If you’re traveling to Malaysia, you’re probably going to land in Kuala Lumpur’s international airport. Even if you can’t wait to sunbathe on the most beautiful beaches of Malaysia, I recommend you stay at least 2 or 3 days in Kuala Lampur because it’s a very surprising capital city!
Before getting to the top 10 attractions to visit in Kuala Lumpur, these tips will help you find the right accommodation in KL.
Where To Stay In Kuala Lumpur?
If you’re on a budget, you will have no problem finding a cheap hostel in Kuala Lumpur. Even though it is a big modern city, you can always manage to stay at a dormitory for less than a dozen dollars a night. I recommend the Resort Hostel In City which is conveniently located in the city center, very close to many interesting attractions.
This hostel not only has one of the top-rated locations in Kuala Lampur, it also offers all the comfort you need and provides access to a great swimming pool to all its customers. When you know that temperatures can be quite hot in Kuala Lumpur, it becomes a very convincing advantage!
If you can afford to spend more on accommodation or if you’re traveling with a group of people, you can book at Aloft Kuala Lumpur Sentral. As the name suggests, it has a conveniently central location, just a short walk from the KL Sentral train station. It is also a very modern hotel with a rather futuristic interior design and a fully-equipped gym.
What’s even better at the Aloft Kuala Lumpur Sentral is that it has a beautiful infinity pool, one of the most beautiful infinity pools in Kuala Lumpur actually. Do I need to mention the gorgeous view it offers? See for yourself! There are also two great bars at the hotel, one of them is the very popular W Xyz Bar.
The 11 Best Things To Do In Kuala Lumpur
The city of Kuala Lumpur is full of places to discover so to help you organize your trip, I have selected 11 of the greatest ones to visit during your stay in the capital of Malaysia.
- The Petronas Twin Towers
- Batu Caves
- Chinatown
- Little India
- Masjid Negara
- The Perdana Botanical Gardens
- The Thean Hou Buddhist temple
- The Pasar Seni Central Market
- The Sultan Abdul Samad Building
- Sunway Lagoon
- [+1] Putrajaya
1. Kuala Lumpur’s Petronas Twin Towers
This lists starts with the Petronas Twin Towers, one (or two actually) of Kuala Lumpur’s landmarks. FYI, these towers are actually the offices of the Petronas company which, as its name suggests, is a petroleum company that is highly influential in Malaysia. It is also home to shopping centers, movie theaters, restaurants and so on.
As you can see, the two towers are identical, they measure no less than 452 meters in height and remain to this day the world’s tallest twin towers! The skybridge is 170 meters above the ground and connects the two towers on the 41st and 42nd floors.
If you’re looking for a great spot to take pictures of the towers from the ground, you can go to KLCC Park. If you want to climb to the top of the towers and admire a view of the whole city of Kuala Lumpur, you will have to buy a pass. You can book your tickets online here and avoid waiting in line to buy one.
2. The Batu Caves
The Batu Caves are definitely a must if you’re visiting Kuala Lumpur. They are located outside the city so you’ll need to take a train from KL Sentral for example to the Batu Caves station. You’ll need to take the KTM Komuter (blue) line; the round trip costs 4 ringgits (~ $1).
Once you get to the station, your destination will be a short walk away. You will first come across a small Hindu temple that will be on your left and that you can visit if you’re interested.
Then you’ll see a huge golden statue of the god of war Murugan, son of Shiva. The statue is really impressive with more than 42 meters in height! One feels really small next to Murugan.
Just behind the statue, there are stairs leading to the Batu Caves. These caves are sacred to Hindu people and millions of pilgrims come to visit them every year. The Batu Caves are also considered to be the most important Hindu sanctuary outside of India.
You’ll probably see many monkeys around the caves. And although they are very cute, avoid getting too close to them and do not feed them. Also, make sure to keep your bags and purses closed and do not leave your stuff behind. When I visited the caves, a monkey stole a girl’s bag of crisps and another stole a visitor’s phone (he had left it on a bench). A bunch of cute tricksters, that’s what they are!
3. Chinatown of Kuala Lumpur
What I really loved about Kuala Lumpur was the cultural mix. One of the most influential cultures in the city is of course the Chinese culture that you can enjoy at its best in China-town. You can visit Chinese temples, try the local cuisine in one of the very good restaurants there or shop at the many stores available. If you are looking to buy a cheap souvenir from Malaysia, Chinatown is where it’s at!
4. Little India
India has exported its culture over to Kuala Lumpur too, and Little India is where you can immerse yourself in the unique culture of Asia’s other giant population. Make sure to visit the beautiful Sri Mahamariamman Hindu temple, but what I liked most about Little India was its restaurants. The curries I ate there were absolutely delicious and cheap. Sometimes it’s a little spicy (as all Indian cuisine usually is) so try to order the least spicy dishes if you’re not much into that.
5. Masjid Negara (National Mosque of Malaysia)
As you may know, Malaysia is a predominantly Muslim country where you will find beautiful mosques with beautiful Islamic architecture. One of them is Masjid Negara which is actually the National Mosque of Malaysia. It is one of the largest in Asia and has a capacity for about 15,000 visitors. It was built in 1965 and therefore has a fairly modern design. It also has a 73-metre-high minaret.
6. The Perdana Botanical Gardens
Right next to Masjid Negara, you can get some fresh air at the Perdana Botanical Gardens. Kuala Lumpur is a pretty dynamic city and this park is the perfect place to relax, away from the hustle and bustle of city life. Many kinds of birds and very cute deer will welcome you there! Plus, entrance is free. 🙂
7. The Thean Hou Buddhist Temple
So far we’ve seen Hindu temples and Muslim mosques, now here’s the beautiful Thean Hou, a Buddhist temple! It is dedicated to Mazu, the Chinese goddess of the sea. To be accurate, the Thean Hou temple includes Buddhist but also Taoist (references to Lao Tzu and his yin and yang) and Confucianist (Confucius) elements.
8. The Pasar Seni Central Market
One of the most popular markets in Kuala Lumpur is the central market called Pasar Seni. You’ll find it as you walk along the very lively Katsuri Walk. It has all kinds of shops where you can buy all sorts of products from fruits and vegetables, to clothes, to local culinary specialties and handicrafts.
9. Sultan Abdul Samad Building
In front of the Independence Square (Dataran Merdeka), you will notice a rather peculiar building with red roofs. It is actually the Sultan Abdul Samad Building, named after the then sultan of Selangor, which is one of the 13 states that make up current Malaysia. It is a real architectural masterpiece that now houses the country’s offices of the Ministry of Culture.
10. Sunway Lagoon
The Sunway Lagoon is a very popular amusement park in Kuala Lumpur. It is located southwest of the city and is visited by many tourists but also by locals. It’s the perfect place to take a break and enjoy the park’s great attractions. If you’re interested, you can book your tickets online right here.
11. Visit Putrajaya near Kuala Lumpur
Last but not least is Putrajaya, a neighboring city situated about 30 km south of Kuala Lumpur. Although Kuala Lumpur is the country’s historic capital, Putrajaya is actually the current administrative center of Malaysia.
To get there, you can take the KLIA Transit train line, of which the last station is Kuala Lumpur Airport. You will have to stop at the Putrajaya Sentral station though. A train departs every half hour, the trips lasts 20 minutes and a one-way ticket costs 14 ringgits (~ $3.5).
One of the most beautiful places to visit in Putrajaya is its magnificent pink mosque called Putra Mosque or Masjid Putra. It was built quite recently (1999) and is a masterpiece of Islamic architecture. You can also visit the mosque for free; women will have to cover their head and everyone will have to be wearing clothes that cover at least their knees. You will be provided with something to cover yourself at the mosque if you need to.
But Putrajaya is so much more than a mosque. The whole city has been designed by world-renowned architects so there are very special buildings mixing Islamic and modern architectural styles.
Putrajaya was our last attraction in Kuala Lumpur. Did you like this blog post? Do you have questions about Kuala Lumpur? Let me know in the comments below!
For more on Malaysia, make sure to check out these posts: Malaysia Travel Blog.
See you around,
MF
I was always attracted by Malaysia, I hope to go there soon, hopefully next year