Kuala Lumpur is the capital and largest city in Malaysia. Its social flair and cultural vibrance make it a unique experience. Located on Peninsular Malaysia, the city is home to a diverse range of religions and ethnicities. Modern public transport options make it relatively easy to get around.
Top 5 things to do:
Petronas Towers (KLCC park)
The Petronas Towers, the largest building in the world until 2004, is top of the list for most visitors to Kuala Lumpur. To get there, take the MRT to KLCC station. Before you head to the front of the towers for the iconic photo, walk around the other side of this building and explore KLCC park for some truly spectacular views.
KLCC park
As soon as you arrive in the park it will feel as though you have been transported to another place. While the tall skyscrapers which surround the park are still visible from most places here, the views from within this area provide unexpected tranquillity amongst such a bustling metropolitan area. KLCC park is filled with winding footpaths, vibrant greenery, and quaint bridges. It is worth taking the time to follow the footpath around the park, where every so often you will unexpectedly catch a glimpse of the Petronas Towers through the trees.
“KLCC park is filled with winding footpaths, vibrant greenery, and quaint bridges”
The iconic photo
Back to reality, head to the other side of the Petronas Towers to grab your iconic photo looking up at the building. This area is almost always filled with tourists, as well as touts trying to sell wide angle clip on lens’ which take a better shot. For the best angle, keep walking away from the towers, past the water feature, and through the large groups gathered trying to take their own photos. Due to the number of tourist and touts, gaining the perfect selfie with the Petronas Towers behind can be tricky.
Le Nouvel KLCC
For something a little different, take a look at Le Nouvel KLCC before you head back on the MRT at KLCC station. It has a rustic appearance and is wrapped with greenery which grips the building all the way to its peak. This structure is a compelling sight which is home to a number of luxury apartments.
Petaling Street Market
Petaling Street is in the heart of Chinatown. It contains a bustling market which sell a variety of legitimate, or not so legitimate, goods and services. In addition, there are a variety of food stalls and cafes. To get to Petaling Street Market, take the LRT to Pasar Seni station. The market is a short walk from here. Petaling Street Market is a popular and reliable option for tourists dining out.
Shopping and food
It is difficult not to get lost wandering through the market with its many busy side streets. For shopping, Petaling Street Market is a place where you can buy anything from a genuine designer watch, to a couple of cheap fridge magnets. For food, cafes on the main drags are frequented by tourists and the service you receive reflects this. Large menus with plenty of images are common, making it a perfect place to eat if you like playing it safe when ordering.
“It is difficult not to get lost wandering through the market with its many busy side streets”
Staying in Chinatown: Need a launderette?
If you decide to stay in the Chinatown area, and need a launderette, you will find a perfect place located 280m and a 4-minute walk away from Petaling Street Market. It is listed on Google as, Family Laundry, and located on Jalan Hang Kasturi street.
This laundrette is cheap, open twenty-four hours, and monitored by CCTV cameras. In addition, the entrance to Central Market Kuala Lumpur, a modern indoor shopping area with a large number of shops and cafes, is located almost opposite the launderette.
Helipad bar
The Helipad Bar is the perfect place to catch a glimpse of Kuala Lumpur’s iconic skyline. It is a relatively cheaper alternative than some other tourist viewpoints in the city, and has amazing views around sunset. The Menara Kuala Lumpur is expensive, and an epic journey in itself to reach. The Petronas Towers are an option, but why would you go up the towers when you really want to see them!
Getting to the Helipad: Grab
Public transport options are limited around where the Helipad Bar is located. Instead, take a Grab. If you are in Asia and not using Grab, you really should be. Grab works much in the same way as Uber, but is comparatively cheaper for most visiting. Also, if you plan on dressing up for the evening, taking a Grab will save you a long walk from the closest station- and from getting very sweaty before your night even begins.
“If you are in Asia and not using Grab, you really should be”
How to access the Helipad
When you arrive at the unassuming building which houses the Helipad Bar, head inside and make your way to the 34th floor. Here, you will find an inside bar area. To access the seating area on the helipad itself, you will need to buy a drink from this bar first.
If you are only here for the view, this might feel counterproductive. However, even if you do not plan on spending an entire night up there enjoying cocktails, view this as simply paying the cost of a single drink to access the helipad. Once up top, there is another small bar on the edge of the helipad and an plenty of seating. While drinks here are certainly not the cheapest in Kuala Lumpur, even the cost of a Mojito is significantly less than the cost of a ticket to go up the Petronas Towers or Menera Kuala Lumpur.
The best time to go: Sunset
For the best experience, head to the Helipad Bar just before sunset. The uninterrupted views around the city, including of the Petronas Towers, are simply a must see when visiting Kuala Lumpur.
The helipad itself will become busy from sunset onwards as more people arrive to wind down for the evening and catch up with friends. If you are considering this for a special occasion or going with a large group, it is possible to reserves a table near the edge.
Dress code
If you are simply going to enjoy the view, or just for sunset, then don’t worry about the dress code. However, if you plan on arriving late evening, or spending an entire night here, then as with elsewhere in Asia at more formal bars, your dress code should reflect this.
Batu Caves
Batu Caves are a welcome escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. To get there, head to KL Sentral and take the train to Batu Caves station. The journey from KL Sentral to Batu Caves station takes around thirty minutes. However, you may find yourself waiting almost as long as this just to catch the train there or when coming back. Something to consider for those with more limited time in the city.
How much?
Due to the secluded location and popularity of this attraction, everything is more expensive around the caves. Almost everyone arriving in this station will be heading in the same direction. It is only a short walk from the station exit to the bottom of the steps which lead up to the caves.
The next step, is to conquer the large number of steps to the top. Don’t underestimate this climb – especially in that heat! There is hardly any shade on the way up, so consider taking a hat, scarf, or umbrella with you. There are no toilets at the top – so be prepared!
Step, steps, and more steps
The iconic view from the bottom of the steps is a unique sight in itself. Yet the real treat arrives when you make it to the top and make your way to the back of the caves. To the rear, there is a large opening. You will be almost entirely surrounded by the caves as you look up to the sky. Experiencing the sunlight breaking through and illuminating the luscious greenery on the rocks around you is truly spectacular. The view from here is worth the effort to get there.
Bukit Bintang
Bukit Bintang will either be an entirely new experience for you, or much of the same. For those who have visited Khao San Road in Bangkok or Pham Ngu Lao Street in Ho Chi Minh City, it will be much of the same. Bukit Bintang falls somewhere in between these two. However, if you are new to the region, or new to iconic nightlife scenes in general, then it will be an intriguing new experience.
Food
For food, head to Jalon Alor. An experience in itself to walk down. Packed out restaurants on either side are filled with small crowded tables. Food is also reasonably priced for such a popular tourist area. If you just want to grab a quick bite to eat while walking, the top of the street is packed with small food stalls which sell local snacks and fresh fruit.
“Packed out restaurants on either side are filled with small crowded tables”
Drink
If you are planning to grab a couple of drinks, head to Changkat in Bukit Bintang. This long street is packed full of bars offering ever changing drink deals, and a large number of the usual Asian massage parlours. The bars on the main drag here can be expensive, even with the many daily offers they have on. If you want to stay on this main strip for the night, consider jumping between bars to take advantage of the best drinks offers. Alternatively, check out one of the side streets slightly off Changkat. Here you will discover bars which consistently offer cheaper drinks due to their distance from the main street.
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