Kuala Lumpur is one of the joined capitals of Malaysia together with Putrajaya, and it’s a fantastic spot to visit in Southeastern Asia for any tourist!
I fell in love with this city, and let me show you the best spots I can recommend to visit there.
1. Petronas Towers
The Petronas Towers, standing 452-metre high, were designed by architect Cesar Pelli. It’s an iconic building and probably the most recognisable skyscraper in the whole of southeastern Asia!
For six years, from 1998 to 2004, the Twin Towers were the tallest buildings in the world till Taipei 101 was built (see more in my blog about Taiwan). Visiting its observation desk would be one of the best things you can do in Kuala Lumpur. First, you go to Skybridge, which connects two towers.
Then, you proceed to the 86 floors to observe the most magnificent panorama of Kuala Lumpur. The staff’s timing is rigorous (10 minutes on the bridge and 15 minutes on the top floor), but this is enough to take all the necessary footage. Moreover, you’ll get plenty of time at the end of the route when you reach the coffee point and the shop. You can learn about the history of Kuala Lumpur there as well!
We visited around 7 p.m. to catch a glimpse of the sunset and admire the city at night.
2. Kuala Lumpur Tower
The Kuala Lumpur Tower, or KL Tower, is a 421-metre-tall tower with an observational desk open to the public. It’s the seventh high telecommunication tower in the world, so don’t miss an opportunity to visit it!
You can enjoy a few activities there (you need to buy tickets for each). Apart from an indoor area, there is a skywalk, an open-air terrace, and a glass box with a glass floor where you can admire the panorama to the fullest and take photos.
You can spot the King’s palace, the Merdeka Tower (soon to be opened), the central mosque, the Museum of Islamic Art, the most famous theatre of Kuala Lumpur, and the Petronas Towers.
The lower part of the tower is decorated with ornaments inspired by Iranian art and symbolises seven layers of skies.
3. Istana Negara
You can explore Kuala Lumpur from the King’s palace, Istana Negara. This new residence opened in 2011, and the old palace has been transformed into the Royal Museum.
The Old Istana Negara was originally a 1928 mansion belonging to a highly successful Chinese businessman, Chan Wing. Now, it’s closed for renovation till April 2025. However, you can still spot its domes when travelling around the city’s central part. Istana Negara is closed to the public (we’ve been told that once a year or even more rarely, the King opens the door to visitors and even meets them personally!).
Still, you can observe its 22 beautiful domes from the main gates or the KL tower. There are also guards on duty and a small souvenir shop nearby.
4. Thean Hou Temple
As you probably know, Malaysia is based on three equally important groups: Malays, Chinese and Indians. So, no surprise, you can see lots of Chinese influences here!
The Thean Hou Temple is probably the most impressive here. It was sponsored by the local Hainanese community and built in 1989 in Robson Heights. The temple unites Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism in its architecture and is dedicated to the Chinese goddess of the sea. Many come here to worship the goddess of mercy, Guan Yin.
Although it’s pretty modern, it looks fantastic, and you can observe an incredible panorama from it.
There are some administrative offices (you can register for marriage here), shops, and an alley with zodiac signs.
5. Pavilion Kuala Lumpur
Pavilion Kuala Lumpur is an extremely large shopping mall in the centre of Kuala Lumpur. It opened in 2007 on the site of the oldest school in Kuala Lumpur, Bukit Bintang Girls’ School.
It consists of 8 different areas and literal avenues of shops, starting from high-end brands like Dior, Chanel, Prada, etc., and a large food court with Tokyo Street. Overall, there are over 700 shops and restaurants! It’s a nice shopping destination where you can literally spend days if you’re into such activities.
You can also walk to Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre and Suria KLCC by a walkway – it’s much easier than searching where to cross the street; believe me, we tried both.
6. Masjid Negara
The National Mosque of Malaysia, or Masjid Negara, is one of the most important religious symbols of Kuala Lumpur.
It was completed in 1965 to mark the country’s independence. Its architecture is stunning: it was designed by Howard Ashley from the UK, Hisham Albakri, and Baharuddin Kassim, both from Malaysia.
Gorgeous blue tiles, a dome in the shape of a star or an umbrella, fountains, gardens, a 63-metre-tall minaret, and modern elements everywhere— it’s definitely one of the most stunning mosques I’ve ever seen. You’re also given an abaya to cover yourself. Overall, it’s a very tourist-friendly place.
7. Petaling Street (Chinatown)
You must visit Chinatown KL, a buzzing and lovely historic area of Kuala Lumpur! Its main market street, Petaling Street, is lined up with shops selling everything from fake Dior and Chanel bags to local delicacies and fruits. There are also lots of excellent local cafes.
There are also a few temples to visit in the area, such as Sri Mahamariamman Temple, the city’s oldest Hindu temple, and Sin Sze Si Ya Temple, the oldest Taoist temple.
We loved Yew Yew and the Jamboo store, where a green hairy hand gives you a drink to take away literally from a hole in the wall, and there are murals everywhere.
The old post office on Jalan Panggong is another spot worth seeing in the Chinatown of Kuala Lumpur. This old building was erected in 1911 in a mixed Tudor and Malay style by the (British) Federated Malay States Postal Authority. It served as an additional office to the Main Post Office located on Independence Square. Its image has even been used on a Malaysian stamp!
Unfortunately, in the last few years, it has fallen into decay, with a few restaurants opening and closing down on this site.
8. Kwai Chai Hong
Kwai Chai Hong Alley near Lorong Panggung in Chinatown is a must – see, so I put it separately! I’ve heard a few versions of its name translation.
One refers to the mistresses that lived here and collected money from the neighbourhood, and the other mentions’ Little Demons’, or naughty kids who lived here, and finally, it might be linked to some socially awkward elements and a gang who had meetups here. It’s a pretty place with a vintage aesthetic and lanterns hanging up from bamboo.
The murals represent daily life in the 1960s and some scenes from movies like Kung Fu Hustle. Also, it’s home to one of the oldest lampposts in Kuala Lumpur here, dating to 1903!
9. Sin Sze Si Ya Temple (Chinatown)
The Sin Sze Si Ya Temple is the oldest Taoist temple in Kuala Lumpur. The latest was founded in 1864 by Yap Ah Loy, the third Kapitan Cina. It’s a small but authentic temple with fortune tellers and an office table.
Overall, it’s a cinematic place with incense filling the air and red lanterns hanging from above.
10. Aquaria KLCC
The Aquaria KLCC is another attraction in Kuala Lumpur that you must visit, especially if you’re in the city with kids.
It’s located very close to Petronas Towers, right on the underground level of the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. There are many areas to explore, including a shipwreck and the longest travelator I’ve ever seen under the 90-metre fish tunnel! It opened in 2005.
11. KLCC Park
KLCC Park, located by the Petronas towers, is a lovely urban park with tropical plants, a playground, and a lake. It was designed by Brazilian architect Roberto Burle Marx.
Take a stroll there or come in the evening to enjoy Lake Symphony, a fantastic fountain water show!
12. Suria KLCC
Suria KLCC is a large shopping mall near the Petronas Towers. right under the iconic towers and to the side of the famous park.
It might be smaller than the Pavilion, but it still offers several floors of high-end shopping, a large Kunakunia, a Pertosains museum, and a vast food court.
13. Central market
Central Market is located very close to Chinatown. It was built in 1888 and used as a wet market. It’s a polished venue to explore traditional Malaysian arts and crafts and foods!
There are souvenirs for tourists as well as important historical traditional objects: think about tin stuff (if you know the history of Kuala Lumpur, you know the importance of tin mining here); batik – beautiful drawings on fabric; traditional kites including moon kites; desserts and other types of gastronomic experiences…
It’s a touristy place, but it is worth your time!
14. Dataran Merdeka
Merdeka Square is where Malaysia declared its independence on 31 August 1957. Tunku Abdul Rahman shouted ‘Merdeka!’ (meaning independence) a few times.
The 95-metre-high flagpole marks the exact spot where the Union flag of the United Kingdom was lowered and replaced with the flag of Malaysia.
This area was a cricket field for the members of the famous Selangor Club, founded in 1884 for high-ranked British men. Another glorious building here is the old General Post Office, dating to 1907, designed by Arthur Benison Hubback, a British architect who shaped many parts of Kuala Lumpur in the past, including such buildings as Kuala Lumpur railway station, Jamek Mosque, and National Textile Museum.
Other sights at this spot are the Sultan Abdul Samad building (see below), Queen Victoria Fountain, the first Catholic Church in Kuala Lumpur, and the oldest theatre, Panggung Bandaraya.
15. Sultan Abdul Samad Building
Along with the Petronas Towers, the Sultan Abdul Samad Building along Jalan Raja is one of the most recognizable buildings in Kuala Lumpur.
It was erected in Moorish style in 1897 and served as an administrative building for the British. Later, it was renamed after a sultan of Selangor at the time. Now, it houses Malaysia’s Ministry of Information, Communications and Culture
16. KL Bird Park
KL Bird Park is a unique attraction as many birds fly freely there: there are no cages for most birds (there are large nets all over the park), and they just walk around you.
It’s even one of the largest covered bird parks in the world! Some birds, such as ostriches, are kept in enclosures (but this is understandable, right?). Herons, pelicans, peacocks, crowned pigeons, flamingos on the pond, and parrots are all around you.
The park is divided into a few zones, and you can also see a bird show, participate in bird feeding, shop in the local toy shop, or have a meal at the Hornbill restaurant. The KL bird park is located very close to the Islamic Arts Museum, Perdana Botanical Garden, and the Butterfly Park.
17. Petrosains
Petrosains Discovery Centre is a science museum in the Petronas Towers. It’s a perfect venue for kids and adults alike! The discovery centre was founded in 1999 and belongs to the famous oil and gas company Petronas.
The museum is vast, and you can easily spend 2-3 hours there. There are zones, including the ones about different scientific advances, cosmos exploration, the petroleum industry, VR and robots, and dinosaurs. At the end of the route, you’ll find a shop.
18. Batu Caves
Batu caves are a naturally beautiful series of 400 million-year-old limestone caves outside Kuala Lumpur.
A Hindu temple dedicated to Murugan, the god of war, was built here over a century ago. His golden statue at the entrance was constructed by ‘Tiruvarur’ Thiyagarajan in 2006, and it’s the tallest statue of Murugan in the world!
The festival Thaipusam is celebrated in this temple – you can Google it; it’s very unusual. To get to the temple, you have to conquer 272 steps (I nearly died when I got to the top) – actually, they were painted just in 2018!
Inside, you can find the main temple and the Ramaya Cave. Of course, this place is also well known for the monkeys – those actually are interested in you only if you have food with you.
19. Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia
The Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia is a modern and well-made museum located near the National Mosque and the KL Bird Park.
It was opened in 1998 and showcases a large collection of Islamic art, from precious everyday objects to models of the most prominent architectural sites of the Islamic world.
Come here to explore the textiles, ceramics, seals, manuscripts with calligraphy, jewellery, weapons, and more. You can also visit a shop there.
20. National museum
If you’d like to learn more about the history of Kuala Lumpur and Malaysia, the Muzium Negara, or the National Museum, is a must to visit. Here, you can understand how populations of Malay people, Chinese, and Indians live together and the influence of Dutch, British, and Japanese colonization in the modern country.
The predecessor of this museum was the Selangor Museum, established in 1887 by the British colonists to preserve the local culture, and the taking after it, Muzium Negara was opened in 1963.
The museum has several galleries, such as the Prehistory Gallery, the Early Malay Kingdom Gallery, the Colonial Era Gallery, and the Malaysia Today Gallery. The building where the museum is located is extraordinary, and it’s built in a traditional style.
21. Jamek Mosque
Jamek Mosque, on the picturesque confluence of the Klang and Gombak Rivers (see below), is one of the oldest mosques in Kuala Lumpur, dating to 1909.
Officially, it’s called Sultan Abdul Samad Jamek Mosque, but locals call it the Friday Mosque. It was designed by Arthur Benison Hubback again (see above) and is definitely one of the city’s most beautiful sights, with its three domes, two tall minarets and a few smaller ones all coloured in pink and white.
The Jamek Mosque served as the city’s main mosque before the construction of Masjid Negara.
22. The confluence of Gombak and Klang rivers
The confluence of the Gombak and Klang rivers is a very picturesque part of Kuala Lumpur, especially at night. Come here to stroll along a pretty embankment area all lit with lights and with the Jamek mosque in the background (the other side, where two rivers merged into one stream, is not very nice).
But more importantly, this is the real heart of Selangor that you don’t see today! Kuala Lumpur was founded here as a settlement in 1857: in Malay, Kuala means ‘confluence’ and ‘Lumpur’ is muddy. And it looks like it still looks today. The discovery of tin promoted jungle development, and the tin mines were established here, attracting traders.
23. Cathedral of St John The Evangelist
The Cathedral of St John The Evangelist is t the main Roman Catholic church of Kuala Lumpur, so if you’re nearby and see a large white building with two spires, pop in to see it closer!
The first church on this site was constructed in 1883, and the current building dates back to the mid-20th century. You can also see it very well from the observation point of Kuala Lumpur Tower.
24. Kuala Lumpur railway station
The Kuala Lumpur railway station might seem a bit decayed now, but it’s a significant cultural landmark for the country as well as the surrounding buildings.
It was completed in 1917 after a design by Arthur Benison Hubback (I’ve already mentioned him), a British architect who’s responsible for the city’s most beautiful architectural landmarks. In the past, it was the city’s central train station, welcoming guests to a hotel in the same building. Still, even now, you can admire its fantastic architecture.
25. Merdeka 118
No guide to Kuala Lumpur is complete without mentioning Merdeka 118, the city’s latest landmark and one of the tallest buildings in the world! At 670 metres tall, it is the second tallest building after Burj Khalifa in Dubai.
The name ‘Merdeka’ refers to independence and is said to mimic the scene when Tunku Abdul Rahman proclaimed Malaysian independence (see above) on Merdeka Square. The building was inaugurated in 2024, and I hope it’ll soon be possible to visit its observational desk or to stay in a hotel there.
You might also like my other blogs about Asia.
Hope you loved my blog,
Yours,
Anna xxx
