Kuala Lumpur, the capital city of Malaysia, is a city of diverse cultures and religions. Over the years, people from different backgrounds and countries have come here and found a perfect home in Kuala Lumpur. Kuala Lumpur is undoubtedly an economical and cultural hub of the country. It owes a greater part of its economy to tourism. There is a variety of attractions for visitors to choose from. Famous iconic landmarks, religious places of extreme importance, vibrant markets and streets – all serve to attract people from all around the world to this city of shining lights and flamboyant life! There are certain do’s and don’t’s when visiting a city. It would be a sin if you went to Paris and didn’t visit the Eiffel Tower! Just like that, there are some things to do in Kuala Lumpur you possibly can’t miss.
Below is a compilation of some places to visit and things to do in Kuala Lumpur which will hopefully help you in planning your trip.
#1 of 15 Things to Do in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Visit the Petronas Twin Towers
These towers had the distinction of being the tallest, 452 meters tall, twin towers in the world until 2004 when Taipei’s 101 which is 508 meters tall was built. Today, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai which was opened in 2010 holds the title of the tallest building in the world.
The Petronas Towers are joined by a 58-meter long double-decker sky bridge. These towers somewhat resemble rocketships in their structure. Ready to take off any minute! Groups of people come here for a walk over the sky bridge from where you can appreciate the breathtaking view of the Kuala Lumpur city. The 45-minute tour a walk over the bridge and visit to the observation deck on the 86th floor. Tickets are sold out online. So book your ticket beforehand or come here early to make you don’t get left behind.
#2 of 15 Things to Do in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Visit the Menara KL Tower
After the Petronas Towers, Menara KL Tower is easily the most famous landmark in the city. It was constructed in 1994 and offers a spectacular view of the city from the top. You can see this tower from anywhere in the city. Menara’s viewing deck is at a height of 276 meters which is at least 100 meters higher than Petronas’s deck. Thus, offering a view much better than that of the Twin Towers. The view is amazing during the day but much better during the night because of the lights that shine through the city at night time.
Menara tower is built on the top of Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve. Bukit Nanas is the oldest forest reserve in the country housing trees as old as 100 years. The flora and fauna of Bukit Nanas are native to the tropical climate of Malaysia. Mena Tower is mainly used as a telecommunications tower also having the distinction of the fifth tallest telecommunications tower in the world.
#3 of 15 Things to Do in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Drop by the Chinatown
Located in the heart of KL, Chinatown is a place that hardly sleeps. You can barely keep up with the pace of life at this place. The buildings might be smaller than its neighboring KLCC or Bukit Bintang but they are far more colorful and give you an illusion of life itself.
Built in Petaling Street, Chinatown also has the name ‘Chee Cheong Kai’ (Starch Factory Street). It is without any doubt one of the most popular and visited tourist spots in the country. Chinatown is a shopaholic’s paradise! You can find everything – from Chinese herbs to replicas of famous designers, at very low prices. While during the day its bright colors allure people towards the shops, at night the whole market lights up like a fireball and attracts you with a certain force which you can’t resist!
#4 of 15 Things to Do in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Visit the Batu Caves
Batu Caves lies at a distance of 11 km north of Kuala Lumpur. It is a limestone hill comprising many caves of which three are major and others are smaller. This 100-year-old temple contains idols and statues placed inside and around the main caves. This temple is a prime landmark for Hindus said to have limestone formations as old as 400 million years.
The three major caves are named as Cathedral Cave, Art Gallery Cave, Museum Cave. Batu Caves is the most frequently visited spot by Hindus in Malaysia. The annual Hindu festival of Thaipusam is held at the Batu Caves. Millions of people flood in to attend this holy ceremony.
#5 of 15 Things to Do in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Spend some time at the Sultan Abdul Samad Building
Built in 1897, this Moorish-style building was named after the then ruling Sultan of Selangor. In early days, this building was a secretariat for the colonial British administration. AC Norman is the man behind the wonderful architecture of this astounding building. This building has been home to important institutions of Superior courts of Malaysia:
- Federal Court of Malaysia
- The Court of Appeals
- The High Court of Malaysia
Sultan Abdul Samad building is located beside the old KL Railway Station and now houses the Ministry of Information, Communications, and Culture of Malaysia. This building is often the backdrop of Malaysia’s yearly Independence Day parades. Through the years, it has maintained its reputation as one of Malaysia’s most popular tourist attractions.
#6 of 15 Things to Do in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Have fun at the Sunway Lagoon Theme Park
Located in Petaling Jaya, Sunway Lagoon Theme Park is a vibrant satellite town. This park is a must visit while you are in Kuala Lumpur. A variety of watery rides and sports are on offer here. Along with water activities, dry-land adventures are also an option for you to spend your day in extreme excitement.
The list of fun activities at the 80-acre theme park includes:
- Whirling and twirling water slides
- A manmade ‘river’ ride
- A surf beach
- A wave pool
- 360o revolving Pirate Ship
You can just cool off in one of the pools if you don’t feel like doing anything else which is very less likely! After the expansion of this multi-zone park, five different zones were introduced namely the Water Park, Scream Park, Amusement Park, Extreme Park and Wildlife Park.
#7 of 15 Things to Do in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Be amazed at the Aquaria KLCC
Having an area of 5000sqft, Aquaria KLCC is believed to be one of the largest aquariums in the world. Over 150 species of marine life have found their home in Aquaria KLCC. The most noteworthy attractions are frightening tiger sharks, deadly sea snakes, shiny coral fish, seahorses, blue rays and much more.
This aquarium is well worth a visit. Just after spending an hour here you will have seen over 5000 marine creatures. You should research about the places worth visiting before planning your visit to KL. Some people tick Aquaria off as a tourist trap without considering what they’ll miss out on. You can also touch some of the creatures, including starfish and live coral, in the DNA Touch Pool and feel their texture. One of the highlights of this place is a colossal 90m walk-through tunnel. Inside this tunnel, the sand tiger sharks and huge stingrays will surround you. Another most noteworthy feature is the Stream which is host to huge water rat and Asian small-clawed otter. The Jewels of the Jungle section houses a variety of amphibians, reptiles, and insects.
#8 of 15 Things to Do in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Indulge with history at Sri Mahamariamman Temple
Kuala Lumpur is a city of diverse cultures and religions. You’ll see mosques alongside Hindu temples and churches. Sri Mahamariamman is one of the oldest Hindu temples in KL city. Built in the nineteenth century, this temple is a place for people to learn about different cultures and religions. The temple’s building is painted a bright yellow with many statues of Hindu deities erected on the outside of the building. This makes for easy recognition of the temple from far away.
The temple is a place of worship for local Tamil community but is also open to visitors for the purpose of exploration and research.
#9 of 15 Things to Do in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Try some local flavors with Nasi Kandar
The meaning of Nasi Kandar is ‘Mixed Rice’. It is a linchpin of Malaysian cuisine. Customers are served with a plate of plain rice and asked to choose from a variety of sauces and toppings. It is a very spicy dish based on Tamil cuisine. Because of great numbers of South Indian population in Malaysia, its cuisine is highly influenced by South Indian culture. You should have a tolerance for chili and spice to be able to try this dish! There are different varieties of Nasi Kandar. Common Nasi Kandar dishes include curried meat or seafood along with a vegetable component such as Asian cabbage or okra.
#10 of 15 Things to Do in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Visit the Kuala Lumpur Bird Park
This bird park is home to more than 3000 birds and spans over an area of 20 acres. The main purpose of this park is to promote local species among the visitors, although there are some imported species as well. The best thing is that most of the birds are not kept in the cages. They are free to fly around and hence are used to being around humans.
The free-flight is the largest aviary having more than 60 species of native and foreign birds. You can learn about the flora and fauna of this place while enjoying the pleasant site of these beautiful feathery creatures. Most prominent species of the birds include the blue feathery peacock and the crowned pigeon. The park is divided into several sections – World of Parrots, Brahminy Land, Flamingo Pond, Hornbill Park and much more. These sections serve the purpose of keeping the different species of birds separate. However, these birds are free to fly in the proximity of their separate sections. The park also has some shopping centers for you to grab souvenirs for friends and family.
#11 of 15 Things to Do in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Drop by the Jalan Alor
Jalan Alor is home to a number of vendor stalls and seafood restaurants. This street is particularly famous for its food. Jalan Alor comes to life at 5 pm and continues its hubbub until late every evening. With hundreds of plastic chairs and tables on the show, Jalan Alor appears as a continuous open-air restaurant. There is a saturation of food places in this street which causes rivalry amongst business owners. You can see people shouting their guts out to attract the customers and boost-up their business.
The quality of the seafood at the air-conditioned expensive restaurants is good but you should go for the hawker food. The variety of food available is astounding and in Jalan Alor, some of the best-barbecued meat, noodles, desserts are served as compared to the entire city. You will not find most of these dishes in fancy restaurants and even if you do they will not be as tasty.
#12 of 15 Things to Do in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Visit the Pavilion KL
The pavilion is the shopping place for people with heavy pockets and glittery shoes! All the high-end branded products such as handbags, shoes, ladies apparels etc. are available. You’ll find the most expensive brands here to choose from. There are some local brands which also promise quality and comfort. There is a dedicated street for Japan called the Tokyo Street on the 6th floor. Also, there is a food court in the basement. Furthermore, a 5-star hotel within the mall is under construction right now! If you love shopping you should book your hotel nearby.
#13 of 15 Things to Do in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Visit the Islamic Arts Museum
This astounding museum houses one of the best collections of Islamic arts of decoration in the world. Before watching any exhibit, you’ll be stunned by the building itself. Some of the exhibits include exceptional textiles, carpets, jewelry, and calligraphy-inscribed pottery. Most noteworthy is the room that contains models of important mosques from all over the world. Some old and absolutely magnificent copies of Quran, A Holy book for Muslims, are also on display. There is a gift shop in the museum. Just how amazing is that! Also, it is located in the park where you have easy access to other great attractions.
#14 of 15 Things to Do in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Explore Culture at the National Museum
Located near the popular Lake Gardens, the museum is an architectural marvel itself. With its building shaped in a traditional house, the museum features all of Malaysia’s history. There are four galleries which cover everything from the formation of rainforest to present day Malaysia. There are several exhibits including:
- Early History – It contains artifacts from two cultures: Neolithic and Bronze Age.
- Malay Kingdoms – It points out the ascent of Islamic Kingdoms in the Malay Archipelago.
Native instruments and national costumes are also on display. Along with the permanent exhibitions, there are some temporary exhibits which take place at different times throughout the year and are held in the Central Hall.
#15 of 15 Things to Do in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Shop for your family and friends at the Central Market
Central Market, also called as Pasar Seni, was formerly a marketplace for fruits, vegetables, and meat. It is a must go place on every tourist’s map. After the upgradations, the Market was divided into different ethnic sections such as Malay, Indian and Chinese to make the shopping experience easy for the customers. Each section represents and sells its local products that are heavily influenced by the representative culture. Inside the Central Market is a collection of boutiques, handicraft, and souvenir stalls. In short, you can get anything you want from this place.
Furthermore, Central Market is marked as a Heritage Site by the National Heritage Department. The strategic location of the market allows for easy access from all noteworthy Kuala Lumpur destinations. On the second floor, there are several restaurants and a food court that serves Asian cuisine.
Also, check out these top-rated Asian destinations Thailand, Beijing, Tokyo.