{"id":11393,"date":"2021-07-18T19:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-07-18T18:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/girlaroundtheworld.co.uk\/?p=11393"},"modified":"2023-07-01T12:23:47","modified_gmt":"2023-07-01T11:23:47","slug":"best-things-to-do-in-kl-malaysia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/girlaroundtheworld.co.uk\/best-things-to-do-in-kl-malaysia\/","title":{"rendered":"12 Incredible Things to Do in KL (Kuala Lumpur): Tours, Restaurants & More"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Kuala Lumpur is the capital city of Malaysia<\/a> and one of the most interesting destinations in South East Asia. If you\u2019re planning a trip or a short layover there soon, you need to make a list of the best things to do in KL for your trip! This is exactly why I created this complete Kuala Lumpur travel guide which includes the best Kuala Lumpur attractions as well as the best hotels, restaurants, shopping malls, tours and more!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I made the mistake that so many do and only booked our trip to Kuala Lumpur as a stopover, leaving us with only a short three-day trip to explore. We quickly realised that there were A LOT of things to do in KL that we just didn\u2019t have time to fit in. For our first trip to KL, we wanted to focus on seeing all the most iconic sights. Luckily, Malaysia is one of the main flight connection points between Europe and Asia, so we\u2019ll surely be back for more!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Without further ado, scroll down to find my first-timers guide with 12 unmissable places<\/strong> to visit in Kuala Lumpur!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NOTE:<\/strong> You\u2019ll see that I\u2019ll use KL<\/i> and KLCC<\/i> frequently in this article. KL stands for Kuala Lumpur and KLCC is Kuala Lumpur City Centre. It\u2019s the way both locals and internationals abbreviate these words.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/a>But first – why visit Kuala Lumpur?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ah, for SO many reasons! Kuala Lumpur is a very interesting place full of incredible attractions. High towers with unique observation decks and revolving restaurants, lots of animal parks where you can see anything from birds to bigger wildlife and butterflies, mosques, temples, cultural neighbourhoods. And of course, delicious local food and endless shopping opportunities. Kuala Lumpur is a destination that definitely deserves more than 3 days if you want to explore all the main attractions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/a>What to do in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

My list of things to do in Kuala Lumpur is long and wide, but below you\u2019ll find 12 attractions that I consider to be essential if you\u2019re visiting for the first time. I also prepared a bonus list for you with extra sights to see in case you\u2019re not on your first visit and want something new. You can find it below.<\/p>\n\n\n

1 – Petronas Towers<\/h3>\n\n\n
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Of course, I\u2019m starting this list with THE most iconic landmark in the city! The world-famous Petronas Towers<\/a> are the first thing that pops into mind when we hear the words Kuala Lumpur – and with good reason! The Kuala Lumpur Petronas Twin Towers are the tallest twin towers in the world and they were considered to be, until 2004, the tallest towers ever. Needless to say they\u2019re the symbol of the capital and one of the fun things to do in KL!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The towers are 88 floors high and 452 meters tall and they have a bridge connecting them between the 41st and 42nd floors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s there to do here? First, you can admire the towers from KLCC Park, especially in the evening when the buildings are beautifully lit up. You can also go up the towers and visit the Sky Bridge (that connects the two buildings) and the Observation Deck (at the 88th floor) as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TIP: <\/strong>This is THE most famous attraction in the city so tickets sell out fast. This, combined with the fact that there\u2019s a strict 1.000 person limit per day brings me to my recommendation: make sure you buy your tickets IN ADVANCE. And I mean at least 1-2 weeks in advance<\/strong>, especially if you want to visit the towers on a certain date and time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PRICE:<\/strong> 80 MYR\/person for tourists (19 US$). You can buy your tickets online in advance here on the official website<\/a>. Or you can test your luck and go to the ticket counter early in the morning (8:30 AM) but I really wouldn\u2019t advise that! You can also buy the skip-the-line ticket<\/a> with a one-way transfer for 27.55 US$. By the way, all tickets include access to the Sky Bridge and Observation Deck as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Buy your skip-the-line ticket here<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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2 – KLCC Park<\/h3>\n\n\n
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Now that I told you about the Petronas Twin Towers, I have to mention KLCC Park right away. This green landscaped park is located right behind the towers and it\u2019s a great place to relax, unwind and get a great view of the towers from afar. Don\u2019t get me wrong, the park is quite large – it has over 20 hectares, so you\u2019ll have plenty of space to find a good spot for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PRICE<\/strong>: Free<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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3 – The Batu Caves<\/h3>\n\n\n
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RELATED READ: <\/strong>If you want to read more info about this awesome place, I recommend checking out my dedicated article where I\u2019m telling you about my experience and lots of useful info: Kuala Lumpur: A Complete Guide to the Batu Caves<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Okay, I admit it: I cheated a bit by inserting this attraction here, as it\u2019s not exactly inside the city. But it\u2019s still one of the best things to do in Kuala Lumpur – and a famous one, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Batu Caves are actually a Hindu Temple built inside a cave and it is said to be around 400 years old. You should definitely pay a visit to this place – and while you\u2019re here, I recommend checking out the Dark Cave as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PRICE: Free.<\/strong> The Dark Cave is 35 MYR\/person (8.50 US$). I recommend taking a group tour<\/a> or a private tour<\/a> if you want to visit this place and also benefit from hotel pick-up and lots of fun info from a local guide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Book a group tour to Batu Caves<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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4 – Menara KL Tower \/ KL Tower Sky Box<\/h3>\n\n\n
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RELATED READ:<\/strong> Sky Box KL Tower Guide – Is It Really Worth It?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Did you expect to find an even taller tower than the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur? Heh, enter Menara KL Tower<\/a>, also known as the place with the most beautiful views of the city! The viewing deck of Menara is around 100m taller than the Petronas – and you can actually see the famous twin towers from here. And yes, this tower has its cool viewpoint too (the Sky Box) and it\u2019s completely made of glass. Just think of THAT view and the endless photo opportunities!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You have 3 different spots to visit here, each with its own price: the Observation Deck (indoor), the SkyDeck (outdoor) and the SkyBox (the glass box I was telling you about above). You can also buy combo tickets for these in case you can\u2019t choose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TIP #1:\u00a0<\/strong>The best time to visit is in the morning or during the evening, preferably at sunset if you want to get the most beautiful view of the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TIP #2: <\/strong>If you\u2019re looking for a unique experience with fewer tourists, I recommend going to Atmosphere 360<\/a>, a revolving restaurant that offers an equally awesome view as any viewing platform here. You can grab an afternoon tea for 75 MYR\/person (18 US$) or a lunch set meal for 95 MYR (23 US$) and just enjoy the vibe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PRICE:<\/strong> The Observation Deck is 49 MYR (12 US$) and the combo with all 3 is 99 MYR (24 US$) per person. I found way cheaper tickets on Klook right here<\/a> – 9.65 US$ for the Observation and 21.25 US$ for the combo ticket. 100% recommended!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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5 – Thean Hou Temple<\/h3>\n\n\n
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Thean Hou Temple is also known as the Temple of the Goddess of Heaven<\/a> and it\u2019s famous for being one of the oldest Chinese temples not only in Malaysia, but in this entire part of the world as well! It\u2019s massive and its six tier architecture is simply stunning: a red roof, hundreds of hanging Chinese lanterns and intricate carvings painted in endless colours. If you only visit one temple in KL, Thean Hou should be it; it is surely high on my list of beautiful tourist attractions in Kuala Lumpur for some incredible photos!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PRICE:<\/strong> Free<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RELATED READ: <\/strong>Want to check out the best photo ops around the city? I recommend reading my dedicated post: Top 10 Instagrammable Places in KL, Malaysia<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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6 – Merdeka Square and Sultan Abdul Samad Building<\/h3>\n\n\n
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Merdeka Square<\/a> (Dataran Merdeka) is one of the most important spots in the city, as this is where Malaysia declared its independence! Along with the Petronas, this should be on top of your cultural Kuala Lumpur itinerary. Although the square itself is pretty nice, with green lawns and a massive flagpole, the most unmissable spot here is definitely Sultan Abdul Samad Building. This Moorish and Gothic-style building made entirely of bricks was built in 1897 and it has a superb, intricate design. Seriously, it\u2019s something to witness!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you want to find out more about the city\u2019s colonial past and these historical buildings, I recommend taking a guided tour. I recommend this half-day tour<\/a> that will take you to Merdeka Square, Petronas, Istana Negara and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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7 – Sri Mahamariamman Temple in Chinatown<\/h3>\n\n\n
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Sri Mahamariamman Temple<\/a> (well that\u2019s a fun name to pronounce!), dating from the 19th century, is the oldest Hindu temple around and it\u2019s the best place to visit in KL if you want to learn more about the numerous religions and cultures that this place encompasses. The Hindu architecture is simply stunning – vibrant colours on the fa\u00e7ade, sculptures and well-known legends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This temple (along with the Toaist Sin Sze Si Ya temple) is located in the Chinatown neighborhood, a unique place to visit while you\u2019re in Kuala Lumpur. Chinatown revolves around Petaling Street – it\u2019s the place where you\u2019ll find endless shops with extremely cheap prices and lots of restaurants with traditional dumplings, noodles and more. Make sure you pay Chinatown a visit, day or night!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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8 – KL Forest Eco Park<\/h3>\n\n\n
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Hanging bridges, lots of nature and endless rows of trees – the KL Forest Eco Park<\/a> is a real jungle in the middle of the city! The canopy walk is a well-known activity in the park and seeing a monkey or two is to be expected. Sounds fun, right?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The canopy walk (200m long) is the most popular route, made of hanging bridges among lush trees. It takes around 30 to 40 minutes to complete, photos included. It\u2019s not hard at all, trust me, even kids can do this!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PRICE: <\/strong>Free<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TIP:\u00a0<\/strong>The Eco Park is located very close to the Menara KL Tower, so you can visit both in one day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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9 – Jamek Mosque and Wilayah Mosque<\/h3>\n\n\n
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Jamek Mosque <\/a>is one of the most important mosques in all of Malaysia and it\u2019s around 100 years old. It has beautiful architecture and it\u2019s located at the intersection of two rivers – Klang and Gombak. The setting is simply amazing and you can also visit the inside of the mosque!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wilayah Mosque <\/a>is very pretty mosque in KL hosted in one of the most striking buildings in the city of Kuala Lumpur and it\u2019s open for anyone to visit. There are volunteers offering free guided tours of the mosque at the entrance. They\u2019re very eager to share the interesting facts they know with tourists, so I definitely recommend this experience!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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10 – Try some durian and the local dishes<\/h3>\n\n\n
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Have you heard of durian before? I\u2019m pretty sure you have! If not, let me tell you a few words about this weird and wonderful fruit. Durian is a pretty common fruit in Southeast Asia. It\u2019s big, spiky and interesting-looking but, most of all, it\u2019s know for being extremely smelly. Yep, you read that right! Durian is only for the brave! Some say it has a strong smelly socks aroma, but if you can ignore the initial wiff, you\u2019ll discover a world of flavour. Tasting durian should be in every Kuala Lumpur guide. Or you can at least TRY to taste it! You can do it in one of the local markets or during a food tour such as this chef-designed small group food tour<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Talking about food tours\u2026 I hope you know that tasting as much street food as possible is a MUST while you\u2019re in KL, right? One of the best places to go to enjoy some amazing street food dishes is definitely Jalan Alor Food Street, also known as the best open-air night market, but I\u2019ll tell you about some other cool places in the \u201cWhere to eat\u201d section below!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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11 – Sip a drink on a rooftop bar<\/h3>\n\n\n
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Just like in Bangkok, the Kuala Lumpur nightlife is pretty vibrant and one of the most popular activities here is going to a sky-high rooftop bar. There are so many good ones in KL that you simply have to try at least one! Here are my best recommendations:<\/p>\n\n\n\n