MosqueFree entryClosed Friday during congregational prayers (roughly late morning to mid-afternoon)

National Mosque of Malaysia

#3of 10 places to visit in Kuala LumpurKuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Also known as Masjid Negara · National Mosque Kuala Lumpur

Quick answer

Opening hours: 09:30–12:30 and 15:00–18:00 and 15:00–18:00 and 09:00–15:00 and 16:00–17:30 and 12:00–15:00 and 16:00–17:30, closed Fridays. Entry is free. Allow 45 min. Best time: 09:30 - 11:30.

Updated 18 September 2026 · Compiled by Traveliac, AI-assisted · 4 min read

Get directionsOfficial site

Photo: Santaria Fi / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0

Opening hours: 09:30–17:30; Closed Fridays
Entry fee: Free
Time needed: 45 min
Best time of day: 09:30 - 11:30
Best months: Jan – Feb, Jun – Aug
Address: Masjid Negara, Jalan Perdana, 50480 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

About National Mosque of Malaysia

National Mosque of Malaysia opened in 1965 and holds about 8,000 worshippers under a folded-plate concrete roof shaped like an open umbrella. Its 73-metre minaret is the tallest element in the complex, and the 18-pointed roof is said to represent Malaysia's 13 states and the five pillars of Islam. The design broke with traditional domes and drew on mid-century modernism, using marble, mosaic and stained glass in the main hall. Non-Muslim visitors are welcome outside prayer times, and no entry fee is charged, as of 2026.

Best time of day: 09:30 - 11:30. In the first visiting window before midday prayer and the afternoon heat.

National Mosque of Malaysia timings

Opening hours: 09:30–17:30; Mon–Thu 09:30–12:30 and 15:00–18:00 and 15:00–18:00 and 09:00–15:00 and 16:00–17:30 and 12:00–15:00 and 16:00–17:30
Friday Closed
Sat–Sun 09:30–12:30 and 15:00–18:00 and 15:00–18:00 and 09:00–15:00 and 16:00–17:30 and 12:00–15:00 and 16:00–17:30; Non-Muslim visiting windows are conflicting across sources. Tourism listings give Saturday to Thursday 09:30-12:30 and 15:00-18:00, and Friday 15:00-18:00; Visit Selangor instead lists closures for non-Muslims on Friday 09:00-15:00 and 16:00-17:30, and other days 12:00-15:00 and 16:00-17:30. Verify before travelling.
Closed on: Friday during congregational prayers (roughly late morning to mid-afternoon)

Mon–Thu	09:30–12:30 and 15:00–18:00 and 15:00–18:00 and 09:00–15:00 and 16:00–17:30 and 12:00–15:00 and 16:00–17:30
Friday	Closed
Sat–Sun	09:30–12:30 and 15:00–18:00 and 15:00–18:00 and 09:00–15:00 and 16:00–17:30 and 12:00–15:00 and 16:00–17:30

Good to know: Schedules change during Ramadan, Hari Raya and Friday prayers, and the mosque closes to visitors during congregational prayers.

Opening hours compiled from masjidnegara.gov.my and public records, last updated 18 September 2026. They change without notice — confirm before you travel. How we write these guides

National Mosque of Malaysia ticket price

Entry fees for National Mosque of Malaysia
Ticket	Price
Standard ticket	Free
Concession (student / senior)	Free
Children	Free

National Mosque of Malaysia charges no entry fee for non-Muslim visitors, as of 2026; robes and headscarves are lent at the entrance without charge. Visiting windows for non-Muslims are published inconsistently, so verify the current schedule by phone (+603 2107 3100) or at the official site.

Prices compiled from masjidnegara.gov.my and public records, last updated 18 September 2026. They change without notice — confirm before you travel. How we write these guides

Best time to visit National Mosque of Malaysia

Quiet
Moderate
Busy

09:30 - 11:30
Morning Window
The first visiting window draws tour groups but stays orderly, and robes are handed out quickly.
Moderate
12:00 - 15:00
Prayer and ClosureBest time to go
Congregational prayer closes the hall to non-Muslims, so tourist numbers drop and the courtyard stays quiet.
Quiet
15:00 - 16:00
Afternoon Window
A wave of tour groups reaches the mosque as it reopens to visitors, and the robe queue is longest.
Busy
16:00 - 18:00
Late Closure
The mosque closes again for prayer on many days, and evening visitors are mostly worshippers.
Quiet

History of National Mosque of Malaysia

National Mosque of Malaysia was built after independence in 1957 as a national symbol, with the architects Howard Ashley of Scotland and the Malaysians Hisham Albakri and Baharuddin Kasim, and it opened in 1965. The design chose a star-shaped umbrella roof rather than a large dome, part of a modernist approach to national identity in the early independent state. The roof has 18 points, read as Malaysia's thirteen states and the five pillars of Islam, and the structure stands beside a reflecting pool and a tall slender minaret that rises 73 metres.

National Mosque of Malaysia sits on Jalan Perdana beside the Perdana Botanical Gardens and the Islamic Arts Museum, so it anchors the Lake Gardens cultural cluster. The main prayer hall uses stained-glass windows and large chandeliers, and the mosque serves as a venue for state religious events as well as daily prayer.

Rules & etiquette at National Mosque of Malaysia

National Mosque of Malaysia requires modest dress from every visitor: men may not wear shorts, and women must cover the head, arms and knees. Robes and headscarves are lent free at the entrance to anyone whose clothing falls short, and shoes come off before entering the prayer hall.

National Mosque of Malaysia closes to non-Muslims during prayer times, so tourist visits are limited to fixed windows, and the schedule differs between Friday and other days. Published windows disagree between sources, so the visitor should confirm with the mosque before travelling. Inside the prayer hall, visitors speak quietly, avoid walking in front of worshippers and follow staff instructions about where photography is allowed. Non-Muslims cannot enter the main hall during Friday congregational prayers, and visits during Ramadan are shorter or paused.

Tips for visiting National Mosque of Malaysia

1
National Mosque of Malaysia is best visited in the first morning window, around 09:30 to 11:30, before the heat builds and before the midday prayer closure. Wear long trousers or a skirt below the knee and a top with sleeves, and expect to borrow a robe and scarf if not, which adds a few minutes at the entrance. Carry socks, since the marble floors are hot in the afternoon and shoes are left at the door.
2
National Mosque of Malaysia sits about a 5 to 10 minute walk from the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia and the Kuala Lumpur Bird Park, so all three combine into one half-day loop around the Lake Gardens. Call +603 2107 3100 to confirm hours, since sources disagree, and avoid Friday mornings and the Hari Raya days entirely.

How to reach National Mosque of Malaysia

The red star is National Mosque of Malaysia; the numbered pins are the 8 nearest places in our guides, each showing its rank in its city. Tap a pin for details.

Masjid Negara, Jalan Perdana, 50480 Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaDirections in Google Maps

From KL Sentral
1.5 km · 20 min on foot or 5-10 min by e-hailing
About RM6-10 by e-hailing, varying with traffic
From Kuala Lumpur KTM station
1 km · 12-15 min on foot
Free on foot
From Merdeka Square
3 km · 10-20 min
About RM8-12 by e-hailing, varying with traffic

Nearest airport

From Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), about 60 km south via KLIA Ekspres to KL Sentral.

Nearest station

From Kuala Lumpur KTM station, about 1 km on foot; KL Sentral is about 1.5 km away.

National Mosque of Malaysia FAQs

Can non-Muslims visit the National Mosque in Kuala Lumpur?

Yes. National Mosque of Malaysia welcomes non-Muslim visitors outside prayer times and charges no entry fee, as of 2026. Robes and headscarves are provided free at the entrance.

What should I wear to the National Mosque?

Wear clothing that covers the head, arms and knees for women, and long trousers for men. Shorts are not allowed, and free robes and headscarves are lent at the entrance.

What are the National Mosque visiting hours for tourists?

Sources disagree, so verify before travelling. Tourism listings give Saturday to Thursday 09:30-12:30 and 15:00-18:00 and Friday 15:00-18:00, while Visit Selangor lists prayer-time closures that shorten these windows; call +603 2107 3100 to confirm.

How big is the National Mosque of Malaysia?

National Mosque of Malaysia holds about 8,000 worshippers and has a 73-metre minaret. It opened in 1965 with an 18-pointed umbrella-style roof.

Compiled with AI assistance from official sources and public records, and published only after the checks in How we write these guides. Nobody from Traveliac has visited this place. Last updated 18 September 2026. How we rank and check places