Gardens tend to be popular attractions in big cities— Auckland, Sydney, and New York City all have their respective botanic gardens, London has Kew and Sky Garden, and let’s not over look the Cloud Forest in Singapore. Kuala Lumpur, like other great cities, has gardens for its visitors and residents to enjoy— the Perdana Botanical Gardens.

Despite Kuala Lumpur being a modern city, Perdana Botanical Gardens are anything but new. Built in 1888, the park served as a quiet place for its residents to escape the noise and hustle of the city during colonial times. Today, it still serves as a haven for those who need a dose of nature or a shot of green.

KEEP READING to plan a visit to PERDANA GARDEns

ADMISSION

The Perdana Botanical Gardens are FREE of charge for anyone who wants to visit. You have to purchase an entrance ticket if you’d like to visit either the Butterfly Park or the Kuala Lumpur Bird Park. I decided to spend my time in the other free parts of the gardens, so I can’t recommend a visit to either of these areas since I didn’t personally choose to visit.

GETTING THERE

You might think that since the gardens are centrally located and a major hotspot for tourists that they’d be easy to get to— they aren’t. In truth, they’re a bit of a pain. You can take a taxi there to save yourself time, or you can take public transport to the National Museum and wander downhill towards the gardens, strolling at your own pace and enjoying the views you come across.

GRAB CAR OR TAXI

The easiest way to get to the gardens is to just get a Grab taxi. Of course, even that can be a bit complicated since you’ll be getting a Grab to a garden area and not a particular location on a map. For those travelers on a time crunch, I’d recommend taking a cheap Grab taxi to the gardens.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT

To get to the National Museum, take the Kelana Jaya Line on the LRT, the Kuala Lumpur Monorail, or jump on the KTM Komuter train and stop at Sentral Station. From Sentral Station, you can walk to the museum in about 15-minutes.

HOP-ON, HOP-OFF BUS

As a third alternative, there is a Hop-on, Hop-off bus that runs throughout Kuala Lumpur stopping at all the tourist spots. The National Museum is bus stop number 12. {MAP}. From the National Museum, you can stroll downhill until you stumble into the gardens.

bamboo frames Perdana Botanical Gardens, Kuala Lumpur

PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES

Perdana Botanical Gardens became one of my favourite places to take pictures in Kuala Lumpur on my most recent trip. I loved the Bamboo Playground, offering both shade from the heat and a comfy little place to pose. I also loved the yellow stained-glass-esque bit. It was a photo favourite not for just me, but for every visitor there. If you’re looking for a shot of citrus yellow in your shots, the glass installment is the spot for you.

OVERALL OPINION

While I wouldn’t put the Perdana Botanical Gardens at the very top of your Kuala Lumpur “must-do” list, it’s definitely worth a visit if you have a few days in the city and want some greener photos or a breathe of fresh air. It’s a good place to get lost, read a book, and pack a picnic for an afternoon out.