Malaysia, where do you start? I am the best travel planner ever. Not. While others have thought out elaborate routes months in advance and planned whole days through, I know about three days in advance, with luck, in which direction I will set off at all. I hate planning. And so I knew about Malaysia also only what I could still read out in the fast passage from the travel guide. Was not much. Anyway, it is more exciting to experience with your own eyes and so I explored the most beautiful sights in Kuala Lumpur.
What to do in Kuala Lumpur a few facts
A few rough facts about Kuala Lumpur before I provide you with some really cool tips for your Kuala Lumpur visit:
- Kuala Lumpur is the capital of Malaysia and is rather small for a major Asian city with a population of around 1.6 million
- The Petronas Towers are THE landmark of the city and WERE once the tallest building in the world, but are still the tallest twin towers in the world for it
- Multicultural: In Kuala Lumpur, as in the rest of Malaysia, a wide variety of cultures and religions live in a very small area: Chinese, Malays, Indians, Arabs, Buddhists, Muslims, Christians, Hindus – everyone finds their place here.
Petronas Twin Towers
In Kuala Lumpur, you can’t miss the Petronas Towers. Sparkling clean and featuring interesting design details, the twin towers are an extraordinary piece of architecture—not to mention their immense height. By the way, you can go up there, too.
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Then you should also check out my Malaysia blog with lots of information & inspiration!
Merdeka Square
A little something for history buffs: This is where the Malaysian flag was first raised in 1957 and independence from Great Britain was celebrated. It’s really just a large lawn—it used to be a cricket field, after all. But the building on the square, the Sultan Abdul Samad Building, is well worth seeing with its huge clock tower, unusual spiral staircases, and arcades.
In addition, the two tourist information centers are a good reason to stop by here. One is the national tourist office for all of Malaysia, located in the Sultan Abdul Samad Building, and just a few meters away across the square is the Kuala Lumpur tourist information office. Here, you can pick up some really informative brochures, and the staff are consistently very friendly and happy to offer tips.
Chinatown
There are definitely more authentically Chinese and exciting Chinatowns around the world than the one in Kuala Lumpur. Still, there are some great temples and a lovely indoor market here that you shouldn’t miss:
Central Market
There are some nice souvenir stores and stalls here and a good and cheap food court on the upper floor.
Sri Mahamariamman Temple
A Hindu temple right in the middle of Chinatown—that’s Malaysia for you. When it comes to multiculturalism, no one can outdo them. You take off your shoes at the entrance—just like in Hindu temples, where you walk around barefoot—and then you can explore the temple from the inside. The same rule applies here: it’s best to cover up those skin-tight hot pants. You can rent saris on site.
Guan Di Temple
Just a few meters away from the Hindu temple, you find yourself immersed in a completely different world. Here in Malaysia, you can jump from one world religion to another in the blink of an eye. The Guan Di Temple is a Taoist shrine dedicated to the god Guan Di, the patron saint of martial arts. Police officers and triad members reportedly come here in equal measure to seek protection.
Petaling Street
I didn’t find it all that spectacular, but anyone who wants to buy Chinese knickknacks, plastic teddy bear bouquets, and “authentic” counterfeit Louis Vuitton bags, should check out Petaling Street, a covered shopping mall right in the middle of Chinatown and at the heart of the neighborhood.
Jalan Alor Food Street
The best place for nighttime street food adventures is Jalan Alor. You’ll find everything here—but especially plenty of Chinese cuisine. There’s one restaurant after another, endless food stalls, and live music here and there.
Once you’ve had your fill of sampling the food, head over to Changkat Bukit Bintang —a nearby street with plenty of bars, music, and nightlife.
Batu Caves
The absolute highlight of the temples! A Hindu temple carved right into the middle of a huge rock crevice! The imposing statue at the entrance points the way: Steep stairs lead up into the heart of the Batu Caves. Along the stairs, among the trees, there are tons of monkeys: Don’t feed them, hold on tight to small items (cameras, etc.—monkeys are really good at stealing), and just enjoy watching them!
By the way, construction is currently underway at the temple, and the workers welcome any help, since the temple is funded by donations and there’s no admission fee—just grab a bucket of sand at the entrance upstairs, drop it off at the construction site, and take an empty bucket with you on your way out.
Heli Lounge Bar: The best rooftop bar
Rooftop bars are always a good idea. But the Heli Lounge Bar is really unique, not only for aviators. A REAL helipad (!) in the middle of Kuala Lumpur on top of a nondescript skyscraper with a spectacular, unobstructed view of the sparkling Petronas Twin Towers. Railing? There is no such thing. Free as a bird over Kuala Lumpur – plus drinks at their best. During the day, the helipad is actually used, but at night, the landing pad becomes the most unusual rooftop bar in Kuala Lumpur.
A bit more expensive, a bit difficult to find as there is hardly any signage at the entrance below – but definitely worth it. Downstairs is the lounge bar proper, but stairs and narrow metal staircases take you up to the helipad with the best view ever. It really doesn’t get any cooler than this.
Address: Menara KH Tower, 34th floor, Jalan Sultan Ismail; open Monday through Saturday starting at 6:00 p.m.
Practical tips for travel and transportation in Kuala Lumpur
- Kuala Lumpur has two airports: Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL), called KLIA, and Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport (also Subang Airport). The latter is the older of the two and is closer to the city, but is now served by only three smaller Malaysian airlines (Berjaya Air, Malindo Air, Firefly). There is no direct flight from Germany to Kuala Lumpur (KUL) – I flew from Berlin with Qatar Airways via Doha, which was the shortest connection.
- The public transport system in Kuala Lumpur is very well equipped with subways and buses – but I really didn’t use it much, because in Kuala Lumpur I finally became a total Uber and Grab fan. The two services are unbeatably cheap and super convenient.
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