Kuala Lumpur
As the capital city, you’ll find a huge amount to do in Kuala Lumpur, from the best street food and chicest restaurants to jungles, temples, mosques, and an endless supply of shopping malls and independent shops and galleries.
Eating is often described as Malaysia’s national pastime, and it’s easy to see why. With Malay, Chinese, Indian, and indigenous ommunities all contributing to Malaysian cuisine, paired with a cultural love of food in general and an appreciation for the global food scene, you’ll have plenty of options when planning your trip around meals. It may even be necessary to have a second lunch or dinner to squeeze in some dim sum or have nasi lemak for breakfast (as locals would).
Unlike some of its neighbours, Malaysia isn’t known for its cheap alcohol. Don’t let that put you off too much, though, as it’s well worth exploring Kuala Lumpur’s lovely bars.
Besides more malls than you could ever need in multiple lifetimes, and more restaurants and hawker stalls than you could ever eat at, Kuala Lumpur
has loads to do.
There are beautiful temples to explore, lush gardens and jungles to walk through, as well as independent galleries to discover.
It’s pretty hot in the middle of the day, so my top tip is to stay inside or find some shade over lunch, and save any outdoor adventures for the
morning or late afternoon.
Have some 100 Plus on hand in case you start to feel a little
hot and bothered.
Filter by activity:
Outdoors / Free / w kids / galleries & museums / religious architecture / shopping
Explore by area
Kuala Lumpur is huge and sprawling, so it’s best to cover certain areas rather than trying to see the entire city in a day or two.This is where you'll find the major sightseeing spots like the Petronas Twin Towers and the KL Tower. The Chinatown and Chow Kit areas are also central, each with their own distinct neighbourhood feel.
Top three central picks
Here you'll find many Malaysian-owned restaurants, shops and bakeries, often in beautifully converted shophouses (historical shop buildings that opened onto the street but had separate living quarters for the owners back in the day). You will also find more touristy spots here, like Central Market and Petaling Street, which are fun to visit.
Top three Chinatown picks
Slightly southwest of the city centre, Bangsar is a lovely neighbourhood known for its amazing selection of Indian restaurants and shops, great shopping centres with some of my favourite Malaysian brands, and cool areas like APW, a redeveloped print factory.
Top three Bangsar picks
A residential suburb of Kuala Lumpur, going to Petaling Jaya (PJ) will make you feel like a local. With excellent hawker (market) food and old-school eateries, you are spoiled for choice when deciding where to eat.
Top three Petaling Jaya picks
