Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur city guide

Things To Do In Kuala Lumpur

Malaysia's capital: the Petronas Towers, a Hindu cave temple up 272 rainbow steps, Chinese, Malay and Indian neighbourhoods side by side, and some of the best street food in Asia.

73
Hostels in the city
7.7
Average, from 33,301 reviews
272
Steps at Batu Caves
1957
Independence
30 min
Airport express

Three cultures, one capital

Kuala Lumpur grew from a tin-mining camp where two rivers meet, and today it is a modern capital of glass towers around a core of colonial buildings, Chinese shophouses and mosques.

Malay, Chinese and Indian cultures live side by side, and it shows in the food: nasi lemak for breakfast, char kway teow at lunch and roti canai at midnight.

KL is the main travel hub of the region, with cheap flights everywhere. Three days is right.

Where to stay

Bukit Bintang is the busiest base, with malls, Jalan Alor's food street and the Changkat bars. Chinatown, around Petaling Street, has the cheapest hostels and is close to the old colonial centre. KLCC, around the Petronas Towers, is modern and pricier, with the park on the doorstep.

Bukit Bintang

Nightlife

Malls, Jalan Alor and the Changkat bars.

Chinatown

Value

The cheapest hostels, near the colonial centre.

KLCC

Modern

Around the Petronas Towers and the park; pricier.

Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 12 top-rated hostels. Map data from OpenStreetMap contributors.

Things to do

Things to do in Kuala Lumpur

The Petronas Twin Towers, 452 metres tall, were the world's tallest buildings until 2004. The Skybridge and observation deck tickets, released in timed slots, sell out; book ahead. The KLCC Park below is free, with an evening fountain show at Lake Symphony.

Batu Caves, thirty minutes by train, is a Hindu temple inside a limestone cave, reached up 272 rainbow-painted steps beside a 43-metre golden statue of Lord Murugan. It is free; cover knees and shoulders, and watch your belongings around the monkeys. At Thaipusam, in January or February, hundreds of thousands of pilgrims climb the steps.

The old centre has Merdeka Square, where independence was declared in 1957, with the Moorish-style Sultan Abdul Samad Building, and the Masjid Jamek mosque at the river confluence that gave the city its name. The Islamic Arts Museum is one of the best in Asia.

Chinatown's Petaling Street market, the Sri Mahamariamman Temple and the Central Market, a 1930s Art Deco building of crafts, are side by side. Thean Hou Temple, a six-tiered Chinese temple on a hill, is beautiful at night.

KL Forest Eco Park, a patch of rainforest in the city centre, has a canopy walkway below the KL Tower. Kampung Baru, a Malay village surrounded by skyscrapers, is best at dinnertime.

Free things

Free things to do in Kuala Lumpur

Batu Caves is free, and so are KLCC Park and its evening fountain show, Merdeka Square and the colonial buildings around it.

Chinatown, Petaling Street and the Central Market cost nothing to wander, nor do Jalan Alor's food street and Kampung Baru. The city's temples and mosques are free to visit, dressed respectfully; the National Mosque lends robes to visitors.

The free GO KL City Bus loops around the centre, linking the main areas.

Food and drink

Eating and drinking in Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur's food mixes Malay, Chinese and Indian cooking. Nasi lemak, rice cooked in coconut milk with sambal, anchovies, peanuts and egg, is the national dish, eaten for breakfast. Roti canai, flaky flatbread with curry, is served all day at mamak stalls, Indian-Muslim restaurants open late and often around the clock.

Jalan Alor in Bukit Bintang is the famous food street, with grilled satay, chicken wings and seafood; locals prefer the hawker centres and kopitiams, old coffee shops. Try char kway teow, banana-leaf rice in Brickfields, and teh tarik, pulled milk tea.

A hawker meal is €2 to €4; a restaurant meal €6 to €12.

Nightlife

Going out in Kuala Lumpur

Changkat Bukit Bintang has the busiest strip of bars, from expat pubs to cocktail bars, and the city has rooftop bars with views of the Petronas Towers. Clubs are in Bukit Bintang and around TREC.

Alcohol is heavily taxed in Malaysia, so drinks are pricey; happy hours help. Mamak stalls stay open late for food after a night out.

A beer is €4 to €8 in a bar.

Getting around

Getting around Kuala Lumpur

KLIA, the main airport, is about 30 minutes from KL Sentral on the KLIA Ekspres train, or an hour by bus or Grab.

The LRT, MRT and monorail cover the centre; use a Touch 'n Go card or a contactless bank card. Grab is cheap and avoids the taxis that refuse meters. The free GO KL buses loop around the centre.

KL Sentral is the hub: ETS trains reach Ipoh in about two and a half hours and Butterworth, for Penang, in about four. Buses from TBS terminal reach Melaka in about two hours and the Cameron Highlands in about four.

Costs

What Kuala Lumpur costs

Kuala Lumpur is mid-priced. Dorms start around €8 and a careful day is €20 to €35.

The Petronas Skybridge is the big ticket, around €20; Batu Caves and most temples are free. A hawker meal is €2 to €4, and train rides under €1.50.

Foreign visitors pay a tourism tax of RM10 per room per night, added to accommodation bills.

The currency is the Malaysian ringgit (MYR or RM); prices here are euro equivalents, at roughly 5 ringgit to the euro. Cards and e-wallets work widely in cities; carry cash for hawker stalls and smaller towns.

Safety

Staying safe in Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur is safe, but snatch theft by motorcyclists happens: walk with bags on the side away from the road, and keep phones in hand away from the kerb.

Dress modestly at mosques and temples. Drug laws are severe, including the death penalty for trafficking.

Complete the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card online within three days before arriving.

Emergency number is 999.

Day trips from Kuala Lumpur

Temple caves, tea, the old port and fireflies.

Batu Caves

Batu Caves

About 30 minutes · Train

A Hindu temple in a limestone cave, up 272 steps.

Cameron Highlands

Cameron Highlands

About 4 hours · Bus

Tea plantations and cool air.

Melaka

Melaka

About 2 hours · Bus

The heritage port town.

What's on

What is on while you are there

Thaipusam at Batu Caves is one of Asia's most extraordinary festivals.

When to go

Warm all year. May to July and December to February are driest.

32°
Jan
Chinese New Year
33°
Feb
Dry
33°
Mar
Good
33°
Apr
Rainy
33°
May
Good
33°
Jun
Good
32°
Jul
Dry
32°
Aug
Merdeka
32°
Sep
Good
32°
Oct
Rainy
32°
Nov
Wettest
32°
Dec
Holidays
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets: quiet busy peak

Average highs. Afternoon storms are common.

What your trip will cost

Pick how you travel. Per person per night, in euros.

Prices are in ringgit locally; these are euro equivalents.

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  • Beds—
  • Food and drink—
  • Getting around—
  • Doing things—

Kuala Lumpur travel questions

The ones we get asked most.

How do I get from the airport?
On the KLIA Ekspres train to KL Sentral, about 30 minutes, or an hour by bus or Grab.
Do I need to book the Petronas Towers?
Yes, tickets are released in timed slots and often sell out; book online.
What should I wear to Batu Caves?
Cover knees and shoulders; sarongs can be rented at the bottom.
Is Kuala Lumpur safe?
Yes, but watch for snatch thieves on motorbikes.
How many days do you need?
Three.
When is the best time to visit?
Year-round; it is hot and humid with afternoon storms, wettest from October to December.
What do I need before arriving?
The Malaysia Digital Arrival Card, completed online within three days before arrival.

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