A Fun-Filled Guide to Malaysia’s National Science Centre
Sometimes, the best place to learn about stuff is outside the classroom—case in point, Malaysia’s National Science Centre. Located near Kuala Lumpur’s Golden Triangle, this 8-hectare interactive learning centre consists of equal parts fun and learning!
So ditch your textbooks and join us here, as we take you on a virtual tour of the National Science Centre, also known as Pusat Sains Negara Kuala Lumpur. From what to do, things to remember, where to stay and more, here’s everything you need to know before visiting:
Best Time to Go
Since the National Science Centre is mostly an indoor attraction, you can visit it all year long. Still, we recommend avoiding the capital’s wet season (November to March) to avoid any possible disruptions caused by heavy rainfall.
Sometimes, however, the humidity of Kuala Lumpur can take a toll on you. So, if you want to feel cooler weather during your visit, we advise going early in the morning or late in the afternoon.
Keep this timeframe in mind, especially if you’re planning on exploring the outside attractions of the museum. Also, be sure not to arrive too late, as the last time of admission is at 4:00 PM.
One thing you should also remember is that this science museum is geared towards children, so expect it to be noisy, especially during peak hours. Your best chance of enjoying a somewhat peaceful experience is during the weekdays.
Things to Know
Currency: Malaysian Ringgit
(Check the current exchange rate)
Language: Malay, English
Calling Code: +60
Address: 50662, Persiaran Bukit Kiara, Bukit Damansara, 50490 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Phone number: +60 3-2089 3400
Website: https://www.facebook.com/PusatSainsNegara/
Entrance fee:
- Adults: RM6
- Children: RM3
- Senior Citizens: RM3
- PWDs: Free
- Children (6 y.o. and below): Free
- Adult Group (minimum of 10 people, aged 13 to 55): RM5 per pax
Operating hours: Saturday to Thursday: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
How to Get There
Bus: Riding the bus is one of the cheapest ways to get to the National Science Centre. The closest bus station you can drop off at is Pusat Sains Negara, which is right next to the science museum.
Train: Meanwhile, if you want to ride the train, the closest station to the science museum is the Pusat Bandar Damansara subway station. From there, you can ride a taxi towards Pusat Sains Negara Kuala Lumpur.
Taxis/Grab: You’ll find taxis just about everywhere in Kuala Lumpur, and they’re a great way of getting around the city quickly and comfortably. The National Science Centre is a well-known attraction in Kuala Lumpur so you can simply say it to the driver.
Alternatively, you can book a Grab ride if you want to avoid conversations and drivers that insist on not using the metre.
Car rental: Kuala Lumpur is one of the few places where we don’t exactly recommend driving a rental because of traffic.
However, if you want to treat yourself and your loved ones with the utmost comfort and convenience, you can freely check out rental companies around KL. You can even find one as soon as you land at the airport.
Where to Stay near National Science Center
Sofitel Kuala Lumpur Damansara
Address: 6, Jalan Damanlela, Bukit Damansara, 50490 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Phone: +60 3-2720 6688
Pricing: $$$
If you want to spoil yourselves during your stay in Kuala Lumpur, one of the best things you can do is stay at the Sofitel Hotel in Damansara. For starters, the rooms that you’ll be treated to here will be nothing short of amazing, with their lavish designs and complete set of amenities.
Stepping outside the rooms is just as impressive too, as you’ll be greeted by the hotel’s five-star facilities. These facilities include the in-house fine dining restaurant and the roof deck swimming pool, which by the way, features one of the best views of the KL skyline!
Furthermore, this hotel is located at the heart of the capital, making travelling to the nearby attractions all the more accessible!
Damas Suites & Residences
Address: 3, Plaza Damas, 63, Jalan Sri Hartamas 1, Taman Sri Hartamas, 50480 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Phone: +60 3-6205 6789
Pricing: $$
Damas Suites & Residences is the perfect mid-tier option for those who aren’t looking to spend all of their budget on accommodation. To put it bluntly, it’s a 4-star hotel that features premium rooms and equally luxurious amenities and facilities but with a slightly lower price.
Speaking of rooms, they’re spacious, elegant and best of all, comfortable. Plus, if you’re lucky, you’ll get to enjoy stunning views of Kuala Lumpur from the comfort of your room!
Lastly, its facilities aren’t too shabby either. Most notably, it features amazing restaurants and an outdoor swimming pool where you can cool down while being surrounded by beautiful views of the capital.
Hyatt House Kuala Lumpur, Mont Kiara
Address: G-2 Arcoris, 10, Jalan Kiara, Mont Kiara, 50480 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Phone: +60 3-6419 8688
Pricing: $$$
Hyatt House will make you feel like you’re staying at home rather than in a hotel room. As much as that sounded like a line from a brochure, it’s a pure fact since you’ll be staying in a place that features dining areas and kitchens—two things that you’ll rarely see in hotel rooms
As far as facilities go, this hotel has your usual outdoor swimming pool, fitness centre and an in-house restaurant.
Lastly, the location isn’t too bad as well, as it’s minutes away from some of KL’s best attractions like the Petronas Towers.
Ahyu Hotel
Address: 34, Lebuh Ampang, City Centre, 50100 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Phone: +60 3-2022 2040
Pricing: $
Ahyu Hotel is one of the best options for those travelling on a budget, as it offers cheap but high-quality rooms. Plus, with a prime location like this one, we have a feeling that you’ll only stay in your room when you’re sleeping!
That’s not to say that the rooms here aren’t worth spending time on, however, as they come with everything you need for a comfortable stay. You’ll have access to a comfortable bed, a spacious area and an en-suite bathroom—not bad for its cheap price, right?
M Resort & Hotel Kuala Lumpur
Address: Jln Damansara, Bukit Kiara, 60000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Phone: +60 3-7932 6582
Pricing: $$$
M Resort & Hotel Kuala Lumpur should be on your radar if you want to make your stay in KL feel like a luxurious staycation. For starters, this exclusive hotel features luxurious rooms that come complete with balconies, flat-screen TVs, comfy beds and lavish interior decor.
Facilities-wise, it doesn’t disappoint as well. Aside from having an amazing outdoor swimming pool, it also comes with an exclusive lounge where guests can relax and dine on some fantastic dishes!
Where to Eat near National Science Center
SOULed OUT Kuala Lumpur
Address: 20, Jalan 30/70 A Desa, Taman Sri Hartamas, 50480 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Phone: +60 12-200 1955
Pricing: $
SOULed OUT Kuala Lumpur is what you’ll get if you make fine dining more welcoming, resulting in a casual but high-quality dining experience. One of the reasons why their food is widely praised is that they prioritise using fresh and high-quality ingredients.
As for the dishes themselves, you can expect nothing but global comfort food, from different kinds of pizzas to curries, pasta and more. You can also treat yourself to a delightful mix of local delicacies, one of which is char kway teow.
Lastly, we praise SOULed OUT for its inclusive menu, as they also offer vegan and vegetarian options—pretty neat!
Frangipaani
Address: The Republik, Lot No.M.03, Mezzanine Floor, Jalan Medan Setia 1, Bukit Damansara, 50490 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Phone: +60 3-2011 0030
Pricing: $$
If you’re craving for Indian food, Frangipani is one of the best nearby restaurants you can check out. Furthermore, this restaurant puts its own spin on some classic dishes like lamb chops and chicken biryani by adding influences from British and Goa influences.
Aside from that, the restaurant also offers a wide variety of vegetarian options—hooray for inclusivity!
The ambience is pretty spectacular as well! It does a great job of making you feel like you’ve been transported to India by featuring mosaic tiles and detailed interior design.
Rock Salt Restaurant
Address: 30, Jalan Tun H S Lee, City Centre, 50100 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Phone: +60 3-6206 3652
Pricing: $$-$$$
Rock Salt Restaurant is the perfect option for those groups that can’t decide on what food to eat. This is because the restaurant does a great job of combining Western and Eastern culinary delicacies.
So whether you’re craving Mongolian dishes or classic favourites like pizza, salad, soup and more, you’ll get to satisfy your tastebuds here!
The main highlight of your visit here, however, is their must-try signature, where you can either cook meat or seafood on a slab of hot rock salt. This isn’t just a gimmick too, as they claim that this method of cooking adds more flavour and texture to the dish.
Nero Nero
Address: L3 – 02, Jalan Damanlela Damansara City Mall, Pusat Bandar Damansara, 50490 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Phone: +60 19-667 4546
Pricing: $$$
If you’re celebrating something special and want to dine somewhere fancy, Nero Nero is one of your best options in Kuala Lumpur. This elegant restaurant will treat you to a gastronomic experience that features favourites from Southern Italy’s beloved cuisine.
The brains behind the carefully curated menu in this restaurant is a talented chef named Chef Carmine De Filippo, who claims to offer a Californian Italian twist to his dishes. Speaking of dishes, the ones we recommend the most are the lamb shank aficionado and gnocchi.
Plus, the interior design of this restaurant will transport you to Italy’s finest restaurants, with its checkered floors and fountains.
Butaya Izakaya 豚家居酒屋
Address: 14, Jalan Sri Hartamas 8, Taman Sri Hartamas, 50480 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Phone: +60 3-2389 4172
Pricing: $$
Butaya Izakaya 豚家居酒屋 is the go-to destination for people craving Japanese food in Kuala Lumpur—and for several good reasons! Firstly, it features an extensive menu that consists of several Japanese favourites, from ramen bowls to tempura and anything in between.
If you want to experience the best that this restaurant has to offer, make sure to order one of their specialties. Our personal favourite out of the bunch is the donburi, which features delicious cuts of pork that have been marinated in their secret sauce—yum!
What to Do in the National Science Centre
Admire Malaysia’s marine life
One of the main attractions inside this science museum is the massive freshwater aquarium that houses some of Malaysia’s most amazing marine life. There’s even a tunnel aquarium where you can walk underneath the swimming sea creatures—pretty cool!
It’s not hard to be in awe of the beauty of these sea creatures, not to mention that there are over 2,000 of them inside this aquarium! From various species of fish to coral reefs and more, you’ll find everything here.
Be immersed in the Exhibition Obscura VR
If you’re tired of looking at traditional exhibits and want a more futuristic experience, we recommend checking out Exhibition Obscura VR. The main theme of this specific gallery is virtual reality, and it does a great job of incorporating it into different displays!
For instance, there’s a slope that’s brightly lit with a projected image of the sky. And when people slide down from it, they’ll leave a trail of rainbows—cute and fun!
You also have to check out their Blue Tour exhibit, where you’ll get to dive into the deep blue sea through virtual reality—awesome, right?
Showcase your creativity at Metro Tekno
One way you can showcase your creativity in Pusat Sains Negara is through their virtual reality exhibition, Metro Tekno. How this works is that you’ll be given a piece of paper that consists of either a land, air or water vehicle.
You will then be in charge of designing these vehicles using a bunch of colours. After that, you can proceed to scan it and watch it magically appear on the 3D model of Metro Tekno!
Watch an exciting science show
The great thing about this attraction is that it isn’t all fun and games, as you and your kids can also pick up a new thing or two about science. One of the best ways you can do this is by watching the museum’s regular science shows!
These exciting science demonstrations usually consist of experiments that have jaw-dropping results! Plus, the best part is that they’ll even let you interact with some of these demonstrations, creating a hands-on learning experience like no other!
Get a better understanding of the human body
— Media credit: sirjorasminisa
One of the exhibits here focuses on the human body, and dare we say, it’s among the most important attractions in the entire museum. If you’re bringing your kids or you think that you, as an adult, still have some learning to do with your own body, you should stop by this spot!
This is a great way to learn about the body thanks to the several visual aids, from photos to statues that come complete with different kinds of organs and more.
The human body isn’t necessarily a hit with the kids, so having this kind of interactivity really adds to the learning experience.
Apps to Download for a Trip to the National Science Centre
Travel Malaysia: A pocket travel guide to Malaysia
Maps.me: Offline map of the world
XE Currency App: Real-time currency exchange rate app
Grab: Ride-hailing app of Southeast Asia
Google Translate: word translation with offline capabilities
CatchThatBus: Bus ticket booking app