Kuala Lumpur, the capital city of the wonderful country that is Malaysia, is a vibrant city with a mix of cultures, a variety of both historical landmarks and modern new buildings and some of the best food in Asia. However, with so much to see and do, how do you decide what you should spend your precious time on? We give you the rundown on the 20 best things to do while in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
1. Petronas Towers
Probably the most iconic landmark of the city, the Petronas Twin Towers were once the tallest buildings in the world from 1998 to 2004. They remain the tallest twin towers in the world at 451.9 m (1,483 ft) high with 88 floors. The towers feature a large, modern shopping centre, Suria KLCC at the bottom, and a double-decker sky bridge on the 41st and 42nd floors. Visitors can visit both the sky bridge and the observation deck on the 86th floor in a 45-minute tour. The views from both areas are incredible and well worth taking in for any visitor to Kuala Lumpur.
- Opening Times: Tours available from 09:00 until 21:00, Tuesday to Sunday
- Entry/Tickets: From RM80.00 ($20) per adult
- Where to Buy: There are a limited number of tickets available for each day, and half are reserved for online purchases so if you plan to buy on the door then get there early to secure a ticket. You can buy tickets online from Viator which give entry to the Skybridge and Observation Deck
2. Try Some Malaysian Street Food At Jalan Alor Hawker Street
The extensive variety of local food and dishes in Malaysia is a large part of what makes visiting the country so incredible. The different cultures, including Indian, Chinese and Malay that live together in the city have created a melting pot of amazing cuisine. The best way to try local food and lots of it is to head to one of the hawker streets in the city. The best and most well known hawker street is Jalan Alor Street, located in the heart of the city, in Bukit Bintang.
3. Sultan Abdul Samad Building
An impressive building which forms part of Kuala Lumpur’s Colonial Core, situated on the east side of Merdeka Square. The building was built in 1897 and takes its name from the reigning sultan of Selangor at the time. It has had many purposes over the years but is now the home of the Ministry of Information, Communications and Culture of Malaysia. Among the architectural features of the entirely brick-built building are the graceful arches, curved colonnades and a large, 41.2m clock tower.
4. Batu Caves
Located approx 11km to the north of Kuala Lumpur, Batu Caves are set within a limestone hill and consist of 3 major caves and a host of smaller ones. The site is an important religious site for Hindus and includes 100-year-old temple housing idols, alongside a variety of statues inside the caves. The temples both inside and outside the caves are amazingly colourful and need to be appreciated in person. Be sure to head there early to avoid the crowds and climb the 272 steps up to the caves in the midday heat.
- Opening Times: Daily from 06:00 until 21:00
- EntryTickets: Free Entry
5. Little India/Brickfields
The vibrant area of Brickfields in Kuala Lumpur is home to Little India, a great place to visit and experience a small part of India while in Malaysia. Alongside the colourful arches sit shops selling Indian goods, clothing and foods. You can also try a variety of Indian and Malay-Indian cuisine here including banana leaf thali’s and roti canai, in one of the many restaurants and cafes. This area is close to a host of other larger attractions in Kuala Lumpur so it’s perfect to tie in with a trip to some of these.
6. KLCC Park
This park sits outside the Petronas Towers and was designed to bring some greenery to the area, to contrast against the bold new towers. At 50 acres in size, the park is full of trees, fountains, seated areas and facilities such as children’s parks, a jogging track and a children’s swimming pool. The park is a great way to escape the city, enjoy some nature and fresh air, or even have a picnic in one of the many pergolas. The stand-out feature is the 10,000sqm Lake Symphony which has a 43m bridge spanning over it.
- Opening Times: Daily from 07:00 until 22:00
- Entry/Tickets: Free Entry
7. Sri Maha Mariammam Temple
Founded in 1873, but only opened in the 1920s, the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple is the oldest Hindu temple in Kuala Lumpur and is both an important religious site as well as a beautiful, eye-catching building. The building that stands there today was rebuilt there in 1968 and is located in Jalan Bandar, just outside of Chinatown.
- Opening Times: Daily from 06:00 until 20:30 (Fridays until 21:30, Saturdays until 21:00)
- Entry/Tickets: Free Entry
8. Taman Burung Bird Park
We highly recommend a visit to this amazing bird park. As the world’s largest covered bird park, covering 20.9 hectares and housing 3000 birds from 200 species, there is no shortage of things to see here. The free-flight aviary is spectacular, as is the opportunity to feed the birds yourself. The park is a great day out, away from the bustle of the city and takes a good few hours to explore properly. There is also a great little restaurant on site which serves up reasonably priced local dishes.
- Opening Times: Daily from 09:00 until 18:00
- Entry/Tickets: From RM63 ($15) each
- Where to Buy: Purchase tickets in advance from Viator to avoid queuing
9. Chinatown
Situated on and around Petaling Street, Kuala Lumpur’s Chinatown is a must-see for any visitor to the city. The streets are highly decorated with Chinese lanterns crisscrossing overhead which also make for great photos. In the daytime, the streets are bustling and vibrant, filled with market stalls selling all kinds of goods. By night, Petaling Street turns into a busy night market with a variety of stalls selling street food. Haggling is a way of life in this part of the city, so it’s also a great place to find a bargain.
10. Masjid Jamek Mosque
Also known as Friday Mosque, Masjid Jamek Mosque is one of the oldest mosques in Kuala Lumpur. Built in 1907, the Mosque is architecturally beautiful and its location next to the Klang River, adds to its beauty even more so, creating a perfect backdrop. Before the opening of the National Mosque in 1965, the Masjid Jamek Mosque was the primary Mosque for prayer in Kuala Lumpur. Although robes and headscarves are available to borrow at the entrance of the Mosque, we recommend visitors to dress conservatively out of respect (sleeveless shirts, shorts or skimpy clothing are not allowed) and wear easily removable shoes, as you will need to remove these before entering the prayer halls.
- Opening Times: Open daily, but visitors can only enter after prayer times on Saturday to Thursday from 08:30 until 12:30 and then from 14:30 until 16:30
- Entry/Tickets: Free Entry
11. Botanical Gardens
Perdana Botanical Gardens are situated in Tun Abdul Razak Heritage Park and are free to enter all year round. Two of the most popular features of the gardens, the hibiscus and orchid gardens cost an additional RM1 ($0.25) to visit at the weekends. However, both are well worth visiting, the orchid gardens cover 10,000 sqm and house 800 species of orchid amongst a landscape of fountains, a rock garden and walking paths. The gardens make for a refreshing break from the busy city and a chance to see some of the native plants of Malaysia.
- Opening Times: Daily from 09:00 until 18:00
- Entry/Tickets: Free Entry except for Orchid and Hibiscus gardens at the weekend for RM1 ($0.25) each
12. Thean Hou Temple
As one of the largest and oldest temples in Southeast Asia, Thean Hou Temple is a must see for anyone who enjoys visiting temples or wants to learn more about Buddhism. Located southwest of the city, the temple is large complex featuring a Buddhist Pagoda, many Buddhist images and lots of statues. The design of the temple is quite amazing while the grounds also feature a Chinese medicinal herb garden and a tortoise pond.
- Opening Times: Daily from 09:00 until 18:00
- Entry/Tickets: Free Entry
13. Aquaria KLCC
Located at the base of the convention centre, on the edge of KLCC, Aquaria KLCC is slated to be one of the largest aquariums in Southeast Asia, housing over 150 species of marine life. Amongst its several areas, including an amazon rainforest area, reptile area and otter area, the stand-out feature is the 90m tunnel which has a moving travelator to guide you through. While moving through the tunnel you can see sharks, stingrays, turtles and much more. The aquarium is great for those looking for something different to do, out of the heat, or for those with children.
- Opening Times: Daily from 10:00 until 20:00 (last entry at 19:30)
- Entry/Tickets: RM71 ($17) per adult
- Where to Buy: Purchase tickets in advance through Viator to avoid the queue
14. The National Mosque Of Malaysia
Masjid Negara, Malaysia’s National Mosque, opened in 1965 and is home to a large prayer hall with 48 smaller domes surrounding it. The Mosque stands as Malaysia’s national symbol of Islam and is an important religious site to visit for anyone interested in the Islamic religion. Spreading across 13 acres, the Mosque can hold up to 15,000 people and has some beautiful geometric lattice designs on its roof and ironworks. Visitors can enter the Mosque out of prayer times but should be appropriately dressed, or should borrow headscarves and robes as required at the entrance.
- Opening Times: Saturday to Thursday from 09:00 until 23:00, Fridays 02:45 until 18:00
- Entry/Tickets: Free Entry
15. Merdeka Square
Known as Independence Square, Merdeka Square is an iconic and important landmark in Kuala Lumpur, and arguably one of the most well-known. The square served as the location for where the ceremony for Malaysian Independence was held in 1957 and is where it received the name that it is now known. The square sits at the core of the colonial remnants of the city and is also home to a 95m high flagpole, the tallest flagpole in the world.
16. KL Forest Eco Park
Coveniently located in the centre of the city, the KL Forest Eco Park is the only rainforest in Kuala Lumpur city and covers 11,000sqm. The rainforest reserve was founded in 1906 and is home to a variety of trees, bamboos and herbs, and a host of walking trails. The most popular feature of the park is the canopy walk which, at 200m high, offers views over the park and the nearby KL tower. The park itself is connected to the tower and it’s common for visitors to see both the tower observation deck and the park in one visit.
- Opening Times: Daily from 07:00 until 18:00
- Entry/Tickets: Free Entry
17. KLCC Park Evening Fountain Light Show
Lake Symphony, located in KLCC Park and outside the Petronas Towers, holds a musical performance every evening. The 10,000sq ft lake has two fountains which display over 150 unique programmed animations, with changing colours and movements, to the changing sounds. This is a great way to spend some time in the evening, particularly if you are nearby. The showtimes for the fountains are daily at 20:00, 21:00 and 22:00.
18. Central Market
Located near to Chinatown, Kuala Lumpur Central Market has been named a heritage site and is home to a range of boutique retail outlets which sell local products and handicrafts. The centre opened in 1928 and after being a wet market, was revamped in the 1980’s to the market it is today. There is a great range of goods on sale here which makes this the perfect place to grab a souvenir from your trip. There is also a selection of restaurants and outlets serving food on the second floor.
- Opening Times: Daily from 10:00 until 22:00
19. Butterfly Park
Covering over 7,000 sqm, Kuala Lumpur’s Butterfly Park is one of the largest in the world and is home to over 120 species of butterflies. The park is beautifully landscaped with mature trees and exotic plants, as well as, waterfalls, koi ponds and fountains. Located in the Tun Abdul Razak Heritage Park, the park is coveniently located near attractions such as the Bird Park and Botanical Gardens.
- Opening Times: Daily from 09:00 until 18:00
- Entry/Tickets: RM25 ($6) per adult
- Where to Buy: At the park entrance by cash only
20. Sunway Lagoon Theme Park
Located 15 minutes drive from the city centre, Sunway Lagoon Theme Park is a large complex of 5 parks consisting of an amusement park, water park, wildlife park, scream park and extreme park. With over 80 rides and attractions to explore, the resort can keep even the most restless adventure seeker and children entertained.
- Opening Times: Weekdays from 11:00 until 18:00 and weekends from 10:00 until 18:00
- Entry/Tickets: All parks ticket, RM100 ($24) adults, RM80 ($19) kids. 3 parks ticket (water park, wildlife park & amusement park) RM80 ($19) adults, RM65 ($16) kids.
- Where to buy: Buy online with Viator, where there is a range of different ticket options to suit different parks and durations
For everything you need to know on travelling to Kuala Lumpur, check out our Kuala Lumpur travel guide, complete with information on how to get to Kuala Lumpur, where to stay, what to eat and when to go.
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