Itineraries for Your Trip to Kuala Lumpur
1 Day in Kuala Lumpur for First Timers
For years, Kuala Lumpur has been my stopover destination of choice when traveling between New Zealand or Australia and elsewhere in Asia. It’s the ideal city-break destination. Multicultural, relaxed, culturally and historically interesting, and a good value, the capital of Malaysia offers something for everyone.
When I’m short on time, I head straight to lunch or dinner, to enjoy some Malay noodle soup or South Indian curry. When I have a bit longer, KL’s rich museums and wildlife parks are a great place to while away a few hours. Here’s how I recommend spending one full day in Kuala Lumpur if it’s your first time in the city.
If you only have time for one thing, make it a lunch or dinner; Malaysians love their food, and you can find a huge range of tasty Malaysian, Chinese, and Indian dishes.
Kuala Lumpur is hot and humid year-round, but it tends to be wettest between October and April; find an air-conditioned museum or restaurant if the heat becomes too much.
To start your day, head north of the central city to the impressive Batu Caves. This collection of natural caves in the hills around Kuala Lumpur are a sacred site to the local Tamil population, and you’ll be greeted by a giant golden statue of Lord Murugan when you arrive. Climb the colorfully painted steps up to the caves, and you’ll find shrines inside—and a few bats. The views back to KL are good from here, too.
Need some air-conditioned comfort, head to the food court on the top floor of the Central Market (Pasar Seni); alternatively, grab some street food from one of the many open-air stalls around Chinatown. When you’re done eating, spend the rest of the afternoon in the excellent Islamic Arts Museum, the Bird Park, or the Butterfly Park, depending on your interests. They’re all quite close together and easy to reach by train or taxi.
An evening tour is a great way to see some of KL’s most magnificent buildings lit up after dark. The highlight is the Petronas Twin Towers, which were officially the tallest buildings in the world between 1996 and 2003. You can also go up to their viewing decks; just make sure to buy tickets in advance. Evening tours also often take you to some of the city’s best street food markets. As a predominantly Muslim city, Kuala Lumpur doesn’t have much of a drinking nightlife culture, but the food culture more than makes up for it.
