Top 5 things to do in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Malaysia was a country that truly surprised us! We visited Malaysia as a transfer country from Thailand to Bali. We quickly fell in love with all that Kuala Lumpur had to offer! If you are planning a visit, here are the TOP 5 things to do during your visit to Kuala Lumpur (KL)!
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Petronas Towers
The Petronas Towers were easily one of our favorite things to do in Kuala Lumpur! These iconic Twin Towers are the largest in the world and have a luxury mall inside where you can shop until you drop!
I recommend visiting the towers during the day, as well as at night, to see them all lit up! You also have the option to walk the bridge between buildings for an additional cost.
To go to the top of the towers, get tickets here.
Address: Concourse Level, Lower Ground, Kuala Lumpur City Centre, 50088 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
2. KLCC Park
KLCC Park boasts 50-acres of lush gardens and fountains located behind the Petronas Towers. The park has over 1,900 indigenous trees and a man-made 10,000 sqm lake named Lake Symphony. It’s the perfect spot to grab some ice cream and enjoy the park. There’s also a children’s park and at night they even have a fountain show!
3. Batu Caves
The Batu Caves are known as one of the most important religious Hindu sites outside of India. With its rainbow 272 stairs leading to the temple, Batu Caves have also become one of the most instagramable places to visit just outside of Kuala Lumpur! During our visit, the stairs were yet to be painted, so there were no colorful vibes for our visit. Paint or not, it was worth the visit!
Batu Cave Tips:
- Take a Grab (like Uber) car to the caves. Grab is very cheap and you can get there fast!
- Be prepared to see lots of people and monkeys! I would recommend getting there early if you are looking to get pictures of the stairs.
- You need your shoulders and knees covered to enter. They offer sarongs to rent at the gate for a small fee.
- There are loads of shops inside, including vendors selling fresh coconuts!
- Located halfway up the stairs to the Batu Caves is the Dark Cave. Here, you will be able to get a guided tour through a cave with creepy crawlies, bats, and complete darkness! At first, I was scared to go in, especially since I was wearing sandals, however, it was actually a really cool experience! If you are not afraid of the dark or claustrophobic, I would definitely recommend it! You will find an entrance off to the left, along with many cheeky monkeys hanging around!
Address: Gombak, 68100 Batu Caves, Selangor, Malaysia
4. Thean Hou Temple
Thean Hou Temple is another must-do in Kuala Lumpur! This stunning Chinese temple screams explore me! Follow the path of bright reds, yellows, and oranges around the 6 tiered temple. Don’t be surprised to find several weddings going on!
Address: 65, Persiaran Endah, Taman Persiaran Desa, 50460 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
5. National Mosque of Malaysia
Knowing that Malaysia is an Islamic country, we knew we wanted to visit a mosque. What better than the National Mosque of Malaysia. This stunning Mosque was a fun way to explore and learn a little more about Malaysia’s culture.
Address: Jalan Perdana, Tasik Perdana, 50480 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Bonus Experiences in Kuala Lumpur
Aside from the above main attractions, there are also a few day trips and experiences to enjoy while in KL.
One of the most popular experiences is through a cooking class or food tour.
If you’re interested in nature, a full-day tour to Taman Negara, one of the oldest rainforests in the world might be exactly what you’re looking for.
Ever seen the viral videos of people exploring the tea fields in Malaysia? You can take a day trip to Cameron Highlands from KL to explore the fields too.
Additional Helpful Info For Visiting Kuala Lumpur
Some other questions people often ask about visiting Kuala Lumpur:
From our experience, KL felt very safe. We had no problem walking around. With that said, always use your own judgment and precaution when traveling.
The water is not considered safe to drink from the tap. Please consider getting a bacteria-filtering re-usable water bottle to help reduce waste.
The currency is the Malaysian Ringgit and we were able to exchange money at the airport. Most places you visit will also accept credit cards.
KL can easily be a budget-friendly destination! We found the food to be very reasonably priced, along with transportation and accommodations.
Where to Stay in Kuala Lumpur
When deciding where to stay when visiting Kuala Lumpur, here are some very popular hotels to choose from!
- Ascott Star KLCC ($$)
- The RuMa Hotel and Residences ($$$)
- Sky Suites KLCC by Luna Suites ($)
- Platinum Suite KLCC By CityBox ($)
Check Skyscanner for the best airfare here!
Getting Around Kuala Lumpur
To get around KL, the car service Grab is the easiest way to get around the city at a reasonable price. KL’s also known to have a well-working and safe public transit system if you’d rather go that route.
Best Things to Do in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Wrap-up
This concludes the best 5 things to do while visiting Kuala Lumpur. We were able to see all the attractions within 3 days without feeling rushed.
Have any questions or did I miss something? Let me know in the comments below!
One day I´ll visit Kuala Lumpur and do all the things you mentioned! I would love the caves and the temples. I´m a bit worried about all the people; too many stresses me out pretty fast, but to visit and experience all that is worth it!
The most crowded place we visited was the caves, but overall the crowds were nothing compared to NYC. I think you will love it! You can also look to go during shoulder seasons =)
Visiting Kuala Lumpur is on our bucket list for sure. The Petronas Towers are stunning and I’d love to see them in person. Thanks for this informative post.
I am so glad you found this post helpful! I hope you will get to visit soon!
Wow, your photos of Petronas Towers are stunning! We’ve never visited KL but it looks breathtaking, it’s going on the bucket list!
Hannah
Thank you so much for your kind comments! I hope you will get over there soon =)
Beautiful photos ! Batu caves are so on my bucket list 🙂
Thank you so much! I hope you will get to visit soon!
Wow, the colors are so vibrant!!! Sometimes I wish our culture in the US utilized more color in daily life, in architecture etc. Sidenote, what exactly is the deal with the monkeys; do they mess with people much?
I totally agree, and they didn’t mess with us so much, but we did stay out of their way. If you have food, we did see them walk right up to people to take it! It was way worse in the monkey forest in Ubud, Bali! Now those monkeys try to take all your stuff!
Great tips, I didn’t know the Batu caves were painted so recently!
Yep, very soon after I left! It hasn’t even been a full year yet! Thank you so much for your support!