The Crystal Mosque (Masjid Kristal) stands on Wan Man Island, a small island in the Terengganu River accessible by bridge from the city centre. It is the most photographed building in Kuala Terengganu, and deserves its reputation: the steel-and-glass structure gleams by day and glows by night, its four minarets and central dome reflected in the river below. The design blends Islamic architectural tradition with a modernist aesthetic that has more in common with contemporary Gulf state mosques than with the older mosques of the Malaysian peninsula.
Non-Muslim visitors are welcome outside prayer times, and the mosque is clearly set up for the purpose — there are rental robes and scarves available at the entrance, and the compound has a well-maintained viewing area. The mosque is part of the larger Islamic Heritage Park (Taman Tamadun Islam) on the same island, which contains scale replicas of famous mosques from around the world. Allow two to three hours for both.