Looking for help in planning your visit to Thean Hou Temple in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia? You’ve come to the right place!
Thean Hou Temple is one of the most beautiful temples in Kuala Lumpur, and in my opinion, all of Malaysia. So it’s only natural that you’ll want to add it to your Malaysia itinerary!
With its red lanterns, distinctive decorations and colourful architecture, it’s a truly gorgeous temple that you can spend hours exploring.
In this article I have outlined everything you need to know about visiting this beautiful temple in Kuala Lumpur. Including where it is, how to get there, tour recommendations and more!
So what are you waiting for? Let’s dive in, and plan your perfect visit to Thean Hou Temple!
Table of Contents
Essentials to book before you read on!
Best Thean Hou Temple & Kuala Lumpur tours
Kuala Lumpur street food tour with 15+ tastings
Batu Caves & Thean Hou Temple Cultural Tour
KL Tower Fast Track Admission Ticket
Best hotels in Kuala Lumpur
Budget: Chinatown Hostel by Mingle
Mid-range: ibis Kuala Lumpur City Centre
Luxury: Ascott Star KLCC
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What is Thean Hou Temple
This important Chinese temple opened its doors in 1989, having been constructed by Malaysia’s Hainanese.
Perched among the greenery of Robson Heights overlooking the city of Kuala Lumpur, Thean Hou Temple is an impressive sight in fact, it’s one of the largest of its kind in Southeast Asia.
Visitors who make the journey to this lofty religious site will be greeted by a multi-story temple complex to explore. But the main sight here is the colourful, six-tiered hall dedicated to Mazu, the Chinese goddess of the sea.
Upper tiers of the temple allow you to glimpse intricately mosaics of dragons, phoenixes and other mystical animals up close. There are also some great views overlooking the city and landscape in the distance.
Where is Thean Hou Temple
Thean Hou Temple, KL is located close to the centre of the city. You can find the exact position in the map below.
How to get to Thean Hou Temple
Given its central location, it’s fairly easy to get to Thean Hou Temple from various places around the capital, and in various different transport modes.
By taxi
From the centre of the city, a taxi ride should take around 10 minutesand cost about RM 20 (4 EUR). You could also hail a Grab taxi too. This is what we did, and it was the cheapest and most convenient option for us.
By bus
If you’re travelling solo and don’t have people with which to split the taxi ride, the cheaper way to travel to Thean Hou Temple is by bus. The nearest bus stop to Thean Hou Templeis Balai Polis Brickfields.
From there it takes around 20 minutes to walk the 1 kilometre to the entrance of the temple. While cheaper, this option is obviously less convenient. Walking in the Malaysian heat is not fun!
With a tour
Another option is to visit Thean Hou Temple as part of a wider tour. For example this private temples tour will take you to Thean Hou Temple, but also Batu Caves and a few more attractions around KL.
It’s more expensive, but it includes a local guide and removes all the hassle from planning your day.
Click here to book your tour to Thean Hou Temple in KL!
Best time to visit Thean Hou Temple
I’d recommend visiting in the morning. That way you get to avoid the crowds, who tend to visit later in the day. Also, it’s good to note that the weekdays are much quieter in terms of visitor numbers than weekends.
In terms of season, it’s a year-round destination, although I’d say it’s best to avoid the rainy season. It’s just not fun getting caught in a huge tropical downpour!
Thean Hou Temple opening hours & entrance fees
The opening hours for Thean Hou Temple are 8AM to 10PM, daily. There’s also free admission so you won’t have to budget for that.
What is there to do at Thean Hou Temple
When you’re visiting Thean Hou Temple, photos are definitely in order.
It’s a really picturesque temple, so finding a few spots where you can take the coolest shot of the architecture is a must. The curving red roof looks especially cool against a cloudless, blue sky.
It’s a great spot for curious travellers, as one of the main things to do at Thean Hou Temple, Kuala Lumpur is to simply wander around the grounds.
There are plenty of statues of creatures from the Chinese zodiac to discover, as well as a Chinese herb garden and a giant Chinese chess board. There’s even street art decorating the walls in certain areas of the temple grounds!
If you’re in the market for souvenirs, you’ll find shops at Thean Hou Temple. There are various vendors selling all manner of interesting ornaments, religious items and things like incense to burn at the temple.
There’s even a food court, so you can enjoy a bite to eat in case you get hungry.
Best Thean Hou Temple tours
Batu Caves & Cultural Temples Tour
This tour allows you to take a deep dive into the different cultures that make up Kuala Lumpur. It starts with a drive to Batu Caves, an important Hindu place of worship on the outskirts of the Malaysian capital.
After a bit of time here with your guide learning about the history of the site, you’ll then continue to Thean Hou Temple.
Your temple visit will include a climb up to the main prayer hall and some free time for you to wander around the grounds.
The tour then takes you back to Chinatown where you can shop for souvenirs, before hitting up some local restaurants for delicious food. Wind up the day with a visit to the National Mosque.
It’s a great option if you don’t have long in Kuala Lumpur, since besides Thean Hou Temple, it also takes you to explore various other main sights of the Malaysian capital.
Click here to book your Kuala Lumpur cultural tour to Thean Hou Temple!
Half-Day Kuala Lumpur Exploration Tour
If you’ve got less time on your hands, but still want to tick off a lot of Kuala Lumpur’s top sights, then this half-day tour is a great option I would say.
It’s particularly convenient as you’ll be picked up directly from your accommodation to begin with. First up, you’ll stop off at Merdeka Square before going to snap pictures of the King’s Palace.
Then it’s on to the Petronas Twin Towers and the National Mosque, after which the tour will head to the next stop: Thean Hou Temple.
Here your guide will lead you around the gardens, talk about the statues, and show you the best viewpoints.
The whirlwind tour continues with a visit to the National Museum, Kuala Lumpur Railway Station and the National Monument.
It definitely packs a lot in, which could seem a bit rushed for some, but again if you’re short on time it’s a good option.
Click here to see prices & availability for a Thean Hou Temple & KL half-day tour!
If you prefer your tours to be a bit more free and easy, then you may want to opt for a private rather than a group tour.
This particular private tour basically means you have your very own driver/guide and a car for a morning or afternoon of exploring religious sites that represent the country’s multicultural tapestry.
The itinerary on this tour sees you collected from the doorstep of your accommodation, and driven first out to Batu Caves to take in the amazing spectacle. You’ll then make the journey to Thean Hou Temple.
There are more religious sites to be visited on this itinerary. You’ll also have a stop at the National Mosque, too, as well as St Mary’s Cathedral and Gurdwara Sikh Temple, before being taken back to your accommodation.
Click here to book your private tour to Thean Hou Temple & Batu Caves!
Where to stay to visit Thean Hou Temple
Given its central position, it won’t make a huge difference where in Kuala Lumpur you stay to visit this beautiful temple. Here are some great places to stay in KL for every budget.
Budget – Chinatown Hostel by Mingle: Located among the sights and sounds of KL’s Chinatown, this cool hostel is the place to base yourself on a budget.
Click here to book your stay at Chinatown Hostel by Mingle in Kuala Lumpur!
Mid-range – ibis Kuala Lumpur City Centre: This branch of the international chain Ibis is located right in the middle of KL. It’s modern and polished, with comfortable rooms equipped with all the amenities you’ll need.
Click here to see prices & availability at ibis KLCC!
Luxury – Ascott Star KLCC: Treat yourself to an incredible stay at this high-end gem. Rooms come in a range of sizes and include private kitchenettes so you can make yourself at home.
Don’t miss out, click here to book your stay at Ascott Star KLCC!
Final thoughts on visiting Thean Hou Temple in Kuala Lumpur
There you have it, the ultimate guide to visiting Thean Hou Temple in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia! Have you visited Thean Hou Temple before? How did you find it? Let me know in the comments below!
Personally, I thought it was the most beautiful temple we saw in Malaysia. Even when compared to those in Ipoh or Georgetown, for me Thean Hou Temple is simply stunning.
It’s one of the highlights of our two days in Kuala Lumpur. And I usually enjoy natural sights more, like Seven Wells Waterfalls in Langkawi, or the tea plantations in Cameron Highlands, but when it comes to architecture, this temple left me speechless.
I hope you found my Thean Hou Temple useful, if you still have any questions about visiting this unique temple, just let me know in the comments below!
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