From a tin mining boom town in the mid-nineteenth century, Kuala Lumpur has grown into a modern metropolis, the capital of a very dynamic country. It's easy to dismiss the city as a travel destination, and many do. The sights of the city, which can be quite impressive, are very spread out and it was difficult to get around Kuala Lumpur. In recent years, with the completion of several train systems, the city has gotten much easier to get around, and there is even a special tourist bus service that can get you to some of the more remote attractions.
There's more to Kuala Lumpur than the iconic Petronas Towers. You can see elegant remnants of the colonial administration around Merdeka Square, where Malaysian independence is celebrated as well. The National Museum is a truly world class museum of the history of the country, but for a real taste of a traditional Malay house, visit Rumah Penghulu in the grounds of the Historic Trust. You'll most likely be the only one there.
"KL", as most in the region call it, makes a great base for exploring Malaysia. You can book any of a number of day trips from the city to nearby destinations. Tours can be booked in advance through most online aggregators.
Kuala Lumpur Neighborhoods Although the population of Kuala Lumpur is small by Asian standards, it's still a rather big city, with several different neighborhoods to explore. Some of these areas, such as Merdeka Square and Chinatown, should be explored by any first-time visitors. Those with a deeper interest in history or nature will want to spend a day or more in the Lake Gardens area, while power shoppers will have a hard time tearing themselves away from Bukit Bintang and the Kuala Lumpur Convention Center area.
Scarlet Ibis The KL Bird Park claims to have the world's largest free-flight aviary. It's sort of like an open zoo. With a few exceptions, the birds aren't in cages and are free to fly about the large net 'tent'. You're then free to walk around among them and get as close as they will let you, which is often pretty close.
Blue Fairy The enclosure covers 21 acres in the hills of the Lake Gardens district, and is divided into four zones.
Kuala Lumpur's primary shopping area is Bintang Hill, more commonly known as Bukit Bintang. Within just a few blocks are several shopping malls, catering to almost every need and budget. At the low end of the budget range is one of the oldest malls, Sungei Wang, full of small shops selling almost everything under the sun. Behind Sungei Wang is Low Yat Plaza, the place to go for cameras, computers and other electronic needs.
Chinatown Area Map Mouse over map icons or labels for more information, click for details. Kuala Lumpur's Chinatown is 'the' place for cheap rooms and cheap (although probably fake) goods of all description. The center of all the “action” is Petaling Street, which is mostly covered and serves as a thriving street market. There are goods of all description, especial clothes, shoes, music and movie disks, as well as a goodly number of food stalls to slake that hunger you built up shopping.
Map of the Golden Triangle Area Traditionally, the 'Golden Triangle' area of Kuala Lumpur encompassed the area of the two hills, Bintang and Nanas, but with the development of the Bukit Bintang area, most current tourist maps show the Golden Triangle as just the area around Bukit Nanas ('Pineapple Hill'). The area is dominated by the slender KL Tower topping the hill. For many years, before the construction of the Petronas Towers, the tower was far and away the tallest structure in Kuala Lumpur.
Map of the KLCC Area The Kuala Lumpur Convention Center area, usually just shortened to KLCC, is dominated by that symbol of modern Malaysia, the Petronas Twin Towers. The towers sit on top of a large complex which includes the massive Suria KLCC shopping center and a philharmonic concert hall. The shopping mall includes a couple of department stores, several name-brand boutiques and a lot of restaurants for all budgets.
Lake Gardens District Map The Lake Gardens area of Kuala Lumpur could well be described as the city's "museum district" with several key museums, monuments and parks. The wooded hill was once the home of the elite of the British colonial powers, crowned with the residence of the High Commissioner, now the posh Carcosa Sri Negara hotel.
While Kuala Lumpur's train system can get you close to the area, the best way to explore this large district is by using the Hop-On Hop-Off tourist bus service.
Merdeka Square Area Map Merdeka Square is the heart of 'old' Kuala Lumpur, the seat of colonial power, and where the flag was first raised for the new Malaysian nation. The 'square' itself is a large grassy field, still used for cricket, and bordered by the incongruously Tudor styled Royal Selangor Club. At one end of the fields is one of the world's largest flagpoles, from which the Malaysian flag oversees independence celebrations every year.
A sultan's throne on display in the National Museum The National Museum is Malaysia's showcase of the rich history and traditions of the country. The museum's main exhibition hall underwent a massive renovation in 2008 and now sports some state of the art galleries that are sure to engage visitors of all ages. You won't find any dusty display cases here.
The grand hall of the National Museum The main building is divided into four galleries.
The Balai hall, looking towards the main entrance to the private area The Rumah Penghulu Abu Seman house was built in stages between 1916 and the 1930s. Penghulu Abu Seman bin Nayan was a local headman in Kampung Sungai Kechil of Kedah state. There are three main sections of the house. The main portion, or rumah ibu, was originally built for Tok Taib of Kampung Paya Takong, whose heirs sold it to Penghulu Abu Seman in 1924.
When to go: You can visit Kuala Lumpur at just about any time of year. Weather-wise, the months of June to August are the driest, but due to its location near the equator afternoon thunderstorms are a possibility at any time. The city is at its most crowded, with correspondingly expensive hotel rates, during the Formula One races in early April.
How long to stay: Three days should be enough time to take in the sights of Kuala Lumpur.
Kuala Lumpur is not quite the transportation hub that Singapore or even Bangkok is, but it is easy to get to, especially from neighboring countries. Naturally, you can fly to the city, but there are a couple of other interesting options worth considering.
Planes to Kuala Lumpur Air travel is the natural choice to get to Kuala Lumpur. The national carrier, Malaysia Air System, flies between the capital and most major cities around the world.
Room at the Grand Millennium Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Kuala Lumpur has a wide range of accommodations available, at bargain prices relative to its neighbors. Hotels are located all over the city, with the main concentrations in the Bukit Bintang and KLCC areas, close to all the shopping and restaurants. The really cheap hotels are in the Chinatown area, with more around the Putra World Trade Center.
Here's a short list of hotels that you can book on the Internet through one or more of our hotel partners.
Kuala Lumpur is quite easy to get around for the tourist. Many of the sights and shopping areas of the city center are within walking distance of each other, although sometimes its a long walk.
Taxis Taxis are plentiful in the city center and most suburban destinations. All taxis use a meter, although some might attempt to negotiate the fare for long trips or at rush hours. Metered rates are relatively cheap.
Kuala Lumpur is possibly one of the best cities in Southeast Asia for family with small children. Not only are many of the city's main attractions interesting to kids, but there are many options for keeping children of all ages entertained.
Bird Park Located in a forested hill between the city center and the parliment buildings, the KL Bird Park features more than 3,000 flying freely in the world's largest aviary.
Kuala Lumpur has a spectacular variety of shopping experiences. These days, prices on many items are the best in the region. While Singapore may be know for its huge number of shopping centers, prices in Kuala Lumpur are generally better, and the malls themselves are often an attraction in their own right.
The main shopping area is known as Bukit Bintang. In addtion, here's a brief list of the other interesting shopping centers that Kuala Lumpur has to offer:
Kuala Lumpur can be a rather wet place, getting much of both monsoon seasons. The wettest months are February to May and September to December. That said, you can enjoy a visit to Kuala Lumpur at just about any time of year. As with most monsoon climates, the rains come in heavy late afternoon downpours, usually leaving the rest of the day clear and dry.
Historical Weather Patterns for Kuala Lumpur With its tropical location, temperatures are hot and humid throughout the year.
Kuala Lumpur's ultra-modern airport (airport code: KUL) is located a fair distance from the city. The terminal is connected to the city via a high speed rail line that can whisk you downtown in around 20 minutes.
The airport complex consists of a massive terminal building connected to a linear concourse that mostly serves domestic flights. The main terminal is connected to a remote star-shaped concourse by an automated train.
Kuala Lumpur Tower (Left) The Kuala Lumpur Tower (Menara KL) is the tallest in Southeast Asia and the fourth tallest in the world. Because it stands on a hill, the tower appears to be taller that the Petronas towers, even though they are nearly 100 feet taller. At the top of the tower is a revolving restaurant and observation platform. Admission to the observation deck will run you around RM 38.
Petronas Twin Towers The tallest buildings in the world - for a while - the Petronas Towers are the pride of Malaysia. The towers sit in a large park in the KLCC area, and the entire complex features a five-star hotel, shopping center and performing arts center. The “sky bridge” joining the two towers is open to the public. Tickets are available for free, but are given out on a first-come-first-served basis.
Putra World Trade Center Area Map Kuala Lumpur's first dedicated trade and convention center was opened in 1985 in an area north of the old city center, adjacent to a district known as 'Chow Kit'. The building has since been eclipsed by the Kuala Lumpur Convention Center near the Petronas Towers, but it continues to host smaller events. There is one hotel as part of the complex, the Seri Pacific, as well as another one, The Legend (now the Sunway Putra Hotel), right across the street, on top of a shopping mall.
The main atrium of Low Yat Plaza in Kuala Lumpur Low Yat plaza is definitely the place to go for small electronics, especially digital cameras and laptop computers. Prices here are very competitive with other places around Southeast Asia, but as always, know what you'll pay at home before you go.
The plaza is somewhat hidden away in the Bukit Bintang area. I usually get there either by walking through Sungei Wang Plaza or through the alley across from Times Square.
The Central Market in Kuala Lumpur Built by the British, Kuala Lumpur's Central Market was first opened in 1888 as use as a fresh market. The building is now designated as a heritage sight, and has been converted for use as a craft market. The market aims to sell crafts representing all the ethnic groups that make up modern Malaysia, but often the goods on sale are nothing special, and on occasion I've seen things that I was fairly certain weren't even made in Malaysia.
The main entrance to the Craft Complex in Kuala Lumpur Just a short walk from the Bukit Bintang area, the sprawling Malaysian Craft Complex is not far on foot from the Pavilion mall. The complex consists of several kiosks and show rooms spread around a large garden. If you're interested in local handicrafts, this is the place to go.
Very close by is the Heritage Trust of Malaysia headquarters, where you can see the beautiful Rumah Penghulu traditional Malay house.
Kuala Lumpur's international airport (KLIA) is about 75 kilometers from the city center. The quickest way to get into the city is by the express train linking KLIA to the city center's consolidated transportation hub, Sentral. The train runs non-stop between the airport and Sentral, taking less than 30 minutes to make the trip. Departures are every 15 minutes and the fare is RM35.
If you're heading to the Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT), you have the choice of either a direct bus service between Sentral and the LCCT, or a bus - train combination.
Kuala Lumpur's Sentral integrated transportation hub. Kuala Lumpur's new rail terminus opened in 2001 to replace the aging landmark railway station. The massive new terminal, now Southeast Asia's largest, is designed as an integrated transportation hub, with several commuter trains passing through the station, as well as forming one terminus of the KLIA Express train. You can also catch a bus from here to other parts of Malaysia.
There's more to Sentral than just transportation.
