Kuala Lumpur Travel Guide

Halfway along the Malay peninsula on the western coast, the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur is an intoxicating jumble of Indian, Chinese, Malay and colonial influences that are evident in everything from the architecture to the food. For most tourists, Chinatown and Little India are the best places to head given their abundant hotels and restaurants. With its two Petronas Towers, KL is a city that is clearly on the rise with much to offer visitors, not least some great shopping and increasingly vibrant nightlife.

A good place to kick off a stay in Kuala Lumpur is at the Petronas Towers, where you can view the city from the observation deck on the 41st floor, go shopping on the bottom levels and get a good feel of modern Malaysia. The city’s religious buildings are unsurprisingly varied given the many cultures that call KL home. The 100-year old Jamek Mosque is one of the most impressive with its large domes and intricate detail, while Sze Ya Temple is the best-known Chinese place of worship in the city, dating back to 1882. Indians flock to the Batu Caves just north of the city, which have housed Hindu shrines since their discovery at the end of the 19th century.

For the best of KL’s shopping, head to Berjaya Times square, a mall on a monumental scale featuring 10 floors of stores, restaurants and even an indoor theme park complete with a roller coaster. For shopping a little less grandiose, Jalan Petaling Market in Chinatown offers good value and plenty of counterfeit items. This area is great for food, with a number of outdoor restaurants serving Chinese noodles, stir-frys and skewers.

Kuala Lumpur Attractions

Petronas Towers: good views of the city and great, upscale shopping along with a picturesque park to the rear.

Sze Ya Temple: the oldest Chinese temple in Kuala Lumpur and a haven for local worshippers.

Batu Caves: cavernous rock formations beset with Hindu shrines make this destination, less than 10 miles north of a KL, a worthwhile trip.

Berjaya Times square: shopping on a gigantic scale with a theme park thrown in for good measure.

Bukit Bintang: a wide range of restaurants, bars and nightclubs make this area and its environs KL’s entertainment capital.

Chinatown: vast selections of sports brand names and Louis Vuitton and Chanel handbags; counterfeit of course.