A historic museum filled with treasures

Word to the wise: No, that's not a junkyard in the museum's grounds: it's a collection of vintage cars and old locomotives.

Packed with thousands of fascinating artefacts, the museum traces the history of Malaysia and its traditions from prehistoric times right up to the present day. It's an all-encompassing history lesson, but without a boring old professor droning on, and thanks to a major refurbishment program in 2008, the galleries are state-of-the-art.

To help visitors get to grips with the country's past, the main building is divided into four thematic galleries. Popular exhibits include a sultan's throne and the county's oldest known inhabitant, the 11,000-year-old skeleton of Perak Man.