6 of the Best Things To Do in Kuala Lumpur
You'll want to add these items to your list when visiting the futuristic city!
Kuala Lumpur is known for being one of the most modern cities in the world. With its futuristic skyscrapers and traditional buildings mixed with stunning green spaces, you should stop by this city if you're in Southeast Asia. Earlier this past month, I visited the metropolis, its insane malls, beautiful parks, and food markets. I was amazed by its diversity: the traditional is combined with the contemporary. Futuristic skyscrapers are surrounded by lush gardens. Mosques and Hindu temples share the city. And you can find local street food carts next to opulent restaurants. There's something for everyone in KL. Here's a list of some of the best things I did on my trip there..
1. Petronas Towers and KLCC Park
These 88-story tall twin towers are the most iconic buildings in Kuala Lumpur. They were the tallest buildings in the world from 1998 to 2004 until the completion of Taipei 101 in 2005. But they are still the tallest twin towers in the world!
I have to admit that they were not as massive as I imagined them to be, but they were spectacular. The façade is covered in bright metal, making them shine as if they were straight out of the film Metropolis.
We didn't go up to the observation deck on the 86th floor, as my partner has a deadly fear of heights. Still, I think it may be worth paying the 80 RM (approximately USD 17 at the time of writing) to take an elevator up there for what I’ve heard is a spectacular view of the city.
On our visit, we did go into the luxurious mall at the base of the towers, the Suria KLCC. Malays put a whole new level to the saying "Shop ‘till you drop”, going to the mall is almost a national sport in Malaysia. When we went, it was packed (along with every other mall we stumbled into)! It was filled with designer shops and elegant restaurants, but also more accessible stores like Muji and Uniqlo. We ended up eating at the food court twice as the variety of Malaysian and other Asian food there was terrific. There's also a beautiful view of KLCC park from the food court. I recommend sitting at one of the tables facing the park to enjoy the greenery.
After exploring the mall, we went down to KLCC Park. The green space contrasts with the rest of the concrete jungle. It's a rich tropical garden filled with palm trees, shrubs, and flowers. Twenty-three of the trees and flora chosen for KLCC park are rare or endangered, so they were put there to be conserved. The park also features a waterfall and an artificial lake. It's worth taking an hour-long stroll through the park.
Every day there's a fountain light show with music at the KLCC lake (called Lake Symphony) at 8 pm, 9 pm, and 10 pm. If you miss it, there are also light-only shows at 7:30 pm, 8:30 pm, and 9:30 pm. We sat near the lake for about an hour at around 7:30, catching three of the shows!
2. The Batu Caves
This series of temples is the crown jewel of the Kuala Lumpur area. Before going, I thought it might be a tourist trap or a spot for Instagram pictures, but I was so wrong! It's absolutely spectacular. You can take the Komuter train from the city center (or a cheap Grab) to get there. Once you're there, you go through the main gate and are greeted by the rainbow-colored 272-step staircase and the gigantic gold Lord Murugan statue. The statue is over 140 feet tall and is the second tallest statue of a Hindu deity in the world.
Climbing up the stairs was not as bad as we thought. Unless you're like the pre-wed Hindu couple we saw carrying hundreds of pounds worth of offerings on their shoulders while they sang. I really felt for them. The trick is to go to the Batu caves early when the sun is still behind the mountain.
Once you're at the top, you go into a cave with several Hindu temples. You can continue your visit by going up another set of stairs to see the second collection of temples. What I loved the most was that the caves were completely authentic. It's one of the most important pilgrimage sites in the Hindu religion, and most people there worship or pray. Therefore, you should always remain respectful and remove your shoes to enter the temples. Don't forget to wear long bottoms or bring a sarong, as you have to cover your knees to go up. I totally forgot about this and had to buy a sarong at the base of the stairs for 15 RM.
3. The National Art Gallery
It didn't see it in any guide). Still, this art museum was incredible, and among the best collections of contemporary art I've seen recently. You should check out the museum as it helps you better understand past and present issues concerning Malay people. I'm a sucker for art, so I'm biased, but this was my favorite part of the trip. The museum is four stories tall, and you could dedicate at least an entire morning to it. We went after the Batu caves and spent about six hours there. The best part is that entry is free!
4. Jalan Alor Street
Jalan Alor Street was interesting, to say the least. It's not for everyone, especially vegetarians and those with weak stomachs (I struggled through it). Jalan Alor is a food market where you can find anything from stingrays to frogs. It is shocking to walk through here, but I think it's worth it as you see where people from Kuala Lumpur hang out and dine. All the food there is Asian, mainly Malay, Chinese, and Thai. We ended up eating at a stall with the most basic Westernized Chinese food we could find: fried rice, sweet and sour chicken, and noodles.
5. Central Market
Central Market is in a beautiful light blue art deco building in the middle of Chinatown. It boasts over 350 shops, everything from antiques to crafts. I'm not sure if we went when there was a special market or if it's always like this, but there were some fabulous pop-up stores. We came across a fantastic thrift store, an artsy candle shop, and several local clothing brands. My absolute favorite was a paper craft store called Paper Adventures, which sold 3D cards, dreamy stickers, and stunning postcards. They also have stamps and a mail drop-off point at the store, so we bought a couple of postcards and wrote letters to our families. I'm not much of a souvenir person, but the market is a great place to buy a little piece of Malaysia to bring back home.
6. Thean Hou Temple
Last but certainly not least is one of the largest temples in Southeast Asia, located on the outskirts of town. Known as the temple of lights, it contains elements of Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism. It was built in the 80s, combining modern architectural techniques with more traditional designs. I was amazed at the multitude of paper lanterns, literal thousands of Buddha statues, and ornate ceiling art. It's a special place to visit that gives you insight into the Chinese culture in Malaysia. You should spend a couple of hours getting lost exploring the prayer room, the gardens, and the rooftop. Make sure you get your fortune through the Kau chim at the front of the altar in the main prayer room! All you have to do is grab the cup storing the sticks, ask a question, and drop it vertically until one of the pieces of wood sticks out. That stick will have a number corresponding to a drawer under the cup. You'll then pull out a piece of paper with your fortune! Good luck!
Have you been to Kuala Lumpur? I would love to hear what you thought were the best things in this Asian metropolis!