Sultan Alam Shah Museum Reopens (Limited-Time Free Entry!)

If you’re looking for free things to do with kids in Shah Alam, check out the newly-revamped Muzium Sultan Alam Shah!

I checked it out with my daughter recently and I really like the fresh, interactive exhibits. They definitely make learning about Selangor’s history, culture, and nature way more exciting.

To celebrate the long-awaited reopening, the museum is currently offering free entry for a limited time – read on for the full details!

Table of Contents

What’s New At Sultan Alam Shah Museum?

The refurbished Shah Alam museum is divided into 3 themed halls:

History: Covers early human settlements and pre-Independence days.
Customs & Culture: A visual look at births, weddings, deaths, and more.
Natural History: Features displays on Selangor’s rich biodiversity.

I haven’t been to the museum pre-renovation so I can’t be too sure what the displays were like, but I’m told they’ve put in extra effort to make the exhibits more interactive.

I find the overall space feels comfortable and welcoming, and the curation is pretty visual and engaging.

Here are some highlights from each section:

History

Beautiful dioramas from key points in Selangor’s history

Life-size displays of life in the olden days, from street vendors to rubber tappers

Customs & Culture

Wedding customs through the ages

Immersive 1960s food stall – love all the nostalgic details!

Dioramas of popular dishes from different cultures

Graveyard display – this part can be a little spooky for kids (okay, it’s me, I’m “kids” – I was fully expecting a jumpscare at some point)

Natural History

Dinosaur display

Walk-in cave diorama – this was a super cool experience! Look up to spot sleeping bats.

Bonus Outdoor Section

There’s also a cool display of vintage vehicles in the outdoor area leading to the museum building!

I didn’t get to snap any photos of this area as we were under the umbrella shuffling away from the rain haha

Sultan Alam Shah Museum: Local Mama’s Review

What I Like:

Great mix of exhibits!
Love the immersiveness of some of the displays, like the old-school food stall in the Culture section and the cave in the Natural History section.
There’s a kids’ activity area (after the Natural History section) where they can do coloring activities and try traditional games.
Stroller-accessible: There’s a lift provided to access the 3-level exhibits.
Free entry for now 🙂 Love me a good free activity for kids!

Things To Consider:

Doesn’t seem like there are good LRT/MRT connections to this museum for now. Driving/using Grab is the best way to get here.

Overall, I think the museum is fun enough for kids but I’m excited to see if they’ll come up with more kid-friendly features to make the space more engaging (along the lines of Islamic Arts Museum and Bank Negara Museum).

On a personal note, I found that the pre-Independence exhibits gave a lot of visual context to all the stories I used to hear about my grandparents.

My mum-in-law is also always sharing stories about her childhood with my daughter and me, and the satay-selling street vendor and vintage wedding dowries definitely jumped out to us from her stories 🙂

Tips For Visiting Sultan Alam Shah Museum With Kids

Bring along an umbrella/ raincoats on rainy days. The parking area is uncovered and is a 2-minute walk (also uncovered) to the main building.
You can buy a museum passport (I think it’s RM4?) to turn the visit into a mini treasure hunt for little ones. They’ll have to hunt for stamps at specific exhibits.
Expect to spend 1 to 2 hours to go through all the exhibits. Pack along some snacks if your kids might need them!
If your kids need a break from the exhibit halls, head to the Natural History section on the lowest level and you’ll see a kids’ area at the end.
Apparently the surau here is only for staff (not sure if this will change). The beautiful Shah Alam Mosque is nearby though! 🙂

Sultan Alam Shah Museum: Visitor Info

Location: Persiaran Bandaraya, Section 14, Shah Alam

Parking: Free outdoor parking bays provided in the museum compound.

Opening Hours: 9.30am – 4.30pm (Tuesdays to Sundays, closed on Mondays).

Admission: Free for all until end of April 2025!

Make A Day Out Of It: Family-Friendly Shah Alam Itinerary

Shah Alam is a wonderful family-friendly area! It’s quite a drive from KL city center so if you’re coming all the way just to visit the museum, you might as well make full use of your time here.

Here’s a fun Shah Alam itinerary for the family:

Morning: Sultan Alam Shah Museum

Spend the morning exploring Selangor’s history, culture, and natural wonders!

Opening hours: 9.30am – 4.30pm (closed on Mondays)

Lunch: Nuff Coffee

My daughter and I are obsessed with their comforting Kolok Mee (flavorful Sarawakian-style noodles). The coffee and matcha are excellent too if mama needs some caffeine 😉

Opening hours: 11am – 11pm daily