Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia’s vibrant capital, is a city that stole our hearts from the very first visit in 2015. And now, 7 years later, we have visited this city over a handful of times and still can’t wait to return. This city is filled with kind people, stunning sights and of course delicious food. It is undeniably one of our favourite cities in Southeast Asia, and perhaps after visiting it will be one of yours as well. Keep reading to find out where to stay in Kuala Lumpur and of course which things to do in Kuala Lumpur you should be adding to your Malaysia itinerary!

This post contains affiliate links. This means that purchasing a product or service via these links may earn us a small commission (at no extra cost to you of course).

QUICK LINK GUIDE

Simply looking for a link we mentioned in the video? Or perhaps in a rush and don’t have time to check out the full guide or video? Check out a list of all links mentioned our videos and guide below:

TIPS & TRICKS

  • VPN - Don’t forget to get a VPN to protect your data during your trip, especially if you are logging in to multiple wifi networks.

  • Sim Card - Get a sim card in advance that will be ready for you to be picked up upon arrival.

  • Wise Travel Card - Our favourite travel debit card. Keep your regular bank accounts safe and use this card to buy groceries, order a Grab or pay for your hotel. Easily keep track of your balance and instantly freeze your card should it get compromised.

  • Klook €5 Signup Discount - Sign up for Klook to get a sim card, plan activities or even transport, with this link you will get a one time €5 discount if you signup!

ACCOMMODATION

  • The RuMa - One of the most beautiful hotels we have ever stayed at of 5+ years traveling full time. Kind staff, spacious and well equipped rooms and perfect location! Would 100% stay here again in the future.

  • Hotel Stripes - Located near public transport. Comfortable rooms (although not all have a view), kind staff and beautiful rooftop pool.

  • Hotel Ascott Star - We did not stay here but in an AirBnB in the other building that is part of the 3 building complex. Would not recommend the AirBnB but the 9.0 rated hotel (Dec ‘23) might be worth checking out if you like a rooftop pool with a view.

  • Airport Hotel - Spacious rooms, kind staff and delicious room service. Drop off buggy service to the KLIA airport, perfect for an early flight out or a late arrival.

TOP RATED TOURS & ACTIVITIES

TOP RATED ACTIVITIES FOR FAMILIES

TRANSPORT BETWEEN AIRPORT & CITY

MUST PACK ITEMS

  • Power Adapter - Make sure you are able to charge your devices by bringing a power adapter.

  • Insect Repellent - If there is one item you cannot go without when backpacking Southeast Asia then it is insect repellent.

  • Sun Screen - While Kuala Lumpur has quite some cloudy and rainy days, when the sun does shine it is very easy to get a sun burn!

  • Rain Gear - It might be nice to pack a windproof and sturdy travel umbrella, a dry bag for your electronics or other preferred rain gear to stay dry-ish during these down pours!

USEFUL APPS

  • Xe.com - Easily convert from Malaysian Ringgit to your local currency on the go (internet needed) to see exactly how much you are paying.

  • Google Translate - Available for both Android and iPhones. We had no trouble using English but always good to have.

  • Google Maps - Available for both Android and iPhones. Useful for getting around town and seeing public transport schedules.

  • Grab - The Uber of Southeast Asia. Order a GrabTaxi or even food!

  • FoodPanda - Don’t feel like going out? Pick from hundreds of restaurants to get delivered to your hotel.

 

Kuala Lumpur Travel Tips

Kuala Lumpur Quick info

LANGUAGE | The official language of Malaysia is Malay, or Bahasa Malaysia, however English is widely spoken in the capital. You will find signs in English and most people in the city being able to speak English without any issue. As English is the second official language of Malaysia you will actually find that most people speak it fluently. However, we always recommend downloading an app such as Google Translate just in case!

VISA | As a couple with a Dutch and Canadian passport we were able to enter the country visa free for 90 days. We could not find a list online off which countries do not need a visa, only information on which countries do need a visa. We recommend checking with or on the web page of your local Malaysian embassy or consulate before departing to Malaysia if you will need a visa as it is unclear to us how up to date this information is.

BEST TIME TO VISIT | Kuala Lumpur has a steady temperature of 27 to 29 degrees Celsius all year round, so you don’t have to worry about cold winter days when visiting Kuala Lumpur. However, one factor that you might like to take into consideration when booking your trip to Kuala Lumpur is the rain season. The rain season lasts from November to January and then again in March and April. While daily rain showers are common during both the dry and the rain season, they are more frequent during the rain season.

HOW MANY DAYS | If you are planning on visiting the city of Kuala Lumpur we personally would recommend at least 3 days. This will give you time to explore some of the main sights and enjoy a bit of street food. However, don’t forget that rain showers occur often and frequently so this could easily interrupt your plans.

Currency & Credit Cards

CURRENCY | The currency used in Malaysia is the Malaysian Ringgit. When we visited in 2023 €1 was roughly 5 MYR. You can check the most up to date exchange rates with an app such as XE.

CREDIT & DEBIT CARDS | Visa and Master card were widely accepted during our trip to Kuala Lumpur in August 2023. We were able to use our Visa (Wise travel card) to pay at grocery stores, restaurants, hotels and use it with the Grab app for food delivery and Grab transport. We personally always carried a bit of cash around for places such as markets as here often only cash was accepted. We personally have been using our Wise travel card for the last 4 years and love it for the following reasons:

  • It is a prepaid card so we just top it up with the amount we want to put on it.

  • Using a travel card allows us to keep our regular accounts save from getting skimmed.

  • We have both a physical as well as digital cards. We especially love the digital cards as we add these to our Apple Pay and if compromised we simply delete the card and create a new one.

  • Both the digital cards and the physical card can be frozen and unfrozen at any time. Which means if it does get compromised you can freeze it quickly in the app.

  • As long as we have internet we receive instant notifications on the app on our phone which means we can keep an eye on our balance as well as see if any transactions pop up that are not ours!

Internet & Sim Cards in Malaysia

When it comes to internet you don’t have to worry, you will find wifi everywhere in Malaysia! From fast food restaurants and malls to your hotel, you should have no trouble updating your Instagram while traveling through Malaysia. While wifi can be found everywhere, we would highly recommend to get a sim card upon arrival. This is mainly to make traveling through Malaysia a bit easier. This way you don’t have to look for a wifi source when you need some directions or want to order a Grab. We purchased two sim cards upon arrival at the Kuala Lumpur international airport and paid a total of 103 MYR ($23.40) which gave us unlimited data on both sim cards for 30 days.

You can also order a sim card (to be picked up upon arrival) through Klook in advance here!

VPN | No matter where you travel to, may it be Malaysia or Pakistan, we would highly recommend using a VPN to protect your data while logging into multiple wifi networks during your trip. Another benefit is that it will give you access to multiple countries so you can watch Netflix no matter where you are in the world, and possibly access websites that might be blocked in the country you are visiting. We are currently using Surfshark VPN and would recommend checking them out as they are not only one of the more affordable VPNs they also allow you to add unlimited devices!

Must Have Travel Essentials For Kuala Lumpur

  • Power Adapter - Malaysia uses the type G plugs, so if you are coming from a country that uses any other type of plug (such as most European countries, USA or Canada) be sure to put a power adapter in your suitcase so you can charge your electronics during your trip to Malaysia!

  • VPN - While you technically can’t put a VPN in your backpack, it truly is a must have travel essential for your cyber safety. When traveling you will often log in to tens of different wifi networks, not knowing how safe these wifi networks truly are! We personally use Surfshark VPN to make sure that our data and privacy is protected when using public Wi-Fi!

  • Insect Repellent - If there is one item you cannot go without when backpacking Southeast Asia then it is insect repellent! No matter morning, day or night, mosquitoes will find you. Pack a small insect repellent to put in your day bag so you always have some handy and ready to go.

  • Sun Screen - If you are planning a trip to Malaysia we highly recommend packing some sun screen! While Malaysia has quite some cloudy and rainy days, when the sun does shine it is very easy to get a sun burn! If you are planning on visiting Malaysia’s beautiful beaches or perhaps doing some snorkelling be sure to pack a reef friendly sunscreen to protect Malaysia’s reefs and natural wild life.

  • Rain Gear - When visiting Malaysia it will undoubtedly rain, no matter if you are visiting in the rainy season or not. Daily tropical showers are very common and it will only take seconds to be completely drenched. It might be nice to pack a windproof and sturdy travel umbrella, or other preferred rain gear to stay dry-ish during these down pours! If you are carrying expensive electronic gear with you and you are planning on heading more into nature, where it might not be as easy to find shelter, a dry bag might be nice to make sure your electronics stay dry during the rainy days!

How to get around Kuala Lumpur

How to get to Kuala Lumpur FROM THE AIRPORT

Good to know! Kuala Lumpur has two terminals named KLIA and KLIA2. They are connected to each other by shuttle bus.

BUS | If you are looking for an affordable way to get to the city centre of Kuala Lumpur then you can take the bus! The bus stops and leaves from both KLIA and KLIA2 and will take you to KL Sentral. From here you will be able to take several public transport options or a taxi/Grab to other parts of the city. Tickets cost around €3.25 per person and can be purchased upon arrival at the airport. If you are taking it from KL Sentral to the airport you will also be able to get a ticket in advance through Klook here and if you are new to Klook you can signup through this link to get a €5 euro discount coupon!

TRAIN | You can also opt to take the train, called KLIA Ekspres, which is one of the fastest ways between the airport and KL Sentral as it takes roughly 30 min! Tickets can be purchased in advance here through Klook!

GRAB | This is our preferred mode of getting to and from the airport. Download the app and type in where you need to go. Hassle free and see the price up front! Be sure to get a sim card upon arriving at the airport so you don’t have to look for wifi!

How to get around WITHIN KUALA LUMPUR

PUBLIC TRANSPORT | Kuala Lumpur is very well connected by public transport, plus it is also very affordable to use. You will find trains, metros, skytrains and buses (including a free bus) combined in a network that will take you all over the city. The easiest way to figure out what mode of transport to take is by using Google Maps. We found that during our time in Kuala Lumpur that the public transport info in Google Maps is pretty accurate. Simply type in your start and end point and Google Maps will tell you which mode of public transport to take!

GRAB | If you don’t feel like using public transport than be sure to download the Grab app. Grab is like the Uber of Southeast Asia and it is extremely easy to use. Simply type where you want to go and you will see exactly how much it costs, and how long it will take before a driver will pick you up! Be sure to buy a sim card before exploring Kuala Lumpur, as you will need internet to order a Grab and we have found that wifi isn’t always available everywhere.

 

Malaysia is one of those destinations that no matter what budget you are traveling on, you will find the right accommodation for you. From hostel dorms and budget guesthouses to luxury hotels, it truly has something for everyone. Below you will find the places we stayed at since 2022. If you are looking for a more in depth review though, be sure to check out our where we stayed page here where you will find an overview of all places we stayed at in every country we visited since 2022.

Accommodation in Kuala Lumpur

The RuMa

Rated with a 9.2 on Booking.com (May ‘24)

The RuMa is not only the most beautiful hotel we stayed at in Kuala Lumpur, it is probably the most beautiful hotel we have stayed at in our 5+ years of full time travel. The room was incredibly spacious, elegant in design, and had simply everything we needed for our stay. Our stay was a delight and we did not want to leave this place, this is definitely where we would be staying again on future visits. In addition the staff was kind and the breakfast buffet, which was included with our stay, had plenty of choice, although we were not a fan of the eggs benedict but that was the only thing we did not like about our stay. Regardless we would give this place a 10/10!

Hotel Stripes

Rated with a 8.6 on Booking.com (May ‘24)

Hotel Stripes is a hotel located in the Chow Kit area of Kuala Lumpur. The hotel is centrally located near public transport, many restaurants and some of Kuala Lumpur’s most famous sights. We stayed here for a total of 5 nights and loved the comfortable rooms and most of all the stunning view from the swimming pool. The staff was kind and the rooms was clean. The downside of this hotel is that in certain rooms the view is blocked by the outside striped design of the hotel. We also would not recommend paying extra for the breakfast as it was not worth the money (in our opinion) when we stayed here in June 2022.

AirBnB @ Star KLCC

While we loved the location and the building amenities (large gym and beautiful rooftop pool) we would not recommend booking the AirBnB with the hosts we had booked it through. There are too many issues we had with the apartment and the hosts to describe here but after staying in over a handful of AirBnBs during our visits over the last 5 years we honestly would recommend sticking to a hotel if you are visiting on a short stay. The reason we did mention it here is because there is also a new Ascott hotel in the Star KLCC building which looked incredible from the pictures, and offers access to the same gym and its own rooftop pool. The hotel has great ratings (9.1 in May ‘24) and definitely might be worth checking out if you would like to stay close to the Petronas Towers!

Other places to stay in Kuala Lumpur

If you are traveling a little bit more on a budget then there are a couple more places that you might like to check out:

  • If you are on a backpackers budget and prefer hostels check out Sunshine Bedz. Sunshine Bedz is located in the Bukit Bintang area and is one of Kuala Lumpur’s most well known hostels. This hostel has been around for a long time as I, Odette, personally stayed here in 2015 during my first backpacking trip to Southeast Asia! The hostel is a bit more on the basic side, but offers great value for its location. Even after all these years this hostel is rated with a 9.2 (May ‘24) on Hostelworld with 9000+ reviews!

  • If you prefer an apartment over a hotel be sure to check out AirBnB! You will find plenty of apartments with great amenities such as pools and gyms located in the building. We have personally stayed at studio apartments in the Tribeca and the Ramada but at this moment would not recommend either of the apartments. There is one building that we still would like to check out in the future and that is The Face Suites, mainly due to the stunning infinity pool located on the top floor of the building!

  • If you prefer a luxury hotel then be sure to check out these hotels: EQ Kuala Lumpur, Grand Hyatt and Mandarin Oriental. We have not had the opportunity to stay in any of these hotels but all are centrally located (close to the Petronas Towers) and are highly rated (8.9 and higher in May ‘24) on Booking.com!

 

Things to do in Kuala Lumpur

1. Petronas towers

A visit to Kuala Lumpur would not be complete without a visit to the iconic Petronas Towers! The Petronas Towers are the largest twin skyscrapers in the world, and for a couple of years were actually even the tallest building in the world. It is these towers that you will find on postcards, magnets and well every other souvenir that you can find in Malaysia. Within the Petronas Towers you can find a mall that is home to a large selection of shops, a cinema and a food court. It is the perfect place to take a break from Kuala Lumpur’s heat (or rain). When visiting the Petronas Towers make sure to also visit KLCC Park, located just behind the towers. Not only is the park a beautiful little oasis in a city as busy as Kuala Lumpur, it also has the best views over the towers!

  • Observation deck - Love a good viewpoint? Head to the observation deck at the 86th floor to enjoy a beautiful view of Kuala Lumpur’s skyline

  • Opening hours - The observation deck is open from 9am to 9pm daily from Tuesdays to Sundays. It is closed on Mondays. The Suria KLCC Mall that is loated inside the towers is open from 10am to 10pm daily.

  • Entry fee - The entry fee differs for locals and tourists. If you want to skip the line then you can purchase tickets in advance here!

2. Bukit Bintang at Night

The Pavilion Mall is located in the Bukit Bintang Area of Kuala Lumpur, an area that you truly have not visited unless you come here at night. This area of the city truly comes alive at night, and visiting Bukit Bintang Street (or mostly the area in front of Pavilion) is like visiting Times Square in NYC. All the lights light up, musicians come out to play and every one is out and about enjoying the milder temperatures of Kuala Lumpur. If you are looking to grab a drink head over to Changkat Bukit Bintang, a street known for its many bars!

3. Jalan Alor

If you are in the Bukit Bintang area be sure to stop by Jalan Alor, Kuala Lumpur’s famous food street! Jalan Alor is a famous touristic food street that truly comes to live at night, perfect for those who want to grab a quick bite to eat. Jalan Alor is definitely a bit more on the pricier side when it comes to street food in Kuala Lumpur, however, it is still affordable so it might be worth stopping by. You will find Malaysian, Chinese as well as Thai food on this food street, however, my personal favourite will always be the little stall selling fried bananas, a delicious sweet treat for only 2 RM ($0.45)! If you are not a big fan of street food than don’t worry, you will find plenty of restaurants serving local or western food in the area.

4. Thean Hou Temple

Kuala Lumpur, or Malaysia in general, truly is a melting pot of cultures. This translates back into the languages spoken, the food available, and of course the variety of religious sights in Kuala Lumpur. While the Batu Caves might be one of the most iconic religious sights of Kuala Lumpur, we highly recommend checking out the Thean Hou Temple as well. The Thean Hou Temple is a beautiful Buddhist temple located in the Southwest of Kuala Lumpur. The colours and the architecture of this temple is stunning and it is often skipped by most tourists. We have visited twice early in the morning and on both visits there were maybe a handful of other people there!

  • Entry fee - This temple is completely free to visit. You can leave a donation in one of the donation boxes if you’d like instead.

  • Opening hours - The temple is open daily from 8am to 10pm.

  • Dress code - There is no official dress code for this temple. Don’t forget to take of your shoes in certain areas (signs will be posted).

  • How to get there - As it is located a bit out of the city we would recommend taking a grab. You can also head to KL Sentral and walk from there (which we did on our first visit) but due to the humidity and heat and having to walk uphill we personally preferred a Grab instead.

5. Guan Di Temple

If you are exploring Chinatown be sure to stop by the beautiful Guan Di Temple as well. This Taoist temple is one of those places that is easily overlooked, which is such a shame as this is one of the most beautiful spots in Chinatown in our opinion. You will find locals coming in and out to pray, burn incense and burn papers. We simply stood here for a while, admired the sight of it all and took it all in, a stunning and must see sight when visiting Kuala Lumpur!

  • Opening hours - Info online differs between 7am - 7pm and 7.30am to 3.30pm. We visited in the late morning and the temple was open so we are unsure of the official hours.

  • Entry fee - There was no entry fee for the Guan Di Temple.

  • Dress code - There is no official dress code for this temple. Don’t forget to take of your shoes in certain areas (signs will be posted).

6. Chinatown & Petaling Street

Looking to explore a bit more of Kuala Lumpur? Head over to Chinatown, the best place to indulge in (more) food and do some shopping! To find the heart of Chinatown head over to Petaling Street, this is the place to find your fake brands and knockoff products, as well as find some of Kuala Lumpur’s most delicious treats. Try Air Mata Kucing, a refreshing and sweet herbal drink that comes from this Chinatown or perhaps try some of the other street food that you will find at the dozens of stalls surrounding Petaling Street!

7. Taman ConnaughT Night Market

And last, but definitely not least, on the list of things to do in Kuala Lumpur is the Taman Connaught Night Market. The Pasar Malam Taman Connaught takes place every single Wednesday and is one of Kuala Lumpur, if not Malaysia’s, largest night markets. This market is over 2km long and is filled with stalls selling clothes, fruits, toys, electronics, but most of all street food. This was by far one of our favourite things to do in Kuala Lumpur. We enjoyed the fried bananas, refreshing lime drinks and some of the best fried dumplings we have ever had!

8. Try the local cuisine

One of the reasons we love Kuala Lumpur, or Malaysia in general, is the amount of delicious food that you will find in this beautiful country! The country’s diversity makes for a diverse cuisine that truly has the most amazing and delicious dishes. Here are some dishes worth checking out:

  • Nasi Lemak

  • Roti Canai

  • Kaya Toast

  • Hainanese Chicken Rice

  • Beef Rendang

  • Satay

  • Pisang Goreng

  • Cendol

Now this is just the beginning of a large list of delicious foods and treats that you will find in this city. If you are not sure where to start, or just like to learn more about the Malay food then perhaps check out this food tour with 15+ tastings of dishes and snacks! Some of our personal favourite places to find these dishes are at the night markets and local restaurants. Two of our personal favourite restaurants would be Ho Kow Hainam Kopitiam for the nasi lemak +the kaya toast and Nasi Kandar Pelita for the roti canai!

Powered by GetYourGuide

9. Batu Caves

After the Petronas Towers the Batu Caves are probably the second most iconic sight of Kuala Lumpur. This temple, located in a cave, is mostly known for its 43 metre high Lord Murugan statue, that was up until they painted the stairs in late 2018 after which the sight became a popular spot for photographers and instagrammers. The Batu Caves are situated a bit out of the city centre but are well worth the trip as it is truly a unique sight to see. We visited the Batu Caves on 3 separate trips and are still amazed with every single visit of the beauty and grandiosity of this place. We highly recommend visiting early to avoid the crowds (and the monkeys).

  • Entry fee - The main cave of the Batu Caves is free to enter

  • Opening hours - 6am to 9pm daily. We recommend going early to avoid the crowds and the heat!

  • Monkeys - Beware of the monkeys at the Batu Caves. They have a reputation for trying to grab phones and other items so keep an eye on your things!

  • Dress code - Knees and shoulders will need to be covered when visiting the Batu Caves

  • How to get there - You can take the train from KL Sentral or take a Grab from your hotel, the caves are located roughly 14 km north of the city. You can also book a tour (combined with a firefly watch tour) in advance through GetYourGuide!

10. Central Market

Want to do some souvenir shopping? Head over to the central market! The central market is located close to Chinatown (if not in Chinatown) and is a well known spot for tourists to stop by and admire arts & crafts as well as to shop for souvenirs. Cute postcards, your standard little statues of the Petronas Towers as well as fabrics and wood work, you will find a little bit of everything here! If you have a bit of time left in your itinerary we would recommend stopping by, especially if you are already visiting Chinatown!

11. Merdeka Square

If you still have some time left in your itinerary be sure to head over to Dataran Merdeka (meaning independence square). Here you will be able to the Sultan Abdul Samad Building as well as the Royal Selangor Club, situated on the other side of the square. This is where the Malaysian flag was hoisted for the first time on August 31- 1957, a day that is now know as Malaysia’s independence day!

12. Jamek Mosque

Right around the corner of Merdeka Square you will find the Jamek Mosque. This is one of Kuala Lumpur’s oldest mosques, and while centrally located it seems like it is often overlooked by many travellers. The mosque, or masjid, is build in a Moorish style at the confluence of the Klang and Gombak river. The volunteers working here were some of the kindest people we met during our visit to Kuala Lumpur. They will offer to show you around and tell you about the history of the mosque, as well as the history of their religion! 

  • Opening hours - Open daily from 8am to 12.30 pm and 2.30pm to 4pm.

  • Entry fee - The mosque is free to enter.

  • Dress code - As it is a mosque you will be required to cover up, for women this includes hair. There are robes available that you can wear during your visit.

13. Shopping Malls

From the Petronas Towers you will find a walkway that connects to the Pavilion Mall, one of Kuala Lumpur’s most incredible malls! This mall is so large that it is easy to get lost in (I have for sure). Wander through the endless shops, stop to watch a movie, or head to the basement of the mall to indulge in some food. One of my favourite parts of this mall is when it gets decorated for holidays, especially Chinese New Year! This mall is the perfect place to go shopping, not only because of the mall itself but its vicinity to other malls such as Fahrenheit and Lot 10, both located just across the street!

The Pavilion is just one of the incredibly large malls you will find in Kuala Lumpur and they are a perfect place to visit if you want to take a break from the heat, or the rain. And if you are looking for a bit more entertainment then head over to Berjaya Times Square where you will find an indoor theme park within the mall!

14. Kuala Lumpur’s Coffee Scene

In addition to the local cuisine of Kuala Lumpur we also highly recommend checking out the coffee scene! Cafes serving delicious coffee and pastries can be found all over the city and they are perfect for taking a break from the heat and enjoying an (ice) coffee. One of our personal favourites must be Dough by Meg, where a variety of fancy donuts are served alongside some of delicious coffee and Feeka, a cafe perfect for those who want their coffee and avocado toast fix.

15. Brickfields

Right outside of the KL Sentral Station you will find the neighbourhood of Brickfields, also known as Little India. This area is filled with shops, and most important, restaurants. This is the place to come if you are looking to have some authentic and delicious Indian cuisine. We personally stopped at MTR 1924 for some breakfast after visiting the Thean Hou Temple and absolutely loved their delicious Masala Dosa and Masala Tea!

If you are in the area and love Indian food then it might be worth adding to your itinerary!

Other things to do in Kuala Lumpur

Besides the 15 things to do in Kuala Lumpur mentioned above there are plenty of other things to do in this beautiful city. Depending on what your interest is you might also like to add the following places to your Kuala Lumpur itinerary:

Powered by GetYourGuide