Here’s a rundown of some of the best things to do in one of the fastest growing cities in Asia, Kuala Lumpur!
- Visit the Batu Caves
Batu Caves is one of the top tourist attractions in Malaysia. It’s a limestone hill with a series of caves and cave temples. A gold-painted statue of Murugan stands beside the base of a rainbow flight of 272 steps. Visitors climb up to get to the largest cave called Cathedral Cave or Temple Cave.
Tip: Keep your belongings close to you at all times since there are macaques along the steps that may grab your water bottles, keys and other loose items.
2. Spend a day at Genting SkyWorlds Theme Park
Genting SkyWorlds is Southeast Asia’s most anticipated theme park. Make sure to check the weather and bring a jacket ‘cause it can go as low as 16 degrees Celsius up there!
The adventure starts even before you reach the entrance since you have to ride a cable car to get to Genting SkyWorlds. The theme park features 26 rides and attractions suitable for visitors of all ages.
Genting SkyWorlds currently has 9 movie and adventure inspired “worlds”- Eagle Mountain, Central Park, Liberty Lane, Robots Rivet Town, Andromeda Base, Ice Age, Studio Plaza, Epic and Rio. Each world features a host of exciting rides and attractions – specially curated and designed to send imaginations soaring through an immersive experience.
3. Shop at Genting Highlands Premium Outlets
Genting Highlands Premium Outlets is situated within Genting Highlands. Home to 150 designer and name brand outlet stores featuring savings up to 65% off every day.
4. Stroll around the city at night and visit the Petronas Twin Tower and Saloma Link Bridge
Of course, what’s a KL trip without seeing the world’s tallest twin towers? Cross out 2 stunning sites when you visit the Twin Towers then take a short walk to the Saloma Link Bridge.
This pedestrian and bicyclist bridge connects Kampung Bharu to KLCC and gives you a stunning view of the the twin towers with Saloma link bridge’s brightly colored lights in the foreground.
5. Spend a day at Sunway Lagoon Water Theme Park
A one-stop place for fun with over 90 attractions spread across 88 acres, Sunway Lagoon provides the ultimate theme park experience in 6 adventure zones — Water Park, Amusement Park, Wildlife Park, Extreme Park, Scream Park & Nickelodeon Lost Lagoon– Asia’s 1st Nickelodeon Themed Land.
6. Have dinner at The Chow Kit Kitchen & Bar
Housed in the multi-awarded boutique hotel, The Chow Kit Hotel, The Chow Kit Kitchen & Bar serves dishes, crafted from spoken recipes passed down from generations that celebrates the multiculturalism of Malay cuisine, drawing from the north and south of Malaysia.
Sought after by locals and tourists, this place will keep all your senses excited with stunning interiors, great ambiance, superb service and unforgettable food.
7. Go to MoMo’s Hotel for drinks & insta-pics!
One of the new, fun and hip places to visit in the city. MoMo’s is a social hotel with micro rooms & major personality! We recommend for you to stay here if you’re a couple, a group of friends exploring KL or even if you’re going solo.
Now, if you’re staying elsewhere, MoMo’s is still a fun stop for food and drinks. MoMo’s KL works up the grill everyday from 12pm – 10pm with burgers, hot dogs and pasta. Enjoy their all-day happy hour where you can sip (or chug) drinks like the MoMojito, Caipirinha and Pisco Sour!
They also have mocktails and milkshakes for the non-alcoholics. Overall, such a fun place to discover and take lots of insta-pics and reels in.
8. Visit Harriston Chocolate Boutique
Harriston is a Malaysian homegrown chocolate brand established by a family of dedicated chocolate makers. They now have over 150 unique Malaysian Chocolates infused with tropical fruits, herbs and spices.
9. Shop at the Central Market
Central Market Kuala Lumpur is a one-stop shop for Malaysian Batik, Souvenirs, Collectibles & Handicraft. It’s a centre for Malaysian culture, art and craft located in the heart of the city. As a building with significant historical value Central Market Kuala Lumpur has come a long way from its early beginning as a wet market built in 1888 to a delightful destination for tourists, shoppers and art lovers.
Today, Central Market Kuala Lumpur is a must-visit destination offering visitors a unique shopping opportunity where they can relish not just a retail experience but also a heritage experience offering a wonderful visual treat and appreciation of Malaysia heritage and architecture in a glance as they step into its doors.
10. Do a Kuala Lumpur City Tour
Visit the landmarks and learn the story behind some of the city’s most iconic sights such as the King’s Palace, National Monument, National Mosque, Sultan Abdul Samad Building and Independence Square.
11. Visit the Thean Hou Temple
A stunning 6-tiered temple of the Chinese sea goddess Mazu. It’s an active place of worship and during our visit we noticed a lot of weddings being done here. Given the colorful and intricate architecture, Thean Hou Temple is a must for photographers, tourists and devotees of Chinese culture.
12. Explore RexKL Bookstore
An old cinema turned into a not-so-usual bookstore. Located in Petaling Street, RexKL houses over 80,000 books in a maze-like venue with secret corners and floors.
There are lots of interesting titles and good deals on books, so it’s a must-visit for the bookworms out there! Being inside the bookstore is an experience in itself, it feels like an adventure exploring the space and discovering different areas of the old cinema.
13. Shop, Eat and hunt for Art at Petaling Street-Chinatown
Also known as Chinatown KL, Petaling Street is a market place for clothes, souvenirs, bags, etc. and also a place to try out different street food.
In a small alley behind Petaling Street, discover “Kwai Chai Hong” which translates to ‘Little Ghost Lane‘or ‘Little Demon Alley’, the latest tourist attraction in Chinatown. Home to many beautiful murals that depict the historic life surrounding Chinatown.
14. Have authentic Bak Kut Teh at Restoran Sun Fong
Sun Fong was founded in 1971 and has been a go-to for locals and tourists they serve Bak Kut Teh which means ‘meat bone tea’. It’s a pork rib dish cooked in broth popularly served in Malaysia.
At Restoran Sun Fong try out the original (with soup) and dry version of the Bak Kut Teh. Both dishes had tender meat and flavorful broth.
15. Go shopping at Bukit Bintang
Bukit Bintang is the shopping and entertainment district of KL. Home to upscale malls, luxe fashion boutiques, restaurants and al fresco bars.
16. Have Teh Tarik and Roti Canai at Pelita Nasi Kandar
Pelita Nasi Kandar still uses the same age-old recipes enjoyed by generations to deliver traditional dishes that are part of Malaysia’s unique heritage. Drop by for tea break and get your Teh Tarik fix paired up with different kinds of roti canai!
We recommend to order the following: roti canai, roti tissue, cheese naan and roti special. Go closer to the cooking stations so you can witness how they make ‘em!
17. Explore night markets like the Jalan Alor Street Food Night Market and hunt for Char Kway Teow
There are lots of night markets in KL. As a starter check out Jalan Alor and indulge in different Asian cuisine, try out fried durian and get your fix of Char Kway Teow — a stir-fried rice noodle dish!
18. Dine in a buffet style Malaysian Heritage Restaurant, Restoran Rebung by Chef Ismail
Chef Ismail, one of Malaysia’s well-known local chefs and Malaysia’s first astronaut, Dr. Sheikh Muszaphar, partnered up to house a wide array of Malay cuisine, using the finest home-grown ingredients in Restoran Rebung. Located at a floor of a multi-storey car park, Restoran Rebung is an affordable buffet restaurant that gives you a taste of Malaysia under one roof.
From classic Nasi Lemak to different curry dishes, DIY Laksa and traditional Malaysian desserts – the whole experience makes you feel like you’ve been invited in a Malaysian family’s home. Truly an experience in itself.
19. Shop at Don Don Donki
Yes, Malaysia has a Don Quijote branch! Don Don Donki is located at Lot 10, Bukit Bintang and is open for 24 hours, so you can shop for your favorite affordable Japanese products and eat the famous sweet potatoes!
20. Discover the growing Malaysian coffee scene
The coffee scene at KL is something you shouldn’t miss. One of the pioneers is VCR. They started off with their first outlet on Jalan Galloway, then expanded to the neighborhood of Bangsar. VCR roasts their coffee beans in house and serves them in whichever brewing method you prefer. From aeropress, the classic V60 to a syphon or maybe you fancy a cold brew or espresso? VCR delivers. If you’re unsure about what you want, just ask their barista for their best recommendations.
There we have it! 20 things to do in Kuala Lumpur. We know there’s more to explore in the city as it’s ever evolving and with a fast pace too! We’re excited to discover more the next time we’re in KL but for now, our key takeaway is how fun, exciting while still being laid-back, historical and traditional the city is. We spent 4 full days, but could easily do more if we want to indulge ourselves in a more localized and extensive experience of the city. Given our experience, it only means one thing, we’ll definitely be back to explore more of KL.
Malaysia recently reopened its borders for all fully vaccinated Filipinos. Since April 1, 2022, vaccinated travelers to Malaysia enjoy an easy travel process, requiring only proof of vaccination, along with registration on the MySejahtera App.
CEB flies daily between Manila and Kuala Lumpur, providing passengers with convenient options for them to experience Malaysia’s best. Visit www.cebupacificair.com to book your flights!
Leave a Reply