What to do for 2-3 days in Kuala Lumpur - TOP 22 places to visit in KL - The complete guide
A dynamic and developing metropolis, with a modern infrastructure and grandiose buildings, an appreciable order and cleanliness and a rich cultural diversity - this is Kuala Lumpur, the energetic and vibrant capital of Malaysia.
The city where tradition blends harmoniously with modernity, will amaze you, enchant you and conquer you from the very first moment.
Get ready for a unique journey in one of the most surprising Asian capitals. In this article you will find all the necessary information to organize your visit here.
Kuala Lumpur, often abbreviated KL, is the capital and largest city of Malaysia, a predominantly Muslim country in Southeast Asia. The city has a population of approximately 2 million inhabitants, respectively 7 million in the metropolitan area.
Kuala Lumpur translates as "muddy confluence" or "muddy estuary": Kuala is the confluence point of two rivers, and "lumpur" means mud.
KL was founded quite recently, in the 19th century. In fact, the country of Malaysia is also considered a new country, gaining independence from Great Britain in 1957.
Kuala Lumpur has experienced a remarkable development in recent years, and this can be seen just by looking at the multitude of skyscrapers that rise proudly in every corner of the city.
But even so, the city has not completely lost its traditional authenticity. In Kuala Lumpur you will notice the ethnic diversity, with a population consisting of Malays, Chinese or Indians. And local cuisine and Malaysian street food are recognized internationally: nasi lemak, satay and roti are some of the famous Malaysian dishes.
Malaysia is a former British colony, something that greatly influenced Malaysian culture: English is one of Malaysia's official languages, cars have a right-hand wheel (like in the UK), sockets are British style.
Besides, Kuala Lumpur is also a safe destination for tourists, at no time did we have any feeling of fear or danger.
Below you will find a list of answers to possible questions related to Kuala Lumpur.
What you need to know about Kuala Lumpur
When to go to Kuala Lumpur
The tropical climate determines the appearance of two seasons in Malaysia: the dry season, respectively the wet, monsoon season.
Temperatures in Kuala Lumpur are generally constant, at 30 degrees, the difference being made by the level of precipitation or the degree of humidity.
It is said that July is the month with the least rainfall, but even if you choose to visit KL in another period and have the "luck" to catch rain, you must know that the city is prepared for rain, you will find many covered places, where you can avoid the rain (example: malls, passages, etc.)
Entry requirements in Malaysia/Kuala Lumpur
EU citizens do not need a visa to enter Malaysia, for stays of up to 90 days.
However, it is mandatory to fill out an entry form up to 3 days before arriving in Malaysia. These are called Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC), and you can complete it here: https://imigresen-online.imi.gov.my/mdac/main.
Currency and Prices in Kuala Lumpur
Do you know what we say about Kuala Lumpur?
That it is the place where you can easily afford to live in luxury!
And this is not out of arrogance, but Kuala Lumpur is still a very accessible city, compared to any other destination in Europe, for example.
To give you some ideas, we paid 45 euros/night for a superb accommodation (this is the accommodation, a beautiful apartment located on the 33rd level of a skyscraper with an infinity pool), we traveled in the city only by Grab, as it was very convenient for the price, and we also paid very little for the food.
What was expensive, however, were the entrance tickets to Petronas Towers and KL Tower. But here it is to be expected, being touristic attractions of national importance, moreover, foreign tourists pay a completely different entrance fee compared to Malaysian citizens.
The official currency of Malaysia is the Ringgit, also known as the Malaysian dollar. At the time of writing this article, in October 2024, 1 ringgit = 0.22 euro, 1 euro = 4.63 ringgit. octombrie 2024, 1 ringgit = 0.22 euro, 1 euro = 4.63 ringgit.
Internet in Kuala Lumpur
The first thing you should do when you arrive in a foreign country is to connect to the Internet.
The easiest way to connect to the Internet is to install an eSim on your phone, if your phone allows it. There are different options you can choose from: for a week, for a month, from 1 GB to 40+ GB.
The application that I recommend in this case is MobiMatter, here I found the most convenient options for the price. And if you combine a visit to Kuala Lumpur with a trip to other neighboring countries, such as Singapore or Indonesia, there are data packages for several countries. For example, I bought an eSim worth 9 dollars, of 15 GB, for the countries of Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand, together.
If your personal phone does not allow the installation of an eSim, then you are left with the classic SIM card option, which you can purchase directly from the airport.
Useful applications in Kuala Lumpur
I leave you some useful applications that we used in Kuala Lumpur:
- Klook and GetYourGuide for entrance tickets (for example to Petronas Twin Towers or KL Tower)
- MobiMatter or Airalo for internet
- Grab for ride sharing
How to get to Kuala Lumpur
The most frequent mode of transport to reach Kuala Lumpur is by plane. Of course, that's if you don't plan to come by bus directly from Singapore, for example.
But, classically, most tourists arrive in KL by plane, and most likely the KLIA Kuala Lumpur International Airport is the gateway to the Malaysian capital.
If you want to look for plane tickets from Europe, some of the airlines you can fly with are Turkish Airlines, Qatar, KLM, Lufthansa or Air France. You can search on kiwi.com or Google Flights for different flight options.
And if you are on an extended trip through Asia, you can use local airlines, such as AirAsia. We arrived in Kuala Lumpur from Singapore, flying with Air Asia, and then left for Bali, also with Air Asia.
How to get from the KLIA airport to Kuala Lumpur
The main airport in Kuala Lumpur, KLIA, is at a considerable distance from the city center, 60 km, which makes transportation from the airport to the city a little more difficult.
We used Grab, the ridesharing service used in Asia. From the airport to the accommodation we paid almost 20 euros.
Another option to reach the city is by KLIA Ekspres or KLIA Transit. These are the train lines that connect Terminal 1 of the airport to KL Sentral, the central station of Kuala Lumpur. The difference between the two is that the KLIA Transit line stops in every station, unlike the KLIA Ekspres. From KL Sentral you will have to change to another means of transport to get to your desired destination. KL Sentral, gara centrala o orasului Kuala Lumpur. Diferenta dintre cele doua este ca linia KLIA Transit opreste in toate statiile, spre diferenta de KLIA Ekspres. De la KL Sentral vei fi nevoit sa schimbi apoi cu un alt mijloc de transport pentru a te deplasa pana la destinatia dorita.
A train ticket costs 11 euros/adult, 5 euros per child. Given these prices, if you are at least two people traveling, then it is much more convenient and comfortable to use a Grab car or private transfer.
How to get around in Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur has an extensive network of means of transport, such as MRT (Mass Rapid Transit), LRT (Light Rail Transit), Monorail or buses. The negative part is that you cannot pay directly by card, as in other cities. It is necessary to either buy a physical ticket in advance, or to use the Touch 'n Go travel card, which you can purchase at the airport and which also offers discounts on travel trips. Always check Google Maps for the route. Google Maps, pentru traseu.
But our own experience makes us say that the best way to visit KL is a combination of walking and Grab.
- Grab is very cheap in Kuala Lumpur, for example, from KLCC to Batu Caves, a distance of 15 km, we paid 4 euros.
- The only downside to Grab is that sometimes you will have to wait a long time in traffic. But whenever we could, we traveled only with Grab.
- The means of public transport, although they run well, have very scattered stations. So, if you want to get from a metro station to a tourist attraction, you will notice that there can be a considerable walking distance between them. That's why it was easier for us to walk directly from one tourist attraction to another (if we didn't use a Grab), than to detour around the subway stations.
What to do in Kuala Lumpur
I have prepared below the list of the most famous tourist attractions in Kuala Lumpur, divided into a 3-day itinerary.
However, I would like to mention that we only stayed in Kuala Lumpur for two full days, and the objectives set on the third day are the ones that we did not manage to reach, due to lack of time. But we thought it important to list them here, so that you can also know about them, in case you have more available time to visit the city.
Slide the panel on the top left of the map below to see all the points, day by day.
Day 1
Get ready for a beautiful and unique day! You will discover all that Kuala Lumpur has to offer: iconic towers, impressive skyscrapers, a lively center, local markets and traditional areas. It will be a full day, with many kilometers covered by foot, but also with a luggage full of memories and beautiful photos!
1. Petronas Twin Towers
Start your day at the most famous tourist attraction of Kuala Lumpur. T Petronas Twin Towers are the pride and symbol of the city, and you will recognize them in any image or video related to KL.
The Petronas Towers are the tallest twin towers in the world, and rise to a height of 451 meters, with a total number of 88 floors. The towers were inaugurated in 1999, and for 5 years, they were considered the tallest buildings in the world.
The towers can be visited, or at least one of them. The ticket consists of going up to the 86th floor of one of the towers, but also on the bridge that connects the two towers.
The ticket costs 25 euros/adult and can be bought here: PETRONAS Twin Towers Ticket. We recommend buying tickets in advance, online, to avoid the risk of not being able to find them on the spot.
At the base of the towers is an impressive shopping center, Suria KLCC, next to one of the largest urban parks in the city, KLCC Park.
2. KLCC Park
KLCC Park is a green oasis in the center of Kuala Lumpur city, in the middle of urban bustle and imposing skyscrapers.
The park is beautifully landscaped, with shaded alleys, various tropical plants, lake, artesian fountains. It is the ideal place to come and admire the Petronas towers, and at the same time, capture the perfect picture for social networks!
Don't miss in the evening the music and lights show, which takes place on the lake near the entrance to the Suria KLCC mall.
3. KLCC - Bukit Bintang Walkway
From KLCC we head to the next place of interest in KL, namely the lively Bukit Bintang district.
And for that, I recommend you look for the KLCC – Bukit Bintang Walkway.
It is a covered passage that connects the Petronas Towers and KLCC Park to the Bukit Bintang district, far from the crowd of the city and the sound of cars. The passage is approximately one kilometer long and is the most accessible method of crossing this distance on foot.
4. Bukit Bintang
Bukit Bintang is one of the most active and animated neighborhoods of the city of Kuala Lumpur. Some would compare it to the famous Times Square in New York, with how many lights, shops and advertisements you will find everywhere!
In Bukit Bintang you will find some of the biggest shopping centers in KL, such as Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, but also a wide range of restaurants, food stalls, bars and nightclubs.
5. Chinatown
After Bukit Bintang, I recommend you go to another special district of KL, namely the Chinese district, Chinatown, located in the area of Petaling Street.
Compared to the other parts of the city, here the atmosphere is a little different and takes you to a real Chinese city, located directly in the center of the capital. In fact, the architecture also differs here: many colorful buildings, few skyscrapers, and a hustle and bustle specific to the Chinese people.
6. Petaling Street Market
The heart of Chinatown is represented by Petaling Street Market, one of the most popular commercial markets in the city.
You can find everything in this market, from clothes, shoes and accessories, to different foods or electronic products.
7. Kwai Chai Hong
And if you're still in the area, don't miss Kwai Chai Hong, a colorful and artistic little street, famous for the murals on the walls of the houses.
8. Central Market
Next to Chinatown and Petaling Street Market, there is the so-called central market of the city, or Central Market. Compared to the Chinese market, here you will find better quality products. Moreover, the market is also more elegant, being located inside.
9. Merdeka Square
From the Central Market, you can reach Merdeka Square, or Independence Square, in a few minutes. This is the main square of the city of Kuala Lumpur and a place of great significance for the locals, being the place where Malaysia proclaimed its independence in 1957.
In fact, the whole area around the square is very nicely organized, and it takes you back to the past. The buildings are older, but rehabilitated and very beautiful, and they project an image of what KL looked like before the whole era of modernization and development.
We couldn't help but notice the impressive build of Sultan Abdul Samad, which, by the way, seemed to us to be the most beautiful in this city.
10. Sultan Abdul Samad Jamek Mosque
Behind the Sultan Abdul Samad building, don't miss the oldest mosque in Kuala Lumpur, Sultan Abdul Samad Jamek Mosque, which is located directly at the confluence of the two rivers that cross Kuala Lumpur - Klang and Gombak.
11. KL River of Life
Next to the Sultan Abdul Samad Jamek mosque, along the two rivers on whose confluence the mosque is located, you will find a beautiful promenade. This is called the River of Life, and it is a project to restore the banks of the two rivers that cross the city.
Walk along the rivers, admire the beauty of the buildings, feel the atmosphere and enjoy the entire landscape of this surprising and unexpectedly interesting city.
12. Kuala Lumpur Tower (Menara Kuala Lumpur)
My proposal is that, at sunset, you go up on the Turnul Kuala Lumpur, one of the tallest towers in the world, which has a height of 421 meters.
Why at sunset?
Because this way you will have the opportunity to enjoy the entire panorama of the city of Kuala Lumpur both during the day and at night, when a completely different city emerges, illuminated and alive!
To go up the tower, you have two types of tickets available, which you can purchase here: KL Tower Ticket in Kuala Lumpur.
- Observation Deck - this is the cheapest version of the ticket, it costs 7 euros per adult, but you will see the whole city from the inside, behind a window.
- Sky Deck - with this ticket you reach the highest level, and you have a superb, unobstructed view of the entire city. Optionally, you can also add an optional ticket to the two Sky Boxes. But keep in mind that, once in the skybox, you will have a limited time of 45 seconds for taking photos. And the waiting time to enter the Skybox can be long, sometimes as long as an hour. The ticket to Sky Deck, with Sky Box included, costs 25 euros / person.
In addition to the Petronas Twin Towers and the jungle of skyscrapers covering the city's sky, you will also notice here one of the largest towers in the world, which is still under construction - Merdeka 118.
13. KL Forest Eco Park
Before climbing the KL tower, you can also take a tour of the KL Forest Eco Park, located near the KL Tower.
This is an urban forest at the base of the tower, an oasis of greenery and a place where you can experience different trails among the trees, surrounded by rich nature and friendly monkeys.
Day 2
After seeing some of the most beautiful things in Kuala Lumpur on the first day, for the second day I suggest you visit the most attractive tourist attraction of the city, but also of Malaysia, namely the Batu Caves.
14. Batu Caves
Batu Caves, with its cheerful and colorful staircases, is Malaysia's most recognizable attraction. If we're being honest, it's also the main reason why we decided to visit Kuala Lumpur, although, honestly speaking, the rest of the city didn't disappoint us at all.
- Batu Caves is only 15 km away from the center of Kuala Lumpur. You can get here by train from KL Sentral, the central train station in KL, or by Grab. We recommend the Grab option, it is much more convenient, fast and easy, and from KLCC we paid only 4 euros.
- Batu Cave is, in fact, a Hindu temple dedicated to the god Murugan. A number of 272 steps, painted in all colors, are what enliven the general appearance of the entire religious complex.
- At the entrance of Batu Caves you will find the imposing gold statue of the god Murugan, which measures 42 meters high.
- Otherwise, the whole area is extremely colorful and with many elements specific to a Hindu temple, such as the various statues of elephants or cows, the sacred animal of the Hindu religion.
- But be careful to the monkeys! There are extremely many monkeys here, in general they are peaceful, but even so, try to avoid them and do not seek their attention.
- Entrance to Batu Caves is free.
- Near the Batu Caves there are two other cave temples, more colorful than the main cave. I recommend you not to miss these either, especially since they are extremely interesting and not at all crowded. Here you have to pay an entrance ticket, but the price is modest, 1-2 euros/person.
15. Infinity Pool in Kuala Lumpur
Do you know what is absolutely inadmissible to miss in Kuala Lumpur?
Take a swim in an infinity pool!
Indeed, it is not one of the activities that I would normally recommend in a city break, but in KL these infinity pools are so in trend that you have to try it for yourself too!
After a long and hot day spent at Batu Caves, for us this was the perfect relaxation! Especially because of the extraordinary view of the whole city seen from above.
In Kuala Lumpur, you will find numerous accommodations located in tall, skyscraper-type buildings, which offer such swimming pools on the upper floors. Look for such accommodations yourself, in order to have access to this facility.
Our accommodation, with free access to the infinity pool, was this: Scarletz KLCC Apartments by soulasia. A superb apartment located on the 33rd floor of a skyscraper near the Petronas Towers, with an absolutely wonderful view (we could see Petronas and KL Tower directly from the bed), which cost us only 45 euros/night.
16. Jalan Alor Food Street
In the evening we went out to Jalan Alor Food Street. Kuala Lumpur can also be a culinary destination, and Jalan Alor Food Street is its epicenter. Many tourists, but also locals, meet here and enjoy the diverse offer of Asian food: Malaysian, Indian, Chinese or Thai.
And at night, the atmosphere is extremely animated, with food stalls all over the street, music and a lot of noise.
But it's a place you can't miss, especially in the evening!
Day 3
Depending on how much time you have, there are other interesting tourist sites in Kuala Lumpur that can be visited. We admit, we did not have enough time to visit them, but nevertheless we want to mention them in this article, so that you can have a complete picture of the city.
17. Kampung Baru
Do you want to take a look at the old Kuala Lumpur, the one before the current modern era?
It is enough to cross the imaginary border of skyscrapers in the north of KL, separated by the Klang River, and you will reach Kampung Baru.
The neighborhood is one of the last remaining traditional areas in Kuala Lumpur, which managed to escape demolition and then the construction of new giant buildings. Here you can still find authentic architecture, Malaysian culture and traditional atmosphere. And the fact that, at just a bat's throw away, you can see dozens of huge towers and skyscrapers, it is all the more impressive how this corner of Malaysia has managed to survive over time.
18. The National Mosque of Malaysia
An important place of worship in Kuala Lumpur and Malaysia is the National Mosque of Malaysia, inaugurated in 1963.
Moscheea Nationala este deschisa vizitatorilor, iar accesul este gratuit.
19. Thean Hou Temple
Another place of worship, but this time belonging to the Buddhist religion, is the Templul Thean Hou, dedicated to the Sky Goddess Thean Hou. The temple is located on a hill, which offers a beautiful panorama over the city of Kuala Lumpur.
Access is free, and it is recommended that it be visited at sunset, to take part in the show offered by the multitude of lighted lamps.
20. Little India Brickfields
If you have visited the Chinese quarter, you may be interested in visiting the Indian one as well. Colorful buildings, stalls with authentic products and restaurants with Indian specifics are the words that best describe the neighborhood of Little India.
21. Perdana Botanical Garden
If you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and enjoy some fresh air, don't miss the Perdana Botanical Garden. You will find various tropical plants here, in a beautifully landscaped park.
Entrance to the garden is free.
22. Aquaria KLCC
Kuala Lumpur also has an aquarium that you can visit, located in the top 5 aquariums in Asia, according to Klook.com.
The entrance ticket costs 14 euros, and can be bought online here: Aquaria KLCC Ticket in Kuala Lumpur.
Where to stay in Kuala Lumpur
In Kuala Lumpur, accommodation is quite cheap.
The best accommodation areas are:
Some well-rated accommodations (above 9 rating on Booking.com) in this area would be:
- KLCC Platinum 2 by Hibernate – from 50 euros/night
- Anggun Residence KLCC – from 35 euros/night
- MOONWAY SUITES At EATON KLCC - from 100 euros/night
Some well-rated accommodations (above 9 rating on Booking.com) in this area would be:
- The Ress – The Axon Bukit Bintang Residence – from 50 euros/night
- citizenM Kuala Lumpur Bukit Bintang – from 55 euros/night
- Dorsett Suites City Center KL – from 150 euros/night
We recommend, however, accommodation in a skyscraper with access to the infinity pool. We had such accommodation: a wonderful apartment located on the 33rd floor of a skyscraper near the Petronas Towers, with an absolutely gorgeous view (we could see Petronas and KL Tower directly from the bed) and free access to the building's infinity pool. And the good part? For this accommodation we paid only 45 euros/night. Our accommodation was this: Scarletz KLCC Apartments by soulasia.
What to eat in Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is a paradise for foodies! It is a real gastronomic atlas, with numerous aromas, smells, ingredients, dishes, some of them being quite strange.
Este o destinatie aleasa de multi turisti tocmai datorita diversitatii gastronomice. Street food-ul malaysian este extrem de faimos, iar daca ajungi aici, chiar daca nu esti doritor sa incerci orice preparat neobisnuit pe care il vezi, curiozitatea tot trebuie sa ti-o hranesti si sa observi ce mananca alte popoare ale lumii.
Jalan Alor Food Street or hawker centers are the right places where you can experience Malaysian cuisine at affordable prices.
At the same time, the gastronomy of KL also reflects the ethnic diversity of the city, which is why you will find dishes popular in other Asian countries, including:
- Nasi Lemak - is considered the national dish of Malaysia, and consists of rice boiled in coconut milk, with boiled egg, sambal (a popular spicy sauce here), peanuts and chicken or beef
- Roti Canai – Indian dish, a type of thin bread, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside
- Satay - meat skewers (chicken or beef) served with rice and peanut or sambal sauce
- Ikan Bakar – grilled fish in a banana leaf and sprinkled with sambal
- Fried Banana – banana covered in dough and fried in oil, is a very popular dessert here
- Durian – the worst smelling fruit, very common in KL. You will often encounter the unmistakable smell of this fruit on the streets of the city
- Teh Tarik - the popular drink in Malaysia, a combination of sweetened tea with milk foam
Don't forget, if you don't want to eat spicy food, to always ask for not spicy food!
How much did our holiday in Kuala Lumpur cost
Kuala Lumpur was one of the cities visited in our extended trip to South East Asia. That is precisely why, in the expenses part, I will refer only to the expenses incurred in the city, without taking into account the transport to KL.
- Accommodation: 3 nights at Scarletz KLCC Apartments by soulasia: 139 euro
- Transport:
- Between the airport and the city, both ways: 40 euros
- Grab: 20 euros
- Bilete intrare:
- Petronas Twin Towers: 25 euros/person -> 50 euros/2 persons
- KL Tower: 25 euros/person -> 50 euros/2 persons
Food is generally quite cheap here. But without food and other additional expenses, such as souvenirs, we paid for 3 days in KL 300 euros / 2 people. Is it a lot, is it a little? I await your opinion in the comments.
Kuala Lumpur is a fascinating city, it impressed us with its tall, elegant and modern buildings, but also with its local authenticity and diversity. Whether you choose Kuala Lumpur as your main holiday destination, or give it a few days from a more extensive trip in Asia, as we did, the capital of Malaysia will never be a wrong choice!