Kuala Lumpur - Attractions, Sights & Places To See
What To Do In Kuala Lumpur In 2 Days…
While it’s impossible to see everything that Kuala Lumpur has to offer within this time, you can certainly see the lot. Here’s a workable itinerary to enjoy Kuala Lumpur in two days or less:
- Try and get a hotel room in the centre of the city. Many places of interest are located close by and you’ll save some time and money if you’re staying in and among the attractions.
Stay in luxury hotels like this one in Kuala Lumpur
- Walk through the bustling markets in Chinatown (it’s along Petaling Street in KL), and pick up some bargain buys – there are endless stalls selling cheap clothing, purses and leather goods.
- Get to the Kuala Lumpur Tower (KL Tower) and take the lift (elevator) to the very top. Here you can get a full view of the city including some impressive views of the Petronas Twin Towers.
- Also good for some handicrafts, ornaments, handmade goods and lovely paintings is the Central Market (a short walk from Chinatown).
- Little India, along Jalan Masjid India (’Jalan’ is the Malay word for ’street’ or ‘road’) and its surrounding areas is worth a walk through, it’s like China Town (except of course all things have a distinct Indian flavour).
- The National Museum – set amidst splendid architecture, the National Museum is the place to learn more about Malaysia as a country, it’s past and present.
- Check out one of the many exciting shopping malls located within (or near) the Golden Triangle such as Berjaya Times Square, the Pavillion, Suria KLCC etc. Outside the Golden Triangle you can also find other equally impressive shopping malls such as the Midvalley MegaMall. Each mall is so large and elaborate that you could spend a whole day shopping, eating and enjoying yourself in any one of them if you wish.
- No trip to Kuala Lumpur would be complete without a visit to the awesome Petronas Twin Towers. If you’ve already been to the KL towers you may want to skip actually going onto the sky-bridge here. However, here’s one tip - go at night time when the towers are fully lit for the most awesome views.
The Best Attractions In Kuala Lumpur – Don’t Miss These On Your Holiday To Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur (KL for short) is fast becoming the capital of South East Asia and easily the most attractive metropolis to visit in this region! It has a population approaching 2 million with a land area of 240 Sq km. It is not quite a megacity with choking pollution and snarling traffic jams yet it is not a sleepy small town with nothing to offer. In KL, you can literally find anything you want, from fine dining to world-class hotels, from dazzling displays of color to unique culture and tradition.
Grand Shopping Malls like this one are aplenty in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia
You can see why everyone is raving about coming to Kuala Lumpur. You can read more about all these wonderful activities in my page, Kuala Lumpur - Top Day Trips.
Everything about the city has the ability to hypnotize even the most discerning traveler. The culture and friendliness of the people, the tropical and always sunny weather, the array of interesting shops, sights and sounds - and of course, an endless supply of restaurants (get ready to buy bigger pants!).
The views from the sky bridge along the Petronas Twin Towers are breathtaking (although the bridge is not more than about halfway up the 88 storeys of the towers). The Petronas Towers is more than ten years old (only) and was commissioned by multinational oil giant Petronas who have their main office inside (along with some other huge companies). The Towers are called Menara (Malay for “Tower”) 1 and 2 and when constructed was the tallest in the world (up to 2002).
Petronas Twin Towers Kuala Lumpur
Also within the grounds are some beautifully manicured gardens and a huge conference center widely regarded as one of the best in the world.
The Petronas Towers are open to the public from Tuesdays to Sundays at specific times (typically from 8.30am to 5pm), but even outside these times when the sky bridge is open there are many things in and around the towers to enjoy - for example some chic restaurants and cafes and the park which is open at night.
If you do want some unique snapshots of the Petronas Towers, it is highly recommended to come at night when the tower is fully lit. You can get some outstanding photographs, particularly from the gardens which themselves host a lovely lake.
Inside the Petronas Towers there is the highly popular Aquaria (Malaysia’s national aquarium), which has some excellent displays of marine life, and annexed to it is Suria KLCC, a classy shopping area with many shops selling goods of international brands.
Suria KLCC Esplanade
If you’re looking for decent accommodation in the city center near the Towers, there are actually a few good hotels that will not break the bank. A comfortable yet affordable place can cost as little as $70 a night (sometimes with partial views of the Petronas Towers).
Do you want the best and clearest views of the Kuala Lumpur city skyline? Go to the viewing point of the KL Tower. It costs about RM25 for an adult ticket and you’ll be delighted at the scenes from there. In fact you get far better views from the KL Tower than the sky bridge at the Petronas Twin Towers. And unlike the Petronas Twin Towers, you can have a full view of KL in any direction.
This is where you can take awesome photos of Kuala Lumpur and enjoy some of the city’s best landmarks, including the Petronas Twin Towers themselves.
If you have lunch at the top of the KL Tower you will be having lunch at Kuala Lumpur’s highest restaurant! But be sure to make reservations as it’s often fully booked.
Chinatown has some interesting market stalls selling all kinds of things such as clothing, personal accessories, souvenirs, craft etc. If you’re the type that goes for ‘copies’ of branded goods, this is the place to be! So for some reasonably priced clothing or leather products, head to Kuala Lumpur’s Chinatown and bag yourself a bargain or two!
The Lake Gardens, Bird Park and National Monument
Initially sculpted during British rule, the Lake Gardens is well worth a visit on your Malaysian holiday. The Lake Gardens, as the name suggests, is a scenic and beautifully landscaped park just outside the city center, near the Malaysian Parliament House. It is home to one of Malaysia’s oldest country club, the Lake Club. The biggest attraction of the gardens is the KL Bird Park, the world’s largest free-flight, walk-in aviary. It is a bird reserve exhibiting over 3,000 birds of 200 species and other wildlife as well. Check out my post entitled Kuala Lumpur Bird Park. While you’re there, take a short trip to the Parliament House compounds. Here you will be able to see Malaysia’s National Monument (known as Tugu Peringatan Negara), a massive bronze carving of Malaysian soliders in battle. As you would imagine, the National Monument was made in memory and honor of Malaysian soldiers who gave their lives to protect their country.
The National Museum (known as Muzium Negara)
The museum holds some interesting information about the history and culture of Malaysia and many good exhibits. A MUST SEE for history, culture and tradition buffs!
Kampung Baru and Night Market
Walk around within this quiet area and you’ll discover a glimpse of traditional Malay life - the best time to visit is during a Saturday night when the bustling night market springs to life. Small hawker and roadside stalls sell just about anything you would want to buy at affordable prices.
The night market in Kuala Lumpur
The Batu Caves
While strictly speaking the Batu Caves is somewhat north of Kuala Lumpur, many visitors to Malaysia’s capital head here as it’s located nearby.
Here you can Malaysia’s most venerated Hindu temple and golden statue of Lord Subramaniam - there is a climb of 270 steps to the top of the caves. The Batu Caves is the site of a pilgrimage every January when over a million Hindus come to pay their obeisance to their gods during the Hindu festival of Thaipusam.
