In this guide, we’ll share our itinerary on how to spend four days in Kuala Lumpur, covering the best things to do for first-timers. We’ll also provide useful information like how to get there, how to get around, and where to stay.
Our time in Kuala Lumpur was part of our two-month Southeast Asia adventure. Check our complete itinerary: Two Months Traveling in Southeast Asia: Our Itinerary.
Kuala Lumpur: Practical Information
- Best time to visit: July to August, January, and February for the least chance of rain and more comfortable temperatures
- Language: Malay, English is widely spoken
- How to get there: Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL)
- How to get around: Grab, public transportation
- How to pay for stuff: mostly cash
- Plugs: UK type G plugs
- Safety: very safe
- What to do/see: KLCC Towers, Medeka 118, KL Tower, temples, Batu Caves, Mosques, and more…
Table of Contents
Use the links below to quickly navigate to the parts of this article that interest you the most.
Things To Do:
Practical Information:
- Kuala Lumpur Quick Overview
- How Many Days in Kuala Lumpur?
- How to Get Internet in Kuala Lumpur?
- Where to Stay in Kuala Lumpur
- Best Time to Go to Kuala Lumpur
Getting Around:
Kuala Lumpur Quick Overview
In Kuala Lumpur, you’ll find a mix of cultures, allowing you to experience various cultural influences in one place. Mosques, Hindu temples, Buddhist temples, Chinese temples, and more contribute to this rich diversity. One of the most famous places is the Batu Caves, a Hindu temple, which is only twenty minutes from the city center and one of the main reasons I wanted to visit this city.
If you like luxury hotels, in Kuala Lumpur you’ll find a vast range of luxury suite options for more or less 50$. How cool is that? We stayed in a luxury suite with a rooftop infinite pool overlooking the KL Tower, the Petronas Twin Towers, which were once the world’s tallest twin towers, and the Merdeka 118 (second highest building in the world).
Kuala Lumpur is also home to other interesting and tall buildings like the KL Menara Tower, the TRX Tower, and the Merdeka 118 Tower.
What Not to Miss in Kuala Lumpur?
There are many things to do and see in Kuala Lumpur, but there are some highlights that every first-timer should add to their itinerary:
- Petronas Twin Towers and the Lake Symphony
- Merdeka 118—the second tallest tower in the world, after Burj Khalifa
- KL Tower—the 7th tallest telecommunication tower in the world
- The Batu Caves—known for their colorful stairs
- Shopping at the Petaling Street
How Many Days in Kuala Lumpur?
In total, we spent four days in Kuala Lumpur as part of our two-month Southeast Asia adventure. If you have limited time, I think two to three full days are enough to see the main highlights.
Four Days in Kuala Lumpur – Our Itinerary
Here’s a quick description of how we spent four days in Kuala Lumpur. We did everything at a very relaxed pace and we also worked during this time.
Day 1:
- Check-in at the hotel
- Petronas Twin Towers
- Lake Symphony Water Show
- Hotel Rooftop Pool
Day 2:
- Merdeka 118
- Petaling Street
- Kwai Chai Hong
- Sri Maha Mariamman Temple
- River of Life
- Sultan Abdul Samad Jamek Mosque
- Merdeka Square
- Jalan Alor Food Street
Day 3:
- Batu Caves
- Wilayah Persekutuan Mosque
Day 4:
- KL Tower
- KL Forest Eco Park Canopy Walk
- Thean Hou Temple
- Perdana Botanical Park
Day 1 in Kuala Lumpur
When we arrived at Kuala Lumpur, we were quite exhausted and it was already afternoon, so we didn’t see much on this day. If you arrive early, you can easily do this four-day itinerary in two or three days.
Stay in a Hotel with Rooftop Pool
In Kuala Lumpur, there is no shortage of luxury hotels with infinity pools. We stayed in a luxury suite with a rooftop infinite pool overlooking the KL Tower, the Petronas Twin Towers, which were once the world’s tallest twin towers, and the Merdeka 118, the second-highest building in the World.
On the day of your arrival, spend a bit of time relaxing at the pool and admiring the city skyline. We stayed at The Face – Platinum Suites and we absolutely recommend it.
Our opinion about the rooftop pool: the views were awesome. We had panoramic views of the whole city and we could see the main buildings from there. However, the pool had a weird vibe with people just coming to take pictures without using the pool. There weren’t many places to put your towels or clothes and people were sitting on our chairs with our stuff there. Additionally, even though the weather was very hot and humid the pool temperature was freezing.
Petronas Twin Towers
The Petronas Twin Towers are probably the most famous landmark in Kuala Lumpur. These were once the world’s tallest twin towers. Even though I don’t have much interest in this kind of buildings, I have to admit that the towers are quite impressive, and they really stand out at night with all the illumination. You can visit an observation deck at level 86 and the sky bridge between the two towers.
One of the best places to take pictures with the Petronas Twin Towers in the background is the KLCC park during the day.
Lake Symphony
Next to the Petronas Twin Towers, at the entrance of the Suria Shopping Mall next to the KLCC park, there’s a big fountain on a square with daily shows (lake symphony).
You can watch the KLCC Lake Symphony’s Light and Sound Water Fountain daily at 8 PM, 9 PM, and 10 PM. There are also light-only shows at 7:30 PM, 8:30 PM, and 9:30 PM.
If you’ve been to Dubai before and you’ve seen the Water Fountain Show, you’ll find this place a bit similar, but older and on a much much more smaller scale.
Related article: Ultimate Guide to Visiting Dubai: 7-Day Detailed Itinerary with Costs
Day 2 in Kuala Lumpur
This day was quite packed, but all the main attractions we’ve seen on this day were very close to each other.
Merdeka 118
The Merdeka 118 is the second tallest building in the world, only behind the Burj Khalifa. At the time of our visit, the tower was not open to tourists yet.
You can get to the Merdeka 118 using the metro. There is a metro station “Merdeka” right next to it.
Even though the tower is quite big, it didn’t impress me much. Maybe because Kuala Lumpur is a bit hilly, it doesn’t stand out as much as it should.
Shopping at the Petaling Street
After visiting the Merdeka 118 Tower, take a 15-minute walk to Petaling Street. This bustling market offers a variety of street food, clothing, souvenirs, and more. If you’re into designer items, you’ll find numerous high-quality replicas at great prices.
Always negotiate the price and ensure that what you’re buying is worth the price. While some deals are excellent, others might not be as worthwhile.
Central Market
There’s another market nearby called Central Market. It’s an indoor market with lots of handmade items and souvenirs, and there’s a dining area on the top floor.
I didn’t find Central Market as interesting as Petaling Street. We had lunch there and it was quite bad. We tried Nasi Lemak, Malaysia’s national dish, which includes coconut milk rice, spicy sauce, crispy anchovies, roasted peanuts, a boiled or fried egg, and cucumber slices, with chicken added.
The food was so bad that it put me off trying any other Malaysian dishes in Kuala Lumpur, which was a real shame given how highly everyone speaks of Malaysian cuisine. We probably just picked the wrong restaurant.
Street Art at Kwai Chai Hong
Next to the Petaling Street, you’ll find Kwai Chai Hong, a historic alley, where you’ll find beautiful murals with street art.
If you want to take pictures with the murals, make sure you arrive a bit early in the day because the alley is short and narrow and can get quite crowded quickly.
Sri Maha Mariamman Temple
In the same area, you’ll find the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple, one of Malaysia’s oldest Hindu temples.
Entry to the temple is free. Before you go inside, be sure to cover your legs and remove your shoes. The temple provides storage for your shoes and offers shawls to cover your legs if needed.
River of Life
Less than 10 minutes walking from the temple, you’ll come across the River of Life—this is where the Klang River and Gombak River converge.
This area was recently revitalized, and you’ll find several pedestrian walkways along the river, beautiful murals, street art, and riverside cafes. They also added some sort of mist that makes the place more mysterious. At night, there’s a light and water show.
At the convergence point, you’lll have a great view of the Sultan Abdul Samad Jamek Mosque.
Sultan Abdul Samad Jamek Mosque
The Sultan Abdul Samad Jamek Mosque is one of the oldest mosques in Kuala Lumpur. It is open to foreign visitors through guided tours. Unfortunately, when we visited, the tours for the day were already over. Be sure to check the schedule for guided tours in advance.
Merdeka Square
Just a short walk away, the Merdeka Square is a historic place renowned for Malaysia’s independence declaration. One of the buildings that stand out is the iconic Sultan Abdul Samad Building with its beautiful huge clock tower. Currently, it houses government offices.
Jalan Alor Food Street
At night, you must check out the Jalan Alor Food Street in the Bukit Bintang neighborhood. The sidewalks are lined with several stalls and restaurants, you’ll find everything from BBQ, satay, noodles, seafood, and much more.
This is also a popular place to try durian because there are plenty of options to choose from. I really like the smell of durian, which is quite an unpopular opinion, but I didn’t have the courage to try it. I tried a durian ice cream and the taste was really strong—I guess you need to get used to it slowly until you appreciate it.
Day 3 in Kuala Lumpur
On this third day, we finally went to visit the famous Batu Caves and the prominent Wilayah Persekutuan mosque.
Batu Caves
The Batu Caves are one of the most popular Hindu shrines outside of India. You’ve probably seen many pictures and videos of this place on Instagram showing its colorful 272 steps to the top of the main cave, which houses several Hindu shrines.
The Batu Caves are approximately a 25-minute ride by car from the city center. The easiest and most comfortable way to get there is to ask for a Grab ride, which is super affordable. There is also a train station right next to the caves if you want to go by train.
This place gets crowded quickly throughout the day, so it’s better to arrive before the main tours. We arrived around 9:30 AM and found this place relatively quiet.
Something that stands out is the amount of pigeons on the square when you arrive. Many visitors feed them, which contributes to the area becoming quite dirty. Additionally, monkeys are often on the steps. Keep your belongings secure as they are known to steal items from backpacks, plastic bags, and food.
Several stalls sell fruits to feed the monkeys, which makes them unafraid of people and constantly searching for food. Once they finish eating, they throw the leftovers on the ground.
After climbing the 272 steps to the top, you’ll reach the main cave with several Hindu shrines. The steps and floor inside the cave are very slippery due to water condensation, so be cautious to avoid falling.
The entrance to the Batu Caves is free, but we advise you to leave a donation. There are several spots at the top where you can give a donation.
At the time we were leaving, around 11:30, the place was getting quite crowded and the sun was starting to get hot. So, we recommend arriving a bit earlier.
Masjid Wilayah Persekutuan
In the afternoon, we went to visit the Masjid Willayah Persekutuan mosque. This is one of the most impressive mosques in Kuala Lumpur. They provide free guided visits for non-muslins, just make sure you arrive at Gate B—check out the mosque website for more information about the opening hours.
When you arrive, they’ll give you appropriate clothes to visit the mosque. So, you don’t need to worry about it. During the visit, you’ll be explained about the architecture of the mosque and the basic principles of Islam. You can also ask any questions you have about those subjects. Our visit took around one hour and a half.
Day 4 in Kuala Lumpur
On our last day, we checked out the KL Tower, the beautiful Thean Hou Temple, and the Perdana Botanical Garden.
KL Tower
The KL Tower is the 7th tallest telecommunication tower in the World. The Sky Deck is the main tourist attraction of the KL Tower, which offers panoramic views of Kuala Lumpur, including the Petronas Twin Towers and the Merdeka 118. There’s also a glass box that extends out of the Sky Deck legde—not recommended if you’re afraid of heights.
Since our Hotel offered the best views of Kuala Lumpur, allowing us to see not only the Petronas and Merdeka118, but also the KL Tower, we decided to skip ascending to the tower.
Next to the KL tower, there is the KL Forest Eco Park Canopy Walk, which offers several trails to see the forest and several species of animals. Unfortunately, it was closed on the day we visited. It seems quite interesting and since it’s right next to the KL Tower, make sure to take a look.
Thean Hou Temple
The Thean Hou Temple is a Chinese temple. It’s probably one of the biggest Chinese temples in Kuala Lumpur. To get there, we recommend getting a Grab ride, since it’s still a bit far for the other attractions. The temple is beautiful and probably the best Chinese Temple we’ve seen during our two-month trip in southeast Asia.
During our time in Southeast Asia, we saw many people using Chinese fortune sticks at various temples. Unlike previous places we visited, this particular temple provided the meanings of the sticks in English language. So, we decided to try them out. The process involved asking a question, shaking the sticks, noting the number on the stick that stands out, and then opening the corresponding drawer. Inside, we found the answer to our question, which can be good or bad luck.
Perdana Botanical Park
Since we still had time that day, we decided to visit the Perdana Botanical Park. The park is vast and features a wide variety of plants and animals like monkeys, monitor lizards, several species of birds and more.
However, it was so hot and humid when we visited that walking in the park was quite exhausting. If you have limited time in Kuala Lumpur, I think you can skip it.
How to Get to Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) is the main international airport serving Kuala Lumpur. It is located approximately 45 km of the downtown. The easiest and most comfortable way to go from the airport to the downtown is to ask for a ride using the Grab app.
If you’re in Singapore, there are several bus options to get to Kuala Lumpur. We used the bus to go from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore, but you can do it other other way around. We booked it using 12GoAsia.
How to Get Around Kuala Lumpur
The best way to get around Kuala Lumpur is to use the Grab app (similar to Uber) to ask for a ride. The rides are very cheap in Malaysia and there is plenty of offer. This was the transportation option we used more often in Malaysia.
We also used the metro a couple of times, and it is even cheaper. So, if you’re on a budget, that is a good option to go from one neighborhood to the other.
Where to Stay in Kuala Lumpur
If this is your first time in Kuala Lumpur, I think it’s a good option to stay close to the Petronas Twin Towers. That is a lively area next to the KLCC park with several shopping malls and always something going on at night and plenty of options for dinner.
In this area, you can stay in a luxury suite for more or less 50$. How awesome is that? And the good part is that there are plenty of options.
We stayed in a luxury suite in a building with a rooftop infinite pool overlooking the KL Tower, the Petronas Twin Towers and the Merdeka 118 tower. We really recommend the place we stayed at, everything was perfect and the panoramic views at the top will give you a good perspective of the city.
We stayed at The Face Platinum Suites – you can book it here.
Best Time to Go to Kuala Lumpur
The best months to visit Kuala Lumpur are July to August, January, and February for the least chance of rain and more comfortable temperatures.
We went at the beginning of December, and the weather was very hot and humid. The sky was mostly overcast, and it usually rained at night or in the late afternoon. We got rain every day, but usually for just a few minutes. In the mornings, the sky was usually clear, and the temperatures were comfortable.
To beat the heat, we often went to Mixue stores to buy fresh lemonade. It was incredibly refreshing. They also sell ice creams and are super affordable. Another tip: the CU convenience stores sell cups with ice, which is great if you want a really fresh drink.
How to Get Internet in Kuala Lumpur?
One of the most convenient options is to buy an eSim card before entering the country. This guarantees that you’ll have mobile data once you get there.
eSIM Card for Multiple Countries
In our case, we got an eSIM card from Maya that covered several countries in Southeast Asia. This was very convenient because we were visiting multiple countries in two months and we didn’t need to bother buying a card in each country.
This was probably a bit more expensive than buying physical SIM cards in each country, but the convenience of not having to worry about searching for Internet every time we moved countries is worth it.
Maya offers great packages when you’re traveling to multiple countries in a short time. We also used it in Europe during a road trip. Learn more about Maya packages here.
eSIM Card for Individual Countries
If you’re just going to Malaysia, the Airalo app usually offers better options. We used airalo multiple times in different countries without any issues.
If you use my referral code on Airalo, you’ll get a 3$ credit. Use the referral code below on your first purchase:
SARA0837
Where to Go From Kuala Lumpur
After Kuala Lumpur, we proceeded to Singapore to catch our flight back home. If you’re just starting your journey, we suggest visiting Langkawi, a Malaysian island near Thailand. From there, you can take a speedboat to Koh Lipe, one of the most beautiful islands in Thailand.
- How to Spend Four Days in Langkawi, Malaysia
- Koh Lipe: Best Things to Do and Tips for First-Timers
- How to Spend Two Days in Singapore (Mostly Free Things to Do)
If you’re planning a trip to Southeast Asia, don’t forget to take a look at our two-month itinerary:
Two Months Traveling in Southeast Asia: Our Itinerary
Two of the most popular countries to include in your itinerary are Thailand and Vietnam. We have several free Thailand and Vietnam travel guides that you can check below.
Finally, you can use our links to book accommodation and activities and find cheap flights. You won’t pay more and you’ll be supporting our work.
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