Kuala Lumpur, the bustling capital city of Malaysia, is a vibrant place where there is an activity to suit almost every traveler’s preferences. The influences from different religions and cultures make KL a spectacular melting pot of a city, which presents wonderful surprises in almost every corner that you get to explore.
Regardless of the length of your stay in Kuala Lumpur, make sure that you do most (if not all!) of the things/activities listed below – so that you can truly say that you have fully experienced what KL is all about.
1. Go on an Asian food exploration
Kuala Lumpur offers some of the best in different Asian cuisines, such as Malay, Chinese, and Indian food. Tickle your taste buds with an explosion of flavors from restaurants and food courts in shopping malls – where you can sample the best of Asian cuisine at reasonable prices. For a more authentic Asian dining experience, you can try out the hawker food stalls along Jalan Alor, considered as the heart of Kuala Lumpur’s local cuisine.
2. Go (very high) up the Petronas Towers
Go to the Petronas Towers’ Skybridge, and get to see the rest of the city from 170 meters above the ground. Make sure that you to the Petronas Towers very early in the morning, as there are limited tickets available for daily visitors.
3. Go even higher on the KL Tower
The observation deck of the KL Tower (Menara KL) puts you 421 meters above the ground, and you will see not only the rest of the Kuala Lumpur cityscape, but also the Petronas Towers from a breathtaking vantage point as well.
4. Shopping sprees
Shopping is one of the things you can do to your heart’s content in KL, especially because there are a lot of places to choose from depending on your preference, and your budget. High-end, designer brands can be seen in the city’s biggest shopping malls like Suria KLCC; Chinatown’s Jalan Petaling, on the other hand, is a must-visit for bargain-hunters for inexpensive clothes, bags, shoes, and other items.
5. Explore Chinatown and the Central Market
Chinatown is best explored by walking around, so you can see the old-fashioned coffee and tea houses, the street food stalls, the gold shops, Chinese herbal medicines/remedies shops, and a wide array of other interesting merchandise and people. After the Chinatown exploration, you can then check the Central Market for interesting trinkets and handicrafts that you can take home as souvenirs of your Malaysian adventure.
Check out the best hotel offers in KL.
6. Visit the museums and Malaysia’s rich heritage
The museums in Kuala Lumpur will offer you a peek into the rich Malay cultural heritage. The National Museum features dioramas and exhibits featuring Chinese and Malay culture, vintage automobiles, and more. The National Art Gallery has more than 2,500 art pieces by Malaysian and international artists, and workshops are available as well on certain dates.
7. Get to know the beauty of pewter
This photo of Royal Selangor Pewter Factory and Visitor Centre is courtesy of TripAdvisor
8. Go on a historic walking tour
A walking tour of the city’s historic landmarks is a must if you wish to get a deeper feel of Kuala Lumpur’s rich heritage and interesting architecture. The Moorish-inspired Old Railway station is an ideal starting point, after which you can marvel at the National Mosque and its electric blue dome, and on to the Independence Square (Merdeka Square). This historic walking tour can be concluded at the birthplace of KL, where the Klang and Gombak rivers meet.
9. Visit the KL Bird Park
The KL Bird Park, world’s largest free-flight walk-in aviary, is one of the most popular tourist spots in the city. Located in the scenic Lake Gardens, the bird park has a lush valley terrain spanning 20.9 acres just waiting to be explored by nature lovers. As you explore the park’s attractions, don’t be surprised if you feel supremely relaxed at the same time as you appreciate the beauty that only nature can offer.
10. Relax in a coffee shop and people-watch
Kuala Lumpur has numerous coffee shops where you can sit down and recharge your energy after all that exploring and walking around. As you sip your coffee or tea, you can also indulge in observing the people who pass by (and the people around your perch); you might be surprised that you can learn a lot about Malaysian culture by being a silent observer!
Photos by migikata, thomaswanhoff, rifqy, Auswandern, Khalzuri, roaming-the-planet, Pon Pon Tin(hohiyan), Uspn and Tianyake
