The Royal Museum (Old Istana Negara)
The Royal Museum (Old Istana Negara)
The Royal Museum (Old Istana Negara)
3.5
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
Full view
Top ways to experience The Royal Museum (Old Istana Negara)
The area
Address
How to get there
- Tun Sambanthan • 8 min walk
- Maharajalela • 10 min walk
Best nearby
Restaurants
3,300 within 5 kms
Attractions
340 within 10 kms
Contribute
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
3.5
104 reviews
Excellent
20
Very good
45
Average
31
Poor
7
Terrible
1
Raditya A
Jakarta, Indonesia40 contributions
Oct 2022 • Friends
Educational nice facility and parks. Well guarded also. Came here from indonesia i se lot of malayan culture similarity
Written 24 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Peter A
7 contributions
Mar 2020 • Couples
Very little to see, cannot walk around grounds. Toilet not open forget it. More staff than visitors, try the police museum, well worth a visit.
Written 12 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Magdalena Cardozo
Harare, Zimbabwe52 contributions
Dec 2019 • Solo
It's a beautiful place, clean, info and photos displayed throughout. Unfortunately, much is cordoned off and so you don't quite get the full view and effect, and taking photos inside is not permitted. They offer to take a photo of you at the entrance though. The ticket isn't expensive either, so it's still worth seeing. I had difficulty booking an uber due to peak time. One of the staff members (I think his name was Dodi), who was also at the entrance, made sure that I was ok and not left stranded, even though they had already closed. Please pass on my "Thank You" to him.
Written 7 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Marion F
New York City, NY249 contributions
Sep 2019
I visited during the exhibit on the current king and queen and so along with seeing the pictures and old furnishings of the monoarchs of the past 50 years i also saw memorablia and the coronation of the current ones.
It was interesting and very retro, most of the furnishings looked like they hadnt been changed since the 70/80s.
I thought it was weird that you couldnt take photos, since it is now a musuem but i would recommend a visit.
WARNING the only way in and out is by car, be prepared to take a cab or tour group if you want to go
It was interesting and very retro, most of the furnishings looked like they hadnt been changed since the 70/80s.
I thought it was weird that you couldnt take photos, since it is now a musuem but i would recommend a visit.
WARNING the only way in and out is by car, be prepared to take a cab or tour group if you want to go
Written 29 September 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RafiqueMultan
Multan, Pakistan99 contributions
Aug 2019 • Solo
I recently visited this pkace. The admission ticket for adult Malaysian national was 5MR and for foreigner it was 10 MR.
The palace stands on the top of hill overlooking city and gardens in front. The palace itself was not that impressive compared with many others i had visited. The rooms and furniture inside was not elegant.
There was no literature at the ticket office or in the museum about the historical background of this old palace. None of the on duty staff could give us any clue about this palace. There were many photographs of Kings with visitors on display.
Out of curiosity, i went through the web and found out some reliable information about this old palace. The place was originally built by a Chinese tycoon,in 1928 who later flee to China during Japanese occupation. After Malaysian independence, Govt: purchased this building and converter it in to Royal palace for new King in 1957.
This palace was abondoned (as new palace was built for King) and converter in to Royal Museum in probably 2013.
The palace stands on the top of hill overlooking city and gardens in front. The palace itself was not that impressive compared with many others i had visited. The rooms and furniture inside was not elegant.
There was no literature at the ticket office or in the museum about the historical background of this old palace. None of the on duty staff could give us any clue about this palace. There were many photographs of Kings with visitors on display.
Out of curiosity, i went through the web and found out some reliable information about this old palace. The place was originally built by a Chinese tycoon,in 1928 who later flee to China during Japanese occupation. After Malaysian independence, Govt: purchased this building and converter it in to Royal palace for new King in 1957.
This palace was abondoned (as new palace was built for King) and converter in to Royal Museum in probably 2013.
Written 11 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wei F
Singapore, Singapore40 contributions
Jun 2019 • Family
we've seen some bad reviews saying this place is run down, nothing to expect, no furniture and has water leak. but we've thoroughly enjoyed the peak into royal life. it is surprising that there are not many people even on a weekend, which is another plus.
it is not the kind of grand place u imagine, furnitures are a bit old, but it's big, and very true to life. you get to see in front of you the royal family's living places almost untouch, very original, very true to life.
oh, right, if you see one review saying it's just empty rooms, which i have seen before i go, that's simply not true. almost all furnitures are still there.
it is not the kind of grand place u imagine, furnitures are a bit old, but it's big, and very true to life. you get to see in front of you the royal family's living places almost untouch, very original, very true to life.
oh, right, if you see one review saying it's just empty rooms, which i have seen before i go, that's simply not true. almost all furnitures are still there.
Written 25 June 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Edzhar R
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia59 contributions
Jan 2019 • Couples
Guess what? Although I live in Kuala Lumpur, this is my first time enter to the former palace. I guess, it need a little bit of a upgrade, especially when there's a torn wallpaper in certain room. The room theater should at least play a video about the historical stuff about the palace. The balairong is under construction, it was a bummer because its closed for maintenance. The barricades should be put at least further inside rather just in front of the door or room at least u don't have to peek to see everything inside. Anyway, you should try once at least to see it, and no photos allowed inside the museum.
Written 20 January 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
friendly_unicorn
Asia218 contributions
Jan 2019 • Friends
The grounds are well maintained, and the palace has a very colonial feel to it. However, certain parts of the palace need major restoration: leaking ceilings, ageing wallpapers, etc. What i enjoyed was looking at the pictures that adorned the walls; that depicted all the Kings Malaysia had since independence. When i was there, the balairong seri (primary audience hall) was closed for maintenance so cannot really comment on that.
Written 12 January 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
NLB
Union Territory of Pondicherry, India385 contributions
Nov 2018 • Family
When we visited the old palace that is a museum now little did we know the King would resign? The palace is surrounded by well-maintained gardens, but the palace is not palatial...:). There is hardly any furniture or wall art until one sees the bathroom of the king and a separate one for the Queen. The children's rooms are shabby and left us disappointed.
Written 7 January 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Leo263
Chicago, IL249 contributions
Nov 2018 • Solo
I like to visit palaces and castles. This former palace is run down. It’s shocking that this was the royal residence of the monarch of Malaysia. It actually doesn’t represent him, his family, and Malaysia in the best light.
The ceiling was leaking in a bedroom during my visit. I told the lady taking tickets (the only worker I saw) and she didn’t care.
When the monarch moved to the new palace it’s like he took everything but some basic furniture and some pictures. The shelves are bare. There are only a few tables, chairs, and beds in the palace to see. The carpets are in poor shape. Which is odd since you have to take off your shoes.
This palace could better showcase the Malaysian people and monarch. Sadly in its current state it fails. If you like palaces and have time to spare, it’s worth a visit. If you are short on time, pass on this attraction.
One note for the palace. It would be nice to see the kitchens or something like that. Bedroom after bedroom with limited furnishings is boring.
The ceiling was leaking in a bedroom during my visit. I told the lady taking tickets (the only worker I saw) and she didn’t care.
When the monarch moved to the new palace it’s like he took everything but some basic furniture and some pictures. The shelves are bare. There are only a few tables, chairs, and beds in the palace to see. The carpets are in poor shape. Which is odd since you have to take off your shoes.
This palace could better showcase the Malaysian people and monarch. Sadly in its current state it fails. If you like palaces and have time to spare, it’s worth a visit. If you are short on time, pass on this attraction.
One note for the palace. It would be nice to see the kitchens or something like that. Bedroom after bedroom with limited furnishings is boring.
Written 28 November 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listingTHE ROYAL MUSEUM (OLD ISTANA NEGARA): All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about The Royal Museum (Old Istana Negara)
- The Royal Museum (Old Istana Negara) is open:
- Sun - Sat 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
- We recommend booking The Royal Museum (Old Istana Negara) tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 27 The Royal Museum (Old Istana Negara) tours on Tripadvisor
- According to Tripadvisor travellers, these are the best ways to experience The Royal Museum (Old Istana Negara):
- Half-Day Kuala Lumpur City Tour (From RM 113.86)
- Half Day City Tour-Limited Offer (From RM 91.70)
- Half Day Kuala Lumpur City Tour (From RM 98.80)
- Private Usage Vehicle with Driver At Kuala Lumpur (From RM 207.01)
- History, Heritage & Culture Of Malaysia Tour (From RM 293.16)
- Hotels near The Royal Museum (Old Istana Negara):
- (0.91 km) Four Points by Sheraton Kuala Lumpur, Chinatown
- (0.57 km) Dua Sentral KL by Five Senses
- (1.22 km) Hilton Kuala Lumpur
- (1.12 km) Le Méridien Kuala Lumpur
- (0.80 km) The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur
- Restaurants near The Royal Museum (Old Istana Negara):
- (0.22 km) Grizzly
- (0.24 km) Boxes Cafe @ Bukit Bintang City Centre
- (0.29 km) Gerai Seri Menanti
- (0.33 km) Kak Jat Ikan Bakar
- (1.00 km) Prime