National Museum of Malaysia (Muzium Negara)

Muzium Negara, the National Museum of Malaysia, is the best single introduction to the country's history. It opened on 31 August 1963 on Jalan Damansara, on the site of the old Selangor Museum, which was founded in 1887 and badly damaged by bombing in March 1945. The new building was designed by Ho Kok Hoe and takes its inspiration from Malay royal palaces and traditional Malay architecture, with a long roofline and large mosaic murals across the front that are worth a look before you go inside.

The permanent galleries run chronologically. The ground floor covers geology, natural history and early human settlement through to the rise of the Malacca sultanate, the great trading port that shaped the Malay world. Upstairs, the story continues through the colonial period to independence in 1957, giving useful background to the colonial buildings you will see around Merdeka Square and the old railway station. The central hall is used for temporary and thematic exhibitions, so there is often something new to see even for repeat visitors.

The outdoor exhibits are a highlight in their own right. In the grounds you will find a Melaka bullock cart, a steam locomotive built by Kitson and Company that was in service from 1921 to 1969, a tin dredge recalling the industry on which Kuala Lumpur was founded, and historic vehicles including an early Proton Saga, Malaysia's first national car. Istana Satu, a timber palace built in Terengganu in 1884, was moved and re-erected here in 1974 and shows traditional Malay carpentry at its best.

Allow around two hours for the galleries and grounds. The museum suits first-time visitors who want context for the rest of their trip, families with children who enjoy the trains and cars outside, and anyone interested in Malay culture. The outdoor exhibits are best seen in the morning before the heat builds, and the galleries are a good refuge from an afternoon downpour.

Getting there is easy: the Muzium Negara MRT station is directly behind the museum, and a covered walkway of about 240 metres links it to KL Sentral, the city's main rail hub. The Perdana Botanical Garden, the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia and the National Mosque are all close by, so the museum combines naturally with a day in the Lake Gardens area.