Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: A Complete Travel Guide
Updated: Jan 19
Kuala Lumpur is located in the west of Peninsular Malaysia. It’s the bustling capital city and a true melting pot of cultures, with the majority of the population being Malay, Indian, and Chinese. For this reason, Kuala Lumpur enjoys an incredible diversity, expressed through its delicious cuisine, iconic landmarks, and modern skyscrapers mixed with colonial architecture. In this travel guide, we share 10 of the best things to do in Kuala Lumpur as well as great places to stay, eat, and drink.
Check out our video about Kuala Lumpur to see the best things to do through our camera!
Best Things To Do In Kuala Lumpur
Visit The Batu Caves
Discover The Street Food Scene at Jalan Alor or Kampung Baru (Go on a Food Tour)
Walk Around KL Forest Eco Park
Admire The Skyline (Vertigo Bar at Banyan Tree, SkyBar at Traders Hotel, or the KL Tower observation deck)
Visit The Petronas Twin Towers (Book entry tickets in advance)
Party At Changkat Bukit Bintang
Stroll Around Chinatown
Visit The Thean Hao Temple
Shop At the Cultural Bazaar (Pasar Seni)
Spend Time At KLCC Park (Lake Symphony hosts a light show here. It only lasts about 10 minutes and usually starts at 8, 9 and 10pm)
Places To Stay In Kuala Lumpur
Ascott Star KLCC ($$$): 700 metres from Petronas Twin Towers with infinity pool and incredible views
Mocha suites at suasana ($$): Close to the KLCC and has a pool
Santa Grand Classic ($): Clean rooms well-located in Chinatown
Places To Eat And Drink In Kuala Lumpur
Tapak Urban Street Dining: outdoor food court
Satay Sri Melaka Lembah Keramat: local satay restaurant (quite far out of the city center)
Kampung Baru
Restoran Yut Kee: a popular spot for char kway teow, a stir-fried flat rice noodle dish. A plate of char kway teow here costs around RM5.50
Nasi Kandar Pelita: a well-known chain for nasi kandar, a rice dish served with a variety of curries and side dishes. A plate of nasi kandar here costs around RM6.
Jalan Alor: a street lined with hawker stalls selling all sorts of Malaysian food, from char kway teow to satay to laksa. You can find a meal here for as low as RM3.
Restoran Abdullah: a no-frills restaurant that serves up delicious Malay food. The beef rendang is a popular dish here, and it costs around RM10.
Restoran Ming Kee: a Chinese restaurant that serves up affordable dim sum. You can get a basket of dim sum for around RM5.
Sri Nirwana Maju: a vegetarian restaurant that serves up a variety of Indian and Malaysian dishes. A plate of nasi biryani here costs around RM6.
Kedai Kopi Low Yat: a coffee shop that serves up classic Malaysian dishes like roti canai and nasi lemak. A plate of roti canai here costs around RM3.
Restoran Sin Chew Kee: a Chinese restaurant that serves up delicious noodles. The wonton mee here is a popular dish, and it costs around RM6.
Restoran Wong Kee: is a seafood restaurant that serves up fresh seafood at affordable prices. A plate of fried fish here costs around RM10.
Restoran Wanjo Nasi Lemak is a popular spot for nasi lemak, a Malaysian dish of rice cooked in coconut milk and pandan leaves. The restaurant is also known for its other Malay dishes, such as chicken rendang and satay.
Nobu Kuala Lumpur: a Japanese restaurant that was founded by celebrity chef Nobu Matsuhisa. The restaurant serves up innovative Japanese cuisine with a Peruvian twist.
THIRTY8 Restaurant, Bar & Lounge: a restaurant and bar located on the 38th floor of the Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur. The restaurant offers panoramic views of the city and serves up contemporary international cuisine.
Mantra Rooftop Bar: a rooftop bar with stunning views of the city. The bar serves up cocktails, wine, and beer, and there is often live music.
Pahit: a cocktail bar that focuses on using local ingredients. The bar's cocktails are creative and delicious, and the atmosphere is relaxed and stylish.
Havana Bar & Grill is a popular spot for cocktails and Latin American food. The bar has a lively atmosphere and is a great place to go for a night out.
Vertigo Bar at Banyan Tree: good for drinks with a view. There is also a restaurant below called Horizon Grill with luscious cuts of meat and premium seafood.
Map Kuala Lumpur
Find all the places to go, eat, drink, and stay in Kuala Lumpur on Google Maps. To follow and save the list, do the following:
Tap on the link to open it (click button below)
Tap Follow. This list will now be added to the group of lists you follow.
Optional: To unfollow a list someone shared with you, tap the list Saved.
If you follow the list we made, all our saved places of Kuala Lumpur will show up in Your Places. The places will also appear as suggested locations in Google Maps.
Use These Websites To Save Money On Your Trip To Kuala Lumpur
Booking.com for places to stay
Skyscanner for cheap flights
GetYourGuide for local tours
Rentalcars.com for affordable car rentals
Are you having a hard time planning your trip to Kuala Lumpur? Get our Interactive Travel Planner to keep it all organized.
Need more travel inspiration? Check out our other destinations and articles on Malaysia:
