Hey there, museum haters! Are you tired of being dragged to 🙄dull, boring museums by your well-intentioned but ultimately tedious friends and family👨👩👧👦 Fear not, because we've scoured the country and found 21 museums in Malaysia that are quirky, interactive, and DEFINITELY NOT BORING! From a museum dedicated to 🍜instant noodles to hands-on illusion tricks, these museums will have you actually wanting to spend your day learning and having fun. So ditch the old boring museums and check out these unique spots instead!
Get trapped in 3D illusion art at Illusion 3D Art Museum Kuala Lumpur. There are more than 36 pieces of 3D paintings bigger than human size in the 6,400 sqft gallery, each painted by hand. They are all realistically painted so that you can 📸photograph yourself being in all sorts of weird and quirky situations without actually being in them.
The crew are available to help you take pictures. However, if there are too many visitors at that time, they might not be able to help you with it. On top of that, get ready to be blown away by the sensational WondAR 3D video animation! With this amazing Augmented Reality experience, you'll feel like you're hanging out with animals that seem real but are actually just figments of your wildest dreams.
⏰ Hours: 10am - 6pm
📍 Address: Lot 4.01-4.03, Second Floor Central Market Annexe, Jalan Hang Kasturi, City Centre, 50050 Kuala Lumpur
Here is another museum to visit if you enjoy having your mind blown. What’s different with Museum Of Illusions Kuala Lumpur is that it focuses mainly on optical illusions and puzzle games which you can interact with! There are more than 80 bewildering exhibits that will bend your mind like no other. It will challenge your understanding of logic, but once you understand the science behind them, they don’t seem impossible after all.
⏰ Hours: 10am - 10pm
📍 Address: Level 1, Ansa Hotel Kuala Lumpur, ( Between Fahrenheit 88 and Lot 10 Mall, 101, Jln Bukit Bintang, 55100 Kuala Lumpur
Japan has its 🍜Ramen museum, and Malaysia also has one at Mamee Jonker Street. At Mamee Jonker Street, you can have a fun experience doodling your personalised Mamee Chef Noodle Cup, take a look at how one of Malaysians’ favourite snack, the Mamee Monster is made and many more. At the end of your visit, you can purchase some Mamee Monster merchandise to commemorate your visit.
⏰ Hours: 10am - 5pm (Mon - Thur), 10am - 7pm (Fri - Sun)
📍 Address: 46 & 48, Jalan Hang Jebat, 75200 Melaka
Attention, cat lovers! The 🐈kucing museum in Kuching is sure to light up your 👀eyes. It was created by former Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud and his late wife Laila Taib. The museum has 4 galleries with over 4,000 artefacts, including cat-themed paintings, plush toys, taxidermies, and more.
It's also a great place to visit for educational purposes, as there are many interesting facts and information about cats displayed. The entrance fee is only RM3 for adults and RM2 for kids, which is cheap. Souvenirs are also available starting at as low as RM1.
⏰ Hours: 9am - 4:30pm
📍 Address: Bangunan DBKU, Jalan Semariang, Petra Jaya, 93050 Kuching, Sarawak
When it comes to 💸money, everyone won’t be able to take their eyes away from it because as our ex-prime minister Najib once famously said 🤑“cash is king”. At the Bank Negara Malaysia Museum and Art Gallery, you’ll be seeing lots of exhibits related to 💰ka-ching like, ancient money, notes from all around the world, the history of the banking system, the 1 million Ringgit tunnel (please don’t “money heist” it) and many more.
It is not an exaggeration to say that this museum is a hidden gem because it is a great place for not just adults but also for kids to gain knowledge on financial stuff. It is also worth noting that this museum is 🤳highly Instagrammable. There are 4 floors of exhibits with 7 galleries, and entry is free!
⏰ Hours: 10am - 1pm, 2 - 5pm (Mon closed)
📍 Address: Sasana Kijang, 2, Jalan Dato Onn, Kuala Lumpur, 50480 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
K-drama addicts will remember the 🧸teddy bear museum scene in the famous drama Princess Hours, but little do many Malaysians know, we have our own teddy bear museum too! This family-owned museum displays a variety of vintage and rare teddy bears. Besides that, there is also history about Malaysia’s multicultural background told in the form of teddy bear exhibits. You’ll see teddy bears frying kuey teow, painting batik, carrying a kavadi and etc, which are all 😍cuteness overload.
On top of that, there are teddy bear diorama exhibits and life-sized teddy bears for you to take pictures with. Of course, a teddy bear museum is not a museum if it doesn't show anything about the history of teddy bears. Visitors get to learn about the evolution of 🧸teddy bears from the early 1900s up until now. There is a guide who will guide you through all the exhibits and tell you funny stories about the bears. However, he is only available on the weekends.
P.s: If you stay in the DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Penang, you’ll be entitled to a 50% discount!
⏰ Hours: 9am - 6pm
📍 Address: DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Penang, 56, Jalan Low Yat, Puncak Ria, 11100 Batu Ferringhi, Penang
Looking for a unique and memorable experience in Penang? Look no further than the Wonderfood Museum! This quirky and interactive museum will have you LOL-ing and WOW-ing as you learn about the history and culture of food in Malaysia. And, let's be real, who doesn't love food?😋
The interactive exhibits will keep you entertained from start to finish. Don't just take our word for it, come see for yourself and add some flavour to your travels at the Wonderfood Museum. Your 🤤saliva glands will suffer, but your 🤳Instagram followers will thank you.
⏰ Hours: 9am - 6pm
📍 Address: DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Penang, 56, Jalan Low Yat, Puncak Ria, 11100 Batu Ferringhi, Penang
Those who grew up in a Chinese household would be familiar with Ho Yan Hor. The green sachet with herbal tea is many Chinese parents’ favourite when someone in the house falls sick. The original formula consists of 23 different types of herbs to reduce 🥵internal body heat and is famously used against fever, sore throat, flu and many other ailments caused by yeet-hay (heaty).
The museum showcases the life of Dr Ho and the development of Ho Yan Hor herbal tea. It also features an 🤳Instagram-worthy retro kitchen that is a faithful recreation of the 1940s kitchen where the classic Ho Yan Hor herbal tea was perfected. At the end of the tour, you'll be able to sample a few different types of herbal tea. Just beware, some of them may be 🤮bitter, but they're good for your health! Admission is free, and you can even purchase the tea on the spot if you enjoy it.
⏰ Hours: 10am - 4pm (Mon closed)
📍 Address: 1, Jalan Bijeh Timah, 30000 Ipoh, Perak
If you are someone who enjoys revisiting the past, then the Time Tunnel Museum is for you. It is Malaysia’s first memorabilia museum. There are several sections here, each focusing on different themes such as a ☕coffee shop where you’ll find an old Kopitiam setup, a children’s corner with all the kid’s 🪀toys and stationeries over the years, a photo gallery with more than 1,000 images of historic significance and many more.
This museum takes you on a journey through time, showcasing the most significant collections in history. This place is such an underrated hidden gem. So come down to the Time Tunnel Museum and take a nostalgic journey through the ages.
⏰ Hours: 9am - 6pm
📍 Address: Cameron Highland, 39000 Brinchang, Pahang
Are you craving a unique and interactive museum experience but don't have the budget to travel to Tokyo for teamLab? Don't worry, because we've got you covered! Introducing the Dark Mansion Museum in Penang, Malaysia. This museum is filled with colourful, glow-in-the-dark exhibits and 3D paintings that provide a refreshing and fun sensory experience for visitors, especially young kids. Many adults also enjoy 📸taking pictures to post on their Instagram feeds. Just be sure to use flash or extra lighting for the best photo outcome.
⏰ Hours: 10:30am - 6:30pm
📍 Address: 145, Lebuh Kimberley, George Town, 10100 George Town, Pulau Pinang
If you enjoy collecting classic toys and figurines, then chances are you’ll enjoy a visit to this Toy Museum. With a massive collection of more than 110,000 collectables, it claims to be the largest toy museum in the world. Founded by engineer Mr Loh Lean Cheng, the toys here are arranged according to their themes and sizes. One of the most notable toys here would be the 1.8m-tall Japanese Gundam robot, which costs about RM9000. This museum will surely bring the kid out of you!
⏰ Hours: 9am - 6pm
📍 Address: Jalan Teluk Bahang, Teluk Bahang, 11050 George Town, Pulau Pinang
Penang House of Music might be the best place where you can learn about 🎼music and the history of music in Malaysia. An enthusiastic and knowledgeable guide will take you through a tour with detailed explanations about the exhibits that last approximately 45 mins. After that, you can tour the museum on your own.
The exhibits in this museum are highly interactive. You can play musical instruments, learn how radio works, listen to records, and enjoy a VR experience. On top of that, there are also old music collections, information on the history of the music scene in Penang (the 1930s through 1980s) and a live space for buskers to perform to the crowds. You don’t have to be a music lover to visit the Penang House of Music because who knows, maybe you’ll turn into a music lover after a tour here!
⏰ Hours: 11:30am - 5pm (Sun closed)
📍 Address: Komtar, L4-02, Level 4, Jln Penang, George Town, 10000 George Town, Pulau Pinang
This museum might be the best place to bump into a 👻ghost because at least you know that it's not real. In fact, you can even become one of the 🧛♀️🧟♂️ghosts! This interactive museum allows you to dress up in their costumes and pose with props in front of scary setups. 🤳Instagram frenzies will have their phone memory full in no time!
There are different rooms dedicated to different themes and ghosts. Besides the fun of pretending to be ghosts and mingling with them, visitors also get to learn a lot about mythical creatures and the folklore that surround them. There will also be a knowledgeable tour guide who will bring you on to tour around the museum and answer your questions. If you want to take ?group photos, the tour guide is there to assist you.
Cool Ghost Museum Penang
⏰ Hours: 10am - 7pm
📍 Address: 57, Lebuh Melayu, George Town, 10100 George Town, Pulau Pinang
Cool Ghost Museum Melaka
⏰ Hours: 10am - 7pm
📍 Address: 43, Jalan Kampung Hulu, Kampung Dua, Malacca
This small cosy museum has 📸camera collections from different eras. Now, this might sound boring to you, but if you are a camera hobbyist or a photographer, this is like a gold mine! This museum is dedicated to the history and evolution of cameras, featuring up to 1,000 pieces of vintage cameras and accessories from around the world. Plus, this interactive museum allows you to freely play and try out some of their cameras and exhibits.
Asia Camera Museum is a two-story shophouse building. The exhibition spaces are divided into Dark Room, Obscura Room and Pinhole Room. Analogue camera enthusiasts will feel like they got the taste of heaven because there is an extensive collection of film cameras. If you are a newbie, you’ll gain a huge chunk of knowledge on how photographs are developed (the traditional way in the darkroom, not with a printer ya). Besides that, there is also a 35mm silent movie projector illuminated using oil lamps and gear, a rare Magic Lantern projector from the 20th century, glass negative, photo editing tools and many more.
⏰ Hours: 10am - 6pm
📍 Address: 1st Floor, 71, Lebuh Armenian, Georgetown, 10200 George Town, Penang
Are you tired of the same old boring museums with lifeless exhibits and snooze-worthy lectures😴 Then fear not because MinNature Malaysia is here to save the day! This quirky museum is dedicated to all things small, featuring miniature replicas of iconic landmarks in Malaysia, tiny works of art, and even a miniature market with all the local food! They are all handcrafted by a team of miniature enthusiasts from MinNature Malaysia.
This museum packs a punch with realistic-looking dioramas that might make your jaw drop to the floor. Plus, if you pay with cryptocurrency, you can get your entrance ticket at half-price! So if you're in the mood for a fun and unique museum experience, the Miniature Museum is the place to be. Just don't forget to bring your 🔎magnifying glass because you'll need it to fully appreciate all the tiny details! It is located on the first floor of Sungei Wang Plaza which also happens to be one of the KL-Hop-On-Hop-Off stops.
⏰ Hours: 10am - 8pm
📍 Address: Jalan Sultan Ismail JUMPA @ Sungei Wang Plaza, Level 1, 50250 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur
Girls like their barbies, and boys like their 🚗cars (at least that is the case for most people). The National Automobile Museum is a man-child’s paradise with information on the history of automobiles in Malaysia and lots of classic automobiles to boost.
This small museum is dedicated to all things automotive, featuring a collection of locally produced and imported 🚗cars and 🛵motorcycles. So if you're in the mood for a fast & furious museum experience, the National Automobile Museum is the place to be. Plus, it has an extra perk which is free entrance.
⏰ Hours: 9am - 5pm
📍 Address: Sepang International Circuit, 27, Sepang F1 Circuit, 64000 Sepang, Selangor
For many of us, the only prison we’ve been to is probably the one on monopoly (which is kind of boring and depressing). Why not visit an ex-prison and get a taste of how it really feels like to be imprisoned? Malaysia Prison Museum is now an informative museum dedicated to the history of prisons and prisoners in Malaysia. You get to learn a lot about the carceral system from before Merdeka until today.
There are exhibits of scribbles and texts left on prison walls by the prisoners that give you a better insight into the raw emotions of the inmates. Then, to further convince you to not enrol on the prison, there are exhibits on torture methods and tools that will make you wince in pain just by looking at them. Some of the exhibits here are pretty graphic and NSFW. This prison museum will make you want to "insaf" immediately.
⏰ Hours: 9am - 4:30pm (Mon closed)
📍 Address: Jalan Parameswara, Kampung Bandar Hilir, 75000 Melaka
Looking for the perfect museum for a quirky and interactive Instagram photo op📸 Look no further than the Baba Nyonya Museum! Located in a colonial-era shophouse, this museum is a combination of three terrace lots that belonged to Baba Chan Cheng Siew and is now managed by his descendants. Inside, you'll feel like you've time-travelled to the golden era of the rich Peranakan culture. The museum is filled with beautifully preserved furniture, decorations, and exhibits from the Chan family.
To fully immerse yourself in the experience, the ladies can rent traditional kebaya while the men can rent batik tops. Plus, with a well-explained guidebook, you can tour the museum at your own pace. So whether you're a fan of the famous Singaporean drama "The Little Nyonya" or just want a unique and interactive museum experience, the Baba Nyonya Museum is the place to be.
⏰ Hours: 10am - 5pm (Mon & Tue closed)
📍 Address: 48-50, Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock, 75200 Melaka
I bet many of you have never been in a submarine because what are the odds? Here comes Muzium Kapal Selam which is a submarine-turned-museum. This FS Ouessant Agosta 70 submarine used to belong to the French Navy before being acquired by TLDM (Royal Malaysian Navy) for crew training purposes.
You can enter this submarine to see the Commander's room, crew's beds, operation room, washroom, kitchen and engines. Due to the narrow passageways and high steps, this submarine is not suitable for old people and young kids to visit.
⏰ Hours: 9am - 5pm (Mon closed)
📍 Address: Unnamed Road, Klebang, 75200, Malacca
Do you still remember how we Malaysians used to tune in to TV3 at night and enjoy all the episodes of Ripley's Believe It or Not! television series hosted by the handsome Dean Cain? Well, it’s time to relive those memories with a visit to Ripley's Believe It or Not museum in Genting Highlands. This museum is full of quirky and interactive exhibits that you can touch and explore. Believe it or not, you only have to visit to find out for yourself.
⏰ Hours: 10am - 10pm
📍 Address: Lot SA - T2C - B13, Genting Highlands, 69000 Genting Highlands, Pahang
Have you ever wondered how newspapers and books were printed before the invention of modern-day printers? The answer is polyglot letterpress. What is that? You might ask. Letterpress printing is a technique of relief printing that uses pre-carved printing blocks. To put it simply, it’s a “chop” but on a large scale. This museum displays the history of press printing machines and equipment. This is a dying printing technique that deserves preservation.
⏰ Hours: 10am - 5pm (Fri - Sat only)
📍 Address: 29, Jalan Hang Jebat, 75200 Melaka
These 21 quirky and interactive museums prove that learning can be fun and engaging, no matter what the subject matter may be. So next time you're looking for a change of pace, consider visiting one of these not-so-boring museums for a truly unforgettable experience.
