6 Museums in Ipoh that You Should Include in Your Itinerary
Ipoh is home to interesting museums that house equally awe-inspiring exhibits. These attractions provide curious travellers from around the world a peek into rich histories and beautiful artworks.
In this blog, we’re going to take a closer look at some of our favourite museums in Ipoh that we think you should include in your itinerary. You can expect to have a fun and educational time in these attractions so be sure to read until the end to learn all about them!
Geological Museum
Address: Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah, 30820 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Contact details: +60 5-540 6000
Operating hours:
- Monday to Thursday: 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM, 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM
- Friday: 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM, 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM
- Weekends and public holidays: Closed
Entrance fee: Free
If you’re one to marvel over the Earth’s interesting minerals and fossils, then the Geological Museum should be on your itinerary. It officially opened its doors in 1957 and has been a major centre for geoscience in Malaysia since then.
Here, you can explore 7 different zones, each featuring exhibits that showcase gemstones, crystals and minerals. You can even spot some fossilized dinosaur remains – how awesome is that!
Not only will you be mesmerised by these beautiful natural formations, but you’ll also learn more about their traits and history. This is thanks to the visual aids that accompany each item, allowing for a fascinating and educational experience.
Pro tip:
- If you want to explore every nook and cranny of this museum, we recommend opting for a guided tour.
- If you plan on going with big groups, submit your application through Pengarah Perkhidmatan Teknikal Jabatan Mineral dan Geosains Malaysia, Ipoh, Perak.
Han Chin Pet Soo
Address: 3, Jalan Bijeh Timah, 30100 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Contact details: +60 5-241 4541
Operating hours:
- Tuesday to Sunday: 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM
- Monday: Closed
Ipoh played a huge role during the 19th and 20th centuries for one main reason–tin mining. The best place that showcases this is Han Chin Pet Soo, a Haka Miner’s Club turned museum that details Ipoh’s rich history in the tin mining industry.
There are English-speaking tour guides at the museum so don’t be shy to approach them if you want to gain a deeper understanding of Ipoh’s regional history. Doing this will also give you the pleasure of getting detailed answers to any questions you may have about the Miner’s Club.
Lastly, while there are no admission tickets, visitors are advised to donate a humble RM10 to maintain the museum.
Pro tip:
- This museum is within walking distance of another famous attraction, Panglima Lane. Make sure to stop by to try some of Ipoh’s famous street food like pan noodles, red bean ice and traditional ice bars.
- The space in this museum is highly limited, and given that it’s one of the most popular attractions in the city, we’d advise booking in advance to secure your slots. You can do so by visiting the museum’s booking queue here.
Ho Yan Hor Museum (The Tea Museum)
Website: https://hyhmuseum.com
Address: 1, Jalan Bijeh Timah, 30000 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Contact details: +60 5-241 2048
Operating hours:
- Tuesday to Sunday: 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
- Monday: Closed
If you’re looking for a quick pit stop that will immerse you in rich culture, we recommend checking out Ho Yan Hor. Also known as The Tea Museum, this place will teach you all about Chinese Herbal Tea, from its history down to how it’s made in just about 30 minutes!
The title of the museum is derived from the name of the founder of this particular type of tea and you’ll learn more about his rags-to-riches tale as well. Aside from that, this museum will also spill the tea on where this beverage originated and how it came about.
Pro tip:
- If you’re looking to bring a piece of this museum home, don’t miss out on buying their tea sets as your souvenir! Before buying one, however, make sure to try the samples they offer to make sure that you buy the right one for you.
Funtasy House Trick Art
Website: https://www.facebook.com/funtasyhouse/
Address: 16, Jalan Market, 30000 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Contact details: +60 5-255 0007
Operating hours:
- Thursday to Tuesday: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
- Wednesday: Closed
Funtasy House Trick Art is the quirkiest museum you can visit in Ipoh. Here, educational exhibits are swapped out with strange and out-of-this-world artworks that you can take tons of creative photos with–perfect for adults and kids alike!
The entire museum consists of over 20 scenes that depict different eye-popping 3D designs that could make for a great backdrop for your photos–don’t forget to strike a pose! Plus, all these artworks are made by locals, which is pretty nice to know!
Pro tip:
- We recommend going with friends here so that you can take photos of each other and not ask other people to do so. Furthermore, we would also advise bringing a high-quality camera to capture every surreal detail that these artworks possess.
- If you don’t want your photos to be obstructed by other tourists, we recommend visiting during the weekdays.
Yasmin at Kong Heng Museum
Website: https://facebook.com/yasminatkongheng/
Address: 91, Jln Sultan Yussof, 30000 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Contact details: +60 16-417 7822
Operating hours:
- Saturday to Monday: 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM
- Tuesday to Friday: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
If you’re a film junkie, you’ve probably heard about Yasmin Ahmad, the famous Malaysian film director and writer. Even if you haven’t, however, we still recommend checking out Yasmin at Kong Heng Museum, as it will let you see the life of one of Malaysia’s national treasures.
The family-owned museum is sort of a conventional type, as it’s more of a space to inspire people to take up filmmaking. It’s able to do this by exhibiting some of the late Malaysian’s work, from commercials to films and anything in between.
It’s also worth noting that some of the locations from her work are located near the museum. We recommend seeing them in person after learning about them in the museum’s exhibits.
Pro tip:
- The exhibits of this museum are refreshed every 6 months to 1 year so be sure to check out their Facebook page to see what you can expect on your visit!Since the museum is located in Concubine Lane, you might as well try
22 Hale Street Heritage Gallery
Website: https://22halestreet.business.site
Address: 22, Jalan Tun Sambanthan, 30000 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Contact details: +60 5-241 3991
Operating hours:
- Wednesday to Friday: 10:00 AM to 1:30 PM
- Weekends: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
- Monday to Tuesday: Closed
Visiting 22 Hale Street Gallery is one of the most fun things you can do in Ipoh purely because of its showcase of the city. It’s here where you’ll be immersed in Ipoh’s rich history, from its tin mining days to the tourism juggernaut it is today–pretty amazing, indeed!
You’ll find several antique relics here that will allow you to take a peek into the olden days of Ipoh like beds, pieces of clothing and furniture. Aside from that, some photographs will immediately transport you back in time with how detailed they are!
Pro tip:
- Check out the gift shop on the museum’s premises to bring home some interesting souvenirs for your loved ones waiting at home! You can find various traditional Malaysian handicrafts here like coin purses and keychains!
- You can also wind down at the museum’s cafe if you feel tired after walking for countless hours during your museum-hopping adventure. Of course, we suggest trying the world-famous Ipoh white coffee!