Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia, is an emerging, culturally diverse city that is on the rise among tourists. Kuala Lumpur is a mix of Chinese, Indian and Malay people which is the reason why the food is fantastic and English is a commonly spoken language. The city is well-known for its skyscrapers and shopping malls but it has so much more to offer. Follow this 3-day guide with Things To Do in Kuala Lumpur.

• Day 1 – Hidden Kuala Lumpur
• Day 2 – Cultures in Kuala Lumpur
• Day 3 – Kuala Lumpur Highlights
• Best time to visit
• Getting around
• Where to stay

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Day 1 – Hidden Kuala Lumpur

The first full day in Kuala Lumpur is meant to give you a surprising taste of the city. The city is similar to Singapore just much more affordable.

1. Batu Caves, the rainbow stair

Rise and shine in the early morning to visit the colorful Batu Caves. Enter the enormous Batu Caves via a 272-step rainbow-colored stair up to the limestone hill. In front of the caves is a large gold-colored statue.

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Oh and don’t have anything hanging out of your bag because the sneaky little monkies will try to take it. The Batu Caves are easy to reach by Grab Taxi or local bus. Tip: It is best to avoid a visit during weekends and public holidays.

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2. Walk bridges in the Eco Forest

In the center of the city, hidden from the busy streets, multiple hanging bridges are creating a walking route through the forest. The relatively short and fun eco-walk is a great thing to do in Kuala Lumpur and free to enter. Important to know is the right entrance to the park. 

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3. Lunch at Leaf & Co.

You must be hungry after that walking. Recharge with a delicious lunch at Leaf & Co. They offer delicious local and western dishes. We highly recommend the chicken satay sandwich.

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4. Sultan Abdul Samad and Merdeka Square

Merdeka Square is a small green square that owns a 95-meter high flagpole with the Malaysian flag. That is where independence for Malaysia started. Nowadays, the stretch of green is occupied by locals relaxing in the afternoon.

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Right in front of Merdeka Square is one of Kuala Lumpur’s most beautiful buildings; Sultan Abdul Samad. Have a walk around this former courthouse. On the backside is a walk along the river.

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5. Visit the Most Hidden cafe in Kuala Lumpur

There is one cafe in Kuala Lumpur what is so hidden that you would never find it without the guidebooks or a local who tells you. Merchant’s Lane Cafe can be entered via a tiny blue door next to a local newspaper store. It is a great place to relax, have a coffee or a bite.
Merchant’s Lane Cafe is a 15-minute walk from Merdeka Square.

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Day 2 – Cultures in Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur is a city of many cultures. No matter what religion, race, culture and skin color, everyone is living in harmony, sitting on the same table and respect each other. We can see this on day two of our Kuala Lumpur Guide.

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5. Thean Hou Temple

With its six levels, Thean Hou is one of southeast Asia’s largest Chinese temples. Build on a small hilltop just outside the main center you can overlook the entire city from the temple top.

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Have an incredible relaxing wake-up moment on the top of the temple at 7:30 AM when there are no other visitors. One of our favorite things to do in Kuala Lumpur.
The entrance is free; there is a donation box inside the temple.

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6. Little India

If you love Indian food, this is the place to go to. In the evening, the streets will be filled with small restaurants selling tasty dishes. Little India, also known as Brickfields is located just a few minutes from KL Sentral, the city’s main railway station.

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7. Lunch at VCR

VCR is a cool minimalistic look lunch cafe and considered as one of the best coffee cafes in Kuala Lumpur. They offer a tasty breakfast and lunch and the yummiest carrot cake we had in Kuala Lumpur. VCR is a bit dislocated but surely worth the visit.

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8. Markets in Kuala Lumpur

No matter if you are looking for a souvenir or a pair of imitation Nike shoes, Central Market and Petaling Street Market in Chinatown are great for this kind of shopping. Different from Chinatown, Central Market is inside and feels a bit like a flea market.

Also read: The Best Market in Bangkok

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9. Shop till you drop

Kuala Lumpur owns enormous shopping malls with all your favorite brands. The mega malls like Pavilion and KL Sentral are the most popular. For anything from food, electronics, and fashion, visit Pavilion and get lost.

Tip: Nearby Pavilion Shopping Mall is a small tasty lunch spot named Purple Miao.

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10. Jalan Alor Night Market

The best street found in Kuala Lumpur can be found at Jalan Alor Night Market. Right after the sun has set loads of food stalls open their doors. Taste the real Malaysian cuisines for cheap prices.

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Day 3 – Kuala Lumpur highlights

The last day includes great things to do in Kuala Lumpur. An unknown mosque, the best local lunch, and the world-famous Petronas Towers.

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11. Wilayah Mosque – One of our favorite Things To Do in Kuala Lumpur

In 2000, the Wilayah Mosque opened its doors. The architecture of the Wilayah Mosque, also known as the Federal Territory Mosque, is inspired by the Blue Mosque of Istanbul in Turkey.

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The details on the walls and ceilings in this huge complex will make your jaw drop. During the morning you probably see just a handful of others tourist, which makes it one of the most unestimated things to do in Kuala Lumpur.

The entrance is free and they provide clothing for men and women to cover up appropriately.

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12. Lunch local

Ali, Muthu & Ah Hock Kopitiam offer the best Malaysian breakfast and lunch such as the Nasi Lemak Ayam and Hainanese Chicken Rice. Expect to pay around 12 MYR (2.85 USD) for these yummy dishes. Ali, Muthu & Ah Hock Kopitiam is small and gets packed quickly so being there a little before lunchtime is the smartest choice.

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13. Perdana Botanical Garden

The Perdana Botanical Garden of Kuala Lumpur offers a refreshing walk through the park away from the buzzing city. Walking around the entire park takes about an hour featuring many flora and fauna, art, deer, and birds.

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There is no entrance fee, however, the bird park or butterfly garden have their own entry fee.

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14. Petronas Towers

The Petronas Towers are the second-highest twin towers of the world and the famous landmark of Malaysia. In the evening these 452-meter high towers are lit for an even more beautiful impression. The KLCC Park on the backside of the towers offers a beautiful view of the Petronas Towers. Get your tickets online.

Tip: Traveling with children? KLCC park features a large playground with open-air swimming pool.

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15. Rooftop bar

Kuala Lumpur offers a handful of rooftop bars overlooking the city. The Helipad Lounge is an active helicopter landing platform which changes into a bar after 6 PM. Get a drink and have a nice sunset on from the 36th floor.

Dress code: Casual from 6 – 8 PM.

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Best time to visit Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur is a year-round destination with temperatures between 25 – 35 degrees. From December till March there is a bigger chance for short rain and thunderstorms.  

Getting around Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur has made it easy to get to and around the city. Grab, Gojek motorbikes, Metro, Train, Taxis, and local buses are all available.

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Kuala Lumpur International Airport

You either arrive at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) or KLIA2. The train that connects both locations takes you to KL Sentral in about 30-minutes. The price of a ticket is 55 MYR (13 USD).

Getting around the city

The easiest and most affordable way to get around Kuala Lumpur is by metro. It is best to check your destination by Metro on Google Maps. If it includes a lot of walking, you might want to consider Grab Taxi instead.

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How much does Kuala Lumpur cost?

🏨 Guesthouse: 15 USD per night
🛏️ Airbnb: 20 – 60 USD per night
🛎️ Hotel: 30 – 100 USD per night
🍛 Lunch / Dinner: 2 – 15 USD
📡 Sim card: 8 USD (6GB)
🚌 Transportation: 15 USD per day

Sim card in Kuala Lumpur

To use services like Grab or Google Maps to find your way in the city you will need to have a sim card. We recommend MAXIS who offers a 30-day 6 GB data bundle for 35 MYR (~ 8 USD).

Where to stay in Kuala Lumpur

Bukit Bintang and Brickfields are the two main areas to find a hotel in Kuala Lumpur. They are close to the city center, connected to the metro and some sights are doable by foot. 

Airbnb is also an affordable option; Get your Airbnb discount.