Kuala Lumpur is a vibrant city in Malaysia, full of stunning sights, delicious cuisine and rich culture. Whether you go with your family, friends or solo, you’ll find plenty of things that everyone will love.
The people of Kuala Lumpur are quite friendly and open and you will have no problem communicating with them, as their English is excellent. What’s more, it’s easy to get around due to a superb public transit system, including metro, uses and even a monorail.
So what should you do during your holiday in Kuala Lumpur? Well, keep reading and find out about the five things you truly can’t miss experiencing.
Petronas Towers
The Petronas Towers are twin skyscrapers, holding rank as the tallest buildings in the world until 2004. During your visit, you can participate in interactive displays and learn all about the history of how they were built, from start to finish.
It’s especially cool to go during the night, because they are lit-up resulting in a stunning display of hundreds of lights, and the water fountain out front dances to music and colourful hues.
And you definitely can’t miss the opportunity to walk across the world’s highest bridge, that is, the sky bridge that connects the two towers.
Next to the towers you’ll find a spacious, landscaped park where you’ll find walking paths, a jogging path, the water fountain mentioned above and a wading pool for children for those hot summer days.
You can also head to the Petronas Art Gallery, or the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. The Science Centre is also nearby, a great place to learn all about the petroleum industry if that’s your kind of thing.
The Petronas Towers are also located in the centre of the city so they are conveniently located near many hotels in KualaLumpur.
Street food
Kuala Lumpur is known for its varied and super tasty street food, especially in Jalan Alor in the Bukit Bintang area. This area features a night market bursting with stall-owners selling a diverse range of food and drinks from various parts of Asia. You can wander around sampling food as you go, all the while enjoying the amazing and intermingling smells of fare from Japan, Thailand, China and India. Some of the best-loved Asian dishes that you’ll be able to find include:
- Ramen (it is nothing like the ramen you ate in college)
- Coconut ice cream
- Crispy chicken wings
- Durian fruit
Perdana Botanical Gardens
Take a break from the bustle of the city and escape to a natural oasis. The Perdana Botanical Gardens make up the largest park in Kuala Lumpur, and were established in 1888. During your visit, you’ll find a sweeping lake, quant bridges and a multitude of flowers, including a very special orchid garden. The orchid garden is strewn throughout with charming walking paths, enchanting fountains, a pergola and a rock garden. Plus, there are over 800 species of orchids!
After you ogle the orchids, head over to the hibiscus garden, as after all, the hibiscus is the national flower of Malaysia. In the hibiscus building you can have tea and read all about the history of the hibiscus flower in Malaysia.
There is also a deer park where the deer roam around freely!
You should consider not going in the middle of summer, because it can get pretty hot in the gardens, and make sure you bring some water with you to carry around.
Islamic Arts Museum
You don’t even have to look at the displays to be utterly impressed by the Islamic Arts Museum. The building itself is a grand showcase of Islamic art traditions from Kuala Lumpur, with ornate arabesque carved into the bright white domes.
But if you go, you should definitely take a look at the galleries as well. You’ll find replicas from world-famous mosques and ancient Islamic manuscripts. And you’ll also be able to see Chinese scrolls and textiles that also were influenced by Islamic culture. And what’s more, children under 5 get in for free, so if you bought your budget tickets on Airasia Airlines, and are looking for more ways to save money, this is a great option!
Kuala Lumpur Bird Park
Here’s a good activity to try right after you visit the Perdana Botanical Gardens. That’s because the bird bark is right next to the gardens, and is a great place to take families with children. (Adults can totally on their own too and have a great time).
What will you see while you’re there? 200 species of Asian birds, sheltered by a vast treetop canopy.
You might want to make sure you’re there for feeding times, which happen throughout the day, or during the bird shows which happen from 12:30 to 15:30—the opportunity to see super smart birds performing super cool tricks.
You can eat there too, there’s a wonderful restaurant there with an outdoor patio and a children’s playground if you need some time to just sit.
If you’re going on holiday in Kuala Lumpur, you’re sure to be absolutely blown away. You’ll enjoy the buzz of a modern and vibrant city, love the convenience of the train and monorail and you’ll get to eat some of the best food you’ve ever tasted. Go there alone or with the family—you’re sure to have a great time.
