Despite the fact that a lot of tourists love traveling to Kuala Lumpur, there are very few who, apart from shopping, are actually aware of the many pleasant surprises the city has to offer. From gazing at the iconic super skyscrapers of the Petronas Twin Towers, to diving in the company of sharks, here is a definitive list of things to do and experience in Kuala Lumpur that make this city all the more unique.
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KLCC Park
This without any doubt the most popular and visited place in Kuala Lumpur. The large park, the brainchild of a Brazilian architect, and its surroundings feature among others the twenty-first-century marvel known as the Petronas Twin Towers. There are sign boards and vantage points indicating spots which offer the best angles for photographs of these beauties designed by an Argentinean architect.
Chin Woo Stadium, Kuala Lumpur
If the views of the thriving city from the Sky Bridge of the KLCC have been breathtaking, then the panorama of the heritage buildings and the surrounding greenery from a secluded nook of the Chin Woo Stadium will leave you spellbound. Inside this indoor arena located in Jalan Hang Jebat, visitors can witness Wushu performances in the company of veterans, endeavoring to keep the ancient sport alive.
Genting Skywalk near Kuala Lumpur
The Gentings skyway is an extremely efficient and fast mono cable car system, transporting people to the Genting Highlands from Selangor. This interesting ride showcases lush green scenery as it moves through the mist of the highlands. For a thrilling experience opt for a glass-bottom gondola that provides incredible views of the foliage from all angles.
Aquaria KLCC
This aquarium houses more than 5000 marine animals and is literally an ocean in the middle of a landlocked city. The feeding time and the diving with the sharks are the key features here. Book in advance if you wish to swim alongside the sand tiger sharks or for added safety, come face to face with them from inside an underwater cage.
Tamarind Springs, Kuala Lumpur
Nestled conveniently inside the Ampang Nature Forest reserve, Tamarind Springs allows diners to relish contemporary Indochinese cuisine in a real wild boar territory. Just a fifteen minute ride away from the hectic metropolis, this quiet and secluded fine dining restaurant will make for a unique experience for the food and nature enthusiast.
Batu Caves, Kuala Lumpur
The Batu Caves are an important tourist attraction in Selangor and are the site of a Hindu temple and a shrine. the caves attract a large number of worshippers, especially during the Thaipusam festival of the Hindus. This outcrop of limestone is situated just north of Kuala Lumpur and can be reached by car, taxi or commuter train. A heady climb up the steep 272 stairs takes visitors to the top of the caves to view the skyline of Kuala Lumpur.
KL Bird Park
This 21-acre public aviary, lies right in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, in the scenic lake gardens area. Billed as the world’s largest free-flight walk-in aviary, visitors can take selfies with owls and parrots while feeding the peacocks and hornbills, all this in surroundings that hardly feel that their flight movements are in any way inhibited.
A lot of these things can be done even if you have one day in Kuala Lumpur and if you have more, you can even indulge in a few day-trips from Kuala Lumpur.
Getting here:
- Kuala Lumpur is the capital city of Malaysia and is widely connected to the rest of the world by flights. It is one of the key airports that connect East Asia and the rest of the world
- Once in Kuala Lumpur, you can opt for either the Metro rail or Uber Taxis or even the public buses to get to these attractions.
Travel Tips:
- Check this post for your Visa requirements to Kuala Lumpur.
- There are plenty of hotels available in Kuala Lumpur in all possible budgets. You can refer to this site to review and book your place of stay.
- Kuala Lumpur is often a transit airport for many who are headed to places within Malaysia like Penang or outside like Bali. In case you have a long layover, you might want to consider staying at Tune Hotel KLIA.
This Post is authored by Jyotsana Ramani. Jo as she is called, is a passionate globetrotter, wildlife enthusiast, thrill seeker and writer. She can be found on her blog - Wander with Jo
Kuala Lumpur is an excellent city escape because the city has so much to offer! I have been there a couple of days but unfortunately we never went to the Batu caves or the KL Bird park! What a shame!
There is always a next time 🙂
I had been to Kuala Lumpur upteen times but mostly on work. So, whatever time i got I could only manage to see the KLCC Park, Sky Walk and Batur Caves. There’s so much more to see in and around the city. Perhaps this year I’ll explore it more.
Yep, on your next trip you can definitely do the rest.
I had no idea there were so many amazing things to see in Kuala Lumpar. I only went up the towers but evidently I need to return to see more of what is on offer. HappyNew Year
Indeed, there is so much more to see in KL. Hope you manage to return for the same.
You have some good suggestion on here for Kuala Lumpur. I love tt is there and it is one of my favourite places to visit when I head back to Australia. I use as a base and I never get sick of going there. I have always wanted to go back to Batu cave and it is definitely on the list for next time. I would also like to try the gent skyway that looks and sounds pretty cool too.
Glad I have you set for the next trip or transit to KL. Cheers
Also if there is a race going on at Sepang Circuit it is really worth going. They always have events there and it is only 30 minutes by bus and close to the airport. Check out their event calendar at their website. I loooooooove KL
That is a nice suggestion too. Thanks for the same. Cheers
I’ve been to KL many times but never heard of or visited the Chin Woo stadium. I would definitely get there for a sports event. I would love to take a stadium tour too, I don’t know if that’s possible? Nevertheless Chin Woo is the first place I’ll visit next time I touch down in KL.
Glad you have found something different to do this time. Cheers and thanks for stopping by
Hi Jo,
Great to see you here! Big fan of KL although we did not do too much in the city. We tend to see the local malls and enjoy $3 USD movie. At least a few years ago it was 😉 The Bird Park looks fun; definitely up my alley too as I grew up with a house filled with parrots as a kid. Thanks for the rocking share.
Ryan
Thanks Ryan for stopping by . Going with Jo’s recommendation, I think you should go ahead and visit the Birdpark. Bet you will love it and get all nostalgic given your penchant for birds.
I thought that Malaysia being a Muslim majority nation , no other religion’s worship places would not be there . but after seeing the pictures from Batu caves , I admit that I was wrong . Great pictures with introduction
Malaysia maybe be a dominantly Muslim country but it has a sizable population of Hindus, Christians and Chinese Taoists. You will find representations of all these here. 🙂
Wow I want to see all of these. Wondering if 1 week would suffice to cover them all. Halted at KL twice but didn’t have the good fortune of touring the city. Great post Jo!
Thanks Indrani. I hope you can visit again.
Looks like there is so much more to do in KL then just the Petronas tower. Have been to Malaysia so many times but never got a chance to do sightseeing in KL . Nice read
Thanks Swati. Guess the next time it is.
Awesome article and images. By reading this article I got to know more information about Kuala Lumpur. Thank you so much for sharing this.
Thank you Vihas. Glad you enjoyed the article.
Wow! What a fantastic post! KL has some wonderful places to visit. Hope to cover them sometime!
Thanks Kala. KL is quite fascinating once you go beyond the regular city.
The Batu Caves sound very interesting I would love to visit there!so does the gentings skyway, I love gondola rides and take them wherever I go to get a birds-eye view of the landscape. Fantastic list.
Thank you Sam
Can’t believe we didn’t do the Skyway! Now really feel like we have missed out! We loved our visit to KL and was even better because we have a friend staying there showing us around. Have to go back to see the Batu Caves, didn’t have the time 🙁
There is always a next time and I hope you can discover more than these. 🙂
This is a great list of things to do! I’d love to explore the Batu Caves, and that gondola ride in the sky looks like such an adventure. It looks like such a beautiful and fun place to wander around and discover. Someday soon I’ll go, hopefully!
I hope you do and soon. Cheers
Ah, this reminded me of climbing the stairs at Batu Caves – its was a stretch but well worth it. The caves and cave temples are beautiful, and the Giant Murugan unbelievable. Even bird walk is a good to walk place, specially the Aviary. Missed the Tamarind Springs, did not know about them.
Hope you can catch Tamarind springs the next time on. Cheers
Ah! Have been to KL so many times that all these places look familiar to me! 🙂 And also my favourites.
You haven’t mentioned KL Tower which is yet another gem of KL. In fact Bukit Bintang, China town, Royal Selangor, Putra Jaya are some more places if you’d like to add. 🙂
Definitely adding those to the list. Thanks Nisha
I love KL! I’ve been there a bunch of times and I always enjoy it. My favourite thing to do in KL is probably anything to do with food, although I loved Batu Caves and the Bird Park like you mentioned. One of my other favourite memories from KL is visiting the Islamic Art Museum. It’s serene, beautiful, cool, and full of wonderful art. I highly recommend 🙂
Good to know that you enjoy KL. I suppose the city is that vibrant that you cannot feel any other way. Thanks for stopping by
I’ve never been to KL, but my grandparents have a few times as a stopover location on route to Oz, and to be honest I never though much more about it. But your post has shown me there is so much more to the city! I would definitely love to visit the Batu Caves, that would be top of my bucket list!
Thanks Sam. I hope you plan a visit soon.
I’ve never been to Kuala Lampur, and one of the reasons to visit would certainly be to gaze at and photograph the Petronas Towers…and get the view of the city from up top too 🙂 Didn’t know Batu caves were so close by too…seems like I need to finally visit the city 🙂
I hope you do Sid. Maybe 2018
This is an interesting post for me because I went to KL on a cruise and had hardly 6-7 hours in which I was able to cover a few things but missed out on so many! One of the biggest regrets I had was that I didn’t make it to Batu Caves, they look beautiful. Also, Genting Highlands. I know I’m going to have to return!
I am sure you will return given that KL is a link to the east and west. Thanks for the lovely comment Medha. Cheers
Kuala Lumpur seems like a good stop over in Malaysia. In particular I am fascinated to the Petrona towers. We would love visiting and doing some photography there. Batu Caves and Genting sky walk are the other attractive options here in the city.
Indeed Suruchi. KL is a great stopover option – one you cant get bored in
I always have stopovers in KL but never actually go out and explore the city. There looks like some great things to do there. I especially love the look of the sky walk and I have always wanted to do Batu Caves. How long would you recommend staying in KL for?
I would say 2-3 days is good at the minimum
This post seems really interested and you really compiled a great information that you tempted me of making a soon visit to this city of lights.
I hope you do visit soon.
Thanks for the info on Visa, there is certainly a lot of confusing information online about the visa process. This eNTRI visa seems much better than going the VFS route
Glad to be of help Kshitij. Have a good trip.
Dam, I missed out on the skywalk on my last visit to KL. I done hte other things so next time I am passing through the city (i am always transferring through KL) then I will check this out. KL is such an amazing city.
It sure is Danik. Glad you found something different to try when you head here again. 🙂