reviews · Flexible duration · Level 41 Skybridge and Level 86 observatory
Petronas Twin Towers timed entry e-ticketad: Your e-ticket arrives instantly in your inbox.
Petronas Towers guaranteed admission e-tickets
From RM 225 · 4.3 stars from 781 reviews · direct QR code access to observation deck
Petronas Towers guaranteed admission e-ticketsad: Secure your slot to the Petronas Twin Towers observation deck with a pre-purchased e-ticket. Marvel at the panoramic views of Kuala Lumpur, and stroll across the sky bridge connecting the 2 towers.
Kuala Lumpur hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus pass
From RM 38 · 3.8 stars from 1,235 reviews · 2 hours - 2 days · dedicated stop at KLCC
Kuala Lumpur hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus passad: Discover Kuala Lumpur your way on a hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus. Ride past prominent landmarks, hop off at the main attractions, and enjoy city views with onboard audio commentary.
Official ticket or tour: the prices side by side
Independent Petrosains admission compared with KLCC tower and city transport passes.
| Attraction or pass | Official portal / counter | On GetYourGuide |
|---|---|---|
| Petrosains adult standard ticket | RM22 weekday / RM25 weekend | Official ticket portal |
| Petrosains child ticket (ages 3–12) | RM12 weekday / RM15 weekend | Official ticket portal |
| Petronas Twin Towers observation deck | RM127 weekday / RM137 weekend | From RM 182 timed e-ticket |
Common questions
How much are tickets for Petrosains, The Discovery Centre?
Standard walk-in tickets for non-Malaysian visitors cost RM40 for adults (aged 13 to 60), RM25 for children (aged 3 to 12), and RM20 for senior citizens (aged 61 and above). Infants aged 2 and under enter free. Pre-booking an online time-slot voucher ensures entry during busy weekend peak periods.
What are the opening days and hours for Petrosains?
Petrosains is open Tuesday to Friday from 09:30 to 17:30 (last admission at 16:00), and on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays from 09:30 to 18:30 (last admission at 17:00). It is closed on Mondays, except when a public holiday falls on a Monday.
Where is Petrosains located inside Suria KLCC?
Petrosains occupies Level 4 of Suria KLCC shopping mall, directly beneath the Petronas Twin Towers. Take the central glass escalators or express lifts up to the fourth floor near the Centre Court to find the ticketing entrance and Dark Ride boarding terminal.
What are the best food and dining spots in Suria KLCC?
Budget-friendly Malaysian street food is available at the Signatures Food Court on Level 2 with floor-to-ceiling park views. For sit-down local dining, Madam Kwan's and Little Penang Kafe on Level 4 serve acclaimed nasi lemak and curry laksa. International highlights include Din Tai Fung, the Harrods Tea Room on Ground Floor, and the gourmet food hall inside Isetan department store.
