Top 11 Beautiful Mosques to Visit in Malaysia
With several places of worship to go over, creating an itinerary that stops by Malaysia’s best mosques can be a daunting task–that’s where we come in! To save you from the hassle, we’ve compiled every beautiful mosque that we think you should visit on your next trip to the country.
Be prepared to get your breath taken away with these amazing structures. Let’s get started!
Sultan Abdul Samad Mosque
Website: https://www.facebook.com/Jamekmosque2/
Address: Jalan Tun Perak, City Centre, 50050 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Contact details: +60 3-2691 2829
Operating hours:
- Saturday to Thursday: 5:30 AM to 9:30 PM
- Friday: Closed
Sultan Abdul Samad Mosque is a must-visit for anyone stopping by Kuala Lumpur. Also known as Masjid Jamek, it’s one of the oldest mosques in the country, being built back in 1907–truly a historical site in its own right.
Its architecture draws inspiration from Moorish, Islam, and Magul designs, with its most significant element being the three white domes. This beautiful design continues in the interior, specifically the prayer hall where you’ll find two high minarets with red and white stripes.
Lastly, visiting this temple instantly shrouds you with tranquillity thanks to its location next to the Klang River and Gombak River.
Pro tip:
- If you’re planning on commuting, we recommend riding the train, as the temple is located right next to Masjid Jamek LRT station
- Be sure to dress modestly, as this is still a working place of worship. If you’re unable to abide by the dress code, they can lend you a robe.
Putra Mosque
Address: Persiaran Persekutuan, Presint 1, 62502 Putrajaya, Wilayah Persekutuan Putrajaya, Malaysia
Contact details: +60 3-8888 5678
Operating hours: Daily from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM
If you’re looking for a more scenic experience, you should include Putra Mosque in your itinerary when visiting Putrajaya. This wonderful place of worship is made more beautiful by its next-door neighbour, the iconic Putrajaya Lake.
One of the things that sets this mosque apart is its unique pinkish look, which can be attributed to its rose-tinted granite. This makes for a great photo opportunity that would look perfect on your Insta!
Aside from its colour, another noteworthy part of this temple is its massive 36-diameter main dome, which is immediately recognisable from the outside. However, it’s just as, if not more beautiful when looking at it from the inside thanks to its intricate details.
Trivia:
- Thanks to its massive size Putra Mosque can house up to 15,000 worshippers simultaneously!
- The architectural design of this mosque has hints of Malaysian, Persian-Islamic, and Arab-Islamic details.
Federal Territory Mosque
Address: Anjung B, Masjid Wilayah Persekutuan, Jln Tuanku Abdul Halim, Kompleks Kerajaan, 50480 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Contact details: +60 3-6201 8791
Operating hours:
- Saturday to Thursday: 10:00 AM to 3:30 PM
- Friday: 10-11:30 AM, 3-4:30 PM
Visiting the Federal Territory Mosque is among the iconic things to do in Kuala Lumpur, hugely because of its sheer beauty. Plus, it’s located in the heart of the capital so you don’t really have an excuse for not stopping by.
You can rest assured that it’s going to be a worthwhile stopover, as your eyes will be treated to outstanding fusion between Malay and Ottoman design. Perhaps you’ll see this combination of styles when you see its 22 beautiful domes.
Trivia:
- This was the 44th mosque that was built within Kuala Lumpur’s limits when it finished construction back in 2000.
- The aforementioned domes of this mosque are made entirely out of glass fibre and epoxy, making them lighter and sturdier–pretty neat!
Masjid Zahir
Website: https://www.facebook.com/Jamekmosque2/
Address: Jalan Kampung Perak, Bandar Alor Setar, 05150 Alor Setar, Kedah, Malaysia
Contact details: +60 4-733 3288
Operating hours: Daily from 5:00 AM to 10:00 PM
When it comes to beauty, we always have to include Masjid Zahir in the conversation, and we’re not the only ones to think this! This impressive feat of architecture has been voted as one of the most beautiful mosques in the world.
This recognition may be because of its signature black dome, which perfectly contrasts its all-white exterior. Furthermore, intricate details can be found in its pillars, making it look more alive and well thought out.
Trivia:
- Masjid Zahir is also one of the oldest mosques in the country, being built back in 1912.
- This mosque was originally built on the cemetery where the bodies of the warriors who died during the Siamese invasion in Kedah were buried.
Al-Bukhary Mosque
Website: https://web.facebook.com/mabkl.fb/?_rdc=1&_rdr
Address: 1, Jln Hang Tuah, Bukit Bintang, 55200 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Contact details: +60 3-9221 0554
Operating hours: Daily from 5:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Al-Bukhary is often overlooked by the more famous mosques in the capital, but it’s one that you should check out. This is because it features one of the most beautiful facades that you’ll see in a mosque thanks to its influences from Iran and Turkey architecture.
One of the most meaningful parts of this mosque is the five-layered archway, which signifies the five pillars of Islam. There’s also a mirror-like pool located at the entrance that perfectly reflects the exterior of the mosque–pretty cool!
Trivia:
- This mosque was entirely built by the Malaysia-based organisation, Albukhary Foundation, hence its name.
Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Mosque
Address: Persiaran Masjid St., Sekysen 14, 40000 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
Contact details: +60 3-5523 8006
Operating hours:
- Monday to Thursday: 8:30 AM to 1:00 PM, 2 to 4:30 PM
- Friday: 8:30 AM to 12:15 PM, 2:45 to 4:30 PM
- Weekends: Closed
Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Mosque is a spectacle because of its sheer size. Measuring over 36,000 square metres, this temple has etched itself in the record books as the biggest mosque in Southeast Asia.
It’s not just its size that makes it a marvel though, as its overall design is quite elegant too. For instance, the facade oozes with inspirations from both Middle Eastern and Malay designs as evident with the building’s pillars and pointed roofs.
Fun Facts:
- Its massive size allows it to accommodate 24,000 worshippers in one go.
- Its most distinguishing feature is its huge blue dome, which measures 168 feet in diameter. This, along with the blue stained glass windows are the reasons why it’s also dubbed the “Blue Mosque”.
Masjid Tengku Tengah Zaharah
Website: https://facebook.com/masjidterapungofficial/
Address: 1010, Jalan Batu Buruk, 20400 Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu, Malaysia
Contact details: +60 13-366 9549
Operating hours: Daily from 5:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Masjid Tengku Tengah Zaharah is the first floating mosque in the country. It stands majestically over a lake and from afar, it looks like it’s sitting on the surface of the water–pretty cool!
Here’s a little tip for you: visit it in the evening when it’s lit up to see it reflected on the calm body of water!
This is because of the intricate detail put into the architecture of the mosque, from the facade to the interior. It draws inspiration from both Malay and Moorish architecture and executes them masterfully by using premium finishes such as marble and ceramic.
Pro tips:
- It took around 2 years (1993 to 1995) to finish building this temple atop the Kuala Ibai River.
- It’s able to pull off the floating illusion by being built on a concrete platform.
Masjid Bandaraya Kota Kinabalu
Website: https://www.facebook.com/Jamekmosque2/
Address: Jalan Pasir, Jalan Teluk Likas, Kampung Likas, 88400 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
Contact details: +60 88-205 418
Operating hours: Daily from 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM
There are only a few structures that aren’t hard to be in awe of and Masjid Bandaraya Kota Kinabalu is one of them. Right off the bat, your eyes will be wowed by this mosque’s all-white appearance–with some blue and cream here and there.
The facade alone is quite the looker. Add to that the serenity and beauty of the surrounding manmade lake and you’ve got yourself one of the best, if not the best-looking mosques in the country.
Plus, this place of worship has a special place in our hearts, as visitors can paddle boats on the lake, which makes for a fun day.
Trivia:
- This massive mosque can house 12,000 worshippers at the same time.
- Non-Muslim visitors aren’t allowed during prayer times.
- The entire cost of constructing this mosque reached a whopping amount of RM34 million!
Kapitan Keling Mosque
Website: https://facebook.com/masjidkapitankeling/
Address: 14, Jln Buckingham, George Town, 10200 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
Contact details: +60 4-261 4215
Operating hours: Daily from 5:00 AM to 10:00 PM
It would be a shame to visit Penang Island without visiting one of its UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Kapitan Keling Mosque. There are tons of detail to unpack with this mosque so bear with us as we highlight our favourite ones.
For starters, the main prayer hall oozes elegance with its white marble floors and calligraphy-filled wall panels. You’ll also find stained glass windows with geometrical and floral patterns–it’s small details like these that make a piece of architecture more marvellous.
As for the exterior, one of the things that stands out the most is the abundance of crescents and stars, which can be found on top of the domes.
Pro tips:
- It’s been around since 1801 when the first Indian Muslim settlers constructed it and today, it still stands as the biggest Mosque in George Town–talk about longevity!
- The design you see today is the result of a renovation back in 1930 when the old appearance was considered impractical.
Masjid Kristal
Address: Pulau Wan Man, Losong Panglima P’erang, 21000 Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu, Malaysia
Contact details: +60 9-627 8888
Operating hours: Daily from 6:00 AM to 11:00 PM
Masjid Kristal is arguably the most unique mosques in the country, being entirely made out of steel, glass, and crystal. The latter two materials allow this place of worship to emit different colours when it’s lit up at night–a sight to behold, indeed!
If that wasn’t enough to make this one of the prettiest mosques in Malaysia, it’s also located on a man-made island surrounded by water. This is why we recommend visiting at night, as the beautifully lit-up temple is reflected perfectly on the water.
Trivia:
- The architecture of this mosque is inspired by both Moorish and Gothic styles.
- It features a total area of 2,146 square metres, which can accommodate up to 700 people at once.The temple was constructed between 2006 and 2008 before officially being opened on February 8, 2008.
Honourable Mention: Malacca Straits Mosque
Address: Masjid Selat, 75000, Melaka, Malaysia
Although it’s temporarily closed, we decided to include Malacca Straits Mosque as an honourable mention. Plus, you can still admire it from afar even when it’s closed so you should still see it when you can!
It’s located on a manmade island overlooking the Malacca Straits, which instantly makes it that much more scenic. Plus, the exterior of the mosque itself is dotted with Middle Eastern and Islamic motifs, giving it more character and depth.