For first time visitors to any city, the first question that gets asked is how many days they will need to see the city and the sights. At least, the main sights at a very minimum. Having visited Kuala Lumpur now on half a dozen occasions whilst researching guides throughout South East Asia, I decided it was time to tackle the question of “How many days in Kuala Lumpur is enough?”
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Table of Contents
- How many days in Kuala Lumpur? The Quick Answer!
- Seeing Kuala Lumpur in 3 days
- 4 Days or Longer
- A DIY Itinerary is always best
- Stay Central
- MY TIP
- Conclusion
How many days in Kuala Lumpur? The Quick Answer!
If you want to see the main sights of Kuala Lumpur, then 3 days will be enough for most people. If you want to spend more time discovering the culture, or going on short day trips to sights outside of the CBD, then aim for 4 or 5 days.
This is because the question of how many days in Kuala Lumpur can be different for everyone. Are you the sort of person that wants to just see the main sights and then move on? Are you interested in Museums? Do you want to wander the streets for hours exploring? Chatting to locals? Do you want to go on daytrips and see sights that are outside the city as well?
For me, the question of how many days in Kuala Lumpur is enough really means, how many days will you need to be able to see Kuala Lumpur as a whole. If this is your ONE VISIT to the city, and you may never get back, how many days do you need to see enough that you will be happy with your visit?
My answer is 3 to 4 days.
Seeing Kuala Lumpur in 3 days
In 3 days, you can see everything that there is to see within the city area of Kuala Lumpur. This is the sort of itinerary that you can expect on a short 3 day trip to Kuala Lumpur.
Day 1
- Take a morning stroll around KLCC Park.
- Climb Petronas Twin Towers.
- Enjoy lunch in Suria KLCC.
- Visit Aquaria KLCC.
- Head to Bukit Bintang for dinner in Jalan Alor.
Day 2
- Take a treetop walk through KL Forest Eco Park.
- Climb Menara KL Tower.
- Take some photos in KL Upside Down House.
- Head to Berjaya Times Square and check out the indoor Theme Park.
- Do some shopping and have dinner at Pavilion Shopping Center.
Day 3
- Start the day at the famous Central Market.
- Visit beautiful Sri Maha Mariamman Temple.
- Stroll through Chinatown and the famous Petaling Street Flea Market.
- Visit the National Mosque of Malaysia and Merdeka Square.
- For dinner, choose to return to one of the incredible street food places you would definitely have passed during the day!
This is how I would choose to spend three days in Kuala Lumpur. It Allows you to see all of the main sights, and you shouldn’t be rushed for time.
4 Days or Longer
With the extra time in Kuala Lumpur, you can see a bit more of the city, or head out on a day trip. If you decide to spend the extra day in the city itself, then you can take to time to visit a museum, or even head back to see one of the locations you already visited in more detail. For the city center itself though, I believe that with a good Itinerary such as the one above, you only really need 3 days.
In this case I would spend the 4th day taking a day trip out of the city to discover some of the beautiful things within a couple hours from KL. Things such as:
- The incredible Batu Caves.
- Beautiful Malacca, which is only a couple hours bus trip away.
- The breathtaking Genting Highlands.
- The “foodie” city of Ipoh.
- Famous Cameron Highlands, although this is a bit further afield and may require private transport.
A DIY Itinerary is always best
If there is one thing I have learnt while traveling, researching and writing for guides publications, it’s that making your own itinerary is always best.
Why?
Because what works for me, won’t necessarily work for YOU. All I can do is point you in the right direction and let you know what are some great places to visit. In the end, it is you that will decide what is right for you.
In this case, when considering how many days in Kuala Lumpur you will need, you first need to decide where you want to go. Then take a look at my sample itinerary, and decide how much you can see in one day.
The good thing about Kuala Lumpur is that everything, that is all the main attractions, are grouped nicely around Bukit Bintang, KLCC and Chinatown. So with those three places central in your 3 day itinerary, you really can’t go wrong.
Stay Central
To get the most out of Kuala Lumpur, stay as central as you can. This seems like a no brainer, and in reality it is if you are visiting a city for the first time. But you would be shocked to find out how many will opt to save 2 dollars a night and stay a 10 dollar taxi ride from town! It doesn’t make sense.
If you are looking at visiting Kuala Lumpur on a budget, then stay around Bukit Bintang. Click the link for options. Alternatively, check out the best hostels at THIS LINK.
If you have money to burn, then stay close to KLCC.
If you are traveling mid range, then here is my tip. Skip hotels and hostels and get a good Air BNB. There are some fantastic apartments around KLCC that come in around the $50 AUD a night range and are my pad of choice every time I’m in town. Which is to say every 6 to 8 weeks while I’m on the road in South East Asia!
Getting around
To get around in Kuala Lumpur, I suggest three ways.
- Walk – It sounds over simplified, but it isn’t. Within the CBD area you can walk all around KLCC, and walk from there to KL Tower and even Bukit Bintang. Of course, on a hot day or when it’s pouring rain, you might look at one of the next two options.
- GRAB Car – This is the Uber of South East Asia and is the best way to travel by car around Kuala Lumpur. Cheaper and more reliable than taxi, and able to be caught from anywhere. Just download the app.
- The FREE Bus – There are free buses that run around Kuala Lumpur. There are a number of different lines, and depending upon where you want to go, you will have to make sure you pick the right bus. They often overlap though, so if you get on the wrong one, you can always switch. Plus, it’s FREE, so you won’t be wasting money anyway. Start with the Green Bus that you can catch between KLCC and Bukit Bintang.
Of course there are other options, but these are the most reliable, and in my experience easier to catch. The double decker tourist bus is WAY overpriced in my opinion, unless you have so much money you just don’t know what to do with it.
MY TIP
One place that I LOVE to eat when I’m in KL is Orchid Restaurant.
This is a Middle Eastern Restaurant, that just happens to be very close to where I stay when I’m in the city. It is also very close to KLCC, so easy for anyone to find. It has some of the best food in the city, and for really great prices. The service is excellent, and you will NOT leave disappointed!
Conclusion
Kuala Lumpur is one of the best cities in South East Asia, and is an easy city for a first time visitor to navigate. 3 days is enough to see the main sights if you plan it properly, and a maximum of 4 or 5 days is all you need if you move a bit slower or want to do a day trip or two.
For more information about Kuala Lumpur, check out these articles.
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